Words: Gentleman's Journal
Every summer, those of us who want to experience a higher class of festival head to Oxfordshire, where Wilderness annually exceeds expectations and serves up some of the best acts and food around.
This year is no different and, with headliners including Two Door Cinema Club, Grace Jones and Bonobo, it looks as if the alternative festival is about to have its biggest year ever. But, if you’re heading down this year, what can you expect?
The boutique festival this year boasts its signature long table banquets and late night parties in the woods, and as many talks and cultural events as live music. Food-wise, Yotam Ottolenghi is serving up some of his traditional Israeli cuisine and a huge range of bars, cafes and drinks vendors promise to quench your thirst. Cold-pressed juices, organic smoothies, hand made ice creams, refreshing slushies, cocktail dens, rum shacks, champagne bars, craft beers and ales, cream teas and boozy coffees. Whatever your heart desires you will find…
And, for the first time, Veuve Cliquot will bring their champagne and creative twist across several festival locations in the vicinity of Wilderness. The champagne bar will also host numerous performances from visual dance piece Kimatica, who use body movement and interactive technology to intensify the realms of fantasy and reality.
But, of course, one of the main draws to Wilderness year on year, like many other festivals around Britain, is the camping. Few of us ever get this close to nature, and with parties in the forests, it makes sense that you’d bunk down between the trees as well.
With areas including ‘Meadow’, ‘Boutique’ and ‘Quiet’, the camping options are numerous. Some areas offer already-erected tents, to stop you from faffing around with poles and canvas, and the general camping area is situated close to the swimming and boating lakes if you fancy a sail or a dip.
Iconic jazz bar Ronnie Scott’s are also holding a night of musical heroes, where acts such as Lucky Peterson and Hauschka are set to wow. Jackmaster is slated to rock the party in the forest, The Breath and Black Peaches ready to play The Travelling Folk Barn and this year, a new vibrant dance floor named The Night Realm is making it’s technicolour debut.
So, if you’ve got your ticket ready for this wildest of festivals, get excited – for it looks set to be one of the most diverse and delightful weekends of the year.
Tickets start at £178, and are available to book now at wildernessfestival.com
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