Hunger’s Guide to Wilderness 2017
From Grace Jones to pimping pineapples.
[F]estival season is well and truly upon us and to mark the close of summer we’ll be heading straight to Wilderness, the festival offering the widest and weirdest variety of activities and entertainments going. Whether you’re the type that parties until 7am, the type that can’t miss a yoga class or the type that loves to indulge in a feast al fresco, Wilderness has something for you. Even if you don’t march to the beat of these types, there are plenty of other activities to keep you entertained, teach you lessons in life and to encourage you to get creative. Here’s our guide of what not to miss this year at Wilderness.
WHO TO SEE
Ray BLK
Hunger favourite Ray BLK is set to take to the main stage of the festival this year, bringing her effortlessly honest lyrics, R&B sounds and soul spirit to the Wilderness crowd. The 22 year-old singer-songwriter will be bringing the energetic vibes of her SE6 postcode to the Oxfordshire countryside this August, so be sure not to miss Ray’s performance.
Sigrid
20-year old Norwegian singer-songwriter Sigrid will also be taking to the main stage, bringing her youthful attitude, empowering words and extensive melodies to the crowd. With her debut single ‘Don’t Kill My Vibe’, Sigrid is sending the world a very clear message that she is purely out to have fun and won’t let anyone stand in her way.
Grace Jones
Fashion icon and music legend, non-other than Grace Jones, will be performing on the main stage (obviously) this year, and if that isn’t a reason to go to Wilderness this year, then we don’t know what is. The singer, songwriter, supermodel, record producer and actor always puts on an original, controversial and exciting performance, constantly surprising us and never failing to produce anything less than incredibly amazing. Seriously, not one to be missed.
What to Eat
Long-table banquet
If eating a burger out of a metal van is not your festival style, then Wilderness has something perfect for you; their speciality long table banquets. What could be more perfect than a luxurious banquet to begin your evening of drinking and dancing? Take a trip back to the good old days and sit elbow to elbow with friends old and new to indulge in a four course lunch or five course dinner, all served wine and assembled by a different chef each day. This year the chefs at the helm of the banquet will be Yotam Ottolenghi, Nuno Mendes and Thomasina Miers.
What to Do
Party In the Forest
Being in such an amazing and beautiful outdoor space, how could you not throw a massive party?! The Valley space at Wilderness is where the forest meets the river and where the day meets the night, as the perfect forest dance floor is simply an invitation for the party to begin. Head down to The Valley after the sun goes down for some partying al fresco.
Fake News Quiz
If you’re feeling a bit more intellectual this summer, then head down to the Fake News Quiz hosted by panellists including BBC radio presenter Emma Barnett and News Roast comedian Jolyon Rubinstein. The quiz toys with ideas of fiction, truth and news, which feels more relevant than ever in this politically tense and turbulent time where news outlets are having fingers pointed at them by trumped up politicians, pun intended. Head to the Fake News Quiz for a light-hearted look at the news, the stories and the people making them up.
‘What Makes a Real Woman’ Debate
Why not try and settle one of the biggest debates of our time this summer? A debate which has divided society, men and women – what is it that makes a woman, a woman? Listen to Katie Glass, Paris Lees and Sarah Ditum debate the issue and debate whether the issue should even be debated, or if instead we should stop thinking about how women have defined themselves in the past and start thinking about how us women see ourselves in the future.
What to do when you want to be random
Pimp my pineapple
If you want a souvenir to carry away from the festival with you, then why not go pimp your pineapple? Literally. The Art Studio at Wilderness invites you to spray paint, bedazzle and decorate a pineapple to create a piece of fruity eye-candy for your home. Why? The pineapple symbolises ‘welcome’, so it’s the perfect thing to jazz up your living room with. For fear of pineapple envy, make sure you head down to The Art Studio to pimp your very own pineapple.
Mouse taxidermy
If you want to be completely hands on this summer, then why not try the anthropomorphic taxidermy workshop? The Victorian practice of mounting and displaying taxidermied animals as if they were humans or engaged in human activities is a rare art form, which you can learn at Wilderness from taxidermist Suzette Field. A mouse will be provided for each student and at the end of the day you are free to take your taxidermied mouse away with you… to the dance floor?!
Grace Jones headdress making workshop
If seeing Grace Jones live just isn’t enough to fill your fix, then have a go at making a Grace Jones headdress too. Join London-based paper artist Lydia Shireff in The Art Studio to make yourself your own iconic head dress to channel your inner glamour. You can follow a template or go wild with as many feathers, jewels and as much glitter as possible, Grace would be proud.
For more information and tickets visit https://www.wildernessfestival.com/