If you ask Google which is the poshest festival in the UK, it will come up with Wilderness Festival. Held annually at Cornbury Park Estate, Oxfordshire. I didn’t know this when I booked my ticket. I just had to see Annie Lennox. I’d missed out on tickets for her 2025 show at the Royal Albert Hall and was determined to see her. Thankfully, this time I got lucky.
We arrived with just enough time to look around at some of the vendors selling everything from sequined jackets to handwoven Mexican rugs. It was all very interesting, but the prices were what you would expect from a middle-class festival: high. There was also a huge variety of food, as well as bars and mini clubs.
Lennox’s event is called Sisters. A combination of her 1985 solo hit “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves” and the sisterhood she’s helped create through her organisation, The Circle. Founded by Lennox in 2008. The Circle is a unique organisation which brings Global Feminists together to fight for a fairer world for women and girls across the world.
The performances preceding Lennox’s were curated by her own hand and hosted by the original guilty feminist, Deborah Frances-White. Her presenting was mediocre and a bit stiff. She managed to pronounce Becky Sikasa’s name wrong when intruding her, causing a chorus of cringe to ring out amongst the crowd.
BBC’s Folk Singer of the Year, Rioghnach Connolly, opened the show. Her ghostly Irish lament swept across the field. Creating a sweet melancholy to meet the setting sun, bathing her in gold. Connolly declared, “It’s important to have good men around you too,” when introducing Ellis Davies and John Ellis, who accompanied her on keys and guitar. The song that blew me away was her rendition of the classic “The Bonny Boy”. Her vocals had a sassy funk edge to them, emphasising the mischievousness nature of the song.
Becky Sikasa fell flat for me. Her voice is gorgeous, featuring 2000s R&B style riffs to really flex her vocals, but I was bored. There was very little backing to accompany her and her guitarist, but when there was, the balance was off and it drowned her out, but at least it created some interest. She’s clearly talented, I just fell the crowd needed some oomph to get their feet moving.
When Deborah Frances-White announced the next guest had acted in the recent horror film Weapons, I really thought we were going to get an appearance from Aunt Gladys. I was pleasantly surprised when actor Benedict Wong stepped out, performing “I Will Teach My Boys to Be Dangerous Men” by Lucas Jones. A poignant piece aiming to tear down stereotypes to help create a safer world for everyone, highlighting that true feminism isn’t a case of one gender being superior to the other, but about crafting a future of equality.
Jessie Ware finally brought a full band to the stage. Probably the most well-known artist in the line-up so far, the energy shot up. The levels evened out and Ware is incredibly comfortable and casual on stage. I only knew the chorus to arguably her most popular song, “Say You Love Me”. Again, her voice is great, but her music doesn’t do anything for me personally. It was just nice to have some energy on stage to loosen everyone up.
Finally, it was Annie’s turn. Let me preface by saying that Annie Lennox is my hero. I cut my musical teeth on The Eurythmics and, as an adult, have a huge amount of admiration for her humanitarian work. I would ride at dawn for Annie Lennox. Watching her perform slowed-down versions of “Must Be Talking to an Angel” and “Here Comes the Rain Again” was surreal. Her voice is as strong as ever and her energy was fun and light-hearted. At one point I stood almost mouth agape. I’ve spent what feels like my entire life imagining that very performance.
The music video played on the big screen as she launched into “Sweet Dreams”. It made me ache time travel to back the ’80s and witness her with Dave Stewart in their heyday. Before I was a twinkle in my father’s eye.
To close, the other artists joined her to sing “Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves”. It felt like a real celebration. I hope to be able to see Lennox again, but if I’m not so fortunate, I can die happy knowing I saw her at Wilderness.
After a short break to buy Global Feminist T-shirts, we made the pilgrimage back to the main stage for The Last Dinner Party. The stage was dressed like an ethereal church, fitting thier most recent album, From The Pyre. I’d seen them recently at Finsbury Park, but this time was special, being their first headline performance at a festival. That being said, the set was pretty much exactly the same.
What shocked me was the way the photographers were behaving. There seemed to be two main photographers, dressed in denim shorts and leopard print camera bags, who followed the band around the stage with seemingly no regard for the performance or the immersive experience. I understand they need to take good pictures, but it completely took me out of the performance, and I’ve never witnessed anything like it at any past gigs. If I hadn’t already seen them twice before, I would’ve been sorely disappointed. Costumes should’ve been provided for them so they matched the stage setting instead of looking like they’d wandered on stage from the street.
Overall, we had a great day at Wilderness. Would I go again sans Annie Lennox? Probably not, but the overall atmosphere was positive.
The Circle Donation Page: If you have money to spare to help women around the world. However, education is free and just as important for helping create a better, safer future for everyone.
