Thursday, March 31, 2011

Top 20 Dance Tracks of Last 20 Years

Pete Tong

This year, Pete Tong celebrates twenty years in dance music and to mark this epic milestone Pete will be counting down the top twenty dance tracks from the last 2 decades as voted for by listeners to BBC Radio 1.

The below shortlist of 50 was generated by Radio 1 DJs, dance DJs and key industry figures nominating their top 10 dance tracks since 1991 - each track submitted was scored according to its place within those charts with the 50 highest scoring tracks making the longlist.

To familiarise yourself with the 50 tracks below, the dancefloor assassin Jaguar Skills has put together a stonking mix of the shortlist for your downloading pleasure!
:: Download Jaguar Skills' mix now!

Now it's over to you lot to vote for your favourite track from the 50 below so that we can compile the definitive top 20 dance tracks of the past 20 years - vote for your favourite now using the buttons below!

Top 20 Dance Tracks

Choose your favourite dance track of the last two decades

Thank you for voting. The final top 20 tracks will be revealed on Pete Tong's show at 1900 on 8th April and published online.

:: Please make sure you read the vote Terms and Conditions

:: More great things to celebrate Pete's 20 years in dance

Driving to this yesterday
Multiple listening
love it love it

Seun Kuti chats to Gilles Peterson. Son of Fela Kuti, and already a legend in his own right, Seun talks about his father, Bob Marley, his new album (which is produced by Brian Eno) & Arsenal FC. Plus, we preview some tracks from the new album.

There is also a selection of records that Gilles has found from recently clearing out his studio - from The Roots to Riton.

He also spins some fresh ones including Jacques Greene, Locussolus, Mic Newman and a Hudson Mohawke re-work of Jamie Woon.

Music played

  1. Zara McFarlane Thoughts

    White
  2. Gang ColoursVillage & City

    Brownswood
  3. Mic Newman The Fidelity

    Free Range
  4. Leila Don’t Fall Asleep

    Rephlex
  5. Jamie Woon Jamie Woon Lady Luck (Hudson Mohawke’s Schmink Wolf Re-fix)

    Candent Songs/Polydor
  6. Yann TomitaWe Travel The Spaceways #1

    Sony
  7. Jacques Greene Another Girl

    LuckyMe
  8. Hefner An Evening With Hefner Part 3

    Inertia
  9. Riton Hungry Ghost

    Grand Central Recordings
  10. Kutiman My Favourite Colour

    White
  11. Marvin Holmes & Justice Kwame

    Kon-kord
  12. Raz OlsherAfrica

    White
  13. Words & Music from Seun Kuti

    1. Seun Kuti & Fela's Egypt 80 You Can Run

      Knitting Factory/Because
    2. Seun Kuti & Fela's Egypt 80 Rise

      Knitting Factory/Because
    3. Seun Kuti & Fela's Egypt 80 The Good Leaf

      Knitting Factory/Because
    4. Fela Kuti Fela Kuti Look And Laugh

      Barclay
    5. Seun Kuti & Fela's Egypt 80 Mr Big Thief

      Knitting Factory/Because
    6. Seun Kuti & Fela's Egypt 80 African Solider

      Knitting Factory/Because
  14. TallBlackGuyWater No Enemy

    White
  15. Raphael Saadiq Raphael Saadiq The Answer

    Columbia
  16. The Roots The Roots Mellow My Man

    MCA
  17. Now That’s What I Call Bumps Vol 2

    1. Wagon Christ Oh I'm Tired

      Ninja Tune
    2. Débruit Lil Zurna

      Civil Music
    3. Devonwho Brushmetal

      XLR8R Download
    4. Ammon Contact feat. Mia Doi ToddEarth's Children

      Ninja Tune
  18. DJ Harvey presents Locussolus Throw Down

    International Feel
  19. Arthur Russell In The Light Of A Miracle

    Soul Jazz


Tuesday, March 29, 2011


ALL
ON
FACEBOOK
TODAY

SuperScrimpers: Waste Not Want Not

Series 1 | Episode 1 | SuperScrimpers: Waste Not Want Not

Super Scrimpers

Mrs Moneypenny tackles the wasteful Jain family from Birmingham, who spend a whopping £24,000 a year more than they earn.

