greenbelt festival announce some of their line up today – of course there will be a bundle more to follow! always a must visit festival to end off the summer…

Best-selling author Rob Bell returns, alongside the likes of political satirist Mark Thomas, theologian Brian McLaren, Christian Aid director Loretta Minghella, and emerging church guru Phyllis Tickle.

Beyond the talks programme, already confirmed to in the music lineup are singer and activist Billy Bragg, familiar Greenbelt names Iain Archer and Martyn Joseph, folk favourite Kate Rusby and Scottish rock outfit Idlewild.

Other musical highlights include Christian rock outfit [dweeb], new worship group the Rend Collective and jazz-rap renegade Soweto Kinch.

As previously announced, Greenbelt is focusing particularly on family and children’s provision this year. New performance, film, craft and play venues for children will operate alongside spectacular shows for the whole family, including breath-taking aerial theatre from Ockham’s Razor, charming puppetry from PuppetCraft, and dance workshops led by Britain’s Got Talent finalists Flava.

"We're so pleased with the lineup that’s coming together," said Greenbelt Chair, Andy Turner. "Only Greenbelt could host such a diverse group of incredible artists, thinkers and activists."

Further contributors will be announced over the next few months.

To celebrate the launch of this years lineup, Greenbelt will be hosting two evenings with Rob Bell which will take place at Westminster Central Hall (in partnership with the Methodist Church) and at Cheltenham Racecourse on Tuesday 19th April. The Festival itself will take place from Friday 26th – Monday 29th August 2011. Tickets for both events are available at greenbelt.org.uk/tickets.