Many happy returns? Houghton Festival

Where to go: Houghton Festival

When I first arrived at Houghton in 2024, a friend who had attended the festival three years running welcomed me with a simple prediction: “This won’t be your last time here.” He couldn’t have been more right. Curated by Craig Richards and set in the Norfolk countryside, Houghton is unlike any other festival I’ve experienced. While there are other genres on display, it is an electronic music festival at its heart, with everything from disco and house to techno, electro and ambient on offer. This year’s line-up has already given me a headache over where to be – a great problem to have. There are simply too many names that deserve a mention, but the likes of Jane Fitz, Raresh, and Reptant are my must sees. The setting and environment deserve a special mention. A beautiful lake, open fields and a mystical forest are paired with some of the best sound systems and stage design the UK has to offer. Stages such as The Earthling and Stallions deliver clear audio throughout the dancefloor, while the 24-hour Terminus keeps its line-up secret and operates a strict one-in one-out policy. Hidden in a pit beneath the trees, it’s an experience I thoroughly recommend. Houghton’s commitment to continuous music and extended DJ sets means there is no rush. Whether you’re out at 2pm or 6am, the festival will move at your pace. This Thursday will be my third consecutive year at Houghton, and I can say with confidence it won’t be my last. Tickets initially sold out instantly, but there are now some back available on RA. This is a decision you will not regret.

Album of the week: The Richest Man in Babylon – Thievery Corporation

Following Washington DC duo Thievery Corporation’s return to Camden last week with a fantastic show at The Roundhouse, I found myself revisiting The Richest Man in Babylon. Released in 2002, the album initially divided critics but has since stood the test of time and grown into one of the duo’s defining records. Instead of the instant hooks or attention-grabbing choruses typical of so much of the music released today, its understated rhythms and layered production gradually draw you in for a smooth listening experience. Tracks such as Un Simple Histoire, All That We Perceive, The Outernationalist and Meu Destino move between sounds of bossa nova, reggae, jazz and downtempo electronica, demonstrating the broad nature of Thievery Corporation’s production. If you haven’t heard it before, stick this album on in the background while cooking, on a long drive, or simply during a slow evening.

Artist of the week: Hope Sandoval

Some voices simply stop you in your tracks, and Hope Sandoval’s is one of them. The Los Angeles-born singer came to prominence as the lead vocalist of the alternative-rock band Mazzy Star, whose 1993 breakthrough track Fade into You remains on my playlists for late nights all year round. Sandoval’s music creates a dreamlike atmosphere that is both comforting and melancholy. Whether with Mazzy Star, Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions, or alongside other artists like Massive Attack and The Chemical Brothers, her thought-provoking songwriting and captivating vocals consistently shine above the music. If you’re discovering Sandoval for the first time, the 2016 release Let Me Get There is a fantastic place to start before working through the rest of her catalogue.