OUT & WILD 2026 LINE UP

MIRI is an Artivist; Vocalist, Songwriter and Performer with her own unique style of outspoken and soulful pop. She has been heard on Radio X, BBC London with Jasmine Dotiwala and BBC6 Music with Gemma Cairney in addition to countless independent and community stations such as Get in Her Ears, Soho Radio, and Resonance FM.

MIRI’s music unfolds narratives inspired by her everyday experiences. Her songs delve into themes of political injustice and the multitude of challenges we confront both within ourselves and in the world around us. .

MIRI was one of 64 voices on the LOUD Women single ‘Reclaim These Streets’ raising money for Women’s Aid UK and joined LOUD Women founder Cassie Fox on Radio X to talk with John Kennedy about the release and cause.

MIRI’s previous performances include Arts and justice festival Greenbelt, 100 Club for The Official Bob Marley Birthday Celebration, Brighton Pride, Southbank Centre, online festival Pxssy Pandem Relief curated by SELF ESTEEM and Kelli Blanchett also raising money for Women’s Aid. She accompanied Poet-Campaigner Lady Unchained during her TEDx Talk and performed in prisons along with a Q&A on LGBTQ+ issues. In 2024 MIRI sang for the Guinness World Records ‘Let Her Music Play’ campaign at the Embassy of Brazil - part of the longest live stream concert with music only by women and non-binary composers.

“HER RASPY SIREN-LIKE VOCALS COMBINED WITH A POLITICAL YETVULNERABLE TONE MAKES MIRI A TRULY UNIQUE ARTIST.” CASSIE FOX

(FOUNDER OF LOUD WOMEN)

Big Mambo (the lesbian version of Riot Women!) rocked the stage last year and had everyone up and dancing, so we are delighted they are returning.

An all-female Bristol powerhouse! They blend original funk and rock, with groove, soul and serious attitude. With uplifting vocals, tight harmonies and infectious hooks, they bring big energy to the stage and prove just how powerful a band of women can sound!

Jenny Ball is a dynamic UK-based country singer celebrated for her high-energy performances and powerful, emotionally charged vocals. With a voice that commands attention and a presence that lights up the stage, Jenny has carved out a place as one of the most exciting emerging talents in the British country scene.

Proudly part of the LGBTQIA+ community, Jenny brings authenticity, inclusivity, and heart to everything she does, connecting with audiences through songs that speak of love, resilience, and self-expression. Her performances blend modern country flair with classic storytelling, creating an experience that’s as uplifting as it is unforgettable.

Whether performing at festivals, live music venues, or special events, Jenny Ball delivers a show bursting with energy, passion, and personality making her a standout voice in contemporary country music.

Kaysha Louvain is a Welsh singer-songwriter, musician, and creative entrepreneur whose work bridges powerful storytelling with a distinctive blend of retro pop, rock, and country influences. Known for her soulful voice, authentic songwriting, and dynamic live performances, she has established herself as a prominent independent artist and an influential figure within the Welsh creative community.

Louvain’s music is widely recognised for its heartfelt narratives, powerful vocals, and genre-blending style. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, and K.D. Lang, she creates songs that are both deeply personal and universally relatable. Her songwriting often reflects life experiences, resilience, and emotional honesty, turning personal stories into compelling musical moments.

Her music has earned several accolades, including chart success on Indie Top 39 and multiple BBC Radio Wales Welsh A-List placements, solidifying her reputation as an award-winning songwriter and performer.

Alongside her music career, Louvain is the founder and driving force behind TIWN Media, a platform created to champion independent and grassroots creatives. Through this work she has helped provide visibility and opportunities for emerging musicians and artists across Wales and beyond, further establishing herself not only as a performer but also as a passionate advocate for the creative community.

Ellathea is an indie acoustic artist from the Southwest, making music that’s honest, emotional, and easy to get lost in. Growing up around music, songwriting quickly became her way of making sense of things—turning thoughts and feelings into something she could actually hold onto.

Her songs are rooted in real experiences, but they’re written in a way that feels relatable to anyone figuring life out as they go. With soft, expressive vocals and simple acoustic arrangements, Ellathea creates a sound that’s both gentle and powerful. Her lyrics are where everything really comes together—raw, reflective, and sometimes a little gut-wrenching.

Inspired by artists like Florence Road and Lizzy McAlpine, her music leans into themes of love, loss, and that weird in-between stage of growing up where nothing quite feels certain. A lot of it comes back to the feeling of not fully fitting in—and trying to be okay with that.

At the end of the day, Ellathea just wants to make music that feels real. Something you can sit with

Lynette Frances is a multi-talented vocalist, guitarist, entertainer and songwriter. Lynette brings experience and a powerful, distinctive voice to every performance. 

From classic Nashville gold to modern Americana, her diverse setlist is designed to get you moving—which is no surprise, as she is also a qualified line dance instructor! Whether you're here to dance or just enjoy some great music, Lynette Frances is ready to take you on a journey through the very best of country music.

