Lancashire’s biggest open-air festival is back with big names and nostalgic throwbacks for the summer of 2022
Stunning settings, Grammy-award-winning chart-toppers, and local craft beers are all on the agenda for this year’s Highest Point Festival.
Regional street food vendors will make sure that you line your stomach before bouncing about to Basement Jaxx, and a drinks masterclass area will allow you to enjoy a bev that hasn’t been badly mixed in a plastic Evian bottle.
Taking place in May within the 54-acre grounds of Williamson Park, Lancaster, Highest Point has proven that it's up there with the big dogs of the North-West festival scene as it announces a series of impressive headliners and hot new talent for its 2022 itinerary.
But who could possibly follow in last year's headliner Rick Astley’s footsteps?
With a brand-new beer hall, comedic dance performances, and some boozy masterclasses thrown in for good measure, we suggest that you cop a ticket and book a few days off work, sharpish.
I predict a Lancashire-based riot
Ok, we’ll cut to the chase, Kaiser Chiefs are headlining in the prime-time Saturday evening slot.
Attracting thousands of attendees to Williamson Park every summer (minus those dominated by the C-word), past Highest Point headliners have included Manc-based rock band James, Ricky Astley, Sister Sledge, and Grandmaster Flash.
The 2022 instalment, therefore, follows suit with a packed list of crowd-pleasers in the form of electronic music trio Clean Bandit, Horse Meat Disco, Shy FX, Brit-nominee Not3s, and indie favourites like Reverend and the Makers and The Sherlocks.
An oldie but a goodie
Not just a Gen-Z fest packed with glitter, dance tunes, and electronic DJ’s, Highest Point has recruited some nostalgic acts in the form of The Verve frontman Richard Ashcroft, Basement Jaxx, Escape Classics, and Funkademia.
Throwing it back to the 80s and 90s, the brass band that takes on rave classics Mr Wilson's Second Liners and throwback floor filler DJs 80s V 90s are also ready to hit us baby, one more time.
All things F&B
Food and booze defo won’t be in short supply at Highest Point this year, so you can kiss your post-rave pot noodles goodbye.
A Not-tober beer hall has been added to the hills and trees of Lancaster’s greenery which features an immersive bingo experience, dance-offs, audience participation, drag acts and, you guessed it, loads of craft beer. Think Bongo’s Bingo, but open-air.
Regional street food vendors will make sure that you line your stomach before bouncing about to Basement Jaxx, and a drinks masterclass area will allow you to enjoy a bev that hasn’t been badly mixed in a plastic Evian bottle.
Cuban comedy and words from the co-founder
The Cuban Brothers, a Highest Point fave, will be returning this year with their outrageous B-boy skills, soulful tunes, and riotous comedic repertoire, and we’re promised that there are more toilets on site this year, just in case you’re a weak-bladdered laugher.
Highest Point co-founder Jamie Scahill says: "It was amazing to be able to host the festival last September after two years off, the crowd was amazing and we had such incredible feedback. Now we’re back to our usual festival weekend in May, and we have another huge line-up heading for Lancaster. We can’t wait for the festival season to kick off!’
Dates and ticket deets
This year’s Highest Point Festival takes place over three days from Thursday 12 May – Saturday 14 May at Williamson Park in Lancaster.
Full weekend tickets for all three days are £135, or a Friday and Saturday ticket costs £115.
If the thought of a three-day stint tips you over the edge, you can grab day tickets for either £42.50 or £55, depending on what day you fancy devoting to the dance.
The next wave of tickets for Highest Point go on sale today, Friday 11 February at 9am, and can be bought via the festival's official Skiddle site.
