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Medicine Festival 2023

An antidote to the rock n’ roll hedonism of the festival season

Headlined by indigenous elders from across the globe, Medicine proffers a restorative cocktail of sacred sound and ceremony, world music, dance, multicultural celebration, healing arts, nature connection and ecological activism

Wasing Estate, Nr Reading, Berkshire

17-21 August, 2023

“A rare festival that you leave feeling better than when you arrived.” The Guardian

www.medicinefestival.com

FEATURING:

Indigenous leaders: Tulku Lama Ahbay Rinpoche (Tibet); Ninawa Pai Da Mata, Chief of the Huni Kuin (Brazil)

Headline Speakers: Minna Salami, Tony Riddle, Bruce Parry, Glennie Kindred, Charles Eisenstein

Music headliners: Sam Garrett, Nessi Gomes, Etherwood, Ayla Nereo, The Human Experience, Fia, Laboratorium Piesni, El Buho, and Fanna Fi Allah

Returning to the stunning natural landscape of the Wasing Estate near Reading for its fourth year, 17-21 August 2023, Medicine Festival – an alcohol and drug-free event - offers a remedial alternative to the archetypal rock n’ roll hedonism that permeates the UK festival season.

Remi Olajoyegbe, Co-Founder of Medicine Festival, says: “With indigenous elders once again headlining our event, this year’s festival will be a Mecca for wellbeing, ceremony, world music, dance, sacred activism, nature connection, multicultural arts and a joyful celebration of diversity. 

“Medicine is proud to be part of a growing global movement that is reigniting the ancient ways, reviving natural healing modalities, pioneering land-based technologies, bridging cultures and embracing the interconnectedness of all life as we strive to revive our planet at this critical time.”

Expanding in response to popular demand for 2023, Medicine will increase its numbers on site from 3,500 to 5,000 this year. Reflecting this expansion, new areas will include:

  • Soil & Soul: a space for learning permaculture and land-based skills
  • The Nest: a hidden woodland venue hosting cross-cultural folk music
  • Ubuntu: showcasing changemakers and undiscovered talent from the African Diaspora
  • Sacred Sound Temple: holding voice/sound workshops and medicine music performances
  • Gwynns Grove & The Haven: for tantra, sexuality, men’s/women’s, queer, non-binary and LGBTQ workshops

Ceremonies, rituals and healing workshops will be facilitated by indigenous leaders from across the world, including lauded “Rockstar of the Forest” Ninawa Pai Da Mata, chief of the Huni Kuin tribe (Brazil), a gifted musician and shaman; Anthar Kharana from the Colombian tradition; Juan Carlos Taminchi from the Andean traditions (Peru); Christiana Aro-Harle from the Tuvan tradition (Finland); Tibetan monk, Tulku Lama Ahbay Rinpoche; and elders from the British Isles, such as Chris Park (Druidic tradition) and Annie Spencer.  

A C.I.C and not-for-profit organisation holding the principle of reciprocity at its core, Medicine’s founding principle is that all profits each year go towards empowering indigenous peoples to preserve and protect their land, traditions and wisdom.  Finally making a profit for the first time in 2022, Medicine has so far donated over 33K to selected charities like Survival International and Amazon Watch, and a variety of exciting projects across the globe, including a cultural restoration initiative for the Yawanawa tribe in Brazil and a programme providing education for Tibetan monks. “Four years in the making, we are delighted that the prayer of Medicine has finally become a reality,” says Zak Avery, Co-Director of Medicine Festival.

The eclectic mix of music at this year’s event will encompass world music, folk, electronic dance and sacred songs from different global traditions. Headliners include: Sam Garrett (UK), Nessi Gomes (UK/Portugal), The Human Experience (USA), K.O.G (Ghana), Laboratorium Piesni (Poland), Fia (USA), Ayla Nereo (USA), Fanna Fi Allah (Sufi music, USA), Awaré (Yugoslavia),  Etherwood (UK), DJ and climate activist El  Buho (UK), and London-based Somali artist, FaceSoul.

Talks and workshops with leading thought leaders, changemakers and environmentalists include feminist author and social critic Minna Salami, ‘Natural Lifestylist’ Tony Riddle, Bruce Parry, Glennie Kindred, Dr Rosalind Watts, Helena Norberg-Hodge, Satish Kumar and celebrated US countercultural philosopher, Charles Eisenstein (via Livestream). 

An enlivening Wellbeing Programme plays host to ecstatic dance legends Kareem Raihani (Amsterdam) and Mushina (Portugal), Movement Medicine maestro Ya’Acov Darling Khan, and offers a diverse spectrum of  workshops and healing modalities - from yoga, meditation, breathwork and bodywork, to nutrition, forest bathing, reiki and massage.

Once again, the Family area, will offer fun games, creative activities, woodland adventures, storytelling and workshops for the youth in music making, bushcraft, foraging and sharing skills and inspiration for creating a healthier and more sustainable future. 

This year’s expanding range of cafes and street food will bring a tantalising mix of vegan and vegetarian food, aligned with the festival’s principles of regenerative and independent food production, plus vitalising cacao, elixirs and juices will also be available.   

Strolling through wild woodland, beautiful parkland and past tranquil lakes, you’ll encounter fantastical theatre, storytelling and comedy performances, thought-provoking film screenings and a colourful miscellany of walkabout performers, poets and fire jugglers.

Jenna Ansell, Managing Director of Medicine Festival, says: “We are excited to unveil our newly expanded 2023 event and hope you can join us to explore the myriad ways you can experience the medicine, and be the medicine, as we come together for this wondrous, ceremonial celebration of life.”

For more information, click here or head to www.medicinefestival.com