Wilderness Festival countdown is now well under way

The countdown to this year’s Wilderness Festival is now well underway.

There is now less than a month to go until the festival which offers much more than just an opportunity to watch some bands.

In previous years, one of the festival’s most iconic events has been a fun cricket match in which some of the players and spectators play the game naked or wearing very little clothing. 

The festival will take place at Cornbury Park, Charlbury from Thursday, July 31 to Sunday, August 3.

 It will be headlined this year by Oxford rock band Supergrass and rave duo Orbital, as well as Brit Award-winning indie-rock duo Wet Leg.

Also in the line-up are Basement Jaxx who are returning to live gigs for the first time in more than a decade while Annie Mac and Gok Wan will also appear.

The Bootleg Beatles, a tribute band which has been performing for four decades, and Gentleman’s Dub Club, a nine-piece dub, ska and roots reggae band will also appear. 

Alison Goldfrapp at WildernessIndie-folk outfit Bear’s Den return to the line-up and Air, described as a “achingly hip French dream-pop duo” also feature. 

A statement from the festival team said: “Wilderness is a gathering of some of the most incredible artists, musicians, producers, performers, thinkers, teachers, writers, chefs and creators currently working on planet Earth – and of course, a union of the wonderful, wondrous Wilderness community.

“The music and arts extravaganza prides itself on the vast scope of its programme, truly offering something for everyone. You’ll find an all-guns-blazing tour of the arts – from woodland theatre to immersive performances.

A dancer at Wilderness“You’ll find dancefloors alight at the hands of some of the most innovative in the game. There’ll be secret sets and disco dodgeball, orchestral singalongs and mass aerobics workouts, colossal headliners and underground DJs, theatre takeovers of sublime nightclubs and arts workshops with master craftspeople, panels with pioneers, live podcasts and astrology bingo, queer cabaret meets pro wrestling before your Banquet booking.

“Paddle out into ultimate lake serenity then lose your marbles in The Valley. Your tastebuds will be tantalised, your ribs tickled. There’ll be games to play, yoga to do, songs to sing, stages to mosh at, dancefloors to sparkle on.”

Food is also a highlight of the festival.

A family at Wilderness A spokesman added: “This year, the opening night of the Long Table Banquet unites everything at the very heart of Wilderness: great food, sensational talent, and the importance of community and supporting one another.

“In collaboration with one of the festival’s long-standing charity partners, Choose Love, the menu will be curated by British-Syrian chef and entrepreneur Imad Alarnab (a Choose Love regular partner) and hosted by comedian Deborah Frances-White, with part of the proceeds from each booking – alongside the fees for those involved – going directly towards Choose Love and their work supporting refugees and displaced people globally.”