Have A Wild Time: a Wilderness 2012 preview
It's bands, banquets and Bugsy this weekend
Photographer:Tim Cheesman
Chris Eustace - 08 August 2012
Wilderness?! I know you’ve got to rough it a bit at these things, but that’s a bit much!
Don’t sweat it – Wilderness actually takes place in the picturesque Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire from 10-12 August. It’s more of an oasis by the sound of things…
Phew! So what can I expect then?
Well, Wilderness is returning for a second year after a strong debut in 2011. 10,000 people came along to revel in what organisers called “A new festival concept.” When that concept is being though up by the people behind Secret Garden Party and Lovebox, you know they’re not messing around. There’s music, food (including some very posh-sounding banquet dinners), debate and talks, late night parties (including a Midnight Masked Ball and a Secret Garden Party-approved ‘Rise Of The Tribes’ shindig), outdoor pursuits, theatre, cinematic happenings, games and all sorts of family fun on offer.
Er…”cinematic happenings”?
Yep – Wilderness has teamed up with Secret Cinema creators Future Cinema for the first-ever cinematic festival takeover. On Friday, the site will be turned nto 1920s New York as they bring Bugsy Malone into the wild.
There’ll be prohibition pop-up parties, competing speakeasy hideaways and splurge-gun shenanigans, with an outdoor feature presentation of the original film in the evening, accompanied by Future Cinema’s full-cast of Bugsy characters performing scenes, sideshows and stunts. Once Fat Sam's empire has fallen, there will be a late night celebration at Dandy Dan's Woodland Speakeasy, with a surprise guest along for the ride. Watch out for clues as to who it might be.
Similarly, Sunday will see a screening of ‘La Haine’ with a re-score performed live by Asian Dub Foundation, plus live graffiti artists, break dancers and spoken word artists.
Wow, my mind is blown already - I might need to cool off!
Funny you should say that, as Future Cinema are also launching their attempt to break the record for the largest recorded skinny dip at the festival – there’s a secret lake onsite, and Secret Swimming are encouraging festivalgoers to be there on Saturday at 8pm to join with others around the world to try and make history. Email join@secretswimming.com for more.
So I don’t even need to pack my trunks?! Nice one! Now, I believe you said something about music?
That’s right! Do not miss these, or we really will cast you out into the Wilderness:
Jeff Tweedy and his band are legends of Alternative Rock – with their maverick stylings veering away from their early alt-country leanings to take in electronica, drones, ballads and everything else in between, and mastering all of them. An eclectic delight.
The cheery psych-poppers released their debut album ‘Bliss Release’ last year, and then embarked on seemingly never-ending cycle of touring and festival appearances, stopping only to accept the Australian Music Prize. Fans of Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend should definitely investigate.
Having burst onto the scene at 19, sounding world-weary, and in the call-to-arms of signature tune ‘Oxygen’, wise beyond his years, Mason’s taken things a little easier in terms of gigs and releases recently, but now appears to be well and truly back for more beautifully bruised country-tinged gems. Seeing as they recently duetted on ‘No Room For Doubt’, perhaps he’ll also get on stage with…
One of the new breed of British female singer-songwriters, her rise is such that she recently headed up to Paisley Park to collaborate with Prince, at the Purple One’s behest. It’s easy to see why, with her winning folky R’n’B giving us the summer groove of ‘Is Your Love Big Enough?’, the whip smart put-downs in ‘Forget’ and the cheeky grin of ‘Age’.
Crystal Fighters are a dizzying prospect: live you can’t take your eyes off them, and the music whirls around just as much, as the five-piece hop between genres, with furious dance joining Basque folk, funk, Spanish punk and electro for a rollercoaster of noisy celebration.
If you fancy hearing more, there's always the VF Wilderness Spotify playlist.
Rodrigo Y Gabriela, Spiritualized, Jake Bugg, Grant Lee Buffalo, King Charles, The Temper Trap, Stornoway and Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings are some of the other acts on this year’s bill.
Click here for the full Wilderness
Festival line-up.
Sold! So what about the tickets?
Wilderness Festival tickets
are available now, priced as follows:
Weekend Tickets Available from £129
Weekend Young
Person (11-17 years) Tickets available for £54
Family Ticket available from £260
Children
under 10 go free
Click here to buy Wilderness tickets.
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