After creating a shocking mountain of their excessive consumption in the Jain's own back garden, can Mrs Moneypenny persuade Dad to ditch his 4x4, and Mum to lay off the take-aways and new clothes?

The show also features top tips from Mrs Moneypenny's thrifty army of superscrimpers - including a pensioner with advice on how to make your pants last longer, and an aristocrat who makes pasta out of nettles.

Meanwhile, Mrs Moneypenny's human calculator Merryn Somerset Webb hits the high street, smashing the last taboo as she gets the great British public to reveal all about what's in their bank accounts and what they spend it on.

This programme will be on 4oD as soon as possible after broadcast.

On TV

Next On

Date Time Channel
Wednesday 30 March 8.30PM Channel 4
"I never wanted to be famous
I succeeded



I never wanted to be rich
I succeeded to degree level



I never wanted to be this age
It sort of came with experience



I never wanted to be good looking
Achieved at birth



I never wanted to be educated
I achieved in every school



I never wanted to believe in God
I tripped and stumbled into him



I never wanted to be a writer
I just started to reflect on life



I never wanted to be imaginative
It just happens as I strive to love



I never wanted to be comfortable
I had it once, before the faith began



I never wanted to be restless
I now choose it and yearn for it



I never wanted to be irritated
but now I refresh that irritation



I never wanted to be thirsty
then I discovered it in ever sense



I never wanted to be sexy
Thank you very much God



I never wanted to have a sense of humour
Then I discovered more than five senses



I never wanted to be vulnerable
I discovered it was a strength not a weakness



I never wanted to marry a rich woman
I think she is rich beyond compare



I never wanted to be beautiful
It took me 40 years to know
I was a beautiful human person



I never wanted to be in a band
I now have a great band of friends



I never wanted to be imperfect
I now know it is in synergy with beautiful



I never wanted to be on a road less travelled
I discovered it goes along with human development



I never wanted to be a great lover
I found it as a life mission



I never wanted to be disabled
I learned that I have abilities and disabilities



I never wanted an idol, mentor, guru, then
I met someone who said follow me
And that was all I ever wanted...................."




© Pip Wilson

Sunday, March 27, 2011

week-end
in the North.

Pea was my best man
Lyn Joan's Bridesmaid.

Longevity.

Did some great things
+Travel to the Lakes.

Never been to
The Lake District
for 40 years
lots of memories
Camping
walking
journeying
footpaths and
internally.

loved it

Also had the best ever
Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding
ever

I will post the place here soon
well worth a visit
and prices half of
London Town.

Wore words when I am back to
Wilson Mansions
Monday Night.


Saturday, March 26, 2011



If you’re looking for trouble
Here’s how to start
Blow up the theatres
Tear down the art
Burn down the libraries
And concert halls
Cut your jazz and ballet
And then cut off your balls
And be a serial killer of culture
A serial killer of the soul
If you’re looking for trouble
Take the artists you’ve got
Stack their works all around them
And torch the lot
The human soul is hungry
And so’s the human heart
The food and drink makes them feel and think
It comes from works of art
And the human soul without art
Is locked in a dungeon cell
If you take your knife and cut the arts
You can cut your throat as well
‘Cause you’re serial killer of culture
A serial killer of the soul
If you’re looking for trouble
Cut your grants to the poor
Seek out the old and sick
Cut them some more
Suffer little children
To go to school in hell
Then watch them burn your cities
And your country estates as well
‘Cause you’re a serial killer of Britain
A serial killer of its soul.

by Adrian Mitchell.


.

Friday, March 25, 2011

Greenbelt Festival / Blog / Greenbelt 2011: More Lineup Announcements

Greenbelt 2011: More Lineup Announcements

announcements2

Following our first lineup announcements a month ago, and the news about our programming for children in The Village yesterday, we're pleased as punch to announce many more names to look forward to, to get excited about, and to encourage the waverers to get their tickets for the best weekend of their summer!

Don't forget, get up to 20% off your ticket price by booking before April 30th!

