Wilderness Festival has just announced a huge line-up, ranging from Metronomy to Mount Kimbie. Dubbed ‘a celebration shaped by nature, a landscape transformed by the arts’, it has been hailed as one of the most idyllic, eclectic and gloriously paradisaical events on the UK’s festival calendar.
The Oxfordshire award-winning festival is back for its fourth successful year, boasting four action packed days (7-10th August), filled to the brim with the best in music, food, theatre and the literary arts, immersing festivalgoers in a truly unique and beautiful experience. Burt Bacharach, the legendary singer, songwriter and six time Grammy Award winner, with such musical hits as ‘Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head’, headlines the festival. As one of the most important 20th century popular music composers, Bacharach is well known for his work with Aretha Franklin, Tom Jones, Barbra Streisand and many more hugely successful artists. Bacharach said himself:
“I’m thrilled to be coming back to the UK again to perform at Wilderness 2014. I’ve heard wonderful things about the festival and I’m looking forward to a great time in the Oxfordshire countryside”
Furthermore, newcomers London Grammar will make a triumphant return to the festival, playing a headline set following on from their incredible guerilla gig last year.
“Our set at Wilderness last year was one of the most memorable moments of our entire 2013. To be headlining the festival this summer is an honour. Wilderness is a wonderful festival, and we hope we can contribute to its magic”
Other acts to join the extensive line-up include much loved British band Metronomy, following on from the release of their new album Love Letters, supreme modern soul diva, Jessie Ware, BRITS Critics Choice Award winner Sam Smith, the phenomenal American jazz vocalist Gregory Porter, and the New Zealand psychedelic folker Connan Mockasin, to name a few.
Every year the festival attempts to bring a phenomenal array of chefs for a unique culinary experience. The trio of culinary talent is comprised this year of; Claridges own Simon Rogan, Michelin star and MBE Angela Hartnett, and the groundbreaking gastronomic Russell Norman. However, this is not even the half of it, with food ranging from Iberia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean in Exmouth Market’s Moro, as well as one of Britain’s favourite restaurants, the St John Dining Room and Bakery, and the immersive, impeccable Champagne Laurent-Perrier ‘Orangery’.
Wilderness festival covers all ages and all tastes, including performances from the likes of Oxford Shakespeare Company, Shakespeare’s Globe, the Victoria and Albert Museum, Sons and Sons Productions. Artful Badger, Bittersuite, and the experimental theatre company Slung Low. Two of Europe’s leading theatrical arts companies, And Now: and Macnas, will combine in creating burning parades and spectaculars for the festival. If that doesn’t catch your attention then perhaps the Late Night Revelry, including an all-star DJ line up and a new secret stage hosted in the Quarry. And if that doesn’t take your fancy, there will be a series of intellectual talks and debates co-hosted by The Huffington Post UK.
The trend for family or child friendly festivals is forever increasing, and luckily Wilderness can cater to that need, with the splendours of the Discover Children’s Story Centre, Charles Dickens Museum, Tap Tap Theatre and the Roald Dahl museum to get completely absorbed in onsite, as well as circus skills, face painting, kids yoga, family cabaret, and if they still have energy after all that, puppetry workshops.
Overall, this festival provides an activity to suit every member of the family, whether they are excitable children, who can enjoy adventure quests and treasure hunts, stressed adults, who can unwind in the Lakeside Spa for a hot tub session or the Sanctuary Wellbeing area for sunset yoga, pilates and massages, and the outdoorsy types, who can enjoy fishing, horse riding, archery, woodland walks and lake swimming, there really is something for everyone. It is easy to see how this festival has won so many awards, be sure not to miss out.
Weekend Tickets: £143.50 + Booking Fees
Children aged 10: £5
All tickets available via: www.wildernessfestival.com