Born in Venice, Italy, Ariela learnt to mix on the decks of the legendary Turnmills club back in the 90s, playing vinyl and mingling with DJs like Tony de Vit & Blu Peter.

Having held many residencies at clubs such as Renegades, REW, Warriors & Kaos, Ariela recently came out of retirement for her new residency at @FLIRRT London and has since been asked to play at many other LGBTQ club nights!

Back for his third year and back by popular demand. 

Justin Drag returns! 

If you remember his spontaneous blind date game, just wait: next year we’re taking it even further. He’s hosting all weekend with high-energy chaos, a full cabaret show and now we’ve added Singles Blind Date with Justin on the Sunday. Not one to miss.

Justin is probably the most well-known drag king in Wales at the moment.

Providing live vocals and hosting skills on a weekly basis multiple times a week, Justin has worked extremely hard to bring the talents of drag kings to the forefront of drag culture here inxci Wales. Whilst RuPaul's Drag Race UK doesn't accommodate drag kings yet, Justin would be a frontrunner if Mama Ru decided to change the rules.

Beyond her solo shows and live performances, Sikisa has made notable appearances on various television and radio programmes. 

Her credits include Live at Apollo (BBC), Comedy Central Live (Comedy Central), Stand Up Sketch Show (ITV2), Sorry I Didn't Know (ITV), Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club (ITV), The Dog Ate My Homework (CBBC), Pie And A Pint (Comedy Central), as well as podcasts and shows such as Off Menu, Evil Genius (BBC Sounds), Perfect Sounds (BBC Sounds), Wheel Of Misfortune (BBC Radio 1), The Leak and Mach Fest (BBC Radio Wales). In addition to her on-air work, Sikisa is a regular writer for BBC Radio.Sikisa has supported a number of acclaimed comedians on tour, including Michael Che, Kiri Pritchard-Mclean, Ed Gamble and Judi Love. In addition to her work on stage and screen, Sikisa leads the Soho Theatre Stand Up Labs Course, where she mentors young comedians and helps them refine their craft. She is herself an alumna of The Soho Theatre Young Company.

Vix Leyton brings the smash hit competitive anecdotes game based on the podcast of the same name. Welsh comedian Vix Leyton holds a bingo ball of surprise subjects and invites four of the UK’s finest queer conversationalists to spar with never-before-told stories, from the hilarious to the scandalous, to win points awarded by host and audience.

 'Lives up to its billing likening it to a fabulous dinner party. Punters feel they are among spontaneously funny friends rather than hearing well-rehearsed professional anecdotes. We know these stories – and this particular alchemy will not be repeated again' **** (Steve Bennett, Chortle.co.uk). 

Her performances are marked by a distinctive mix of observational humour, insightful reflections on identity, and bold storytelling. Sydney frequently draws upon her personal experiences as a blind and queer individual, captivating audiences across the UK with her sharp comedic routines. Her material, often rooted in her lived experiences of blindness, brings both laughter and a lasting impression to every stage she graces. Winner of multiple awards including Comedy Bloomers LGBTQ New Comedian Of The Year and a semi finalist of BBC New Comedy Award – Semi-finalist 2025

‘ A sharp wit – …There’s something of the Sandi Toksvig to her tone’ Chortle 2025‘Absolutely stunning and full of brilliant world-class jokes”.  Zoe Lyons 2025

During her years as a touring songwriter, she discovered her flair for comedic timing in moments between songs.  

Her latest show I Was Dancing In The Lesbian Bar was a  huge hit at the Edinburgh Fringe 2025. The show combines her three great loves: music, comedy, and lesbians.

Megs Kumari (they/ she) is a passionate dance instructor and performer with 11 years of professional experience. 

They are part of BollyQueer; a South Asian dance troupe who perform across the country, providing Queer representation and upending historically gendered dance styles. They have led classes and workshops across the UK, creating inclusive spaces where movement is a tool for self-expression. Megs is also the co-host of Obsessive Compulsive Dykes, a podcast exploring sapphic themes with humor and honesty, so expect a laugh while they’re breaking it down on the dance floor.

Megs will be leading 2 x  sessions on Bollywood dance and a flashmob.

Teapot Yoga is a part of Teapot Collective which offers online and in person accessible yoga, meditation, creative sessions, educational workshops and sharing circles.

They will be delivering the following wellness sessions

Chanting in Community

Join Charmaine (she/her) & Amy (she/her) from Teapot Yoga to chant mantras together. We’ll create sound together, healing ourselves and each other as we chant. This session will be a mix of gentle accessible movement, chanting and reflection. Please know that everything in this session is an invitation, Charmaine & Amy invite you to take what resonates and leave the rest. 