We'll be reviving our Lineup section – greenbelt.org.uk/lineup – soon, with more information on all of these names, but until then, here are the new additions to Greenbelt 2011: Dreams Of Home…

Music

Joining Billy Bragg and Idlewild as headliners, we have gospel-soul legend Mavis Staples. The voice of the classic soul band The Staple Singers, Mavis's latest album "You Are Not Alone" was produced by Jeff Tweedy from Wilco and won her her first ever Grammy Award. Mavis Staples and her band will headline the Monday of the festival – book that Tuesday off work now!

Further new music bookings include The Unthanks, whose new album "Last" has been receiving rapturous reviews from the likes of Q, Mojo and Uncut. Singer-songwriter Grace Petrie has been championed by Billy Bragg and Emmy The Great, and BBC 6Music's Tom Robinson has dubbed her a "purveyor of political, lyrical vitriol". Gentlemen's Dub Club combine dub, ska and rap in a party-friendly mix, and Extra Curricular – having proved such a hit on the Underground stage last year – graduate to the Mainstage with their impeccable brand of funk, rap and soul. Add to that some visceral spoken-word Americana from Listener, rising stars of nu-folk Ahab, and high-quality Christian rap-rock hybrid LZ7, and Mainstage is going to be amazing.

Appearing elsewhere around the site, we have two outings for Martyn Joseph's songwriting circle The Rising, indie rock from Hope & Social, and another chance to catch Arun Ghosh, whose Asian-influenced jazz rocked the Big Top in 2010.

There's more to come, too… with full line-ups in Underground and Performance Cafe to be announced.

Talks

Our Talks programme is filling up too, with theologian Paula Gooder, HIV campaigner Margaret Sentamu, human rights campaigner and physician Sheila Cassidy, pastor and leadership advisor Kate Coleman, and Not For Sale's Dave Batstone speaking with Erik Lammerding, Senior Manager of Worldwide Developer Relations at Apple.

Plus talks from: Greenbelt evergreen John Bell, minister and activist Shane Claiborne, former helicopter pilot in the Israeli Air Force Yonatan Shapira, theologian and Methodist minister Inderjit Bhogal, Professor Emeritus of Cell and Molecular Biology Dr John Bryant, Episcopal priest Karen Ward, clinical psychologist Oliver James, Lutheran pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber, geneticist Dr Ruth Bancewicz, Christian Aid's Paul Brannen, Frontier Youth Trust's Bob Holman, Senior Lecturer in Theology and Politics Dr Luke Bretherton, Palestinian Lutheran Suad Younan, Senior Lecturer in Youth Ministry and Theological Education Pete Ward, Editor of the Latin American Bible Commentary Rosalee Velloso Ewell, peacebuilder Lia Dong Shimada, author Margaret Silf, and writer and minister Barbara Glasson.

Literature

We're very excited to announce our first names on the Literature bill as well. Stella Duffy is an author, playwright, performer and improviser, and has written novels including The Room of Lost Things, and her Saz Martin series of crime novels. Adrian Plass is a master at illustrating the amusing and ridiculous aspects of life as a Christian, and community poet Padraig O Tuama returns to Greenbelt with more lyrical insight.

There's a great array of novelists speaking about their work: Richard Beard, Mia Gallagher, Amy Sackville, Jari Moate, Nancy Matson, and RS Downie. There are also sessions from poets Kenneth C Steven, Andrew Philip, and European Poetry Slam champion Harry Baker. Plus short stories with Deborah Fielding, Andrew Tate on creative writing, poet and human rights lawyer Francis Khoo, discussions around this year's Big Read – Exile by Richard North Patterson – and Nicky Getgood, journalist, blogger and Digbeth enthusiast.

Performing Arts

Joining the Performing Arts programme are the brilliant Candoco Dance Company, who make contemporary dance for disabled and non-disabled dancers. Ben Moor is an accomplished comedy actor, whose storytelling show Coelacanth has received rave reviews since appearing in Edinburgh, and will be performed with a live music soundtrack. Plus, there's the chance for all comers to take part in the Scratch Panto – oh yes, there is.

