In true Glastonbury tradition, today saw the celebration of the start of the festivities through Emily Eavis’s ceremonial opening of the festival’s heart, the Greenpeace Field. The field has been imperative to the festival’s activist brand and mindset since 1991, when the charity’s partnership with the notorious Worthy Farm party began, and is a hub where unmissable live sets and surprise special guests support Greenpeace’s mission to bring activism, social and climate justice to the forefront of their campaign work. On the beginning of the celebrations, Emily Eavis said, “Everyone loves the Greenpeace Field.”
Alongside an array of fantastic sonic options, Wednesday’s activities are fuelled by the Decadent Times. Kicking off with a punchy surprise act at midday to bring the crowds, the day is set to hold the crowd’s attention with comedy from Joe Jacobs, and a variety of interactive workshops, music, cabaret, burlesque, drag extravaganzas. Those with a penchant for participation will be delighted with the offering of a circus taster workshop from Nula Hula and outrageous walkabout acts, from the likes of Big Heads, Acid Granny and Dragprov. The night will draw to a close with Decadent Times hosting a party from midnight to 3am.
Last week saw Greenpeace UK release a reimagined version of the classic Fleetwood Mac song ‘Don’t Stop’. The track was produced by Grammy award-winning producer Fraser T Smith and rapper Avelino, with new lyrics that act as a call to action and instrumentation Tomorrow’s Warriors and vocals from the House Gospel Choir.
The song is part of short film Don’t Stop depicting people partying like there’s no tomorrow, metaphorically speaking, to emphasise the lack of accountability nor care, and damage caused by major corporations (mainly oil and gas industries) despite the Earth being in a detrimental environmental crisis. Written and directed by Samona Olanipekun of Steve McQueen’s Lammas Park stable, exec-produced by Oscar-winning McQueen, and featuring Will Poulter (Midsommar, Guardians of the Galaxy 3), the film will air on thescreens across all the main stages throughout the festival. Branding for Greenpeace’s ‘Don’t Stop’ will be used all across Glastonbury, with the official festival tote bags embellished with the “Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow” message. Watch the video below.
Greenpeace continues to push hard for a future that challenges oppression and allows everyone equal access to a safe planet. Worthy Farm is a great place like no other for you to join with Greenpeace in this fight for all our lives, and to highlight the effective changes we can each make for a more inclusive, peaceful and fairer planet. TheField uses creativity to highlight the connection between people, the planet, and how everything interacts based upon a simple philosophy: “Everything around us is interconnected. The environment connects to everything, so our environmentalism must too.”
The Greenpeace Field will spread that message with a range of big plans for Glastonbury 2023:
The Sun Stage combines big name artists, cult favourites and hotly-tipped newcomers. This year’s line up includes Lottery Winners, who recently achieved their first UK #1 album with ‘Anxiety Replacement Therapy’; next wave cultural icon, rising musician and ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ star Bimini; the hotly-tipped art-pop band and Sunday night headliners Porij; and Grove, a rising BBC 6 Music favourite who made a big impression with the darkwave UK garage style of the single ‘Feed My Desire’. It will also host a live set from The Illustrious Blacks whose fusion of future funk and hypnotic house inspires pulsating positivity, as well as an ambitious pop-meets-post-punk hybrid from Pale Blue Eyes and alternative soul from VC Pines.
Global nightlife phenomenon Glitterbox will light up The Sun Stage on Friday night, their ultimate dance extravaganza full of iconic performers, disco anthems, non-stop party energy and, of course, no shortage of fun. An unmatched party collective that champions the values of inclusivity and diversity at its core, Glitterbox’s annual Ibiza seasons and touring events have established the party as one of the best in the world. Now for the first time you will find them partying on the Greenpeace Field, so come and join us to party with a purpose. A live performance from house, disco, garage and dub adventurers Girls of the Internet and a set from Fat Tony are among the highlights, before the night closes with two rare B2B sets from Shapeshifters and Sophie Lloyd plus Eats Everything and Andy Cato of Groove Armada.
The iconic 22-metre high Rave Tree will also present a wave of essential festival sets which include the iconic producer, go-to remixer and euphoric party-starting DJ Jodie Harsh; Future Utopia, the artist project from top tier producer Fraser T Smith (Stormzy, Sam Smith, Dave, Adele); Detroit’s house and techno innovator Seth Troxler; former Hacienda, Ministry of Sound and Ibiza Rocks resident DJ Paulette; and salute, an Austrian producer inspired by club culture and bass heavy sounds from both the UK and US.
New for 2023 is The Rhizosphere, a perception-shifting destination located behind the Sun Stage to experience life amongst its roots in technicolour wonder. Dedicated to celebrating the importance of soil to humankind, it’s a versatile space created by artists Poppy Flint and Benji Bailes (Underfoot) which hosts multi-sensory exhibits, workshops and myco-feasts by day before transforming into a party space as night falls. It features artists in residence, live bio-sonification and celebrates the queerness of nature. Areeba Hamid, Greenpeace Co-Executive Director, will join the Rhizosphere team for an exclusive discussion and on Saturday afternoon LION (Land In Our Names) will be hosting a BPOC only workshop space. The Rhizosphere is the latest evolution of BEAM – a walk-through sculptural installation and standing dead wood habitat that was created in 2019 by multi-award winning artist Wolfgang Buttress, best known for his Hive sculpture at Kew Gardens.
Also, if you’re feeling energetic and have room in your bag for your running shoes, on Thursday at 10am, Greenpeace will be teaming up with Ravers 2 Runners for the ‘From Tent To 5k’ Glastonbury Fun Run. What better way to explore the fields of Avalon than a fun run around the festival? It’s the first event of its kind at a major music and arts festival, so put on an official bib and be part of history! The course will be approximately 5km and all abilities are welcome. The run will start with a group warm-up in the Greenpeace Field, then will head off around the perimeter taking in all the main areas of Glastonbury Festival. Places will be limited so look out for the sign-up form coming soon to join us on an active adventure.
Plus! A host of other activities and attractions, including the chill-out escapism of the Greenpeace Bar, the plant-based Greenpeace Cafe, a massive drop-slide for adrenaline junkies, power ballad yoga sessions, a skate ramp and eco-friendly showers.
Image credits:
Marie Jacquemin / Greenpeace
Ben Abrahams
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