Holding Grief & Joy in the same breath

You are invited by Charmaine (she/her) & Amy (she/her) from Teapot Yoga to an embodied and creative exploration centered in yogic wisdom to hold both grief and joy in the same breath. During these challenging times with oppression pressing down violently on our communities, together, we learn how we can continue to centre joy as a means of resistance without neglecting the grief we feel. Joy is an essential practice that has been central to queer justice movements globally. This session will be a mix of meditation, gentle accessible movement, energy work, discussion and reflection. Please know that everything in this session is an invitation, Charmaine & Amy invite you to take what resonates and leave the rest. 

The Breath & Body

Join Charmaine (she/her) & Amy (she/her) for a session focusing on the breath. You’ll be guided through a number of breathing practices (pranayama) as well as getting into the anatomy of the breath and its relationship to the body. Expect to feel more connected to your body through the breath as well as more spiritually connected to yourself and the collective. We’ll focus on how the breath can support us to move from a place of stability and strength. Please know that everything in this session is an invitation, Charmaine & Amy invite you to take what resonates and leave the rest. 

www.teapotcollective.com

Instagram: teapotcollective

Tamsin Logan Ward will be running NEW  Cardio drumming sessions. Drums4Health offers a unique cardio drumming experience that combines music, movement and fun, suitable for all ages and fitness levels (including those with limited mobility). Using specially designed drums for fitness, our sessions enhance cardiovascular health and mood, while helping you find your rhythm. We make exercise accessible, inclusive and social.

Drums4health is about more than just exercise. Our sessions are fun, social, and inclusive, creating welcoming spaces filled with laughter and friendships. No matter who you are or what you do, our sessions offer a joyful way to improve wellbeing and make new friends. We welcome all fitness levels and abilities, with seated options available for those with limited mobility.Drums4Health – Bringing people together through the energising power of cardio drumming.

Ro Harstad (she/they) is a Senior Yoga and Meditation Teacher Trainer, Master, Empowerment Coach, Clinical Hypnotherapist and Relaxation Specialist with over 20 years of experience supporting individuals and communities to restore, thrive and reconnect with joy.

Ro creates inclusive, nourishing and playful spaces designed to uplift and empower. Herfestival classes blend therapeutic yoga, deep relaxation and light-hearted fun — inviting everyone, regardless of experience to breathe, move and feel held in community.

As a proud lesbian and LGBTQIA+ advocate, Ro’s work is rooted in radical inclusion, trauma-informed practice and joy as resistance. Whether you’re stretching out under the sky, finding stillness in savasana, or laughing your way through a playful flow, her sessions centre belonging, softness and celebration of  who you are.

Come as you are. Move how you feel. Leave a little more at home in yourself.
@myrelaxationcoach | www.myrelaxationcoach.co.uk

Izzy Wagner is the Founder and Head Coach of Queer Confidence Coaching, an online fitness community dedicated to empowering LGBTQ+ women through strength, self-compassion, and confidence. With over eight years of experience in the fitness industry, Izzy has helped clients around the world transform not only their physical performance but also their relationship with food and body image.

Her coaching philosophy centers on creating an inclusive, supportive space where queer women can thrive free from judgment and traditional fitness stereotypes. Together with her team, Izzy provides personalized 1:1 online coaching that blends evidence based training with body positive and identity affirming support.

Izzy is very excited to lead and motivate at the festival with some fun, accessible and motivating workouts! Isobel Wagner | #1 Gay Women’s Fitness Specialist🏳️‍🌈 (@izzywagnerqc) • Instagram photos and videos

Hi, I am Vera! I am a Nutritional Therapist and a Yoga teacher but before all of this, I was a registered nurse for 7 years!

In February 2020 I qualified as a Nutritional Therapist and started my 200 hours Yoga Teacher Training with Rosie Iles-Jonas (Y O G A | doyouromthing).

In my invaluable experience as a nurse, I had the opportunity to observe how lifestyle, eating habits, the quality of food, movement (or lack of), breathing patterns and self-awareness have an immense impact on someone’s health outcome. Health for me means vitality, being in charge of your body and being able to live your live to its full potential. I have found in nutrition and yoga the tools to revisit in order to go back to that healthy state and help other people do the same.

Hatha yoga originated in India more than 5000 years ago and was originally taught as a healing system for the mind and to prepare the body for seated meditation. In Hatha yoga, a series of asanas (poses) are practiced together with breathing techniques (pranayama) and meditation. 

My classes include a series of postures and gentle stretches connected in a slow flow that guides you into deep relaxation, through fun and light-hearted sequences. Attention is paid to the breath, used as a calming and grounding tool. My classes are suitable for beginners with plenty of options and modifications offered. It’s also appropriate for any other advanced yogini or yogi who wants a calming, relaxing class that will leave you feeling energised and, at the same time, rested.

Laureline is a hatha-trained yoga instructor, having graduated with the Life Centre in Manchester. She is passionate about how movement, breath, and mind can empower us to cultivate strength, stability, and confidence in our daily lives.

