Concert News
Audi Presents Wilderness announce day splits and second wave of names
Wilderness presented by Audi is delighted to unveil the second wave of artists & full stage splits for its stunning Fourteenth Season, adding an eclectic array of acts to an already stellar line-up.
Joining the already announced headliners: Basement Jaxx, Supergrass and Wet Leg on the Wilderness Stage, mysterious house maestro berlioz – aka Jasper Edward Attlee – has quietly become one of the most talked-about names in the underground electronic scene. With viral mixes and a cult online following, he blends jazz-inflected rhythms, dreamy lo-fi textures and sun-drenched beats to weave his spell. In 2023, berlioz released the EP Jazz Is for Ordinary People, followed by his debut album Open This Wall in 2024.
Other new additions include legendary funk and soul selector and BBC6Music star Craig Charles – a true British icon known for his infectious energy, crate-digging flair and lifelong passion for all things funky. Expect a packed dancefloor moved by classic soul, deep funk, rare groove, and modern floor-fillers.
Riotous masters of musical fusion The Turbans blend Middle Eastern melodies, Balkan brass, flamenco rhythms and traditional folk into high-octane performances that defy borders and genres. Renowned for turning any crowd into a dancefloor, their shows are part celebration, part cultural journey. Antony Szmierek is one of the UK’s most compelling new voices. Often likened to The Streets and Loyle Carner, his poetic lyricism and everyday storytelling are matched by warm, laid-back grooves and a commanding live presence. Fresh from critical acclaim and major festival buzz, Szmierek brings introspection, humour, and heart to every performance. Mercury Prize-nominated and always future-facing, Georgia delivers high-octane, emotionally charged electro-pop with a bold DIY spirit. A producer, songwriter, and vocalist in her own right, Georgia brings serious talent and dancefloor magic in equal measure.
Women In Jazz return to take over The Atrium – the huge consortium of electrifying singer-songwriters, producers, instrumentalists and composers nurtures, elevates and empowers female jazz artists in the broader industry, releasing music from new artists and providing a platform and community. This year Rosie Lowe & Nubiyan Twist deliver an electrifying masterclass in afrobeat, jazz, broken beat, soul and infectious rhythms.
Hypnotic, euphoric, and utterly transportive, W. H. Lung create synth-laced post-punk and psychedelic pop for a full-body live experience. Queens of Madrid’s indie garage scene, Hinds are raw, rebellious, and radiant, featuring sun-drenched guitars, breezy harmonies and tongue-in-cheek lyrics. Straight from Australia’s vibrant indie scene, The Jungle Giants bring bright, bold alt-pop loaded with hooks: electronic dancefloor bangers meet sweaty guitar-band swagger. Honest, haunting, and deeply affecting, indie-folk songwriter Bess Atwell explores identity, mental health, and the quiet complexities of modern life. One to watch Olive Jones offers soulful, atmospheric alt-pop with a voice that turns heads and holds hearts. Her songs float between dreamy and grounded, poetic and personal.
Flo Naegeli is a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter from Dresden, with a distinctive blend of indie soul and pop crafted on an array of instruments, synth pads, and drums. Fresh out of Melbourne, Radio Free Alice are all post-punk attitude and melodic bite. Channeling the likes of The Cure and Talking Heads with a modern twist, they wield guitars, poetic lyrics and a kinetic live energy. With tender songwriting and soul-stirring vocals, Jacob Alon is part of the new wave of alt-pop minimalists making a big emotional impact. Hot Dub Time Machine is the world’s greatest time-travelling dance party – touching down on the Wilderness Stage for the very first time. Hot Dub takes you on an audio-visual journey through the biggest hits from the ’50s to now – all killer, no filler.
Canopied multi-arts hub The Atrium welcomes comedians and cabaret performers to the stage this year – as well as the festival’s favourite group downward dog moment at Mass Yoga – with Kage Douglas. Desmond O’Connor, often hailed as BBC Radio One’s “King of Cabaret,” is an internationally renowned and award-winning composer, lyricist, and performer with over two decades of experience in cabaret, comedy, and musical theatre. In ‘Such Stuff as Dreams are Made On’ O’Connor reimagines Shakespearean themes through a modern cabaret lens. No gimmicks; just Great Company. Jamie Laing brings his Great Company podcast for a special live edition. Maya Raichoora is the UK’s leading expert in mental fitness and visualisation, she’ll be heading up an immersive group mental fitness event, set to be the largest in history. Featuring two live, guided visualisations, this session will leave you grounded, energised and full of potential. Comedians this year include Live at The Apollo and QI fave Tom Ward and Spirit of The Fringe Award winner Auri Styla with Welsh comedian and writer Morgan Rees hosting.
