If you’re aged 18 to 25, it can feel as if society is leaving you behind: shouldering you with massive educational debt; giving you less and less opportunity for mobility; and pricing you out of the housing market. It can feel like ‘progress’ (whatever that means) is faltering for the first time for your generation.
At Greenbelt, we think that 18 – 25 year-olds deserve a break. And so that’s why we’re pleased to offer massively subsidised weekend tickets (thanks to our Angels’ support). Because we have a hunch that Greenbelt might just be one of the most important and fun places to be at the start of your adult life – fuelling you with ideas and energy about arts, faith and justice which can last a lifetime.
Our whole programme has a more youthful edge this year. But in particular, here are just eight highlights we’ve picked out.
- A special Reception for 18-25s (with fizz!)
Friday night in The Little Big Top. - The Little Big Top venue … all weekend
We’ve moved and re-programmed this corker of a venue with you in mind – with great after hours club nights (including Ultimate Power on Sunday night), up and coming indie bands in the late afternoon and evenings and a sprinkling of great comedy too (see below).
- The Canopy – after hours live music each night
As the Glade mainstage evening headliner winds down, we’re taking things up a gear in the Canopy venue each night with great live music energy from the likes of CC Smugglers, Apo and the Apostles and Jasper in the Company of Others. Enough with the beard stroking. It’s time to dance!
- The Jesus Arms and the Blue Nun
Our very own Greenbelt licensed premises onsite, serving up great beers, ales and ciders, fine wine and local gin too. All independently run and independently spirited.
- A cracking comedy bill
Featuring sets from Zoe Lyons, Bilal Zafar, Ella Al-Shamahi, Peter Bazely, Katie Pritchard, Jonny and the Baptists, Paul Kerensa, Harry and Chris. - Hot House Debates each day
Fruity explorations in some of the big issues of the day – Brexit, Fake News, and Religion and Violence – with impassioned speakers on all ‘sides’ of the ‘argument’. Generating some real heat, we hope the Hot House debates will shed a lot of light too. - Spoken Word
Our very own 18-25-year-old slam poetry champ Harry Baker once again curates a bill of stellar spoken word artists, this year featuring Bridget Minamore, Gecko, Erin Bolens and Toby Campion. It’s the new rock ‘n’ roll. We all know that.
- Fantastic feminist content
With our brand new Red Tent, GRRRL headlining on Monday, a great gender balance across the whole bill – Glade mainstage included (bucking the trend in terms of festival music billing).
These are just a few thoughts. But the whole programme is there for you to explore and enjoy – from mind-blowing ideas to fantastic theatre and circus, from beautiful outdoor projections to the quiet of a Quaker meeting.
Greenbelt features that perfect balance between safety, security and homeliness on the one hand and provocation, the unexpected and the out-of-this-world on the other. You can relax and be yourself at the festival. You can have fun. Lots of it. You will make new friends and deepen old friendships. You can also be surprised and changed.
And best of all, thanks to the support of our wonderful Angel donors, we offer a hugely subsided weekend ticket for all 18 to 25 year-olds – still only £103 for the three-and-a-half day festival!