Northamptonshire’s Shambala Festival marks 25th anniversary event

George HarrisonShambala was based by a bunch of pals in 2000 and now welcomes about 15,000 attendees every yearA music competition held at a “secret countryside property” will return for its twenty fifth anniversary occasion this weekend.Shambala, a four-day competition held within the north of Northamptonshire, is about to welcome about 15,000 revellers from Thursday to Sunday.The occasion, which has an extended historical past of selling sustainability, will see meals distributors and amenities prepare dinner and warmth completely on biogas, a primary for a UK competition, based on Shambala’s organisers.In addition to music, the competition options arts, spoken phrase performances and a spread workshops.What’s Shambala Pageant?First held in 2000, Shambala options quite a lot of music together with rock, pop and people.There are additionally impartial movies, quite a lot of workshops, talks, debates and comedy.Based 25 years in the past by a bunch of pals, Shambala has grown from a small gathering of 100 folks in a area to a large-scale celebration of music, artwork, and group.Its organisers mentioned it offered a family-friendly ambiance that had earned it a devoted following.Many attendees gown in costumes in accordance with the annual theme, which in 2025 is entitled “pun meant”.Whereas particulars of the venue can simply be discovered, isn’t extensively publicised prematurely as a way to encourage a way of communityWho’s performing this 12 months?This 12 months’s occasion will characteristic 40 completely different levels and venues.Among the many artists on the line-up are Grammy award profitable jazz rap act Digable Planets. UK grime artist Manga Saint Hilare and electro-dance act Fats Canine may also characteristic.Different key names on the lineup embody Woman Shaka, DJ Yoda, Grace Petrie, Freestylers v Dub Pistols, Hak Baker and Asian Dub Basis.Past the music, the competition will showcase spoken phrase performances from acclaimed poets Lemn Sissay and Vanessa Kisuule, alongside political satire and activism from Led By Donkeys.How does Shambala promote sustainability?The competition is run on “100% renewable power”, its organisers mentioned.Additionally it is fully meat- and fish-free and has no single-use plastics.Attendees are inspired to take public transport to attend, with shuttle buses operating from Lengthy Buckby and Market Harborough railway stations.Organisers declare that they’ve lower their carbon footprint by 90% over the course of the competition’s quarter-century historical past.Grownup ticket costs for the complete weekend began from £249, however in 2022 Shambala launched a “pay it ahead” scheme that enables folks on decrease incomes to use for a totally funded ticket, which incorporates lodging and foods and drinks without spending a dime.Individuals in receipt of advantages reminiscent of Pension Credit score, Common Credit score and Jobseeker’s Allowance are capable of apply for the fund, with half the cash ring-fenced for these in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.