Her classes emphasise breath-led movement, prioritising steadiness over speed. She advocates for inclusivity in yoga, breaking down the myth that flexibility is required. Her practice welcomes all bodies, using props and variations to support safe and enjoyable participation.

Alongside yoga, Laureline is also a running coach. Through leading run groups, she creates an inclusive, supportive space where queer women and non-binary folks can safely experience freedom and joy through running, while building connection and community together.

She believes yoga and running beautifully complement one another, empowering us to live the lives we want for ourselves. Whatever the medium, no one is left behind—whether on the mat or on the run.

Another Out & Wild favourite experience is forest bathing. Katie Wilkinson is back to run daily sessions.

Katie is a gay woman from East Devon and has been immersed in nature conservation for over 20 years.

In recent times she has begun a journey of more heart led work which is all about supporting people to deepen their relationship with nature for their health and wellbeing and for the sheer joy of it! You can find out more about Katie here: Nature & Therapy | Forest Bathing Directory or follow on Insta@nature_connection_with_katie

Katie will be leading several Forest Bathing sessions throughout the weekend which will aim to slow you down, recharge your batteries and to find the joy in connecting deeply to yourself, to others and to nature.

Originally as singer/songwriter, Angela Cooper discovered the therapeutic power of Sound Healing over 20 years ago, training with the British Academy of Sound Therapy in the UK. She has worked with other leaders in the field in the US, France and Spain in the use of Tuning Forks, Voice and Gongs and the vibrational energy of Colour.

She is also a qualified counsellor and funeral celebrant, based in Manchester.

Sound Baths

'Everything in life is vibration' Albert Einstein

Join Angela for a nurturing Sound Bath, where you will be bathed in the magical sounds and vibrational energies of Crystal and Tibetan Singing Bowls, Voice Toning and Indigenous instruments.

Lou Barrett is a dancer and dance teacher with a career spanning nearly 30 years. Lou trained in contemporary dance and is also a choreographer creating and touring the UK with her own performance company - all supported by Arts Council England.
In 2012 Lou hung her performing shoes up and opened the doors to her own studio - GingerFred Dance Studio in South Somerset. Lou teaches a wide range of classes from general dance fitness to social ballroom & Latin plus Argentine tango. Over a hundred adults come to the studio each week to get a fix of dancing - Lou very much leans in to the idea that dance and dance classes are enabling us to keep fitter and stronger, create a community of joy and it should be accessible to all - for Lou it is not at all about what it 'looks like but rather 'what does it FEEL like?' - Dancing should be for absolutely everyone.
Lou was also the director of Outset Festival - the LGBTQ theatre and music festival at the BrewHouse Taunton and with funding from the Arts Council Lou also directed Tallulah Theatre for women identifying as Queer in the South West.
Lou is excited to be bringing her dance workshops to Out and Wild - creating a dancing space that is a celebration of everyone finding the joy in same sex partner dancing - as it should be.

Evan Curwen is the founder of The Healing Pathway, a holistic healing service offering counselling, mindfulness, breathwork, and inner child healing. Their work is trauma-informed and neurodivergent-friendly, with a strong focus on supporting nervous system regulation in safe, compassionate, and grounded ways. Evan will be offering breathwork sessions at Out & Wild Festival, inviting participants to connect with their breath, reconnect with themselves, and build a deeper sense of awareness within. You can learn more about Evan and the work they do at: 

www.thehealingpathway.uk 

Please note, although Evan commits to creating safe and inclusive spaces where all are welcome, breathwork may not be suitable for everyone. This can include people who are pregnant, have epilepsy, serious cardiovascular conditions, respiratory conditions such as severe asthma, a history of psychosis, or who are currently experiencing acute mental health distress. If you’re unsure whether a session is right for you, you’re warmly encouraged to get in touch to discuss this beforehand. If you are interested in participating in the breathwork sessions at the festival and have any questions please contact Evan at hello@thehealingpathway.uk

Claudia (she / they) is a trained qigong instructor and meditation teacher who runs wellbeing sessions with the NHS, businesses and mental health centres, as well as LGBTQIA+ specific mindfulness sessions online and in person. 

Claudia's focus is on making qigong sessions accessible and inclusive, uplifting, mindful, gentle but strenghtening and beneficial for physical and mental health and fitness. 

Ruth (she/her) is a kundalini yoga and yoga nidra teacher, circle facilitator with a focus on somatics, the nervous system and the impact of trauma on the body. 

She is currently studying to become a somatic coach. Ruth’s passion is creating safe enough community space for the LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent communities. Through safety comes the ability to re-regulate our nervous systems and heal from trauma through genuine community connection. 

