From playing deep within the woods to headlining the sunrise stage: Let’s Eat Grandma @ Latitude.
Sophie Bingham
“It’s the scariest crowd in the world” explained Rosa one out of two of the best friends that form Let's Eat Grandma, Rosa Walton, Jenny Hollingbury and I caught up for quick chat before they headlined the sunrise stage at Latitude, after years of working their way up the bill, their headline show was only hours away at their hometown festival, knowing that many of the locals who have seen them year after year would be in the crowd, some from their childhood who have songs written about them, nerves and excitement were flowing.
Tom Ellis (TJEphotos, Feats.)
They recently released their third album, Two Ribbons which takes you on a journey through their friendship, Jenny explained that they hold this album so close to their hearts, it means an ‘awful lot’ to each of them as it delves through a particularly difficult time for the both of them, making this headline show all the more emotional. It was incredibly special for them, “ it forces us to look at the history of the band, we've been doing this for so long and it's easy to forget where we came from”
Let’s eat grandma has always been significant for the duo, they met when they were just four in nursery, and it seems they haven't left each other's side since. What makes them so easy to connect with is that it is so obvious how close they are, their warm and friendly energy exudes right through one another and into their music. Apart from their genius use of instruments and their emotional and powerful lyrics, this energy is what attracts people to their music.
Two Ribbons - Let’s Eat Grandma
I’m okay with this
Been thinking quite a lot about that
How I’d wanted the old us back
It’s okay
To say what you want to say
And that we’ve grown in different ways
‘Two Ribbons’ explores this, this album, for the first time ever, has a lead vocalist on each track, like an open letter to the other. Two Ribbons explores so many different things, to losing a loved one, the difficulties of growing up and the intricacies in their friendship. Rosa kicks off the album with Happy New Year, a song full of nostalgia but an underlying anxiety about their friendship changing as they grow older and their individuality grows, and it's not until the bridge where Walton accepts that they can grow together and still be their own person.
The album is closed with the title track ‘Two Ribbons’ where Hollingbury sings of their individual ribbons fraying away, growing apart but still wrapped around one another,
“These places, they stay, but we're changing
Like two ribbons, still woven, although we are fraying”.
They quickly came to realize their relationship had not come to a plateau but they had started to grow as individuals. After losing her boyfriend Jenny went through a period of grief, Let’s Eat Grandma had to cancel their North American tour as they focussed on healing themselves. They can’t wait to head their way across the pond for 16 dates in North America this November! Alongside a UK tour just before throughout October!
Tom Ellis (TJEphotos, Feats.)
In the midst of all their festival performances, Let’s Eat Grandma closed the Sunrise stage at Latitude, alongside Snow Patrol on the Main stage, their emotional connection hit the crowd through their music as everyone was entranced during Donnie Darko, for eleven minutes straight everyone was completely captured. It was the best way to close of a weekend of polite chaos and fun!
Tom Ellis (TJEphotos, Feats)