The Verse’s Chanelle Manton previews Wild Paths Festival, taking place across Norwich from 18th – 20th October 2019.
Falling two days after the commencement of my MSc programme, I will be somewhat guiltily journeying up to Norwich for Wild Paths Festival (I’m sure I’ll get over it), a festival which caught my eye for several reasons, not least for its inclusive and collaborative ethos:
‘The festival’s mission is to bring artists of national and international notoriety to Norwich, and to shine a spotlight over the city and all the talent that resides here’
Wild Paths is a city-wide festival, housed across multiple venues in Norwich, which promises a packed weekend of eclectic artists (the festival’s own Spotify playlist is currently helping me to familiarise myself with some of them). Artists include Franc Moody, Demob Happy, Gengahr, Pom Poko, Leif Erkison, Laura Misch, and many more.
The multi-venue nature of the festival is particularly exciting; locations include The Waterfront, The Birdcage, Karma Kafe, Gonzo’s Tea Room, and more, as well as the Norwich Arts Centre, which will host a number of panel discussions, on Saturday 19th, relating to the music and entertainment industry; speakers will include Phil Taggart (Radio 1 DJ) and Peter Bradbury (Sky TV, Director of Music Syncing). Popular demand has already resulted in an additional event at Access Creative College on Friday 18th. Both events span from 10am – 4pm, so there’s plenty of opportunity to dip in and out.
What I am looking forward to…
For me, Sunday will be a fantastic end to the weekend; I’ll certainly be checking out Jordan Mackampa at The Wallows before grabbing some dinner at one of the local food pop-ups – and, no doubt, a Norfolk Gin tipple or an eco-friendly can of wine at One Wild Wines – then heading to the Open Banking Hall for Jose Gonzales’ evening performance.
Graffiti writers and street artists will also be in situ, decorating the sites across Norwich, with the main hub of creativity being the Shoe Factory Social Club; attendees include Norwich-born Step39, Carlene de SöZer, Kilo, Selometric, Meiser, Rakos, and more to come. Site Collective will also be in attendance, facilitating a collaborative artistic response to ‘important issues of rural and urban environments’.
Your own experience:
You can build your own unique festival experience, too; flexibility in ticketing options means that you can make the most of Wild Paths at your own convenience (see here for more information). The full schedule can be viewed here, so you can make the most of the weekend without the headache.
Wild Paths seems particularly attuned to environmental issues. Attendees can contribute to the Norwich Soup Kitchen by bringing items for donation such as non-perishable food items and sanitary products (full list of suggestions here). Wild Paths is a committed plastic-free event, with water stations across the city.
Wild Paths seems to have something for everyone, and I’m looking forward to heading up for a weekend of fantastic music in a city of creativity and discovery.
