14 May ALSO Festival announces second-wave of masterclasses, talks, music, comedy and food pop ups
ALSO today announces its second wave of musicians, performers and speakers to its stellar line up. The UK’s one-of-a-kind festival is gearing up to celebrate its 10-year anniversary from 14th – 16th July 2023 – with the theme of ‘Re-Enchantment’. New additions to this year’s exciting mix of speakers include award-winning food writer Gurdeep Loyal, award-winning chef Neil Rankin, comedian Ahir Shah and psychologist Kimberley Wilson among many others.
ALSO, the festival where ideas run wild has become a must-attend event and home to an impressive mix of talented performers and thought-provoking speakers. Thoughtfully curated to deliver a truly unique festival experience, ALSO offers 300 inspiring events across 14 stages, ranging from comedy to immersive experiences, engaging talks (on a plethora of fascinating issues!), with fantastic food and drink programming. ALSO celebrates the brilliant nuances and beautiful aspects of life, the natural world, and each other, set in magical Capability Brown landscaped surroundings in Warwickshire. Each element of the line up is carefully considered to cater to its audience, who are looking for something wildly experiential to allow their best ideas to happen!
Joining the incredible line-up for this year’s festival, which include some of the UK’s best experts such as Jeremy Deller, Professor Robin Dunbar, Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter, Claudia Hammond Jeffrey Boakye, Jess Phillips, Professor Catherine Loveday and comedians Sara Pascoe, Robin Ince, Alexis Dubus and Marcel Lucont, ALSO is proud to present Dr Dani Gordon who will host The Resilience Blueprint, a look at how to become the most dynamic, energic and resilient version of ourselves. Also new to the line up is psychologist and nutritionist Kimberley Wilson, who will be exploring the role that unprocessed foods play on our mental health and a scented guided swim with Caroline Saxon, to explore Capability Brown’s work on a whole new sensory level – incorporating ALSO’s very own perfume made by leading UK perfumer Sarah McCartney of 4160 Tuesdays, inspired by the scent of the lake.
Ahir Shah’s highly acclaimed show ‘Ends,’ covering everything from family to politics is also new to the line up, as well as the independent bookstore, ‘Book’n’Shop,’ where you can get your purchases signed by authors and guest speakers. Or join award-winning, author, journalist and activist Nimco Ali for the Choose News panel to reconsider your relationship with information and how and where you get it.
At this year’s festival food will provide a paradise for those looking to indulge in an array of culinary adventures curated by renowned chefs, restaurateurs, and cutting-edge producers, promising to ignite your taste buds and delight your senses. The food festival within a festival has added Sachiko Saeki to the programme, to teach the art of Gyoza cooking, as well as host one of the exciting lineup of masterclasses in the form of Japanese knife sharpening. Also new is a range of mouth-watering tastings and masterclasses, from Super Natural Wine Tasting with Jane Parkinson to an education on Playing with Spices with Gurdeep Loyal, cooking some of his favourite recipes from his extraordinary cookbook: MOTHER TONGUE. The tastings and masterclasses continue with The Tequila Herradura Colour Tasting Masterclass, The Aroma Sessions with Woodford Reserve, Deconstructed Tasting with Slane Irish Whiskey and Martini Masterclass With Fords Gin.
For incredible dining experiences, acclaimed chef Neil Rankin’s pop up sit down restaurant based on his extraordinary lunch in the Dining Tent is not to be missed , as is the sustainable seafood and oyster extravaganza lunch with legendary Bristol-based Winkle Pickle and the Friday night fabulous Balearic Paella fiesta cooked alongside the Balearic beats of our Ibizean DJ Dr T.
From vegan delights and artisan coffee, experience Honest Supper Club, The Crafty Boys, Heart & Soul, and more. ALSO’s breakfast canteen, Little Geoff will be serving up a classic English Breakfast and local pasta boys, In For a Penne, will be providing pasta dishes all weekend. Join the table and embark on a culinary journey like no other. ALSO has your taste buds covered, including Street Feast on Friday!
ALSO Founder and Artistic Director Helen Bagnall says: “ALSO is the next generation of festivals, immersive, truly experiential, with ideas threaded through everything we do, we make it effortless for our guests to engage with ideas running wild through having a unique and extraordinary festival weekend. Reaching this 10-year milestone for ALSO is a dream come true, and we feel it’s the perfect time for us all to experience ‘Re-Enchantment’ together, which is our theme for 2023. So to celebrate we will be creating a weekend unlike any other, a chance to enmesh ourselves with nature for a fabulously fun, immersive, experiential weekend of ideas running wild. Grab the gang and let’s go ALSO”.
What makes ALSO unique and part of its’ DNA is a comprehensive programme of experiences aimed to encourage attendees to try something new. Catering to all ages and interests, curate your weekend with one of the many workshops, experiences, and masterclasses designed to up-skill or go deeper into things you like. Or simply try something new and wild such as Sophie Lewis’ Reincarnation Club, Yodomo’s Pottery Taster with Studio Ranj or learn the art of paper weaving, GB Ice Swimming Champion Caroline Saxon’s session on the Positive Effects of Water on mental health, Nightime Lantern Labyrinth, Samba Drumming Workshop, Moon Guided Swim, Saturday Night Fabulousness and Melissa and Holly Layton’s programme of workshops. Festival attendees can participate in a range of activities, including perfumed paddle boarding, guided safaris inspired by ALSO’s very own perfume, SUP Yoga, Star Bathing, Den and Raft Building or foraging walks.
New bands, artists, DJs and audio adventures this year include K.O.G, Love Itoya, Le Boom, Get the Water, Juliet Russell, Honey Moon, Later Youth, Miya The Sun, Mminxx, DJ Tafrina DuBois and so much more.
Finally, joining the comedy line up of of Luke Wright’s Late Night Dance Floor Fillers (Poems) and the amazing Sara Pascoe is the sell-out, cult Edinburgh Fringe show, A Young Man Dressed As A Gorilla Dressed As An Old Man Sits Rocking In A Rocking Chair For Fifty-Six Minutes And Then Leaves.
For those who seek inspiration, adventure or something wildly unique and thought-provoking ALSO is the place to be. The 2023 theme celebrates the magic of re-enchantment, offering a space where ideas can take flight and wonder is at every turn. Create an oasis of curiosity, imagination, and creativity, set to the beat of live music. Come, be part of the magic that is ALSO, and experience a weekend like no other!
Tickets are now available on the official website and adult weekend tickets start from £145, children start from £70.