Ruth offers in person community yoga classes and queer circles in Worthing, West Sussex. Ruth loves all forms of body based movement that support connecting to body sensations, to bring awareness to them and shift and release what no longer serves. Dance, shaking, exercise, yoga all offer invitations to connect to the body and our nervous systems 

My name is Ailsa, and I’m a Welsh outdoor instructor based in North Wales. I’ve spent much of my career working in the outdoors through climbing instruction, mountain walking, and scrambling. After stepping away from instructing for a few years to train in carpentry, I found myself gradually drawn back to the mountains and to working with people in natural spaces. That pull led me to create Siwrnai — a practice rooted in journeying, curiosity, and reconnection through the outdoors.

Through Siwrnai, I facilitate experiences that support people to slow down, reconnect with nature, and find moments of calm away from the busyness of everyday life. Alongside this, I founded Queer Hiking North Wales, helping to build a supportive and inclusive community in the Welsh mountains. Creating spaces where people feel safe, welcomed, and able to be themselves is central to my work.

At the Out and Wild Festival, I’ll be guiding Shinrin-Yoku (Forest Bathing) sessions — a gentle, sensory-led way of spending time in the forest. These sessions invite you to step out of the fast pace of modern life and into a slower, more attentive way of being. Rather than hiking from A to B, forest bathing is about letting your body lead: following your curiosity, tuning into your senses, and allowing the landscape to shape the experience. My role in these sessions is to hold a safe, supportive space and offer light guidance, while nature does much of the talking. I aim to help bridge the gap between the busy “monkey mind” and a quieter, more reflective state — creating the conditions for clarity, calm, and reconnection with both self and environment.

I look forward to sharing this space with you at Out and Wild.

@siwrnai @ailsaorlik@queerhikingnorthwales 

Nicci Lou's been interested in neurodiversity since working with institutionalised autistic adults in the late 90s. After nursing for fifteen years, her career was cut short by a chronic pain condition. It would take another ten years to discover she was autistic and ADHD herself. 

Soon after, when solo travelling with her neurodivergent children, a woman in Japan told Nicci she’d been put on the plane vomiting in fear for her newly diagnosed AuDHD daughter. 

And so AmplifytoThrive.com was born - a platform that lifts up the voices of Trans inclusive Divergent Sapphics through the sharing of their stories.

As a speaker and ICF-certified Neurodivergent Specialist Coach, Nicci Lou supports you through coaching, community and videos in losing the mask and showing up authentically in life - whether you identify as neurodivergent or are masking from growing up in an unsafe home or being LGBTQIA+. 

Join her for Unmask Without Fear, a fun and interactive workshop where we even get to play with Lego to explore identity – because surprise: the mask never actually was a mask in the first place.

“I’ve worked with so many therapists and professionals in the past, some of them for extended periods of time, and having worked with Nicci for just a few weeks, the transformation she’s empowered me to make is life-changing.” Vicky  

Nicci Lou will also be hosting the Out and Wild Neurodivergent Mingle to chat, meet friends, ask questions, or quietly create alongside others. 

When not working, you’ll find her at the beach hiding from her home-educated children. Follow @bemorezebra.

Are you craving connection and community? A bit of queer joy? Or are you curious to find out: what exactly is a song circle? Song Circles are about more than just singing. They are about creating something beautiful together, enjoying the process as much as the end result, and valuing connection over perfection. A song circle welcomes all voices, from seasoned karaoke queens to those believing they can't sing at all (spoiler alert - you can!). Everyone is welcome to show up, sing out and be celebrated just as they are, while creating some amazing harmonies along the way. So with no solos, no music or lyrics to read and no pressure, what are you waiting for? Come and join the circle - let's make a joyful noise!

Kirsty is a natural voice song leader who firmly believes that everyone has the right to sing freely and joyfully, without judgement. They run Tea, Cake and Singing, a monthly queer Singing for Wellbeing circle in Liverpool, seasonal campfire circles in the local forest garden, a weekly Singing Mamas group, and as many pop-ups, demonstrations and workshops as they can fit around their kids and NHS job!

For 2026, I’ll be running hands-on portrait photography workshops centred around the festival theme of Connections. Participants will learn how to photograph each other using simple techniques for composition, lighting and expression - creating portraits that feel authentic and full of personality. Throughout the weekend, attendees will have the chance to capture portraits of friends, partners, or new people they meet.

Together, we’ll curate these images into a collective final piece - celebrating the connections made at Out & Wild. This will serve as a visual reminder of the community, shared experiences and stories woven across the festival.

Hannah Gamble, is a multi-award-winning portrait photographer with over 20 years of experience capturing natural, expressive and meaningful moments. Her work focuses on helping people feel at ease in front of the camera so their real personality comes through. Alongside running a luxury high street photography studio - Artis Studios, she teaches iPhone photography in a simple, accessible way, empowering people to take photos they truly love with the camera they already have.

Connection nourishes us — at work, in friendships, and in community. But sometimes, in the effort to stay connected, we lose ourselves. We say yes too quickly (and we can't say no), stay quiet to keep harmony, or take on more than is ours to carry.

