Curated for a generation who understand meaningful pleasure, enlightening participation and luxurious experiences, Wilderness 2022 line-up spans music and the arts, exquisite feasting and dining, insightful talks and debates, a wellbeing sanctuary, outdoor pursuits, and a family field and beautiful lakes to while away the hours.
For those looking to get immersed and put their unique mark on a festival, Wilderness is the perfect weekend escape.
Wilderness 2022 Main Stage Line-up
Electronic music pioneers Underworld, one of the most influential acts in the UK and beyond, are one of the three incredible headliners in the Wilderness 2022 line-up.
They’ll be joined by music-collective and Mercury-nominated duo Jungle, who will be bringing high-energy dancebeats from their latest album ‘Loving in Stereo’ to Cornbury Park.
Alongside will be Years & Years, when lead singer Olly Alexander will perform his first festival headline position since landing a second UK number one album with ‘Nightcall’.
Continuing this year’s electric line-up is renowned DJ superstar and record producer Peggy Gou who is adding The Cotswolds to her global tour for a blistering performance, alongside the Queen of Disco Róisín Murphy, and multi-instrumentalist and singer Jordan Rakei.
The joyous soul trio Gabriels will be bringing the authentic sounds of gospel music to this year’s festival as the legendary broadcaster and DJ Craig Charles drops his classic funk and soul vibes with a special live set.
Further genre-smashing artists include sax and drums duo Binker and Moses, electronic afro-funk band Ibibio Sound Machine, Oxfordshire born, home-grown musician Willie J Healey, acoustic singer-songwriter Billie Marten, electrifying House-meets-Gospel group House Gospel Choir, emerging indie-pop musician Azure Ryder and many more.
Late Night Dancing
As the sun sets, the forest dancefloor comes to life. Under a starlit canopy, late-night revellers can dance until the early hours in The Valley with DJ sets from Grammy-award winning record producer and DJ David Morales, underground house veteran Derrick Carter and Irish-born producer Krystal Klear.
For those seeking alternative amusement, you can lose yourself in the late-night den of subterfuge and secrets The Skillamalink among Balkan bands and raucous revellers alike.
Ceilidh the night away with Cut A Shine and The Wanton String Band or go all out brass, bass and big beats with Continental Drifts & Global-Local. Before dialling it down with sublime acoustic sounds from the finest folk virtuosos around, courtesy of Woodburner Music.
Wilderness’ House of Sublime will be offering the freshest and most flamboyant of performances and is a real celebration of diverse communities that celebrates themes of identity with a queer intersectional outlook.
The daytime programming will feature various talks and workshops with special guests and will move into a celebratory extravaganza with alternative cabarets, joyful pageants and more.
If that wasn’t enough, award-winning collective Queer House Party will be bringing their “Punk AF” party vibes, whilst Michelle Manetti’s own Fèmmme Fraîche club night joins theWilderness 2022 line-up from Dalston Superstore for a night of debauchery and frolickingly-good fun.
Wilderness 2022 Feasting & Dining Line-up
The first festival to introduce long table feasting, Wilderness’ dining experiences amongst the trees and lakes are unmatched.
This year’s Chef’s Table will champion chefs leading the way to close the loop by minimising their environmental impact with innovative, forward-thinking cooking techniques and sourcing methods.
2022’s hosts include one of Britain’s most acclaimed leading female chefs, Skye Gyngell, who’ll be bringing her seasonal-focused approach from her restaurant Spring, which was the first in London to become single-use plastic-free.
Michelin-starred chef Adam Handling will be putting on a zero-waste feast matching the ethos of his sustainably-run pubs and restaurants. This, alongside Swedish chef Niklas Ekstedt, who is widely regarded for his luxury approach to ‘living off the land’ with foraged ingredients and wood-fired cooked dishes.
Lastly, one of the UK’s first Michelin Green Star winners, Will Devlin of The Small Holding, will showcase a home-reared and home-grown menu, working closely with local producers.
Eagerly returning for a second year, The Social Pantry will take over The Wilderness Kitchen offering the UK’s only Vegetarian & Vegan Feast within a festival setting.
With plans to become the UK’s first and only zero-waste caterer, Alex Head’s female-run Social Pantry will host some of the country’s most exciting female chefs for an exciting eco-friendly banquet.
