JAMES ACASTER, PETER TATCHELL AND THE SCHOOL OF LIFE TODAY ANNOUNCED FOR GREENBELT 2012

Latest acts cement Greenbelt's position as the strongest and richest programme on the festival circuit
24th - 27th August 2012 - Cheltenham Racecourse

Announcing new additions to the increasingly rich programme, Greenbelt festival stands firm in its position as the leading family festival of arts, music and spoken word in the UK.  World-class producer, multi-instrumentalist and 'astonishing' musician Nitin Sawhney will headline Greenbelt 2012, joined by long-standing Scottish legends The Proclaimers, comedy geniuses Robin Ince and James Acaster and literary masters Jenn Ashworth and Kate Charles.

Greenbelt is also proud to announce this year's festival programme will feature talks from prolific campaigner Peter Tatchell and Israeli journalist Gideon Levy, BBC Radio 4's hit show Any Questions to broadcast live plus much, much more. Greenbelt Festival takes place from 24th-27th August at Cheltenham Racecourse. Tickets are on sale now and available from the festival website HERE.

MUSIC
Greenbelt is thrilled to announce Nitin Sawhney will join revelers to perform his distinctive, versatile and spectacular sounds that have solidified his reputation as one of the most talented practitioners of his generation. Firmly established as a world-class producer, songwriter, DJ, multi-instrumentalist, orchestral composer and cultural pioneer and having collaborated and written for the likes of Sting, Sir Paul McCartney, Sinead O'Connor, Ellie Goulding, Cirque Du Soleil, Sawhney will be an unmissable festival experience for 2012. 

Legendary Scottish rockers The Proclaimers will be bringing a mixture of classic hits including iconic tracks "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" and "I'm On My Way" and brand new material from their next studio album Like Comedy, due for release on Cooking Vinyl this May.  

The Leisure Society will tantalise crowds with their bouncing bass, flurries of flute and jazz drums that have earned them considerable critical acclaim, including an Ivor Novello nomination. Other confirmed acts include new British female artist Jose Vanders who has been dubbed as the new Regina Spektor; American soloist Abigail Washburn; alternative rock band In Case of Fire, "Nu'folk" duo Megson; effortless folk sensation and recent supporting act for Mumford & Sons, Rachel Sermanni; talented pianist Luke Leighfield plus Brighton-based band Tom & Olly. 

COMEDY
Greenbelt welcomes back Robin Ince with his razor-sharp analysis of human endeavor, scientific discovery and dreadful literature. James Acaster brings his anecdotal, interactive and brilliantly funny stand-up. Having recently appeared on Russell Howard's Good News and a tour with Milton Jones, Greenbelt festival-goers are in for a comedic treat this year.

LITERATURE
Greenbelt presents a diverse offering of literary figures speaking at this year's festival including Jenn Ashworth who lept into the spotlight as one of the BBC Culture Show's Best New Novelists; bona fide rocket scientist and prolific writer Dr. Simon Morden and distinctly-British-in-style-but-US-born writer Kate Charles. Poetic performances will be brought to Greenbelt by the likes of Harry Baker who won a Poetry Slam at the Edinburgh Fringe festival and TS Elliot Prize winner, Philip Gross. 
 

TALKS
Greenbelt is thrilled to announce a plethora of the most remarkable speakers from the UK and beyond creating what is fast becoming the most exciting and rich programme to be found under the folds of a festival tent. Cultural thinker and faculty member of The School of Life, Roman Krznaric will offer instruction and inspiration on the important questions of everyday life. Campaigns Director of 38 Degrees, Hannah Lansborough will also be sharing her perspective on campaigning (particularly online) in a democracy. As part of the festival's focus on criminal justice Guardian columnist and writer Erwin James, will speak about his experiences of serving a life sentence and his tireless work on prison reform. 

For the first time, BBC Radio 4's hugely popular panelist programme Any Questions will be hosted at this year's Greenbelt festival featuring personalities from the worlds of politics, media and elsewhere, to be aired live on Friday 24th August. 
Prolific campaigner for human rights, democracy, LGBT freedom and global justice Peter Tatchell, will be appearing at this year's festival. Tatchell is a member of the queer human rights group OutRage!, the Green Party’s spokesperson on human rights plus campaigns for human rights in Britain and beyond through his own Peter Tatchell Foundation.  

