More lineup news: from bishops to novelists, it’s “ladies’ day”
This week, we’re proud to celebrate a clutch of great women who will be on the bill for this summer’s Greenbelt Festival, The Bright Field.
There’s quality music … from MOBO-award-winning jazz artist Zara McFarlane, one of the young artists emerging from Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood label, to the haunting vocal of Indian mystic and sufi soul singer Kiran Ahluwalia. And from Gospel-tinged pop with Manchester’s Josephine to the wistful artistry of Paris-based Kate Stables with her This Is The Kit band of friends.
On the literature programme, we’re delighted that the brillliant Scottish novelsit A. L. Kennedy has agreed to be with us this year and also that confessional stand-up poet El Gruer will make a welcome return to the festival too.
And, in terms of faith inspiration and leadership … thanks to The United Society (formerly called USPG), we will hear from India’s first ever female bishop, dalit Pushpa Lalitha and also from the only Muslim woman working for the Church of England Cathedral, Anjum Anwar.
Will there be men on the bill too? And festival favourites? Of course. Absolutely. Watch this space for more announcements next week. But for now, it felt right, just a couple of weeks on from International Women’s Day, to introduce some ladies first.
It’s also good – besides the fact that these are all great female artists, thinkers and leaders – to be able to introduce new names and fresh young talent to the festival. In fact, that’s one of the (many) best things about my job.
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