2010 line up

gone a bit quiet here hasn't it!

what does anyone think of the 2010 line up?

i must say i think the talks line up is one of the strongest i've ever seen. well done.

very excited to seeGil Scott-Heron on the line up. a true legend, (not just historically important his new album is great) , i was pleased to see Fionn Regan booked - then i checked out his new album - he seems to have moved to a new level since i last saw him. fantastic.
Foy Vance is back. i think he fell in love with greenbelt last year and greenbelt fell in love with him. great to have him back

genre wise a lot of the gb line up doesn't do a lot for me but thats the beautiful diversity of the event. on the other hand i really dont get the logic of booking shed seven.

greenbelt has often booked flashes from the past but generally the pattern has been to book artists with something interesting to say (be that relating to spirituality, social justic or other areas that connect with the festival vibe) or artists who are doing something really new and creative. where seemingly random names from the past have been booked they're usually folks who either greenbelt have been trying to book for years or who are back with a highly aclaimed new album. it also makes sense to book artists with a previous connection to the festival - ie will have a large number of fans on the site. Now can someone explain where shed seven fits into this picture? second rate brit pop with no new material for years, lyrically noting to say that connects with a greenbelt vibe and no previous greenbelt conection. they are getting good live reviews but i really think headlining mainstage should take a bit more than that.


focusing on smaller stages a lot of good new names The Floe are prob the best i've found yet. not really fair to single out up and coming acts i'm not impressed with but there are a few, and a good few names we have been waiting a few years to see come back that have been overlooked yet again.

Steve Lawson and Lobelia were last seen in last orders two years back - now why havent they been given a proper set. new live album they have out is excellent.

Rachel Taylor-Beales has had two new albums out since she last played both truely excellent (one produced by martyn joseph) and yet greenbelt dont seem interested in booking her.

there also seems to be a logic that if someone has played for say two years they need to be rested, true in some cases but surely some artists have managed to build a significant following from gigs in the performance cafe and really now deserve a big top set. Miriam Jones comes to mind. i can understnad the decision but dont agree with it.

anyway rant over. back to the positive

great to see Jon Gomm has been booked for a return visit (think it was 2006 he was last with us.

so yeah mixed feelings on this years greenbelt, apart from shed seven i see the logic of booking everyone else on mainstage (even if i think thebandwithnoname suck they are on their last year and have a massive following so it makes sense) though things do seem a bit think on the ground and i'm not sure aprt from Gil if the headliners are strong enough for headline slots given the size greenbelt mainstage has grown to. (not crticisim of the artists just that they'd prob work better earlier in the day.


anyway heres hoping that has provoked some reactions and a bit of debate