Acclaimed music and science festival bluedot has announced the first wave of its highly anticipated 2022 itinerary. A whole host of big names in science, music, culture will be taking over Jodrell Bank from Thursday 21 to Sunday 24 July after being postponed for two consecutive years due to the pandemic.

The line-up is about as eclectic as our 2021 lockdown Spotify playlist.

Last year, Confidentials reported that Icelandic icon and all-round sensory spectacle Björk is set to light up the iconic Lovell Telescope this summer, but now we can reveal that other headline slots will be filled by Groove Armada, Scottish post-rockers Mogwai, and electronic quintet Metronomy as they follow in the footsteps of icons who have previously appeared at the festival such as New Order, The Chemical Brothers and Jean Michel Jarre.

Science, culture, and music lovers alike can also expect talks, digital art installations, and stand-up performances from the likes of Professor Jim Al-Khalili, Stewart Lee, and psychedelic space rockers Spiritualized.

Bluedot Stage At Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre 2022 — **No room for feeling blue at bluedot with Groove Armada on the menu** Image: bluedot festival

Get into the groove

Previously named the Best Medium Festival at the UK Festival Awards, bluedot is ready for its fifth year at the Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre, and the lineup is about as eclectic as our 2021 lockdown Spotify playlist.

With Björk set to exhibit a giant digital artwork alongside the Manchester's world famous Halle Orchestra on the Sunday night, a Friday night set from all-round movers and shakers Groove Armada is also set to be a pretty special one for festival attendees. The Saturday night slot will then be co-filled by Mogwai and Metronomy.

Never short of chart-toppers and unusual acts, bluedot's musical line-up also boasts performances from hot new Leeds thangs Yard Act, as well as Squarepusher, India Jordan and A Guy Called Gerald. Multi-instrumentalist composer Anna Meredith and creator of the original theme for the 2023 Women's World Cup Kelly Lee Owens will also be strutting their stuff under some star-gazing technology.

The Lovell Telescope At Joddrell Bank Discovery Centre Macclesfield — **Science chats under the satellite** Image: bluedot festival

Science-y stuff

Also one for the science geeks and giant telescope fanatics, bluedot has announced some names from its 2022 science programme. Key figures include British historian and filmmaker David Olusoga, leading space scientist Monica Grady, physicist Jess Wade, and the much-loved host of the BBC's The Sky at Night Chris Lintott.

Speakers from the Met Office, geoscientist Chris Jackson, and evolutionary psychologist Gilly Forrester also feature in the festival's programme as the weekend sets out to explore science in all its varied and interesting forms.

Bluedot Festival At Joddrell Bank Discovery Centre 202 — **Good vibes all round at previous bluedot weekends** Image: bluedot festival

Fancy a laugh?

If you fancy a break between the stints of Icelandic alternative pop and talks about immunology, comedian, writer, and director Stewart Lee dominates bluedot's cultural offerings with a showing of his critically-acclaimed music documentary King Rocker.

Podcaster Adam Buxton is also out to make you chuckle with a live version of his podcast series BUG, and stand-up offerings from other funny folk come courtesy of This Time with Alan Patridge star Lolly Adefope, Cosmic Shambles creator Robin Ince and Rob Rouse, Ahir Shah, Olga Koch and Desiree Burch.

Bluedot Previous Headliner At Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre 2022 — **Disco balls, unicorns and confetti, check** Image: bluedot festival

Family stuff and the fine print

If you're thinking of taking the whole fam to bluedot this summer, curations from the creators of Wallace & Gromit, Aardman Animations, will be featured in the cultural itinerary. A load of science-based activities, workshops and live experiments in the Star Fields will also keep kids of all ages occupied whilst you headbang to some psychedelic space rock.

Festival Director Ben Robinson said, “After two years away we are thrilled to be able to return with such a unique and diverse line up to the iconic Jodrell Bank for the fifth instalment of bluedot. We can’t wait for people to join us beneath the Lovell Telescope in July to experience four days of cosmic adventures which will close with a very special orchestral performance from Björk and The Hallé.”

These acts are just the tip of the astronomical iceberg for bluedot, there are loads more exciting announcements to come.

Bluedot festival takes place at the Jodrell Bank Observatory from 21-24 July 2022.

Tickets for the Thursday, Friday and Saturday events will be made available at 10am on Friday 4 February via the official bluedot website with the Sunday showing already completely sold out.