Alexandra Palace is to welcome a new music and arts festival this weekend headlined by psychedelic American rockers The Flaming Lips.
Kaleidoscope promises something “different at every turn” as for the first time in 30 years the park and palace will be open for a festival.
People will be able to explore the nooks and crannies of the palace on Saturday (June 21) with some parts opened up to the public for the first time.
The Flaming Lips will headline the day festival, and over the last three decades few bands have been so brave, brilliant, and so fantastically strange as the Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots rockers.
From their beginnings as Oklahoma weirdos to their mid-90s pop culture breakthrough, to their status as one of the most respected groups of the 21st century, they have consistently pushed boundaries.
Twice Mercury Prize nominated Obaro Ejimiwe -aka Ghostpoet - will be joining Wayne Coyne and company on stage - however I’m not sure if he will be joining them in their famous giant plastic ball crowdsurf - with his only London show of the summer.
Since arriving in 2011 he has become recognised as one of the UK’s most unique voices, merging word-rich songwriting and modern story telling.
With the recent release of his fourth album, ‘Dark Days and Canapés’, a sold-out show at the Roundhouse and a new expansive sound, it could be something special.
But for me one of the most exciting acts haas got to be Dr John Cooper Clarke.
One of the country’s most important alternative voices, he shot to prominence in the 1970s as a punk poet and since then he’s worn many hats, from poet, film star, rock star, and broadcaster to comedian and social commentator.
The “I wanna be yours” poet from Salford combines a mix of classic verse, hilarious ponderings on modern life, good honest gags, riffs and chat.
Other highlights include indie rockers Mystery Jets, Canadian comedian Katherine Ryan and a host of food, drink and family activities.
Lets hope the first festival at the iconic park and palace in over three decades is the start of a long list of more to come.
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