Greenbelt festival

The Greenbelt festival is the largest Christian arts and music festival in the world, taking place annually in England during the last bank holiday weekend in August.

Related Topics:
Christian - Music festival - England - Bank holiday weekend - August

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Since its start in 1974, Greenbelt has grown from a youth event, to which 1500 people came, to seeing crowds of nearly 30,000 in the mid-1980s. It now has a focus that is much broader than youth. The festival regularly attracts the biggest names of Christian music and many mainstream musicians. Those that have played the festival in the past include old rockers, new folksters and soaring pop-stars. That has encompassed U2, Cliff Richard, Bruce Cockburn, Steve Taylor, Daniel Amos, Over the Rhine, Iona, Amy Grant, Miles Cain, Lamb, dfg, Lambchop, Goldie, Jamelia, After the Fire, The Polyphonic Spree and Delirious?.

Related Topics:
1974 - 1980 - U2 - Cliff Richard - Bruce Cockburn - Steve Taylor - Daniel Amos - Over the Rhine - Iona - Amy Grant - Miles Cain - Lamb - Dfg - Lambchop - Goldie - Jamelia - After the Fire - The Polyphonic Spree - Delirious?

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Greenbelt is also a venue for teaching and discussion around (but not exclusively) the Christian faith, and has attracted some of the best Christian speakers in the world, including the Archbishop of Canterbury who is now the festival's patron. However, it is not just about inviting Christians to speak. The festival welcomes anyone who speaks for justice, and has recently had Anita Roddick, Peter Tatchell, Bill Drummond and Billy Bragg sharing their thoughts. Greenbelt has never been shy of tackling controversial issues and providing a safe space for honest debate.

Related Topics:
Archbishop of Canterbury - Anita Roddick - Peter Tatchell - Bill Drummond - Billy Bragg

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More recently with its links to the NGO Christian Aid, Greenbelt has become heavily involved in campaigns for trade justice. The festival was one of the main catalysts for the huge Jubilee 2000 movement. Greenbelt is also a showcase for performing arts, visual arts and alternative worship, again, not exclusively Christian.

Related Topics:
NGO - Christian Aid - Trade justice - Jubilee 2000

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Greenbelt has been staged at a number of different venues in its history. In 1999 it moved from open green field sites to the more permament facilities of Cheltenham Racecourse. For various reasons (including a one off move away from its traditional August Bank holiday weekend), it attracted under 5,000 die-hard Greenbelters. However it has grown each year since and in 2004 was attended by over 17,000 people.

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