While it may be a breezy start to Latitude festival, the weather isn’t the only thing blowing people away. Kicking off the weekend on the Obelisk stage, Pumarosa bring their dreamy yet striking arsenal out in full force for the early afternoon risers.
Isabel Munoz-Newsome spirals around the stage, relishing the attentive crowds attention. “It’s so good to see so many of you this morning,” she acknowledges, “So full of beans!”. The playful demeanour she wears twins perfectly with the expansive and, at times, vicious sound the five piece make.
Everything about Pumarosa feels made to kick start a festival. There’s nothing that seems complacent or paint-by-numbers, even down to Isabel grabbing a drum beater and using it in the style of a bow to create an oddly pleasing sound. It’s a performance that’s made to get the crowd engaged. Isabel even appears possessed at moments, letting the music flow through her – a sight that is hard not to be captured by.
As they introduce ‘Lion’s Den’ Isabel explains, somewhat jokingly, that they’ve sent it to “Jeremy” (“maybe he might use it”), as the screens show green tape spelling out ‘Corbyn’ along the side of the keyboard setup. The latest in the long list of bands to use their platform for a political voice, while they may not have top billing yet, Pumarosa certainly don’t waste their chance to show they’ll rise up the bills sooner rather than later.
Photos: Sarah Louise Bennett / Dork