Announcing new additions to the increasingly rich programme, Greenbelt festival stands firm in its position as the leading family festival of arts, music and spoken word in the UK. World-class producer, multi-instrumentalist and ‘astonishing’ musician Nitin Sawhney will headline Greenbelt 2012, joined by long-standing Scottish legends The Proclaimers, comedy geniuses Robin Ince and James Acaster and literary masters Jenn Ashworth and Kate Charles. Greenbelt is also proud to announce this year’s festival programme will feature talks from prolific campaigner Peter Tatchell and Israeli journalist Gideon Levy, BBC Radio 4’s hit show Any Questions to broadcast live plus much, much more. Greenbelt Festival takes place from 24th-27th August at Cheltenham Racecourse.
MUSIC
Greenbelt is thrilled to announce Nitin Sawhney will join revelers to perform his distinctive, versatile and spectacular sounds that have solidified his reputation as one of the most talented practitioners of his generation. Firmly established as a world-class producer, songwriter, DJ, multi-instrumentalist, orchestral composer and cultural pioneer and having collaborated and written for the likes of Sting, Sir Paul McCartney, Sinead O’Connor, Ellie Goulding, Cirque Du Soleil, Sawhney will be an unmissable festival experience for 2012.
Legendary Scottish rockers The Proclaimers will be bringing a mixture of classic hits including iconic tracks “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” and “I’m On My Way” and brand new material from their next studio album Like Comedy, due for release on Cooking Vinyl this May.
The Leisure Society will tantalise crowds with their bouncing bass, flurries of flute and jazz drums that have earned them considerable critical acclaim, including an Ivor Novello nomination. Other confirmed acts include new British female artist Jose Vanders who has been dubbed as the new Regina Spektor; American soloist Abigail Washburn; alternative rock band In Case of Fire, “Nu’folk” duo Megson; effortless folk sensation and recent supporting act for Mumford & Sons, Rachel Sermanni; talented pianist Luke Leighfield plus Brighton-based band Tom & Olly.
COMEDY
Greenbelt welcomes back Robin Ince with his razor-sharp analysis of human endeavor, scientific discovery and dreadful literature. James Acaster brings his anecdotal, interactive and brilliantly funny stand-up. Having recently appeared on Russell Howard’s Good News and a tour with Milton Jones, Greenbelt festival-goers are in for a comedic treat this year.
LITERATURE
Greenbelt presents a diverse offering of literary figures speaking at this year’s festival including Jenn Ashworth who lept into the spotlight as one of the BBC Culture Show’s Best New Novelists; bona fide rocket scientist and prolific writer Dr. Simon Morden and distinctly-British-in-style-but-US-born writer Kate Charles. Poetic performances will be brought to Greenbelt by the likes of Harry Baker who won a Poetry Slam at the Edinburgh Fringe festival and TS Elliot Prize winner, Philip Gross.
TALKS
Greenbelt is thrilled to announce a plethora of the most remarkable speakers from the UK and beyond creating what is fast becoming the most exciting and rich programme to be found under the folds of a festival tent. Cultural thinker and faculty member of The School of Life, Roman Krznaric will offer instruction and inspiration on the important questions of everyday life. Campaigns Director of 38 Degrees, Hannah Lansborough will also be sharing her perspective on campaigning (particularly online) in a democracy. As part of the festival’s focus on criminal justice Guardian columnist and writer Erwin James, will speak about his experiences of serving a life sentence and his tireless work on prison reform.
For the first time, BBC Radio 4’s hugely popular panelist programme Any Questions will be hosted at this year’s Greenbelt festival featuring personalities from the worlds of politics, media and elsewhere, to be aired live on Friday 24th August.
Prolific campaigner for human rights, democracy, LGBT freedom and global justice Peter Tatchell, will be appearing at this year’s festival. Tatchell is a member of the queer human rights group OutRage!, the Green Party’s spokesperson on human rights plus campaigns for human rights in Britain and beyond through his own Peter Tatchell Foundation.
Further additions include Israeli journalist Gideon Levy, contributing editor at Q-News Abdul-Rehman Malik and former bishop of Durham Tom Wright.
FILM
Today Greenbelt announces a number of carefully selected films, both new and classic to be screened at the festival. Confirmed titles include Terrence Malick’s cult American independent film The Tree of Life starring Sean Penn and Brad Pitt; 1972 environmentally themed science film classic Silent Running; and Gore Verbinski’s 2011 American animated feature Rango, which won Best Animated Feature at the Oscars last year and stars Johnny Depp as the voice of Rango. Greenbelt will also host its very own Greenbelt Oscars with further announcements soon to come plus Tipping Point Film Productions will present challenging, truth-telling cinema documentaries that combine the popular appeal of film with ambitious international campaigns.
