KITE has revealed the lineup for the second-ever edition of the festival – a curated journey of cutting-edge debate and a rich programme of ideas with spectacular musical performances for audiences seeking an alternative festival experience.
The KITE lineup for 2023 will see household names from the world of literature, music, politics, art, culture, and comedy across seven unique stages in the grounds of a breath-taking Grade I listed Palladian house in Kirtlington Park overlooking the Chiltern Hills near Oxford, from 09 to 11 June 2023.
The three-day greenfield camping festival offers Weekend, Day, Camping and Glamping and tickets for an experience that is accessible to all ages.
Leading the eclectic musical bill on Saturday, 10 June, is Hot Chip, who will move bodies and touch hearts with their legendary club pop anthems. English rock band Suede will headline on Sunday, performing their hits plus songs from their critically acclaimed new album ‘Autofriction’, which went straight to number two in the UK album chart. Then, four-time Grammy-nominated trailblazing icon Candi Staton will delight on Saturday at KITE with her iconic disco hits and soulful voice.
Other performers include the strong and distinctive style of Baxter Dury, percussionist Sarathy Korwar redefining Indo-jazz, chilled house beats from Peruvian DJ Sofia Kourtesis and a mesmerising electronic set from Northern Irish DJ, producer and composer David Holmes.
Music and theatre collide in a stupor of industrial pop with the merchant of queer chaos, cult sensation Lynks and old skool sleezy acid house from Decius. Disco, funk, new wave and house from DJs RAW SILK, the alias of best mates Grace and Steph, and the infectious Amsterdam 5-piece Mauskovic Dance Band performing ‘space-disco’ an interstellar, psychedelic Afro-Latin funk that hits Planet Earth somewhere between Colombia and New York City.
In the ideas programme, no stone will go unturned as long-form interviews and keynotes will sit side by side with workshops and smaller group discussions [ThinkIns], panels, debates and KITE lessons, edited and overseen by a diverse selection of experts.
Former editor of GQ and Chair of London Fashion Week Men’s, Dylan Jones, will delve into his time as a leading contributor to fashion and journalism. The award-winning author of ‘Grief is the Thing with Feathers’, Max Porter will share his articulate insights on crafting stories that answer the most important questions of the human experience.
Meanwhile, Miki Berenyi will chat about her recently published memoir (Rough Trade’s Book of the Year 2022) and play four lush songs.
Top motivational speaker Simon Sinek will discuss his concept of ‘why’ and ponder ‘What Just Happened?’ with journalist Marina Hyde alongside authors Gaia Vince and Tomiwa Owolade, writer and political scientist Remi Adekoya, comedian, podcaster and actor Cariad Lloyd and best-selling author and podcaster Katherine May.
A programme of live podcasts will give festivalgoers a chance to witness their favourite hosts and engage in informative and fun conversations.
Returning to Kirtlington Park and exploring the magic of art will be Talk Art with Russell Tovey and Rob Diament. Award-winning comedian Rosie Wilby will share funny and honest tales of heartbreak and recovery with special guests in her acclaimed podcast The Breakup Monologues. Actor Mike Fenton Stevens will ask for five things for his guest to put in My Time Capsule, while HOAXED Live with Alexi Mostrous will explore a mind-bendingly weird conspiracy theory.
Building on KITE’s acclaimed first-year comedy programme, this year’s lineup leads with viral sensation Alistair Green, whose videos have been turned into two full-length feature films. Two of comedy’s most talked about new talents, Toussaint Douglass and Josh Berry, will perform in a showcase alongside Shazia Mirza, creator of Channel 4 National Comedy award-nominated show ‘Coconut’. Kiri Pritchard McLean, the host of ‘Live from the Covid Arms’, will MC.
This initial gives a flavour of the impressively varied bill planned and will, again, give parity to ideas and thinking, music and dancing with a pioneering lineup of musicians, comedians, artists, writers, activists, and thinkers. Stay tuned for the full KITE lineup of ideas and music for 2023 coming in the New Year.
Ciro Romano, Festival Director, said: “Ideas and music have always co-existed; they are linked in our history, but, for the most part, there has been a clear dividing line between ideas/literary festivals and music festivals. So, we are thrilled to have developed a new greenfield festival that puts music and ideas on an equal footing and is back again.
“At KITE, thinking and dancing can co-exist. KITE 2023 will engage with the most vital artists, musicians, writers, and public figures in one setting, over three days. We couldn’t be more excited and look forward to having you join us at Kirtlington Park next June.”
Candi Staton said: “I am so excited to be playing KITE festival and can’t wait to be finally back in the UK. I just love playing to British audiences and adore the English countryside.”
