LEADING lights in the worlds of music, comedy, wellness, food and nature are among the line-up of this year’s ALSO Festival – celebrating its eleventh edition with the theme Heavenly Bodies.
Billed as being ‘the UK’s most inspirational summer festival,’ and set in 50 acres of Capability Brown-landscaped and lakeside gardens at Compton Verney, ALSO brings together performers, musicians, best-selling authors, celebrated scientists and experts in a variety of fields to create a much-anticipated ‘magical and immersive experience.’
Among those helping Stornoway set the stellar soundtrack for the summer are hotly-tipped singer-songwriter Edie Bens, experimental musician Jessica Winter, hip-hop funk and soul band Miya the Sun, indie rockers Jet Black Orange; multi-instrumentalist James Walker and Latin and Brazilian-influenced soul and funk collective The Fontanas.
Dishing out the laughs alongside Sara Pascoe will be BAFTA-winning, best-selling writer and comedian Adam Kay, writer, broadcaster and satirist Nels Abbey, poet and novelist Salena Godden, TikTok sensation Marcel Lucont, and Rob Deering who puts some of the comedians on the spot in his live music-based comedy pop quiz – Beat This!
Hear from Sunday Times bestselling psychotherapist Philippa Perry – in her only UK festival appearance this summer – and rock-star classicist and bestselling writer Natalie Haynes who re-introduces us to the stories of Greek Goddesses the way they were intended.
Glimpse the divine beauty of space with quantum theorist Professor David Tong, scream into the void with behavioural economist Dr Pragya Agarwal, or learn how hip-hop artists rewrote the rules of business with former banker–turned–hip-hop journalist Nels Abbey.
Discover the ways that astronomy has shaped civilisation with cosmologist Roberto Trotta, consider the next frontier (politics in space) with journalist Tim Marshall or explore the world of spirituality with bestselling author and journalist Catherine Nixey.
Learn the science behind being social with award-winning journalist and author David Robson or make waves with a detailed look at longevity with Professor Sir Michael Marmot.
Be inspired by nature writer and New York Times bestseller Charles Foster, social philosopher Roman Krznaric, lexicographer Sarah Ogilvie, champion swimmer Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell and best-selling children’s author Andy Stanton on his collaboration with AI.
ALSO gives festival-goers the opportunity to embark on adventures in a wild and wonderful lakeside venue – take a sound bath, join a lantern procession, or take part in a vocal jam with leading vocal coach Juliet Russell (ITV’s The Voice) as part of the Saturday Night Spectacular.
Be at one with nature or dive into wellness, try laughter therapy, dance workshops, visit our in-festival spa from Zen Ten or our sauna. We have fire yoga, moon yoga or floating SUP yoga, go wild swimming, paddleboarding and painting meditation. Or journey through nature on a Bat Walk or delve into the mysteries of the cosmos at Astrology in the Orrery.
Families can choose from den building, a mini bug safari, rocket workshop, raft building, messy play, circus school and character comedy workshop. And, for the first time, mum and dad can even take full advantage of their time there courtesy of a new Festival Nanny service.
When you’ve satisfied your thirst for knowledge there’s plenty to entice foodies too under the auspices of award-winning resident chef James Whetlor. He’ll be cooking up feasts and set lunches, featuring exclusive menus over the festival weekend.
ALSO takes place at Park Farm on the weekend of July 12 to 14.
Visit www.also-festival.com for full details.
The Observer is offering three readers the chance to each win a family ticket or a pair of adult weekend tickets worth £300.
To enter the competition, which closes at noon on June 22, click here
Terms and Conditions: The prize cannot be exchanged for its cash equivalent and no correspondence can be entered into.
By entering the competition you agree for ALSO to contact you about the event and competition results. You may opt out by stating OPT OUT in the email.
