Episode 83: Greenbelt 2023 Review - beer, hymns, thems and us
Greenbelt Festival turned 50 this year. It is, quite possibly, the best festival in the world.
It used to be the coolest Christian music festival in Britain - which is a nice accolade, but, like being the coolest engineer at the felting workshop, perhaps one with limited meaning outside specific circles. But over the years, Greenbelt has translated the seminal courage that saw it host Christian rock and punk acts into a courage to engage with society and politics, to question ungodly orthodoxies in the Church and to create a space where all are welcome and all are encouraged to make the whole Earth welcoming, just and full of life.
There are also bands. Some you like, some you don't. There are people, some who are annoying, more who are ridiculously lovely. And there are things to do, from crafts and conversations to talks and gigs and happenings.
Through it all runs a seam of activism, a passion for justice and an affirming spirit that aims at more than allyship. It is a festival of solidarity and creativity, which happens to have (or perhaps 'naturally has') a high concentration of Christians (as well as spiritual folk, seekers, people of other faiths and none).
Greenbelt is good. And this year's expression was no exception. A space of queer freedom, leftist dreaming and agitation for a better, more loving way. Whether you are a he, she, they or other, you can belong at Greenbelt. Whether you're happy in the Church, a refugee from it or don't understand what the fuss is about, Greenbelt is a space for opening to the numinous and the transcendent.
Or it's just a time to chill, drink, boogie and bum around. It's kindof what you make it, but with a great well of depth and meaning just hidden in the trees, behind the [redacted]loos [we hilariously got a mail from the apparently insecure folks at Portaloo®, who reminded us that their name is a registered trademark and we should rather say something like “mobile toilet”], among the people you least expect it. It's a Kingdom festival and we love it.
What other Christian festival would have the words “Trans freedom! Trans power!” shouted from the main stage on the final night and see the audience roar their support? Greenbelt is different.
This episode was recorded on Saturday at Greenbelt, with a few reflections on Sunday thrown in after the fact. We discuss the acts we saw, the talks we attended, the vibe and the impact it has had on us. We talk beer 'n hymns, Ezra Furman, David Dark, LowKey Chali 2na, Harry and Chris and more. Come take a listen to get a sense of the vibe.
You can find out more about Greenbelt at greenbelt.org.uk
Greenbelt Festival 2023, from the perspective of Beer Christianity. We’re all influencers now.
You can listen to Episode 83 anywhere: on a piece of cement-strengthened hardwood coated in a centimetre of cotton wool that the glamping folks call ‘a futon-style mattress’, a hotel room near Kettering where people still wear wellies, a tent on site where random Karens tell you off for snoring in the night, or right here…
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Beer Christianity is an anti-capitalist, pro-BLM, pro-LGBTQ+, post-post-post-evangelical podcast where we drink a bit and talk a lot. Our aim is to be real, helpful and entertaining.
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There's a connected Show With Music on Spotify called New Old Music. Check it out if you like eclectic music and weird chat. It's not terribly serious.
Jonty's novel, Incredulous Moshoeshoe and the Lightning Bird, is not literature but it’s quite fun if you like Supernatural, Africa or the Goth scene.
We don't really want to preach at you, but some people like to know what we believe. It's this: Jesus Christ is the Son of God and came to teach us a better way to be while reconciling us to God and each other in a way we could never do without Him. He also changed water into wine. Nice.