The
original off grid festival to host IPCUK Permaculture Ambassadors,
Beatfreeks, Reclaim The Power and Patrick Whitefield memorial.
More
than three decades after the first Green Gathering was held on
Glastonbury's Worthy Farm, this solar and wind powered festival has
forged alliances with a range of social enterprises, campaign groups
and art collectives to create a sustainable event based around social
justice and environmental issues – while retaining the intimate
music stages, traditional crafts and community vibe of festivals
past.
In
recent years The Green Gathering has hosted the Off Grid College, a
Radical Routes Co-operators' Camp, Transition Towns, and an Occupy
camp.
In 2015 festival organisers are working with the Permaculture
Association to raise awareness about the International
Permaculture Convergence to be held in the UK this September. Permaculture Ambassadors will be at The Green Gathering to share
their knowledge of ecological design systems from around the world –
and to dispel the myth that permaculture is only about gardening.
Pioneering
permaculture author Patrick
Whitefield was instrumental in organising early incarnations of
The Green Gathering. Patrick died recently at his home in Glastonbury
and in recognition of his inspiration, a memorial for Patrick will be
incorporated into this year's festival.
One
of the UK's top events for families, The Green Gathering won a
Festival
Kidz Gold Award in 2014 and The
Spark Family Award in 2013. With a view to expanding activities
for teens, Green Gathering organisers have recently confirmed a new
collaboration with Beatfreeks,
an award-winning social enterprise set up to provide platforms for
growth and expression to young people while addressing social issues
and bringing benefit to broader communities. At GG 2015 the
Beatfreeks collective will provide a series of youth-oriented
workshops in poetry, music, dance, enterprise, leadership and media,
culminating in a poetry slam and performance jam on the solar powered
Floating Lotus Stage.
Those
attending the Gathering will also have the chance to network with No
Dash for Gas and Reclaim The Power activists who've been
responsible for raising awareness of climate change and fuel poverty,
occupying power stations and organising action camps on the
anti-fracking frontlines of Balcombe and Blackpool.
Green
Gathering director Em Weirdigan says:
“It's
amazing how many people say 'The Green Gathering changed my life'. It
really is a festival beyond hedonism, where you can party then wake
up and hatch plans for a better future with your mates from the night
before. It's a place outside the mainstream where your eyes will be
opened to fairer and more fun ways of living and working, and where
you can learn practical skills to transform your world”.
Line Up
The
line-up includes live music from Martha Tilston, The Undercover
Hippy, Seize The Day, Roving Crows, RDF, Dapper Cadavers, The Don
Bradmans, Krankschaft, Tallulah Rendall, Formidable Vegetable Sound
System, Will Tun and the Wasters, Suzy Condrad, Smiley and the
Underclass, and Tori Reed.
Spoken
word and open mic venues will see poet and author Salena Godden, the
legendary Artist Taxi Driver, Jazz Gnome Assassins and many more
appearing over the four days of the festival. Bristol's Libby
Lawes/HippyPunk will curate a late night dance venue.
The
Green Gathering will be held 13-16 August 2015, in an Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty in the Welsh borders just 18 miles from
Bristol.
Advance
Winter Tickets £85, Spring Tickets (from April 1st) £95. Youth
Tickets £54 (11-15 years). Children under 11 go free. Tickets from
Bristol
Ticket Shop.
Permaculture Association members get a discount to this year's Green Gathering! Please e-mail membership[at]permaculture.org.uk to gain your discount code. Not a member yet? Join today.
A
Green
Gathering Charity
was established in 2013, with a remit to promote education for
sustainability.
More
information about The Green Gathering: www.greengathering.org.uk
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