Peak District arts and music festival Lost In The Hills returns to remote location

Lost In The Hills is rooted in nature, music, creativity and the connections between. The festival will be based in the surrounds of the ancient stone-built Watts Russell Arms in Hopedale, near Alstonefield, and runs on July 8 and 9, 2023.

Organised by Creative Peaks, the festival will offer a diverse range of music including contemporary, world, experimental and folk.

Artistes announced so far include Elf Traps, featuring drummer Rob Turner (aka RT808 and formerly of GoGo Penguin) and synth master Liviv Gheorge; Yama Warashi who will perform Japanese folk dance, free jazz, African and psychedelic music; Balladeste comprising violinist Preetha Narayanan and cellist Tara Francis who blend traces of conemporary minimalism with Indian classical and folk.

Visitors to Lost In The Hills will be able to engage in connections between art and nature through inspiring workshops, eco-conscious craft stalls and links to local rewilding and tree-planting initiatives.

Live music performances, creative workshops and arts installations will be the focus of activities on Saturday, July 8. Designed walks in the beautiful countryside and improvised music sessions around an open fire will take place on Sunday, July 9.

Craft stalls, locally produced ales and ciders and delicious vegan and vegetarian food will be available on both days.

Set in an isolated location where you really will be lost in the hills, the festival site has no scheduled public transport within walking distance. There is no phone signal on the site so visitors will be treated to a mini digital detox!

There are two camping and caravanning sites within a mile of Hopedale for those who want to make the most of the great outdoors during the festival weekend.

Tickets for Lost In The Hills are now on sale at www.eventbrite.co.uk

Arts and music organisation Creative Peaks is based at Watts Russell Arms, which is located between Thor’s Cave and the River Dove. Creative Peaks hosts live concerts, jam sessions, arts workshops, literary events and artisan food events.

Upcoming concerts at Watts Russell Arms include Juliette Lemoine on April 27, Thomas Thinks on May 6, Stringbeats on May 20, Millicent Chapanda on June 9.

Creative Peaks’ debut Lost In The Hills festival was held in September 2022 and headlined by Shunya.

*In other festival news, Tramlines has added more acts to its line-up for Sheffield this year.Latest performers to be announced include the UK’s 2023 Eurovision entrant, Mae Muller. Sam Ryder road blocked the second stage in his appearance at Tramlines last year so Mae Muller is expected to follow suit!

Perrformances by Ella Henderson, Professor Green, shoegaze-Britpop outfit Chappaqua Wrestling, indie-rap punk three-piece Bilk and Pattern & Push 2022 winner, Sarinity Jones, will also light up the Tramline stages.

Shaun Williams Barrioke returns for 2023 and promises to pull in one of the biggest crowds of the weekend.There will be sing-a-longs galore with Hip Hop Karaoke and Tragedy - Heavy Metal Bee Gees from NYC, world music from The Mariachis and German oompah band Brasswurst.

Richard Ashcroft, The Courteeners, Paul Heaton and Jacquie Abbott headline Tramlines which runs from July 21 to 23 at Hillsborough Park, Sheffield. For tickets go to www.tramlines.org.uk