Comedy

Joining Mark Thomas on the Comedy programme, stand up comedian and actress Jo Enright returns to Greenbelt. Jo has appeared in brilliant comedy shows like I'm Alan Partridge, Time Trumpet, Phoenix Nights and Lab Rats, and has been a favourite performer of Peter Kay. The Twist favourite Jenny Lockyer brings a full show, Folk On return at Last Orders and around the site, plus trusty favourites Get Up Stand Up and Last Orders.

Visual Arts

Willie Williams is the first announced name in Visual Arts, with his small scale works in glass and light contrasting with his enormous stage sets for U2, R.E.M and Lady Gaga. The Methodist Church bring their art collection to explore art depicting Jesus In The Everyday, the Angels of the North are a group of Leeds-based fine artists, plus there's a Where The Wild Things Are theme in The Hub, and The Scriptorium offers opportunities to illuminate the Greenbelt Gospel…

Film

The Film programme features dreams of home, and nightmares of paradise lost. From Toy Story 3 to Dirty Pretty Things, from 127 Hours to Street Kids United, the film programme is entertaining and provocative, with plenty more to distract you from the sunshine: Never Let Me Go, Of Gods And Men, Four Lions, Where The Wild Things Are, and The Unloved – with the Greenbelt Oscars and the new Children's Film venue The Village Screen also taking pride of place.

Worship

Those looking for new worship experiences will also find much to interest them, with Rend Collective, Wild Goose, Grace, L'Arche, Ikon and Visions providing different, original and unique ways to look for something deeper…

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Thursday, March 24, 2011



Join the Journey for Justice Program 2011

Register now!

Journey for Justice Youth Program

23rd (arrival) - 31st (departure) July 2011

Palestine


Youth leaders from and through the YMCA and YWCA movements around the world are invited to join the annual Journey for Justice Program in Palestine and Israel.


Watch Journey for Justice promotion video

Criterea / Remarks (read carefully):

  • Participants ages should be between 17 and 25 (up to 30 could be allowed for special cases).

  • No limited number of participants from one movement.

  • Participant must not necessary be YMCA or YWCA member / volunteer already, but should represent / be delegated or coordinate their participation with their respective YMCA/YWCA movements.
  • The JAI covers a large portion of the program costs, while participation still need to cover their VISA (to Israel, if needed in advance) beside the participation fees of 450 Euros.

  • Each participant, or his/her respective movement, covers his/her air ticket. Tickets should be reserved so as to arrive on the 23rd and departure on the 31st of July 2011.
Save our placards!

Save our placards!

When you make it to Hyde Park on Saturday afternoon, you could well be holding a bit of history in your hands. A project of the Museum of London and Goldsmiths University is looking to preserve a record of popular protest, and are looking to find a new home for your placards, banners, props and flags.

Useful new map for New Covent Garden coach park

Here’s a useful new map that shows the pedestrian route in and out of New Covent Garden coach parking. This makes much it very clear where the coaches will park and how close it is to Vauxhall station.

But it’s still full!

VIDEO: Bringing the cuts home

Here’s the winner of our cuts video contest, but judging it was tricky, with more than 40 great entries. The judges settled on five winning and commended entries, and we’ll be showing them on the big screen at the rally in Hyde Park on Saturday. If you can’t wait til then, False Economy have rounded them up on their site for a sneak preview.

I meet, talk with, work with,
try to be effective with people
who have lived a life that
I could not even imagine.

They are living it out now
right in front of me.
Hell on legs.
It is for them.
And I feel it.
Secondhand.

In discussion it comes out.
Sometimes it takes along time.
Then it is shared.
Something big which they want to share.
The climate must be right.
For them.
The time must be right.
For them.
It is so stinking good if they can let it out.
To tell the pain.
Tell their story.
I love it ..... the privilege to hear it and share it.
I hate it ..... the messed up lives.

They are the products of people
who have loved them,
failed to love them or
have been unable to love them.

The groups I facilitate,
even for groups of professionals
who hold down substantial jobs,
I see people open up in the right climate.
And they love it.
Even when touching their own pain.
But then so easily ....
... the masks can so easily be returned.
The communication can become so thin,
so little given away.

"I do not ask the wounded person how he feels,
I myself become the wounded person"
Walt Whitman.

