Midlands based The Decypher Collective will be appearing at this year’s Latitude Festival with their creation, ’8SIXTEEN32′ presented by the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. We caught up with group member Leon Burke (aka LCB) from Walsall to ask what it means to perform at the fifth Latitude, and how it feels to be representing the Midlands.

• When you think of Latitude what 5 words spring to mind?
  Firstly I would say Distance, Location, GPS, Travel and map – if it was in terms of the word But as a festival I would say, Music, Camping, Theatre, Food and Networking.
• If you could only see one performance at this year’s festival what would it be?
  The act which I am looking forward to seeing is Florence and the Machine. But also a lot of other artists.
• What 5 items will you be bringing to Latitude?
  My phone, chewing gum, pen, baby wipes (lol) and business cards.
• Do you have anything special planned for your performance at Latitude?
  Although our performance is an amazing piece of Grime theatre, we will then showcase a few of our individual pieces, being rap, poetry or spoken word.
• Latitude is 5 years old, how did you celebrate your fifth birthday?
  It may not have been my 5th birthday but it must have been around those years. I think it was Weston-Super-Mare with my family, I remember being upstairs at the back of an open top bus next to the sea side touring Weston, then had a picnic on the beach and went crazy on the pier with my older brother.
• How does it feel to represent the Midlands at Latitude?
  I’m very glad we are there representing and I know a lot of people are coming down to support us. We have worked hard over the years as a collective and feel it is time for us to take festivals by storm :)

8SIXTEEN32 by The Decypher Collective, consists of of Evoke, LCB, Professor D & RTkal and fuses word, comedy and a tailor-made score of beats, rhythms and melodies in a tongue-twisting tale of life and lyrics where four MC’s clash with their biggest competitor yet. With the cream of UK spoken word, poetry and music talent, this is pioneering Grime Theatre not to be missed. 8SIXTEEN32 will be at the Theatre Arena.

Latitude Festival will be held from 15th-18th July at Henham Park in Suffolk. Tickets are now sold out. More information can be obtained from http://www.latitudefestival.co.uk