Wilderness festival: Find a wild world of fun in the Oxfordshire woods

While some still stick to the old formula of throwing up a stage or two, inviting loads of bands to play and leaving it at that, the best offer way more than just music.

With programmes featuring everything from theatre, comedy and circus, to dance, spoken word performances, dining experiences and workshops, the best festivals are not so much outdoor concerts as immersive artistic wonderlands.

And the best of them all is right here in West Oxfordshire.

Held on the rolling acres of Cornbury Park, near Charlbury, Wilderness is an event like none other.

The freewheeling festival – which runs from now until Sunday – inhabits its stunning landscape of meadow, woods and lakes so naturally, it feels they were made for each other.

Wilderness. Picture by Tim Hughes

And while the musical line-up – which features Michael Kiwanuka, Faithless, Bicep, Jessie Ware, Alison Goldfrapp, De La Soul, Barry Can’t Swim and Palace – is strong, it is about so much more than bands.

There is comedy from Bill Bailey, Joel Dommett, Rosie Jones, Russell Kane and Matt Richardson; mass banquets and intimate dinners hosted by top chefs like Andi Oliver, Claude Bosi, Meera Sodha and Richard Corrigan; and ‘Letters Live’ sessions in which familiar actors delight listeners with amusing and touching correspondence. Previous readers have included Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch and Sir Ben Kingsley.

But you could also have the time of your life without going anywhere near its stages, instead soothing your soul in a lakeside spa, swimming or boating, enjoying drama, dance, burlesque performances or talks, and dancing the night away to big-name DJs in a gorgeous secret valley in the woods.

And you can come away having mastered a new skill – from dance or yoga to creative writing and wine tasting – or brush up on your backwoods, survival and country skills.

After a year of meticulous planning, chief festival 'wild one' Rory Bett is thrilled to be back at Cornbury Park.

Michael Kiwanuka: Wilderness

The CEO of festival supremos MAMA has seen music events come and go, but has special affection for this bucolic gem and its unique appeal.

“Come and escape yourself!” he smiles.

“We live in a world which is confusing, difficult and financially challenging. It is not at all plain sailing. But you can just come somewhere like Wilderness and allow yourself yo be set free.

“Wilderness is really just an escape from yourself and your life.”

And with so much to do, he said it was inevitable that everyone’s festival would be different.

“It will be an experience just for you,” he smiles.

“People have the opportunity to experience it on a personal or collective level. But you get out of it what you put in.

“It has got to be a two-way experience and there are a lot of opportunities to share your experiences with other people.”

And with the weather looking good, he is confident it could be one of the best years yet.

“Wilderness just works on a different level in the sun and is extra shiny and bright,” he says, excitedly.

“Plus you can take out a rowing boat on the lake or just go for a swim and float in the water.”

Wilderness crowd. Picture: Tim Hughes

While always striving for new attractions and spectacles, Rory says organisers have to be careful not to change a formula which works and is loved by repeat revellers. Nor can they change its signature highlights – whether that be raving away the small hours to top DJs in the Secret Valley, laughing along to its comical cricket matches, or shedding an emotional tear at its Sunday evening God’s Jukebox session, in which festival goers request live renditions of songs which are special to them for often deep, personal reasons.

He adds: “We have a reputation for putting on great experiences but we don’t want to do the same things year after year – nor just have people standing in front of stages. We want you to have a time to remember.

“Yet there are so many things people love about the festival and we have to identify the things we can change and adapt, and those things we can’t touch – like the cricket matches. We’d have a riot on our hands if we got rid of those!”

'Wild one' at Wilderness festival. Picture by Tim Hughes

He goes on: “The best we can do is find out what people love and then repeat it in other ways.

“It is important too, to create space in the programme to hold people’s attention – and to give them what they don’t know they want yet!

“And that takes a bit of bravery”.

So what’s the secret of Wilderness’s charm and enduring appeal?

He says: “We create a space where people can laugh like they’ve never laughed before, cry like they’ve never cried before, and dance like they just don’t care – and, of course, swim in a lake, live in the moment, feel your place on the Earth... and find yourself again.”

Swimming in the lake: Wilderness

TOP TIPS
With such a diverse programme, it is tough to single out highlights, but Rory has five recommendations:

1. Faithless playing the main stage on Friday will be special. It’s their first time out since losing their lead singer Maxi Jazz, so is going to be emotional but a great opening.
2. A personal favourite is Michael Kiwanuka, who gave a five-star performance at Glastonbury. His new tune is playlisted on Radio 1and is wonderful. I love him an I know he’ll give everyone a good time.
3. DJ Eats Everything will be teaming up with purveyors of art and chaos Haus of Fatale for an exceptional performance in the Atrium which will be very special indeed.
4. Swim in the lake... there’s nothing better!
5. All the rest... from drag queen wine tasting to something we are calling the Best Football Match in the World. And, of course, all that food!

Wilderness Festival takes place this weekend until Sunday, August 4, at Cornbury Park, near Charlbury, Oxfordshire

Tickets from wildernessfestival.com