How to become a human person
who accepts another unconditionally
is a challenge.
it is so easy for those with messed up lives
to be harshly dealt with by the helpers.
If not dealt with, the tone of voice,
the 'after whisper' to a coworker.

Feelings of inadequacy are hidden behind hurt hearts.
We fail to love the unlovely as we would the lovely.
We depend so much on the ball we throw to them,
being thrown back ...... with a smile.
How we fail.

The trouble is,
I honestly believe that we are responsible
'to' people
not
'for' people.

That means, it seems to me,
that we give what we have
not what we haven't.

We give until it hurts.
But sometimes that is not enough.
That means sometime, few I trust,
we need to make decisions
for the benefit of the whole community
and that often means
for the offenders benefit too.

But I hate that.
Most workers do.
For almost all, that is the worst outcome.
We can only give what we have.

Jean Vanier, one of my favorite authors.
He started the l'Arche movement.
"Wounded people
who have been broken
by suffering and sickness
ask for only one thing:
a heart that loves
and commits themselves to them,
a heart full of hope for them."

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(ÅÑãíÇ 31 : 3)
Greenbelt Festival / Blog / The Village: Greenbelt, only smaller

The Village: Greenbelt, only smaller

thevillage

As previously announced, we're taking a fresh look in 2011 at Greenbelt's programming for children and families. Greenbelt has always taken pride in offering an experience like no other for every festivalgoer, from babes in arms to nans and grandads, so we're very excited about taking another look at making our festival brilliant for everyone.

So, sound the fanfares, break out the ticker-tape parade, and welcome to… The Village!

Featuring new and improved venues located close to each other around the Arena (The Village Green), we want The Village to provide a range of activities to suit every child – from bookworms to party animals, from the crafty to the sporty – and for the eclectic mix of performance, music, visual arts, literature and worship that you'd expect from Greenbelt to start firing the imaginations of 0-10s.

In short: It's Greenbelt. Only smaller.

Here's what you'll find in The Village…

The Village Playhouse

The Village Playhouse is a brand new venue for 2011, showcasing performance and theatre for children. Blunderbus Theatre Company bring their production of the best-selling children’s book Elmer The Elephant; there's improv fun for all the family with Kepow Theatre Company; comedy magic from Lab Monkey Productions; PuppetCraft return to Greenbelt with their new production The Mousehole Cat; tricks of the mind from Steve Price; and a new home but the same silly fun from The Family Twist with Paul Cookson.

The Village Screen

With children’s films being incredibly popular in the film programme over the last few years, what could be better than a dedicated indoor film venue for kids – showing films, short films, TV favourites and cartoons from early until late. Including timeless classics like the Toy Story trilogy, Finding Nemo, Up, Home Alone and the Wallace & Gromit films, plus new films like Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, and current TV brilliance from Charlie & Lola and Shaun the Sheep.

The Village Green

A new name for an old favourite… last year, it was the incredibly popular Arena, this year it's The Village Green, with all the outdoor exuberance, crazy games, dance workshops, and large-scale activities you've come to expect, alongside circus skills, an outdoor playground and all the Greenbelt community coming together in the name of fun!

Messy Space

Messy Space just got even better, with a partially-outdoor venue to really let the mess fly. Craft, play and worship, lots of space, storytelling, plus all the toys, sand and mess that kids can handle!

Make & Take

For those looking to make something a little more special, we have a brand new venue for workshops and crafts for kids. Learn a new skill, make something beautiful, and take something away to remind you of Greenbelt!

All Round The Site

There’s stuff for kids and families all over the site, including an early evening Youth Group-style event for 8-10s, lunchtime Mainstage gigs to watch whilst eating your sandwiches, plenty of walkabout street theatre, and all of the usual Greenbelt fun round every corner…

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.
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.
♥╫╟╖A╥╖K ╙╢O╙╜♥⁰◦°˚°
.
.
.
.
.
█████ ██ █ ████ you ███ █████ are█████ ████ ████ beauty ████ ███ █ ██████ █████ ███████ ███ full █████ ████
.
.
.
.
.
.
JOY in Capetown
Miss her ..............

