Bluedot, the festival that fuses together music, science, arts and culture, returns to Cheshire next weekend. The four-day event runs from July 21 to 24 at the Jodrell Bank Observatory, with the main stage in the shadow of the world famous Lovell radio telescope.
Billed as the UK's most 'intergalactic festival', this year will see major acts including Bjork and the Halle Orchestra, Groove Armada, Mogwai and Metronomy take to the stage. They'll be joined by Spiritialized, Working Mens Club, Yard Act, A Certain Ratio and A Guy Called Gerald.
As well as a stellar lineup of musical acts, this year the festival will also see the launch of the Power Plant Stage - a talks-based stage in an area dedicated to plant-based living - and Origins, a late-night fire garden Soundtracked by DJs exploring the origins of modern electronic music.
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Who are the headliners?
This year's lineup includes a UK festival exclusive with closing performance from Björk who will be headlining the fifth instalment of the festival alongside Manchester's Halle Orchestra. Her performance will be accompanied by bespoke artwork projected onto the dish of the Lovell space telescope, the first time that the 76-metre-wide dish has been used for projections.
Also appearing this year will be Groove Armada, who will headline the Friday night as part of the group’s last ever tour together. Saturday night, meanwhile, will see Mogwai in a co-headline slot with Metronomy, while Mercury-nominated Hanna Peel and Paraorchestra will playing the opening Thursday night show.
Also on the bill are Spiritualized, chart-toppers Yard Act, Squarepusher, A Certain Ration, Kelly Lee Owens, India Jordan, A Guy Called Gerald, Anna Meredith, Sofia Kourtesis, Manara, Jane Weaver and Working Men's Club.
Hip hop and grime artist, and MOBO nominee, Kojey Radical was added to the bill in March, alongside DJ Mary Anne Hobbs, and post-punk band Warmduscher. Comedians Desiree Burch, Olga Koch and Robin Ince will also be making appearances as part of the culture programme.
Bluedot science programme
This year's Bluedot also promises another 'mind-expanding' programme of talks and panel discussions with thought leaders from around the world. The DotTalks programme spans across the festival including in the 'Star Pavilion' and 'Mission Control', which has previously featured speakers including James Burke, Liz Bonnin and Helen Pankhurst.
This year's extensive science line-up features headline talks from astronaut Tim Peake, Jim Al-Khalili, Chris Lintott, Jessica Wade and Dale Vince alongside an impressive programme of workshops and interactive activities. Peake's appearance at Bluedot will include an exploration of his time aboard the International Space Station, and the role of the European Space Agency in the future of space travel.
Families will be to choose from a whole host of science shows, hands-on activities, pop-up exhibitions, and interactive workshops. Highlights include Manchester Girl Geeks, The Woodland Trust, British Antarctic Survey, and a host of research teams from The University of Manchester.
Visitors will also be able to get up close to the Lovell Telescope, take in late-night stargazing sessions and explore the Jodrell Bank site including the ever-popular Whispering Dishes.
Are tickets still available?
Final release tickets are still available and are broken down into a number of options. Adult Weekend Camping tickets are available at £195, 11-15 years Weekend Camping at £79 and children (6-10 years) at £25. Children aged five and under get free entry but you still need to select the ticket option on the website.
The VIP Village upgrade is available for £110 and includes access to the new VIP Village featuring some of Greater Manchester's food favourites including Thai barbecue experts District, high-end steak restaurant Hawksmoor and Stockport's own Where the light gets in. Under 16s can enter the VIP Village for free using their festival wristband.
How do I get to Bluedot 2022?
Bluedot takes place at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire, a UNESCO World Heritage Centre. If you're driving or getting a lift there you'll want to key in the postcode SK11 9DW.
You can also 'beam' into Bluedot via the festival's coach partner National Express. Coach tickets are on sale from a variety of UK locations here.
What are the camping options?
Bluedot is made up of six campsites consisting of standard camping; family camping; Tangerine Fields - pre-pitched dome tents; live-in vehicles; accessible camping; and The Colony - boutique camping.
Due to it being next weekend, there is now limited availability on the boutique camping options at The Colony. The Bubble Bell tent option, which sleeps up to four and is outfitted with a coat stand, hangers and a mirror, is still available.
General weekend tickets include access to the standard camping site, and there are family-only areas within the site, plus a space for live-in vehicles like campervans.
What time does it open?
For those wanting to make the most of the festival, the weekend campsite opens from midday on Thursday July 21 for those with a Thursday add-on ticket. For everyone else, it will open from 9am on the Friday.
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, gates will be open between 9am and 9pm.
What food and drink options are there?
Main area food vendors will be confirmed soon, but if you’re lucky enough to have upgraded yourself to the VIP ticket, you’ll have access to the VIP village (if you’re under 16, you can wander in on your regular wristband), where non-profit Eat Well MCR has brought in some of the best chefs in the city.
Friday features former Baraxturi chef Rachel Stokley, Saturday has chefs from Oldham Street Thai barbecue spot District, Saturday features steak legends Hawksmoor and Sunday is a takeover from Stockport’s Michelin-bothering Where The Light Gets In.
Even better than the brilliant food, the VIP village will be raising hard cash for Eat Well, which with support from restaurants across the city has supplied more than 68,000 free meals to people in food poverty across the Greater Manchester region.
A percentage of all the VIP tickets sold for the weekend, plus a chunk of the food and drink in the VIP Village, will go directly to support EatWell. As well as that, all food traders on the site will be offering a £2 ‘Meal for Manchester’ option, 100% of which goes to fund an Eat Well meal for someone in the city who needs it.
It's worth also bearing in mind that Bluedot is a fully cashless across its bars, food stands, merchandise and other points of sale.
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