HowTheLightGetsIn, the world’s largest music and philosophy festival, has announced its full music and comedy programme ahead of its upcoming return to its idyllic home on the banks of the River Wye. Taking place over the May Bank Holiday.
HowTheLightGetsIn Hay 2024 sees Mercury nominees and 90s dance-icons take the stage alongside top comedians and pioneering philosophers, for a truly unique cultural offering
Headlining this year’s festival will be 90’s ambient-house pioneer The Orb. Topping the album charts with UF.Orb, and with their signature track ‘Little Fluffy Clouds‘ ranking among NME’s Greatest Songs of All Time, The Orb have gone from visionary mischief-makers in the 1980’s acid house revolution, to one of the most revered electronic music acts alive. They share the top billing with Crazy P Soundsystem. The disco-house outfit have shaped the landscape of British dance music for the last 15 years and bring their signature sound to HowTheLightGetsIn.
Electronic musician and self-described ‘tinkerer’ James Holden will make his HowTheLightGetsIn debut. With his trancelike, often instrumental live performances, he heads up a wave of experimental artists debuting at the festival. This includes the hotly-reviewed Jazz outfit Tara Clerkin Trio, with fans including Giles Peterson as well as a popular NTS show, and Bristol based jazz-funk quintet Ebi Soda.
HowTheLightGetsIn Hay will also play host to Mercury nominees Sea Power, chart-toppers Herculese & Love Affair (DJ), UK Dub icon Mad Professor, festival favourites Afriquoi, MOBO award winning Ayanna Witter Johnson, Alt-J tour-mate AK Patterson, Raz & Afla, Pushpin, and Mr Bruce, alongside a strong collection of artists instrumental in the UK’s neo-folk revival, including Northumbrian songwriter Richard Dawson, Irish rising star Junior Brother, Eve Appleton Band and Milkweed.
HowTheLightGetsIn is committed to shining a spotlight on local musical talent. Partnering with BBC Introducing Hereford & Worcester, alongside local music platform The Blue Moon, the festival will fill its stages with the region’s most promising up-and-comers.
On the comedy front, the programme brings together Live at the Apollo and Taskmaster favourite Lou Sanders, and Mock the Week regular Shaparak Khordandi with Fringe-favourites including John Tothill and Ania Magliano, and vibrant subversive performances from drag artist Amrou Al-Khadi and cabaret act Posey Metah.
With a programme packed with cutting-edge talks and mind-opening debates, music isn’t all that
HowTheLightGetsIn is famed for. Following the theme Dangers, Desires, and Destiny, this year’s
debates span topics from ‘AI and the Creativity Crisis’ to ‘The Democracy Show’, and panels feature live podcasts from the likes of Novara Media’s ACFM and PoliticsJOE. Headline speakers range from ‘The West’s most dangerous philosopher’ Slavoj Zizjek to vocal political figure and former speaker of the house John Bercow, fiery socialist commentator Aaron Bastani, Hawking collaborator Roger Penrose, and animal rights ethicist Peter Singer.
With over 250 events taking place across the festival, expect to discover hidden gems at every corner. From stimulating conversation in The Arena, to electronic music pioneers in The Hat, and Fringefavourite comedians in The Ring, HowTheLightGetsIn offers an eclectic line-up unmatched in the UK music festival scene.
Final Tier Tickets are currently on sale and students and under 25s get a 30% discount on tickets.
For details please visit here