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Busy time at Wilson Mansions
but a week-end NOT away
Last week-end
That was great and
the Saints won against Leeds
Great game too
Young heros x 17 - love it.

This week it was a privilege
to attend the funeral of
Maurice Turner.

Maurice was the Chairman at Romford YMCA
when I began to work there.
I remember Maurice and Denis Carnaby, CEO at the time,
coming to visit me at The Mayflower Family Centre.
I was Senior Youth Worker there
working with a large team of Youth Workers.

Maurice was my Chairman during those early years.
A great supportive loving gentle Christian human.
I am eternally grateful to him.

Also met up with Mr Singh for a curry.
What a great man of wisdom
our meal and catchup LONG overdue.

We had only been sat down for a minute
when he was speaking Nepalese to one waiter
and soon speaking Bengali to another!
(I only have two languages,
English and Body!)

Mr Singh is a great fan of Mark Tulley.
A great broadcaster and much of that about India
Mr Singh's birth-land.
I am second best, only to Mark Tulley - says my friend.

I shared my three current Challenges in life and
Mr Singh shared his - heart rending stuff.
(What are your three challenges at the moment?)

I cannot tell you lots of my goings on.
Too sensitive and confidential.
When wounded people share with me
they trust me to hold confidentiality
and I will do that to the end.

And yet I want to spill.
Believe that by opening up
we learn about ourselves
and others learn from me
and me from them.
I do that having a curry
and in group work too.

Just signed two contracts
for two new communication tools
due out at the end of the year.
I love it.

At liesure
and in travel
I listen to music
my first relaxing love.

I catch some late night TV too.
Really surprised how good
'Six Feet Under' is.
I have been catching
some recorded episodes late at night.
So full of emotion and rawness.

I keep dropping
'5 WORDS to describe my life at the moment'
on Facebook and Twitter.
with the hope of stimulating others to do that
I love how honest people can be with 5 words.
(and you?)

Me::
Focused
Loveology
Older
Challenges
Futureology


Monday, March 21, 2011

MESSAGE FROM WILD GOOSE FESTIVAL

Lineup*

Musicians/Speakers/Storytelling&Performance/Kids&Youth Making Art/Social Justice/Sacred Space

Welcome to the lineup page of the Wild Goose Festival! Within these pages you will find everything you need to know about the incredible people who are giving of their time and talents to be at this first year festival. The lineup speaks for itself...The Wild Goose Festival promises to be a truly extra-ordinary event. Be sure to check back periodically as we continue to confirm musicians, speakers, and performers.

But we're not stopping at an incredible lineup...we're working hard to carry that unique flavor into every dimension of the festival. Our food vendors and exhibitors are being drawn from the local area to represent the character of North Carolina. From a vendor who serves ostrich and emu burgers, to southern barbeque, and a local brewery with whom we are currently negotiating to create a specific Wild Goose brew for the festival...prepare to have your mind, soul and tastebuds dancing.

Beyond the incredible food, artisans from across North Carolina will be coming to the festival to showcase their wares and art and local non-profit organizations will be on hand to talk about the work being done in this incredibly vibrant and diverse state.

So get started by taking a look at the lineup and we'll look forward to seeing you at The Wild Goose Festival!

*all muscians, speakers, and performances are subject to change



You might be wondering about these occasional messages you're getting from the 'Wild Goose Festival.' Perhaps they've been heading straight to the 'delete' bin - which is one reason that I wanted to reach out to you personally today. You're getting these messages because someone who cares about you has invited you to the inaugural happening of a most unique event. We all get unwanted messages, so I want to help you out: If you can take 90 seconds to read what I have to say about this festival that your friends are attending, you can either be all-in as attending yourself, or mark yourself as 'Not Attending' and never get one of these messages from us again. Sound like a deal? Let's proceed...

As you may have heard, the Wild Goose Festival is taking place for the first time this June 23-26, at Shakori Hills, near Raleigh-Durham, NC: We're gathering at the intersection of justice, spirituality and art with the firm intention of becoming a unique and significant space promoting social change in the US and elsewhere. Our roots in the traditions of social justice, creativity, and Celtic spirituality are perhaps most clearly exemplified by our friends at the Greenbelt Festival in the UK. Greenbelt has had as many as 30,000 people attend, and has become a culture-shaping movement in Europe. We want Wild Goose to do the same in North America. I’m writing to you today to ask you to be part of the founding Wild Goose community by buying your ticket and encouraging your friends to do the same.

