Kite festival adds: pretenders, dame joan collins, munroe bergdorf, adam kay

Kite Festival 2023

Friday 9th to Sunday 11th June 2023
Kirtlington Park, Kirtlington, Oxfordshire, OX5 3JN, England MAP
£154 with camping, £145 without

Last updated: Tue 6th Jun 2023

KITE A FESTIVAL OF IDEAS AND MUSIC RETURNS

9-11 June 2023 at Kirtlington Park, Oxfordshire

Music: Pretenders, Ezra Collective, Django Django join Hot Chip, Suede, Baxter Dury and Candi Staton
Ideas: Dame Joan Collins, Adam Kay, Susanna Hoffs, Munroe Bergdorf, Elizabeth Day, Mel Giedroyc, Rachel Reeves, Chris Patten, David Baddiel, Alastair Campbell, Fats Timbo join Marina Hyde Simon Sinek and many more

KITE announces another formidable array of names across the world of literature, music, politics, art, culture and comedy to join its second ever edition. KITE is reimagining the festival space as it curates a journey of cutting-edge debate and a rich programme of ideas with spectacular musical performances. The festival will take place across 7 unique stages in the breath-taking Grade I listed Palladian house in Kirtlington Parkoverlooking the Chiltern Hills near Oxford, from 9–11 June 2023.

Rock royalty, Pretenders, fronted by the one and only Chrissie Hynde will join Hot Chip, Suede and Candi Staton on the main stage, alongside the genre-bending Django Django who will no doubt perform an exhilarating set with tracks from their highly anticipated album, as well as the UK’s best party starting afrobeat's jazz fusion band Ezra Collective.

Appearing will be Dame Joan Collins, who will be speaking with chief interviewer at The Sunday Times Decca Aitkinhead,former doctor and writer of the bestseller This Is Going To Hurt Adam Kay, as well as American singer and founder of The Bangles Susanna Hoffs. Internationally renowned trans activist, model, writer and broadcaster Munroe Bergdorf and author of How To Fail, now a chart-topping podcast, Elizabeth Day returns to speak on friendship with award winning editor Jo Elvin, and shadowChancellor of the exchequer Rachel Reeves will be giving insight into the British political landscape.

Topics will cover a broad range of subjects such as: On China and the West with Hong Kong’s last governor and the Chancellor of the University of Oxford Chris Patten and professor on Modern China Rana Mitter. Fixing politics with spin-doctor Alastair Campbell and Jews Don’t Count with comedian and writer David Baddiel who has been at the forefront of tackling antisemitism in the media.

Ciro Romano, Festival Director, said:“I’m thrilled that KITE is returning in 2023 with a line-up truly distinct from the rest of the festival calendar. Last year we were delighted by the response to our eclectic mix of speakers and performers, and this year you won't find any other cultural melting pots with the likes of Dame Joan Collins and the Pretenders coming together in the same weekend. Ideas, music, comedy, talks- every corner of culture and entertainment is covered. I'm proud to say we've made sure there’s something for everyone to enjoy at KITE.”

KITE Website: www.kitefestival.co.uk

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