SINGER Grace Jones, jazz star Gregory Porter, film director Richard Curtis, writers Philip Pullman and Jon Ronson, and politicians David Milliband and Alastair Campbell are among the big names set to appear at a new Oxfordshire festival.

Kite is billed as a “festival of music and ideas” and takes place at Kirtlington Park, near Bicester, from June 12-14.

This morning, organisers revealed the first names to play the three-day event.

Also appearing are musicians Mavis Staples, Sam Lee, Julien Chang, Penguin Cafe, This is the Kit, Sasha Keable, Whyte Horses, rapper Dizraeli, and Nigerian artist Seun Kuti.

Politicians Amber Rudd, Rory Stewart and David Lammy; cook Thomasina Miers; Journalists Paul Greengrass, Helen Lewis, Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Marina Hyde; screenwriter Jez Butterworth; psychoanalyst Susie Orbach; and broadcaster Emma Freud complete the line-up.

Read more: Comedian Gary Delaney shares his top jokes ahead of Oxfordshire gig

Organisers have emphasised the importance of talks and discussions as well as live music, and the festival, organised by the team from Love Supreme and the news website Tortoise, is set to be poles apart from the county’s many other music-focussed events.

Witney Gazette:

Gregory Porter

A spokesman said: “Curated to give parity to music and breakthrough ideas, this first-of-a-kind event is a unique programme of live performances and interactive conversations to satisfy the most curious, inquisitive and cultural minds.”

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The facts:

  • Kirtlington Park, June 12-14 kitefestival.co.uk/
  • General Camping Adult (Over 30) £109.00
  • General Camping Adult (Under 30) £99.00
  • Premium Camping Adult (Age 16+) £149.00
  • Weekend No Camping Adult (Over 30) £99.00
  • Weekend No Camping Adult (Under 30) £90.00
  • Saturday Adult (Over 30) £45.00
  • Saturday Adult (Under 30) £36.00
  • Sunday Adult (Over 30) £45.00
  • Sunday Adult (Under 30) £36.00
  • VIP Area Upgrades £40.00 for day and £75 for weekend