Further additions include Israeli journalist Gideon Levy, contributing editor at Q-News Abdul-Rehman Malik and former bishop of Durham Tom Wright. 

FILM
Today Greenbelt announces a number of carefully selected films, both new and classic to be screened at the festival. Confirmed titles include Terrence Malick's cult American independent film The Tree of Life starring Sean Penn and Brad Pitt; 1972 environmentally themed science film classic Silent Running; and Gore Verbinski's 2011 American animated feature Rango, which won Best Animated Feature at the Oscars last year and stars Johnny Depp as the voice of Rango. Greenbelt will also host its very own Greenbelt Oscars with further announcements soon to come plus Tipping Point Film Productions will present challenging, truth-telling cinema documentaries that combine the popular appeal of film with ambitious international campaigns.

Tickets are now available from the Greenbelt festival websiteor via 020 7374 2760. Prices are fixed until 30th April 2012 and adult weekend tickets are £99.00; adult concession weekend tickets are £68.00; under  18 weekend tickets (5 to 17 years) are £55.00; family weekend tickets (2 Adults, 2 Under 18s) are £259.00; single parent family weekend tickets (1 Adult, 2 Under 18s) are £165.00 and infants (0-4 years) go for free.   

- QUOTES -
“No matter who you are or where you come from or what you believe in, if you’re open-minded and care about the arts, or think for yourself and forge your own opinions, you’ll be at home in this place.” Artrocker 

“Britain’s greatest festival... The content, the opportunities to be challenged, affirmed, welcomed and angered as well as entertained and introduced to new things... it’s enough to make me nostalgic the day after it finishes.” The Huffington Post 

“I believe in dialogue, and that’s what Greenbelt is all about.” Peter Tatchell 

"Have to say, Greenbelt totally surprised me... after Glastonbury, my favourite festival this year.” Mark Thomas

“I was deeply impressed by the mood and spirit of the festival. Most people were Christians and almost all had some religious faith but there was absolutely no dogmatism. Everyone was welcome and there was a shared spirit of belief in justice and caring.” Clare Short

“I believe in dialogue, and that’s what Greenbelt is all about. ” Peter Tatchell 

“People here are very questioning, not merely of other people, but of their own thoughts and beliefs too. It’s a very thoughtful festival." Robin Ince

“Greenbelt was an eye opening experience. Here was a Christian festival where I was made to feel welcome and included. Here were people, like me, committed to a better world, where poverty and injustice were no more and who were prepared to put their faith into action.” Mohammad Imran 

MUSIC

Nitin Sawhney, Bruce Cockburn, , Bellowhead, The Proclaimers, Seth Lakeman, Speech Debelle, Imagined Village, Megson, Abigail Washburn, Jose Vanders, In Case Of Fire, Rachel Sermanni, The Leisure Society, Tom & Olly, Luke Leighfield

COMEDY
James Acaster, Robin Ince 

LITERATURE
Jenn Ashworth, Phil Grieve, Harry Baker, Simon Morden, Kate Charles,Philip Gross FILM
Tree of Life, Silent Running, Rango, Greenbelt OscarsTipping Point Film Fund, Presents

SPEAKERS
Andrew Tate, Casper Melville, Giles Fraser, Mark Townsend, Kepow Theatre, Mary Grey, OperaUpClose, Richard Coles, Shane Claiborne, Tayo Aluko, Thomas Truax, Simon Mayo, Ruth Gledhill, Erwin James, Gideon Levy, Rita Nakashima Brock, Rose Hudson-Wilkin, Tom Wright, Lucy Winkett, Ian CronJohn Bell, Tess Ward, Diarmaid MacCulloch, Rebecca Parker, Dave Tomlinson,Kathy Galloway, Hannah Lownsbrough, Tess Ward, Kate Coleman, Abdul-Rehman Malik, Ruth Gledhill