We’ve told you all about the new site layout and venue changes for this year. But what about the programming on these stages, in these venues? Well, ahead of our first lineup announcements (next week), here’s a quick round-up of what to expect.
No Fly Zone
Having produced the No Fly Zone venue as a ‘proof of concept’ trial last year, we’re really excited to lean wholeheartedly into its potential for 2025 – curating the programme ourselves this year, with the presence and support of our longstanding main partner Christian Aid. The emphasis will continue to be on ensuring a global perspective and dimension, but our global contributors will often be anchored by Greenbelt festival favourites. We’re planning to livestream all we can from the venue this year, after having over 1,500 sign-ups for a just few sessions last year. We really do want to make the No Fly Zone feel like a microcosm of the festival at large. A condensed, exportable version of Greenbelt that can be enjoyed by people both in person, in the field, and online. And we’re very excited at some of the names and shows we’ve got lined up.
Rebel Rouser
We’re so pleased to be working with Hana and Ste at Art Mouse Promotions again on the curation of the Rebel Rouser stage. Over the years, they have worked to programme this newly emerging stage at Greenbelt such that it has become a firm favourite with many Greenbelters. Expect more of the usual mix of music, art and thought with a purpose. Exuberant, edgy, inclusive, grass-roots, and always punk-inspired. Like the loud and proud rebellious teenage sibling of the main programme, if you go down to the woods at Greenbelt, be sure of a big surprise. The Rebel Rouser will also host a number of successful submissions from our open call for programming.
Glade and Canopy
We’re really excited to be able to alternate between these two stages this year and to keep the music vibe strong in the main arena. The Canopy will be showcasing great acoustic and singer-songwriter acts by day and then, with slightly extended after-hours programming, it will feature not just one but two great live acts after the Glade mainstage headliner on Friday and Saturday nights, and then the show-stopping OK Chorale – with surprise special guests – on Sunday. While the Glade mainstage will platform a rich and diverse range of great music across the weekend of all genres, including our headline names. Not forgetting, of course, our Sunday morning Communion Gathering.
The Forum and Commons
Our new indoor performing arts space, the Forum, will host as many as three different theatre shows on Friday and Saturday*, as well as a late night after hours mixed comedy bill on Friday and Saturday. While our outdoor performing arts space, the Commons, will stage spectacular outdoor shows from the country’s leading circus and physical and dance theatre groups, with a mix of pop-up outdoor shows to boot.
*We will present fewer shows on Sunday because of our main festival Communion Gathering.
Pagoda and Hot House
Both with increased capacities this year, the Pagoda, sponsored by CCLA, will continue to showcase the big theological, philosophical and social justice issues of the day with leading thinkers, activists and writers. While the Hot House, sponsored by the Pickwell Foundation, will dig deeper into the climate crisis and its increasing intersectionality with migration by day, after hours transforming into the hottest ticket at the festival as the venue becomes our dance floor with great DJs each night.
Village Hall and Studio
Brought closer together this year in the Orchard at the centre of the festival village, these two workshopping venues offer a bewildering range of opportunities to just get stuck in. The Studio offers a rolling programme across the day of artist-led visual arts classes as well as drop-in crafting and making workshops for over 16s. While the Village Hall hosts everything from yoga to dance and from singing to poetry-writing workshops for all ages.
Hope & Anchor and Table
Serving up a dry bar with free-flowing conversation, our friends at the Methodists will once again be hosting the Hope & Anchor, with the aim of creating a safe and inclusive space for the sorts of real and necessary conversations and questions that just aren’t happening in our everyday communities – particularly with a young adult audience in mind. While our friends at Trussell and the URC are joining forces to create a cafe-conversation space called the Table, where they invite Greenbelters to listen to and learn from those with lived experience of poverty and those on the margins of church life, with a view to helping us think through how our churches need to change so that they are more welcoming and inclusive.
The Shelter and Wild Goose
Side-by-side in the Orchard, the Shelter provides the space for large-scale communal gatherings and ‘congregational’ experiential happenings of a wide variety of styles and traditions. While the Wild Goose venue, hosted by our friends from the Iona Community, is a smaller resourcing and workshopping space to dig into the concerns and practices of a modern-day life of faith lived in community – from peace-building to wellbeing and from worship to re-learning how to live a life in common.
The Den and Engine
Combined into a single, larger venue space this year, our youth venue will host a mix of workshops and shows across the weekend – as well as just being a space to chill and chat, complete with its very own tuck shop. Expect guest appearance from artists on the main festival bill as well as homegrown sessions like ‘Cake and Debate’. As well as late night DJs and Communion. Something for everyone, thanks to our friends in the URC Youth team!