Greenbelt has, over the years, seen provocative engagements from speakers, performers and musicians like Rowan Williams, Anita Roddick, U2, Bruce Cockburn, Richard Rohr, and Michael Franti. The Jubilee 2000 campaign to end developing world debt was launched at the festival; Greenbelt has become a UK center for spiritual activism on climate change, poverty, social inclusion, and prejudice. But it wasn't always like this. Once upon a time, Greenbelt had only a few hundred people show up to a farm in England, in 1974. This original Greenbelt community gave birth to the festival that has become the axis of the year for so many people. A space where tens of thousands of people come to connect with friends and make new ones; to experience kaleidoscopic art; to be intellectually transformed and resourced for activism; and to have a fantastic time.

Wild Goose can become something similar - but not without your help. Just as Greenbelt depended on early adopters to get the festival off the ground, Wild Goose will only take flight if people like you come to the first festival.

I'm privileged to serve as Executive Director of the Wild Goose Festival, and I can say without hesitation that this first year has the most diverse, provocative, entertaining, and just darn exciting lineup of speakers, musicians, performers (and food vendors!) I've ever seen in the US. (Haven't seen our just-rolled-out lineup yet? Stop reading this & go to http://www.wildgoosefestival.org/festival-info/lineup/ right now!) We're seeking to build a festival that will collapse hierarchies between performers and the audience - so we'll all have the chance to interact with each other as equals. This really is your festival to make of what you wish. If you want to debate Jim Wallis about the future of US politics, go to a workshop led by Richard Rohr, have a conversation with Phyllis Tickle about the future of spirituality in America, or listen to civil rights hero Dr Vincent Harding imagine how we can pursue the teachings of his friend Martin Luther King today; if you want to perform your music in the same programme as Michelle Shocked, Derek Webb and David Wilcox; if you want to interact with Native American liturgy, or interfaith conversations, or engage with our major social justice theme of prison and restorative justice; if you want to be part of conversations about urban violence and foreign policy, movies and spirituality, or sexuality and theology, then you should come to Wild Goose, because we're offering all of this and more.

Your willingness to come, and to contribute financially by buying a ticket today will make you part of a potential tipping point in the history of justice, faith and creativity in North America. Just as it is for the people who came to the first Greenbelt, being part of the first Wild Goose Festival will carry a significant legacy.

So I'm asking you to become part of the original Wild Goose Festival community: to join the group of people who are and always will be responsible for kicking off this important movement that already has a great history through our sister festival in Europe. It's a chance to be part of something bigger than yourself, and to genuinely help make it happen. We're not asking you to join a church, or to make a daily commitment, or to do something that you don't already want to do. We're asking you to become part of something that could actually help change our society for the better. And because - like it or not - the US still extends huge influence around the world, maybe Wild Goose will have a reach far beyond the borders of the country where it's taking place.

Can I count on you to do two things?

1: Please buy your ticket to the festival TODAY at http://wildgoose.eventbrite.com/ Our ticket price is subsidized to be as low as possible; there are good rates for families and groups; and the price must go up as we near the festival. In fact, if you can purchase your tickets before next Wednesday, March 23, at midnight, you can get a significant discount by entering the code 'Original-Goose' at the checkout.

2: Please commit to recruiting 3 other people to attend. We have limited the number of tickets to help nurture a community spirit - but we want you to bring your friends. We expect tickets to sell out, and after this has happened, we cannot add anymore tickets for sale. So don't wait: buy your tickets today. Copy & paste this message to your friends, or let them know about the EventBrite discount code above.

This first Wild Goose Festival will be a gathering we all remember - I hope you'll want to be a part of the original Wild Goose community. We can only do this together; and if we do it, the possibilities are endless.

Please feel free to contact me at any time with your questions or hopes for the first Wild Goose Festival.


In peace and anticipation,

Gareth