Billy Bragg, [dweeb], Iain Archer for Cheltenham festival

THE GREENBELT Festival have confirmed their first bookings for this year's festival, due to be held at Cheltenham Racecourse from 26th to 29th August. Amongst the acts set to play are rock iconoclasts [dweeb], radical worship group the Rend Collective, popular singer/songwriter Iain Archer, jazz rap renegade Soweto Kinch, Scottish rock outfit Idlewild, Greenbelt omnipresent Martyn Joseph, mainstream folk singer Kate Rusby and singer and political activist Billy Bragg.

Speakers at this year's event include best selling author Rob Bell, political satirist Mark Thomas, theologian Brian McLaren, Christian Aid director Loretta Minghella and emerging church guru Phyllis Tickle. As previously announced Greenbelt is giving particular prominence this year to family and children events. Amongst the attractions are aerial theatre from Ockham's Razor, puppetry from Puppetcraft and dance workshops led by Britain's Got Talent finalists Flava. CR

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