In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore how to stay present and engaged without drifting away from your own voice, values, or boundaries. You’ll reflect on your default patterns in groups, how you respond under pressure, and the early signs that you’re starting to override yourself.

You’ll leave with practical tools and language to help you connect with clarity and steadiness — because real connection doesn’t require self-sacrifice. It requires staying anchored while you engage.

Cathryn has spent over 40 years helping people recognise their strengths, trust their instincts, and shape work and lives that feel genuinely aligned. She works with people from around the world to navigate change, reconnect with their values, and move forward with clarity and confidence.

With a background in leadership across corporates and tech start-ups, Cathryn understands the realities of modern working life — the pressure, the politics, the performance expectations — and the quiet ways people can drift away from themselves within it.

Warm, thoughtful and non-judgmental, she creates spaces where people can pause, reflect and recalibrate. Through her tailored coaching programmes, established in 2007, she supports individuals to make meaningful shifts — at their own pace and on their own terms.

Jane (she/her) began her adventure into trades in 2003 when she started out as a tiler. Fairly quickly she took herself off to college to learn plumbing and in the intervening 22 years she has added more skills to her toolbelt and more people working for her. She now runs a building company in Brighton & Hove which specialises in lofts, extensions, disabled adaptations and full renovations.

Starting out in trades, in a pre-YouTube age was really difficult. Information was hard to come by and advice almost always came with a heavy dose of patronising quips.

I would love to share any advice that I can to help women to gain the confidence they might lack in doing DIY around the house, or even to start up in trades.

The sessions will be aimed at the most common issues I am asked about and the jobs which I know that with a bit more knowledge, the customer could have done for themselves. From damp & ventilation to green ideas and planning permission, with some tricks of the trade thrown in, come along with your questions and I will try to answer them. Tools will be available to handle!

Discover the power of anonymous care in this 60 min creative sanctuary. Pocket Exchanges offers a space for connection without the pressure of visibility, performance or disclosure. Guided by Gillian and Bon, you’ll create small, anonymous offerings to be shared with strangers from a distance. Rooted in radical inclusion, this workshop centers on offering connection without disclosure, intentional kindness without obligation. It’s a low barrier practice of queer solidarity. The vibe is gentle , mindful, non performative and creative with absolutely no pressure. Giving and receiving secret acts of solidarity, affirmation and joy. A chance to pause, be still, connect, create and anonymously encourage our beloved community.

With a shared background in education and a passion for inclusive creativity, Gillian and Bon have a wealth of workshop experience that they look forward to bringing to Out and Wild 2026. From forest school, ancient folk crafts and weaving to modern textiles, mini zines, protest banners and more. They always aim to foster gentle, welcoming spaces for everyone to feel at ease and able to create. 

As former teachers and veteran workshop leaders, they have spent years honing the art of "meeting people where they are." Their practice is deeply rooted in trauma informed care and a compassionate awareness of mental health, ensuring that every session is a soft place to land. While the atmosphere is relaxed, they’ll gently challenge you to think in new ways and explore your creative edges. They strive for radical inclusion, no matter your background or ability, there is a space at the table for you.

Come along and join a creative stitch session. Learn how simple it can be to get creative and at the same time sample how we can use a creative process as part of our wellbeing and mindfulness practice. Fancy up your festival gear, stitch a patch if feeling brave, embellish, mend or just come and have a go. 

Join the ongoing ‘connect through cloth’ space, find us around the festival during the weekend. A drop in space come and join in with some stitching, meet and connect with others, quiet time out from overwhelm or a spot of mindfulness.

These sessions are all accessible to anyone, no experience of any kind required

Angharad is a visual artist and facilitator who uses creative practice to support wellbeing. 

In addition to their own artistic work, Angharad is deeply passionate about facilitating transformative, inclusive experiences for others - particularly young adults and the LGBTQ+ community. A no-rules school of creativity grounded in fun, experimentation, and open to anyone!

Angharad’s practice explores the intersections of creativity, nature, and wellbeing, How the arts can foster dialogue, healing, and regeneration in a time of social division and ecological urgency

"I believe creativity can be a vehicle for re-storying ourselves: exploring identity, personal narratives, and in particular, a way in which we can stitch ourselves together, personally and collectively." 

Connections: An Older and Bolder workshop for older LGBTQ+ people offers a warm and affirming space to share lived experiences, personal stories, and the social changes we have witnessed.

Together, we will reflect on the challenges, courage, love, loss, activism, friendships, and chosen families that have shaped our journeys. The workshop blends meaningful conversation with laughter and shared memories, supporting one another while honouring the strength of our community and celebrating the freedom to be more fully ourselves. It is a space not only for reflection, but for looking forward — for connection, joy, and the reminder that our stories matter.

Angela is a pioneer Feminist/LGBTQ+ campaigner and singer songwriter, based in Manchester, featured in the film "Invisible Women". A lifelong spiritual seeker, she holds interactive workshops on Intuition, and Sound Healing, Voice, and WiseWoman-ness, in the UK and abroad. She is also available for in person and Zoom intuitive oracle readings.

