Contributing WriterRE-ENCHANTMENT: WHERE IDEAS RUN WILD
A STELLAR 10TH ANNIVERSARY FIRST-WAVE LINE UP OF MASTERCLASSES, TALKS, MUSIC, COMEDY, FOOD POP UPS AND MUCH MORE
Heralded as a unique event in the UK’s festival calendar, ALSO marks its 10 year anniversary on 14th – 16th July 2023 by celebrating with the theme of ‘Re-Enchantment’. The theme aims to communicate that ALSO is a place of awe and re-enchantment, with 300 incredible events and 14 stages set in magical Capability Brown landscaped surroundings in Warwickshire. It also reminds festival goers of the brilliant nuances and beautiful aspects in life, the natural world and each other. The festival is proud to announce it’s first wave of musicians, performers and speakers with more to come in the months to follow.
ALSO was founded by Helen Bagnall in 2014 who passionately believes that coming together to go wild in the wild has no downside when it comes to living the best life – an ethos that has been instilled into every decision the festival makes.
Helen, who currently serves as Artistic Director and Founder says: “ALSO is the next generation of festivals, immersive, truly experiential, with ideas threaded through everything we do, we make it effortless for our guests to engage with ideas running wild through having a unique and extraordinary festival weekend. Reaching this 10-year milestone for ALSO is a dream come true, and we feel it’s the perfect time for us all to experience ‘Re-Enchantment’ together, which is our theme for 2023. So to celebrate we will be creating a weekend unlike any other, a chance to enmesh ourselves with nature for a fabulously fun, immersive, experiential weekend of ideas running wild. Grab the gang and let’s go ALSO”.
With several cornerstone moments ranging from comedy to immersive experiences, talks, fantastic food and drink events and family-friendly programming, the festival is set to kick off its 10th anniversary with a magical bang. Celebrated for its meticulously curated line up that spotlights some of the world’s most renowned academics and experts, speakers, dreamers, believers, performers, foodies and so much more – ALSO prides itself on providing thought provoking programming that is beautifully delivered in its unique site.
Curious, clever and creative, ALSO collabs with the UK’s best experts, authors and speakers allowing their ideas to run wild and this year their main stage features ideas so big they look like magic. Hear from Jeremey Deller, Jeffrey Boakye, Jess Phillips, Nimco Ali, Claudia Hammond, Professor Catherine Loveday among many others.
Clever comedy can be enjoyed at ALSO including shows from Sara Pascoe, Celya Ab, Robin Ince, Alexis Dubus and Marcel Lucont. Expect new bands, artists and audio adventures including K.O.G, Love Itoya, Get the Water, Juliet Russell, Honey Moon, Le Boom, Later Youth, and so much more.
ALSO specialises in adventures in food, bringing guests to the table in their wild and beautiful setting curated by established chefs, restaurateurs, diverse founders and cutting-edge producers to cook, taste and share all things food. Food lovers can look forward to offerings which include seafood and oyster bar Winkle Picker, Chef Danny Jack and Hailee Kukura demoing dishes from their The Van Life Cookbook, Honest Supper Club cooking up the finest quality vegan feasts to coffee with The Crafty Boys as well as whisky and wine tasting opportunities.
A place for the wanderers, the believers, the romancers who wish to enjoy awe inspiring content in an idyllic setting serendaded by live music. In 2023 the theme revels in the idea of re-enchantment; by creating a place of wonder where ideas can spread and grow like wildfire.
Tickets are now available on the official website and weekend tickets start from £130 for adults and £60 for children.