Emmanuel Jal and Jazz Jamaica join line up at Greenbelt '05.

THE CARIBBEAN big band sound of Jazz Jamaica and the African rap of Emmanuel Jal - the ex-boy soldier from Sudan - are the latest attractions to be added to the Greenbelt bill. Said festival director Beki Bateson, "This is music that is fresh, it's vibrant and for us is an expression of the sheer wealth of diversity and culture that Greenbelt celebrates. The award-winning Jazz Jamaica have driven us wild at Greenbelt with their intoxicating riffs before - it's great to see them back with their new line up and album. As for Jal, when you've been one of the thousands of child soldiers used in the Sudan civil war, seen your mother die, trekked for hundreds of miles back home, been adopted by an aid worker - only to see her killed too - and won an American Gospel Music award, then you've got a right to make some noise as to why Geldof wouldn't let you play on the main Live 8 stage. Having shown them who's boss and blown The Eden Project gig away instead and landed Ridley Scott to make a film of his incredible life, we are truly honoured to have Jal bring his mixture of infectious hip-hop and African flavours to our stage."

Greenbelt 2005 has as its theme this year Tree Of Life. The world's longest running Christian arts festival will take place at Cheltenham Racecourse from 26th to 29th August. Musicians already announced to play at the event are Carleen Anderson, Mutemath, Superhero, Duke Special, Matt Redman, Johnny Parks, No More Horses, Gilles Peterson, Tim Hughes, Juliet Turner, Kendall Payne, Aradhna, Hen, Note For A Child, Supervision, Titus and Paul Field. For more information visit www.greenbelt.org.uk.
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