Shambala Festival, a music and arts event held annually since 2000, will celebrate its 25th anniversary this weekend in North Northamptonshire. The festival is expected to draw around 15,000 attendees between Thursday and Sunday. Known for its emphasis on sustainability, this year, Shambala will implement biogas for cooking and heating among food vendors, marking the first use of this energy source at a UK festival.
The festival features a diverse lineup of music genres, including rock, pop, and folk, as well as independent films, workshops, talks, and comedy performances. Initially launched by a group of friends with just 100 participants, Shambala has expanded over the years, becoming a large-scale gathering that fosters a family-friendly environment. Attendees are encouraged to dress in themed costumes, with the 2025 theme being “pun intended.” Although the festival location is publicly available, details are not extensively advertised in advance to promote community spirit.
This year’s lineup includes 40 stages showcasing various artists such as the Grammy-winning group Digable Planets, UK grime artist Manga Saint Hilare, and electro-dance act Fat Dog. Other notable performances will feature poets Lemn Sissay and Vanessa Kisuule, alongside political satire from Led By Donkeys.
Shambala is committed to environmental sustainability, operating entirely on renewable energy, and maintains a meat- and fish-free policy with no single-use plastics. Attendees are encouraged to utilize public transport, with shuttle services from nearby railway stations. Over its 25-year history, the festival claims to have reduced its carbon footprint by 90%. Ticket prices for the full weekend start at £249. In 2022, Shambala introduced a “pay it forward” scheme to provide fully funded tickets for individuals on lower incomes, with specific provisions for residents of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr5r793lvggo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss