Musical icons, world-class DJs, top chefs, award-winning theatre companies and famous authors – when it comes to pulling together a festival, the team behind Wilderness do not mess about.
“I’m very excited about this year’s line-up,” says the festival’s creative director Tim Harvey – the man responsible for designing the programme for the country’s most eclectic and interesting festival, which is held next week at Cornbury Park, near Charlbury.
“Wilderness is the most exciting event of the festival season – and this will be our best yet by a mile.”
The 30-000-capacity festival will be headlined by Bjork, singer-songwriter Ben Howard and jazz-funk artist George Clinton.
They will be joined by a diverse range of artists covering everything from folk and country to classical, electro-house, burlesque and blues.
“We’ve been able to get three great headliners with Bjork being the standout artist,” said Tim.
“What she does is so emblematic of what we try to achieve every year.
“She is an artistic pioneer and her Friday night show will set the tone for the whole weekend.
“She is the biggest artist we’ve booked and is someone who really wanted to play here as her only summer festival show.
“It’s a wonderful testament to what we have achieved.” Priding itself on its ability to source the freshest new talent, the esoteric musical line-up features a mix of cult acts and underground talent.
Among those playing for the glittered and fancy-dressed crowd will be Moloko’s Roisin Murphy, Hercules and Love Affair, Nick Mulvey, Nils Frahm, the Brandt Bauer Frick Ensemble, Caravan Palace, Ibibio Sound Machine, Will and the People, plus Benjamin Clementine.
Music will be followed by spectacular processions, a puppet parade and acrobatic displays. But for many “Wild-ophiles”, the highlights of the festival are its Hidden Valley parties, which take place in a rocky ravine deep in Cornbury’s woods – a remnant of the ancient Wychwood Forest.“The late-night stuff is great,” says Tim. “There will also be trapeze shows synced up to the DJs.
“There are some really exciting things planned, but the most exciting is the Revellers’ Village which will be an escapist homage to the 18th-century Wychwood Forest Fairs that took place around here – with everything from magicians to snake-charmers.”
There will be more dancing courtesy of jazz-swing and Latin funk outfit The Brass Funkeys, Bristol six-piece theatrical showband Carny Villains, the Duffy Moonshine Big Band, 13-piece Balkan brass act the Trans Siberian March Band, and Voodoo Love Orchestra.
If all that dancing gets too much, there will be more soothing sounds in the Travelling Folk Barn.
“Everything at Wilderness is booked from the heart,” says Tim.
“Nothing here has been booked from a commercial perspective or the purposes of selling tickets.”
For a break from music, festival-goers can listen to speakers and join debates featuring the likes of historian and television presenter Dan Snow, comedian and Cotswold resident Dom Joly, GQ editor Dylan Jones and Marigold Hotel author Deborah Moggach. Then there is the lakeside spa, wild swimming, workshops in forest craft and artistic pursuits, or just the pleasures of eating and drinking.
- As well as a haven of arts and creativity, Wilderness is also a favourite for hedonists, with parties taking place deep in the woods
Raymond Blanc swaps the luxury of his Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons restaurant in Great Milton for a tent, and will cook a banquet for revellers. He joins an A-list culinary line-up of fellow Michelin-starred chefs Angela Hartnett, Nuno Mendes and James Knappett.
But, says Tim, the real star is the location, which encompasses the largest part of the ancient Wychwood Forest and is home to hidden valleys, deep woodlands, ancient oaks, pristine lakes and waterfalls.
“Wilderness has always been an experience which has been shaped by an artistic escapism, shaped by the landscape of Cornbury,” he said.
“We really couldn’t do Wilderness anywhere else but at Cornbury. It is a site-specific festival experience.
“ It’s a celebration of the landscape, featuring the most pioneering artistic experiences we can get hold of each year, but in a way that has a narrative and makes sense as an overall composition. That’s what makes it unique.”
* Wilderness festival will be held at Cornbury Park from Friday-Sunday, August 6-8. For tickets, see wildernessfestival.com
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