Combining critical thinking and challenging debate with diverse music and vibrant culture, HowTheLightGetsIn September 2021 is back for their first physical festival in two years
The event is taking place on the glorious grounds of Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath.
Billed as ‘the world’s largest philosophy and music festival’, the weekend will host over 200 events – bringing together internationally respected thinkers and a spectacular medley of musicians, performers and artists.
September’s theme is Dreams and Jeopardy, with headline speakers including human rights activist Shami Chakrabarti, economics commentator Grace Blakeley, award-winning journalist David Aaronovitch, founder of neurophilosophy Patricia Churchland, trailblazing feminist Laurie Penny, Tony Blair’s former speech writer Philip Collins, economist and broadcaster Linda Yueh and many, many more.
Shami Chakrabarti 
Roger Penrose 
Linda Yueh 
Gunes Taylor 
David Aaronovitch 
Chris Impey
London’s festival boasts a truly unique programme of debates for free-thinking minds.
With discussions designed to push the limits of what you know and speakers hand-picked for their creativity and insight, expect topics such as The Civilisation Trap, Memes All The Way Down and The Magic and the Mundane.
Expertly-chosen music and irresistible comedy are an essential part of all HowTheLightGetsIn festivals. The first names to grace this year’s line-up include South-West troupe Pattern Pusher (6Music, BBC Introducing and supported Wolf Alice & Supergrass), five piece Flood for the Famine (BBC Introducing) and CoCo and the Butterfields (performed alongside Bastille and The Fratellis).
With plenty more names to be announced shortly, these acts rival the best of any indie music festival.
HTLGI director and founder of the Institute of Art and Ideas, Hilary Lawson, comments: “Lockdown may have brought many activities and experiences to a halt, but it didn’t end the need for new ideas and original thinking or the importance of meeting and engaging with others. That’s why we’ve put on four online festivals and pioneered the first virtual reality festival experience with multiple simultaneous stages and a host of social events, bringing the charm of the physical festival to the online space.”
“We are delighted to now be returning to London in the magical setting of the grounds of Kenwood House on Hampstead Heath for our festival in September. However inventive the virtual reality space, nothing is quite like the real thing. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to a real world festival and a weekend of electrifying debate, music, comedy, and our legendary party atmosphere.”
Earlybird tickets for the full weekend are available now.
Students and under 25s are eligible for a 30% discount.
For details please visit https://howthelightgetsin.org/festivals/september
