HowTheLightGetsIn Festival returns to Hay-on-Wye this May, bringing with it a bevy of big thinkers and big ideas.
With the strapline of being the world's biggest philosophy and music festival, HTLGI - a festival name with admirable nods to both Leonard Cohen and Rumi – may have debuted an urban version in London last September, but comes home to the Herefordshire/Welsh border between May 24 and 27 as it celebrates its 10th year.
As always there’ll be a medley of talks, live music, panels and communal feasts taking place across the weekend.
New for 2019 is the zeitgeist-y theme of Tribal Truths and New Wisdom with debates on populism, people power and ideas that underpin “our increasingly tribal world”.
The first line-up of speakers has already been announced and includes Roger Penrose, physicist, mathematician, philosopher of science who collaborated with Stephen on general relativity, spacetime and black holes; Helen Lewis, deputy editor of the New Statesman; Massimo Pigliucci, podcaster and Professor of Philosophy at CUNY-City College New York; Dr Joanna Williams, commentator and author of Women vs Feminism; and Nicky Morgan, Treasury Committee chair and former Education Secretary who's in town to discuss equality and difference.
You’ll find details on 2019 debates as they are released here: howthelightgetsin.org/hay/ideas-and-culture/debates.
And if you’re looking for a little live music to wash down all that existential thinking, rest assured the festival planners will deliver. HTLGI has previously brought Hot Chip, Ewan Pearson, Rae Morris and Maribou State to Hay-on-Wye.
Pictured below: Roger Penrose, Dr Joanna Williams, Helen Lewis.
Tickets for the HowTheLightGetsIn Festival are on sale now. Weekend tickets with camping will set you back £158. Student discounts are available.
There are also opportunities to volunteer with stewarding, sign writing, site team and publicity roles available, or to get involved through commissions.
Keep an eye on the HTLGI line-up as new speakers and debates are announced at howthelightgetsin.org or follow #HTLGI on social.
Images © Institute of Art and Ideas