Want to be the next Banksy? This street art graffiti workshop is all about having fun, getting creative, and trying something a bit different — and no experience is needed at all. Whether you’ve never touched a spray can or you just fancy playing with colour and ideas, you’ll be shown the basics in a super chilled, supportive vibe. You’ll learn how to create your own stencil and spray your first street art masterpiece onto a poster to take home. It’s a great way to have loads of fun and make connections, meet cool, creative people, and hang out with others who just want to make art and enjoy the process together.

Jane Webb (aka JD) is a visual artist, designer, curator, prop maker and event organiser. She graduated from Central Saint Martins in 2006. She has since exhibited at the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Museum of London, including a public installation in Leicester Square, and her work has been featured internationally across press, TV, and radio.

Jane has been commissioned worldwide creating public light art installations and large-scale events, including Light Up for the London Olympiad and the Museum of London’s Electro-Late. She has also created film and TV props for numerous studios including Universal Studios, and historical props for organisations such as the Imperial War Museum and the National Trust.

She has received multiple awards, been shortlisted for the Inspire by Awards, Pride in the House, and the Future Design Awards, and won first place for the Moich Abraham Prize for Most Innovative Work.

In 2008, Jane founded Illumini, a not-for-profit organisation producing large-scale free public light art events in unusual subterranean places and supporting artists working with light. Illumini attracted more than 25,000 visitors. www.artistjanewebb.co.uk

Gong baths are always a firm favourite at Out & Wild.

This year we will have 2 sessions to keep up with demand.

Liz and Chris run The Harmony Hub, Holistic Community Centre in Chorley, Lancashire and offer affordable Sound Baths several times a week.

They also teach the College of Sound Healing Gong Practitioner course and have worked with Sound for many years in different forms. 

This year they are celebrating being together for 30 years by taking the Gongs further afield and look forward to meeting you in the Summer.

Have you ever thought about building your family in a way that fits your life, your energy, and your heart? 

Weekending is a unique approach to fostering—one weekend a month, same child, offering consistency, fun, and care without the full-time commitment. Whether you’re driven by a desire to make a difference, curious about fostering, or simply looking for a way to support a child in a way that works for you, this session will open up new possibilities. 

As a Weekender myself, my weekends are filled with pizza and Marvel nights, trampolining, and the occasional holiday—it's all about topping kids up with joy, stability, and connection. Many of our applicants come from queer families, and this program provides a meaningful way to create bonds, build community, and be the change in a child’s life. Join me to explore how a weekend a month could change everything—for you and for them.

Laurie Kilby is a qualified teacher, social worker, and co-founder of Now Foster, dedicated to shaking up the system and improving outcomes for children in care. 

As a passionate advocate for fostering, Laurie is also a Weekender to an amazing 15-year-old boy—an experience that she believes is the best thing about her. She’s on a mission to spread the joy of Weekending, a flexible and life-changing way to foster that fits into real lives. Whether you’ve never considered fostering or are looking for a way to make a difference, Laurie is here to show you how one weekend a month can change everything.

Finding Voice is a creative writing and poetry workshop led by poet Anna Williams.

The session creates a supportive space to explore voice, grief, and trauma through language, metaphor, and imagination.

Returning Our Grief to the Earth: A Communal Ritual of Release

Returning Our Grief to the Earth is a communal ritual inviting collective mourning, remembrance, and release.

Guided by earth-honouring practices and shared witnessing, we create space for personal, ancestral, and collective grief to be acknowledged, expressed, and gently laid down.

Using guided prompts and gentle writing exercises, participants are invited to write from lived experience or creative distance, with full choice over what and how they share. The workshop centres creativity, connection, and care rather than performance or critique. 

No previous writing experience is needed — just openness to exploring words as a way of making sense, meaning, and connection.

Anna is a poet and workshop facilitator whose work is deeply autobiographical and rooted in the human experience. They create sacred, held spaces where participants are invited to explore grief, loss, and personal transformation through writing and creative expression. 

Anna began writing as part of their own healing journey, discovering that the written word could carry what was too heavy to initially speak aloud. Their facilitation honors authenticity, giving people permission to voice their truth, feel their emotions fully, and engage in rituals of release and remembrance. Through their workshops and ceremonies, Anna guides others toward connection, reflection, and gentle reclamation of their stories.

DG Coutinho is an award winning Author. They landed the  Bloody Scotland Harvill Secker Crime Writing Award in 2021. They also  perform spoken word as DGC. 

They are the cofounder and MC of Boisterous Ravens  a spoken word event featuring  Black, Brown and Global Majority women and Non- Binary performers. 

They have co-authored  the  children’s book Activists In Action: Prudence Mabele  celebrating the life and accomplishments of the late AIDS activist with Naz Project London.