Brand new venue The Dive showcases exciting and innovative new bands storming the live music scene across the UK. This is the place for dazzling performances and unscripted anarchy. The new music hothouse brings together a huge collection of artists from the indie world; from the angular, artful and always surprising Moreish Idols – part of the UK’s post-punk renaissance – to bold, no-nonsense, riot grrrl revivalists Baby Said, electrifying sister-fronted rockers Hot Stamp, Irish-American transatlantic duo DUG and energetic Manchester indie-rock four piece Florentenes.
Cerebral capital The Forum features a huge selection of talks, panels and debates from the brightest buttons. Politicians, writers, experts and professors unite to shine their intelligence onto a range of subjects. This year, acclaimed restaurant critic, broadcaster, and bon vivant, Jay Rayner brings his signature wit and storytelling flair for a special live edition: Food Stories with Jay Rayner. Pull up a chair for tales of culinary disasters, kitchen secrets, and dining highs and lows – a feast for the mind and the funny bone. Thursday and Sunday evenings are Forum Comedy Nights – with The Comedy Store Players plus Nina Gilligan, Felicity Ward, Jin Hao Li, Chantel Nash and Scott Bennett. How to Survive the Culture Wars brings together two thought leaders- Paul Dolan, a professor of behavioural science at the London School of Economics, and Sarah Stein Lubrano, a writer and researcher specializing in the psychology of political communication – to explore strategies for navigating today’s polarized cultural landscape.
Typically wild and gregariously fabulous, The House of Sublime unites performers from every quarter to titillate. A glorious whirlwind of surreal cabaret, wild drag, and unfiltered comedy, Dan Wye’s “Am I Sam Smith?” is a chaotic masterpiece of character work and glitter-soaked absurdity. Expect laughter, gasps, and maybe a tear – this is live art at its most unhinged. Hackney Wick wonder The Yard Theatre presents a triple whammy of their latest productions and parties. The Last Show Before We Die – the raucous, genre-bending feast which attempts to answer life’s existential questions—profound and profane—from a 93-year-old, a former addict, a grief counsellor, a climate activist, a midwife, and more. Inspired by zombies, heartbreak, and tenacious cockroaches, this is a darkly delightful exploration of endings. Knickerbocker is the Queer Dance Party – a vibrant, inclusive celebration of LGBTQ+ nightlife – and Paradise With Love is a mashup of romance, kitsch and absolute chaos cabaret, circus and beyond. Leading the ceremony will be our host Ophelia Honey with bridesmaids Amazi and Archihooper.
The Jumpyard – curated by festival aficionados Continental Drifts – is the place for big bands, vibrant rhythms and late-night skanking. Super sharp and witty comedic singer-songwriter Huw Joseph is an Australian-born, UK-based performer well known for his quirky, genre-blending performances. Acoustic trio Thrill Collins return with their renowned skiffle-pop renditions of modern classics. Madame Electrifie fuses vintage beats with contemporary sounds, threading hip hop, funk, house, disco, bass and breaks to create a raucous mix.
The Books Tent is the hub for talks from authors, book signings and the on-site book shop. Bad Friend: A Century of Revolutionary Friendships is the latest work by cultural historian Tiffany Watt Smith, offering a compelling exploration of the complexities and evolution of female friendship over the past century. Dr. Juliet Rosenfeld, a distinguished psychoanalytic psychotherapist based in London, delves into the intricate dynamics of infidelity in her latest work, Affairs: True Stories of Love, Lies, Hope and Desire. Rosenfeld examines the psychological and emotional underpinnings of extramarital relationships, judgement free. Picky: From Fussy Child to Professional Gourmet is the forthcoming memoir by British-Nigerian food writer and broadcaster Jimi Famurewa. This engaging narrative traces Famurewa’s transformation from picky eater to celebrated restaurant critic and culinary connoisseur.
Firmly established as an eye-poppingly magical playground for children, the family programme is wild, colourful and inspiring, with an incredible Family Field crammed with games, activities and performers. Invent new worlds at an Interactive Storytelling Workshop with Tamsyn Murray, try Big Beat Drumming or Dance with Hollie Zelli. Explore nature workshops with your little one. Sculpt a Green Man, Make a Nature Headdress or a Pine Cone Baby Owl. Transmission Roundhouse return with their DJ Workshops for aspiring up and comers.
The Maker’s Quarter features a beautiful range of creative workshops from talented designers and craftspeople. Make a candle or a lantern, craft your own headpiece or hat at a workshop led by Milou Stella or join an indigo tie-dye demo.