Greenbelt Festival returns to Cheltenham Racecourse on Friday August 26 with a kaleidoscopic line-up of musicians, comedians and speakers.
 | | Gilles Peterson |
The Christian-oriented event will feature Jazz Jamaica, Radio 1 DJ Gilles Peterson, soul diva Carleen Anderson and former KLF man Bill Drummond among the dozens of acts due to entertain its expected 20,000-strong crowd. Comedy fans can chortle at the antics of surreal comic Milton Jones and the irreverent Reduced Shakespeare Company, while those seeking more serious debate can hear speakers including Guantanemo Bay lawyer Clive Stafford Smith and environmentalist Colin Tudge. Life Tree of Life is the theme for this year's festival, which will be celebrating the Make Poverty History campaign on the Bank Holiday Monday. Drawing inspiration from the Wizard of Oz, we will follow the yellow brick road and learn why, when it comes to buying potatoes, we’re not in Kansas anymore. The festival will draw inspiration from the “Tree of Life” photo exhibition, whichs deals with the legacy of Mozambique’s civil wars, and reflect on HIV/AIDS in Africa through Don McCullin’s “Life Interrupted” exhibition. Want to be an artist? Ex-KLF’s Bill Drummond will be talking about his strategy to subvert the cultural landscape with his show "How to be an Artist". Other speakers confirmed so far include theologian Richard Giles, Fr. Richard Rohr and Bishop James Jones. The worship will range from the alternative to the contemplative, including Asian fusion’s Pal Singh, Canada’s Aradhna, and Matt Redman, Johnny Parks and Tim Hughes. New attractions this year include the Big Top venue, which boasts a 24-hour cafe and a dedicated youth stage. Day and weekend tickets are available, with discounted entry for locals bringing proof of their GL postcode. Full entry and line-up info can be found on the Greenbelt website (see link on the right). | 
