Festival 23- Convergence of Disco
A brand new outdoor festival celebrating Discordian counter-culture
Taking place on the weekend of July 23 at a secret South Yorkshire location
Artists confirmed so far include Jimmy Cauty, John Higgs, Knifeworld, Super Weird Substance, Richard Norris, Cosmic Trigger cabaret
Already compared by DJ Greg Wilson to the legendary 1967 ‘Gathering of the Tribes,’ Festival 23 is not just a music festival. Neither is it an arts, literature, theatre, film or poetry festival. It’s none of these things and it’s all of them. It is everything that you imagine it to be. Inspired by the exhortations of the late, great Ken Campbell, organisers Notwork 23 are setting out not to make money or to lose money, but to do something heroic!
Festival 23 is a celebration and exploration of contemporary counter-culture, inspired by generations of radical artists and writers, from William Burroughs to Alan Moore, Alan Watts to Robert Anton Wilson. The focus for these energies is Discordianism; a joke disguised as a religion, or a religion disguised as a joke, most famously popularised by Bob Shea & Robert Anton Wilson’s Illuminatus! -the ultimate cult novel series- itself adapted into an infamous nine-hour play in 1976 by maverick theatre director, actor, writer and genius Ken Campbell.
As a member of the KLF, Jimmy Cauty re-introduced Discordian ideas to a new generation in the late eighties and early nineties. We’re overjoyed that he’ll be bringing his acclaimed art installation, The Aftermath Dislocation Principle (ADP), to Festival 23.
In 2014, Ken Campbell’s daughter Daisy Campbell brought Robert Anton Wilson’s Illuminatus sequel Cosmic Trigger to the stage, acting as a powerful catalyst for the current Discordian revival. Daisy will be leading Cosmic Trigger’s cast and crew, including poet Salena Godden, in a cosmic cabaret that will take over Festival 23’s main stage on the Sunday night.
Writer John Higgs has also brought Discordian-related ideas to a wider audience with his books The KLF: Chaos, Magic And The Band Who Burned A Million Pounds, and Stranger Than We Can Imagine: Making Sense Of The 21st Century. At Festival 23 John will be delivering a new talk entitled Ziggy Blackstar and the Art of Becoming.
Headline musical acts include psychedelic/progressive rock titans Knifeworld, a full live set from Super Weird Substance (featuring legendary DJ Greg Wilson and Ruthless Rap Assassins/ Black Grape member Kermit, who will also both be performing separately), Richard Norris (The Grid, Circle Sky, Beyond the Wizard’s Sleeve, Time and Space Machine, Psychic TV), Pete Woosh (DIY), AOS3 and Cowtown. Also confirmed so far are Barringtone, Bloom, Giblet, Horton Jupiter and Map 71.
Plus: films, rituals, esoteric workshops, poetry, theatre, art installations and more, including Puppet Alan Watts- part of the Future Zen Variety Show- and the Milk the Cow podcast crew, who will be producing an exclusive radio podcast onsite.
Website: http://festival23.org.uk/ Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/festival23/?fref=ts
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/539494706224186/
Contact: info@festival23.org.uk
