Bluedot festival reveals line up for long weekend of music and cosmic culture

Bluedot has revealed its music and science line up for this summer’s festival, for a long weekend combining music and cosmic culture.

Appearances from ’80s icon Grace Jones, acclaimed singer Roisin Murphy, American indie-rock band Pavement, dance legends Leftfield and composer Max Richter will top the out of this world music bill for the intergalactic carnival held at Cheshire’s Jodrell Bank Observatory. 

Performances will be held beneath the legendary iconic Lovell Telescope at this four-day family friendly event, lifting off from Thursday July 20th – Sunday July 23rd.

By sunlight, panellists, keynotes and leading scholars will discuss the frontiers of space exploration and what might lie ahead in our journey beyond the pale blue dot of planet Earth.

Unveiling its first science speakers visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site, this interstellar event will feature talks from BBC Sky At Night’s Chris Lintott and Maggie Aderin-Pocock, as well as representatives from the UK Space Agency, NASA collaborators Hassell Studio, the Square Kilometre Array Observatory, and many more.

By moonlight, visitors can take some time out to watch some of the most thoughtful cosmic films the universe has ever seen at the iconic Jodrell Bank — for over 75 years it has been at the heart of groundbreaking discoveries and world-leading research.

Professor of Astrophysics and Associate Director of Jodrell Bank, Tim O’Brien will present the latest discoveries from the team’s groundbreaking work, accompanied by Jodrell Bank’s team of researchers and students.

Specialist talk topics will include deep dives into the Northern Lights, solar flares, pulsars and the Big Bang. In case you’re wondering, the festival is named after Pale Blue Dot, a famous 1990 photograph of planet Earth popularised by Carl Sagan.

Also happening will be late-night electronica in Orbit, science Dot Talks in Mission Control and The Star Pavilion, award-winning culture and comedy in Contact, family fun across the Science Fields and Big Bang Stage, and much, much more. 

A g-astronomical variety of food and drink will be available with dishes from around the planet. And don’t for get the Real Ale Festival held in the main arena.

Teresa Anderson, Director at Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement and science curator for bluedot has said: “We’re thrilled to announce such a wide ranging bill of space speakers for this first wave of science at bluedot 2023, curated by the team here at Jodrell Bank. 

“We’re really looking forward to welcoming so many groundbreaking speakers, scientists, research teams, exhibitors and science communicators to bluedot.”

For more information or to purchase tickets for this spectacular event click HERE.