Hay Festival 2022

An unforgettable celebration of the era-defining music of Amy Winehouse, performed by her original band. Led by Winehouse’s long-term musical director and close friend, Dale Davis, and fronted by his own choice of singer, The Amy Winehouse Band keeps alive her spirit, legacy and distinctive sound. With stunning on-screen visuals and unique footage, this immersive experience features Winehouse’s biggest hits. A truly special night out for fans.

Enjoy an enchanting afternoon at Hay Festival as author and playwright Michael Morpurgo is joined by actress Jenny Agutter and the world-renowned Brodsky Quartet in a unique celebration of music, poetry and the natural world.

In this one-off performance, Morpurgo brings us poetry inspired by the seasons, and blends it with lyrical narration alongside Agutter and a stunning interpretation of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. This is perfect for those who appreciate the meeting of story, music, and landscape – a performance that celebrates the harmony between art and nature.

An exclusive opportunity to see two creative icons in conversation. Dexy’s Midnight Runners frontman, Kevin Rowland, speaks to bestselling novelist, Irvine Welsh, about his astonishing memoir. Rowland takes readers from the juvenile courts of his troubled teenage years to the success of Dexy’s Midnight Runners in the 1980s. With searing honesty, he also recounts the lows – including a serious cocaine addiction that left him bankrupt. Rowland and Welsh discuss resilience after adversity, iconic moments in British music, and how it feels to have had a major impact on our culture. For music lovers and pop culture buffs, as well as those who want a ring-side seat to lively and candid conversation.

Poet, performer and recording artist Kae Tempest is one of the most electrifying voices in British culture. With his albums, poetry and plays, he’s captured the pulse of a generation. Here, Kae introduces his long-awaited new novel, Having Spent Life Seeking, a moving story about family, forgiveness and belonging. This event offers an unmissable opportunity to hear one of our most vital creative voices as he reflects on a life spent seeking meaning through art.

An intimate performance from the critically-acclaimed singer, Gwenno, featuring music from her latest trilingual album, Utopia. Gwenno sings in Welsh, Cornish, and English, creating a sound that’s both ethereal and powerful, and deeply rooted in cultural heritage. Her soundscapes fuse different musical genres into an immersive world of sound, captivating longtime fans and newcomers alike. An unforgettable event from one of the UK’s most original and compelling performers, in a night of music that will linger long after the final note.

Join award-winning author and journalist Sathnam Sanghera as he discusses his deeply personal and insightful exploration of the life, music and legacy of George Michael. For fellow fans, this is an unmissable chance to share your love of an icon. But this is much more than a musical celebration. Blending biography and cultural history, Sanghera reflects on fame, identity, sexuality, immigration and belonging in modern Britain. And he examines why George Michael’s story continues to resonate across generations, 10 years after his death. Expect humour, heart, and a fresh perspective on an unforgettable icon.

Get ready to rhyme, rap and ROAR with laughter!

Join former Children’s Laureate and poetry icon Michael Rosen and award-winning rap teacher and viral sensation, MC Grammar, for a riotous celebration of words. These two masters of language pit Raps against Rhymes in a high-energy carnival of poetry, performance and pure fun. Perfect for families and anyone who loves wordplay. It will leave you smiling, inspired and maybe even freestyling your own ridiculous rhymes all the way home!