 They write short stories, and dabble in scriptwriting. Their Neuro’s are very divergent, they are, proudly queer, unapologetically LFC and their love of cheese and coffee verges on religious. Their  Black Lesbian protagonist twisty satirical thriller The Light and Shade of Ellen Swithin is their first novel and OUT NOW

Lifelong bookworm Ayse Huseyin is the founder of the Queer Girls Book Club: a London based group that spotlights and celebrates queer literature that centres the female, trans and nonbinary experience.

Appearing in BBC Radio 2’s Bookclub, Diva Magazine, The Brighton Bookclub Podcast, and The Coast Is Queer Festival, Ayse has had the privilege to interview many acclaimed queer authors as well as facilitate engaging literary conversations for 3 years now. 

She looks forward to making her Out & Wild debut this year.

Hunter returns to Out & Wild to host our ever popular Open Mic.

Hunter creates a safe and supportive space for people to share their poems, often for the first time, in front of an audience.

Hunter (she/her) is a slam winning LGBTQ+ poet, host and cofounder of The Big Queer Poetry Show. As well as performing at Pride in London, Winter Pride, Wembley Park Pride and live on BBC Radio, Hunter is proud to have headlined multiple shows and festivals throughout the UK. Her debut album My Colony's Keeper was released in 2023 and explores themes of social justice, identity, and her experience of navigating the world as a masculine-presenting lesbian.

After completing Mountview Theatre School’s post graduate acting course, Jane’s career flowed between acting, journalism, writing for TV, writing novels and non-fiction, filmmaking and content creation.

The thread that links all these disciplines is a love of words, expression and storytelling. 

 Work as a storyliner on Coronation Street was the segue from journalism into a long career writing continuing drama and developing original TV series. Jane is passionate about portraying queer characters and experiences in her work and the short films she’s written and directed have won awards at festivals in the UK and abroad. 

 Jane’s first novel, Maddie & Anna’s Big Picture, was published by Diva Books. She recently published her second novel, I Miss You Already, which is the result of work started on a Faber writing course. It’s a rite of passage story that sees 17-year-old Cleo question everything she thought she knew about her future after a chance meeting with Nicole on a school exchange trip to France. 

 Her non-fiction book Inside Story: How the News Works, published by Templar, won the SLA Award in the 8-12 year-old category and the Judges’ Choice Award in 2025.  

Jane also teaches a scriptwriting module as part of UCA’s BA (Hons) Television Production course.

Find out more at JaneMarlow.com

Grace Flahive was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. She studied English literature at McGill University in Montreal before moving to London in 2014, where she’s lived ever since. 

Palm Meridian is her debut novel. A rollicking, big-hearted story of long-lost love, friendship, and a life well-lived, set at a Florida retirement resort for queer women, on the last day of resident Hannah Cardin’s life.

Natasha Carthew is an award winning working-class Author and Activist. 

Her new book Rough Edges: Where Land Meets Water, the Untold Stories of Coastline Communities publishes with Sceptre/Hodder June 2026.

Natasha is known for writing on many socioeconomic issues, rural poverty and working-class representation in literature and nature writing for several publications, podcasts and programmes including ITV, The Royal Society of Authors Journal, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, The National Trust, The Bookseller, The Guardian, The Quietus, The Observer, Mslexia, Writers’ & Artists’ Yearbook, ALCS, The Big Issue, Dispatch Media, The Campaign to Protect Rural England and The Economist.

ABOUT ROUGH EDGES Beyond the picture postcards, Britain's coastal communities are suffering.Crowds flood the beaches during summer heatwaves but they quickly vanish again, leaving behind drifts of rubbish and unstable seasonal jobs. Seaside property is in high demand but affordable only for landlords and gentrifiers. The cost-of-living crisis and the ongoing pains of austerity trap those at the vulnerable edges of our nation in poverty.

Having grown up in rural Cornwall, Natasha Carthew leaves the county in search of a new home. Travelling the country and exploring the villages, towns and cities of our coast, she meets the people fighting to keep these places alive. With fierce compassion, she shares their voices and their stories.Rough Edges is a rallying cry for the beauty and importance of our coast and its people

Charlie Bingham is a UK based author of The Life Affirming Magic of Birds. 

After completing a degree in archaeology at the University of York, Charlie began to reconnect with nature in her mid 20’s. She found that birds especially seemed to have the ability to help her through difficult times and made it her life’s mission to share her love and passion with a wide audience.

 She also works in event management and runs her own writing workshops.

Dr Lena Mattheis (they/she) is a lecturer, podcast host, and expert in literary studies at the University of Surrey. Lena specialises in queer and trans literature and has recently completed a monograph titled Queer Forms and Pronouns: Gender Nonconformity in Anglophone Literature (Oxford University Press). 

Since April 2021, Lena has been hosting the Queer Lit podcast and has recorded conversations with Sara Ahmed, Alison Bechdel, Susan Stryker, Diana Souhami, and many other inspiring thinkers and writers.