THE organisers of Greenbelt thanked festivalgoers for their “patience, kindness, and understanding” after heavy winds disrupted the start of the event which took place at Boughton House, in Northamptonshire, over the Bank Holiday weekend.
“We really have had all the weather this year, haven’t we? Wind, sun, rain, and more. It’s been a true Greenbelt baptism,” a message to supporters said on Monday.
After heavy winds delayed the opening of the venues located in the shelter of the site’s many trees, by Friday morning sunshine and warmer weather had arrived.
A press release confirmed that 10,500 people attended the festival, “in a year where many festivals have struggled; even closed”. A new venue, “No Fly Zone”, live-streamed talks and performances to reduce the environmental impact of flying speakers in from around the world. The Franciscan friar and writer on spirituality Fr Richard Rohr was one of the speakers who spoke on live-stream.
Jacob LoweFestivalgoers party into the small hours
Greenbelt’s creative director, Paul Northup, said: “Come wind and rain, Greenbelt battled all the weather at Boughton House last weekend to triumph in the face of adversity and gather 10,500 people of all ages and backgrounds together to celebrate the magic and meaning that can happen when artistry, activism, and belief are intertwined.”
Highlights in the festival programme included the Grammy-award-winning singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae, who performed her album Black Rainbows in its entirety on the main stage; the Bishop of Gloucester, the Rt Revd Rachel Treweek, who contributed to a panel discussion on criminal justice; and the Bishop of Ramsbury, Dr Andrew Rumsey, who performed his folk songs (Features, 23 August).
Other speakers included the economist Kate Raworth, the author of Doughnut Economics (Books, 28 June 2019), and the American writer Brian McLaren (Features, 10 May).
At the festival eucharist on Sunday morning, members of the Tent of Nations, a Christian peace project near Bethlehem, joined via video link.
Tickets for next year’s festival, from 21-24 August, are now on sale: greenbelt.org.uk/buy-tickets.