Jodrell Bank’s Bluedot festival has announced that Björk will be its closing headliner, performing the world’s first audio-visual orchestral show.
The performing pioneer will be joined by The Hallé Orchestra at the Unesco World Heritage site, accompanied by a projection mapping spectacle. Bluedot runs from 21st to 24th July and in recent years has attracted some global bands, from Kraftwerk to Pixies and Flaming Lips to Gary Numan, as well as leading scientists and broadcasters.
The performance will feature video and animated projections on the iconic Lovell Telescope, for a unique show exclusive to Bluedot. It will be the first-time audiences at Bluedot have seen the dish of the 76m wide Lovell Telescope surface transformed into a gigantic digital artwork.
In a career extending over four decades, Björk has won numerous awards and inspiring generations of artists to push the limits of their creativity.
With all arrangements by Björk, the new orchestral audio-visual work promises not only to be cutting-edge experimental music, but a spectacle and a Bluedot highlight.
Festival director Ben Robinson said: “After the postponements of the last two summers, we wanted to return with something extra special and unique.
“We spoke to Björk’s team about curating visuals to accompany the show and being the first confirmed artists to project onto the surface of the Lovell Telescope at Bluedot festival.
“Björk and her team are already working on this unique spectacle, and we are incredibly grateful for their enthusiasm for making the closing set of Bluedot’s return truly unique.”
Teresa Anderson, director of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement, added: “We’re delighted to welcome Bluedot back to its home at Jodrell Bank. Bjork is an artist who works on the creative common ground between art and science so it’s amazing that she will be headlining the festival, here at the UK’s home of astrophysics. We’re really looking forward to seeing everyone again!”
Bluedot was awarded best medium sized festival at the last UK Festival Awards in 2019 and its return following the pandemic hiatus has seen tickets expected to sell out fast. A limited number of day tickets have been released along with payment plans. Boutique campaign packages are also on sale.
Hundreds of artists and speakers are still to be announced across arts, culture, music and science.
Residents with local postcodes can get discounts.
See discoverthebluedot.com
