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By Matt Cresswell
NORMAN KEMBER, Daniel Bedingfield and the Poet Laureate Andrew Motion will all feature at this weekend’s Greenbelt festival.
Now in its 33rd year, Greenbelt has yet another packed schedule of arts, politics and entertainment all set in the light of the Christian Gospel. Highlights include peace activist and former Iraqi prisoner Norman Kember who will share his story in an interview on Bank Holiday Monday at 10.00am.
Also, Jim Wallis, author of the highly acclaimed God’s Politics, will be present addressing issues such as the Iraq war and political activism. Gordon Brown recently described the US pastor’s book as “powerful reading for anyone interested in social change.”
On the music scene Daniel Bedingfield is set to perform from his top selling album and seems to have made a full recovery from his near fatal car crash in New Zealand two years ago. Maria McKee — who has written with the Dixie Chicks, Steve Earle and Feargal Sharkey while also appearing on the Pulp Fiction soundtrack – is also set to entertain. Top jazz musician Courtney Pine will on Saturday take his unique blend of contemporary upbeat jazz to the masses. Pine was an inspiration to young black musicians after enjoying success with his debut album “Journey To The Urge Within” in 1987.
In addition there is also a strong line up of artists and performers including Jon McGregor, the Bermudan-born author, who will share from his latest novel entitled So Many Ways to Begin and Andrew Motion, the Poet Laureate who will discuss In the Blood – A memoir of my Childhood.
For many years Greenbelt has been Britain’s largest arts festival. It has provided a platform for artists, musicians, church leaders and politicians alike. But Greenbelt has also suffered a certain amount of bad press; especially when a white witch was invited to speak in the early 1990s. For many, however, it remains just a refreshing inspirational weekend break.
This year’s Greenbelt festival termed ‘Redemption Songs’ runs from today until August 28 at Cheltenham Racecourse.
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