Hosting a day each, Ottolenghi’s right-hand woman Noor Murad will bring flavours and aromas inspired by her upbringing in Bahrain to the Kitchen, joined by Bubala Head Chef Helen Graves, whose Middle Eastern-flavoured vegetarian dishes have taken London’s restaurant critics by storm.
Presented by American Express® Experiences, The Dining Room will host an array of delicious menus, workshops, tastings and talks side-by-side with some of the industry’s most exciting talents.
World-Class Arts & Performance
Wilderness is as much about the experiences you stumble across as the stellar line-up of acts you plan to see. It’s home to world-class arts and performance, and the Wilderness 2022 line-up focuses on the body and movement and storytelling through physical theatre.
Critically acclaimed contemporary dance company Hofesh Shechter Company presents Contemporary Dance 2.0 with a new full-length work featuring the very best of next-gen international contemporary artists.
Global dance organisation Sadler’s Wells will also be joining the Wilderness 2022 line-up, focusing on the body and movement, showcasing dance in all its forms for Wildings to enjoy this year.
Austin Dance Theatre, the innovative dance company, will be delivering highly responsive, multi-disciplinary arts activities designed to inspire and educate younger fans. Drawing on contemporary social issues from the environment to the community, this is one not to be missed.
Show your support for the female-led, forward-thinking performers from Women in Jazz. For a symphony like you’ve never heard before, the 47-piece The Wilderness Orchestra are an annual fixture playing out legendary tracks and even a side of Disney.
Talks, Ideas & Spoken Word
The Wilderness Talks and Debates programme never fails to feature deeply insightful discussions from the highbrow to the lowbrow and everything in between.
The Wilderness 2022 line-up includes multi-award-winning comedian Russell Kane amid his The Fast and The Curious tour and Michelle De Swarte, British actress and comedian and the host of feminist comedy podcast The Guilty Feminist.
Reporting a side of silly and serious, Sunday Papers Live returns to keep festival-goers up to date on the weekend’s world news.
Wilderness has teamed up with The Conduit, a collaborative community committed to creating a prosperous and sustainable future, which will host a series of talks and panels.
The How to Academy will also host some of the world’s most influential artists and thinkers to spread knowledge and innovation around changing ourselves, our communities and the world around us.
The Sanctuary, Wellbeing & Lakeside Spa
The Sanctuary returns as the capital of calm, connecting the yogis, wellbeing gurus, beginners and zen seekers, and those looking to relax.
At this year’s event is East London yoga studio and lifestyle hub East of Eden, a new breed of wellness movement, The Rogue Room, which merges the transcendence of yoga and the euphoric power of music, plus House of Wisdom bringing their social wellness space to the heart of The Sanctuary.
The tranquil world of masterclasses, workshops, and talks include Yoga in the Wild, Wild Runs, Island Feature SUP Yoga, Breathwork, Hang Out Aerial Yoga. Wildings looking to unwind even further are invited to book a Lakeside Spa for utter bliss and serenity Bathing Under The Sky.
The Makers Quarter
New for 2022, the Maker’s Quarter is the place to make and create. The place where you can do anything from Fashion & Design in the Factory to Screen Printing Workshops in the Gallery run by Wilderness illustrator Jon Mackay.
The Potters Den will throw down sculpture masterclasses with Harriet Hellman, and the Art Studio will see takeovers from Heaps + Stacks, Originary Arts and Too Cute Crafting.
The Great Outdoors, Playing Fields & Family Field
The Wilderness Cricket with Bearded Kitten returns for lovers, dreamers, drifters and streakers, cementing itself as the original festival cricket match unlike any other. Other activities include archery, axe throwing, horse riding, wild swimming and boating.
With something for all ages to get involved in, The Family Field is the go-to spot to keep children (and adults) entertained. Mini Wildings will be treated to laughter and games from The Flying Seagulls, who put on shows and games for refugee children worldwide.
There will be storytelling, puppetry and music from Tootles + Nibs, family raves with Junior Jungle and endless creative fun with Cosmic Crafting. Mortimer Nannies will be on-site offering the grown-ups some rest (or play) whilst they take care of the little ones.
Camping & Accommodation
With a range of beautiful accommodation to choose from and exclusive perks including luxury showers and loos, pamper parlour, restaurant and bar, parking, trolley service, and a 24-hour reception, the Boutique Campsite is a stunning place to call home for four days.
