Houghton Festival returns for 2024

ELECTRONIC MUSIC fans rejoice as Houghton Festival, the five-day, 24-hour-music festival returns this August.

Spearheaded by Craig Richards, this festival doesn’t have any old setting, it’s hosted in the forest grounds surrounding the Marquess and Marchioness of Cholmondeley’s 18th-century stately home, Houghton in north Norfolk. 

The magical setting (complete with Antony Gormley sculptures) combined with the lack of phone reception (cue digital detox), music programming, as well as woodland and warehouse dance floors transforms this stately setting into an electronic music paradise.

Houghton Festival. Photograph by Jake Davis.

Running from the 8th to the 11th of August, expect debuts from the likes of Dopplereffekt live, Mala, African Head Charge live, Actress and Alabaster De Plume live, Barker live, Daniel Avery, Grace Sands, James Massiah live, John Tejada with Reggie Watts live, Or:la, Orgazon, Sherelle, Skee Mask, Serge (Clone), and more. These sit alongside returning regulars from Craig’s contacts book (built up over 30 years) including Hannah Holland, Dan Beaumont, Wes Baggaley, Ricardo Villalobos, Peach, and Pearson Sound.

Houghton Festival. Photograph by Jake Davis.

On the evolution of the festival, Craig says, “Every festival makes its own journey, ours has been extraordinary and unique on so many levels. Two super years where we experienced a vision of the future and gained a loyal following. A subsequent three years of cancellations due to an unimaginable storm and COVID-19. We returned on a hot and dusty year, determined to re-engage with our audience and our statement. Every single step of the way we focused on belief and longevity. It made us stronger and more determined.”

He continues, “Last year we felt that we came nearer to the festival we envisaged eight years ago whilst it was in its infancy. We are incredibly proud of our yearly gathering in Norfolk, it felt logical that we consider 2023 year one and therefore in many ways just the beginning. Every year we evolve our presentation of this long-term project and with this in mind we are delighted to present the music programme for Houghton year two (in its eighth year).”

Houghton Festival. Photograph by Daisy Denham.

For unadulterated fun, all-hours, the music will run for 24 hours with DJs – equipped to play vinyl to the highest spec, of course – who have been allocated longer set times, with multiple sessions across the weekend, and surprise back-to-backs. 

Houghton’s ongoing collaboration with d&b audiotechnik creates a fully immersive sound experience, as each stage has its own unique sonic, whether in the woodland or the temporary warehouse; and if that’s not enough, expect a 360-degree Soundscape system in the warehouse complete with screen-based visuals for a hypnotic Houghton trip. 

There’s plenty of culture too, as festival attendees can check out Houghton Hall’s sculpture park which is currently home to Antony Gormely for their art fix – this art complementing the festival’s own creative commissions, wellness area, and food offering.

by Felicity Carter

Tickets for the full weekend are available on the RA site.

Address: Houghton Hall, Kings Lynn, Norfolk.