KITE is a brand new festival of ideas and music for curious, inquisitive, and cultural minds. Blending a unique line up of music and ideas against the backdrop of a classic British greenfield festival, KITE marks an innovative intervention aimed at collaboratively building a festival for the future.
KITE will offer room to dance and space to think. In an age defined by the ubiquity of the internet and social media, there is a growing public appetite for knowledge, debate, and discussion. Audiences are looking for more alternative and non-musical activities at music festivals. KITE will rise to the challenge by creating a unique offering for people who are passionate, and curious by tapping into the public’s increased awareness and interest in the world around them.
The music programme will present a line-up comprising exceptional artists with contemporary cultural resonance. Instead of being brought together under a genre, the line-up will be unified by an ability to move the audience’s head, heart, and hips. Grace Jones, off the back of her curation of Meltdown will lead the music programme, reinforcing her status as a true cultural icon, bringing her electrifying, funk-reggae artform to the stunning surroundings of Kirtlington Park. Joining her is R&B legend Mavis Staples, who has truly made a mark on history and through her music continues to inspire audiences around the world; iconic R&B girl-group TLC will make a rare UK appearance; multi-instrumentalist Tom Misch will bring his unique fusion of R&B, jazz, and soul beats; alternative folk singer-songwriter Kate Stables AKA This Is The Kit will captivate audiences with her beautiful harmonies and instrumentals, and Seun Kuti, son of afrobeat godfather is performing with his father’s former band Egypt 80.
The ideas programme will ask provocative, fundamental questions in a highly polarised world. What binds us together? What drives us apart? World-class public figures, cultural icons, artists, and thinkers will delve into concepts — both big and small — and explore them. From Rory Stewart to William Dalrymple, Tina Brown to Elizabeth Day, George Monbiot to David Olusoga, Jarvis Cocker to Sathnam Sanghera, an eclectic range of speakers will debate, teach, and converse with a diverse and highly engaged audience. Topics will range from the environment, society, technology, sport and political systems to identity, wealth, the arts, history, globalisation, and sexuality. No stone will go unturned, and no format will be left unexplored as long-form interviews and keynotes will sit side by side with workshops and smaller group discussions, panels, debates and KITE lessons.
KITE puts the beautiful Oxfordshire countryside on your doorstep. A three-day, greenfield camping festival, KITE offers Weekend, Day, Glamping and VIP tickets in an experience that is accessible to all ages. And Kirtlington Park, a breathtaking Grade I listed Palladian house set in 3,000 acres of rolling parkland overlooking the Chiltern Hills, presents the ideal venue for deliberations that look to the future while acknowledging the past.
