Shambala Festival 2013

This great family friendly festival promises four days of fun, with a large kids area, masses of workshops, woodland antics, crazy carnivals, roaming theatrics, and everyone in fancy dress. There's no separate arena from the campsite, and there's no restriction on alcohol.

The 13th Shambala will be held at a secret location on Bank Holiday Weekend from Thursday 22nd until Sunday 25th August 2013 with the site closing on Monday 26th at Midday.

Line-up

Latest additions David Rodigan, Crazy P, Shlomo, Francois & The Atlas Mountains, Andreya Triana, Shri Lektric, Hidden Orchestra, Geata Krar Collective, Will and The People, Tako Lako, Gypsy Hill, Tankus The Henge, Troumaca, Wrongtom meets The Ragga Twins Crew, The Aspects, Wonka, The Disablists, B.I.D The Bootlegger, Steve Tilston, Dizraeli and the Small Gods, Katy Carr, Kidnap Alice, The Cedars, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Peter Tatchell, Mark Grist & MC Mixy, Tristram Stuart, Jamie Catto, Fergus The Forager, Hollie Mcnish, Adam Kammerling, Anna Freeman, Jonathan Kay, Kid Carpet, and Jimmy Needles.

They join Alice Russell, Courtney Pine, Dr Meaker, Fatoumata Diawara, Groundation, Hollie Cook, Los De Abajo, Sam Lee & Friends, Sheelanagig, Skatalites, Skip & Die, Smerins Anti-Social Club, Adrian Sherwood, Calyx & Teebee, MC GQ, The Correspondents, Far Too Loud, Hotcakes Live feat. Ed Solo, Deekline & JFB, Jehst & Micall Parknsun, Jstar, Phaeleh, Nicky Blackmarket, RackNRuin, The Ratpack, Benji Boko, Mouse Outfit Ft Dr Syntax, Electric Swing Circus, Heymoonshaker, Honeyfeet, Jazzsteppa, Kitten And The Hip, Lund Quartet, Mankala, Nuala Honan, Prince Fatty Ft. The Horseman, Riot Jazz, Solo Banton & Upper Cut Band, Syd Arthur, Yes Sir Boss, Carrie Rodriguez, Ducie, The Hang Massive, Joe Driscoll & Seckou Kouyate, Lou Rhodes, Martha Tilston And The Woods, Phil King, The May Birds, Tyde (Folk), and many more to be announced.

The festival is expected to have a dozen or so stages of music programming including a main stage, lakeside stage (powered by the sun, or if Shambala isn't bathed in glorious sunshine, by a back-up bio-diesel generator), and big top, plus a roller disco, karaoke, contemporary circus performances (tightrope walking, swinging trapeze, pole dancing), and loads more is sure to be planned.

Tickets

Tickets have sold out.

The early bird offers have ended. Ticket were priced as follows:

An adult weekend ticket is £129.
Teen (aged 15/16/17yrs) weekend ticket £79
Child (aged 5-14yrs) weekend ticket £35
Child and Teen tickets may only be purchased with adult tickets. Maximum of 2 teen tickets per adult over 21yrs.
Child under 5 Free (but must register)
Van/Car+Caravan pass £40
Car Pass £25 (one per car)
Motor cycles £5
Disabled tickets (2 for 1) Call 0844 870 0000. Valid with proof of middle or higher rate DLA support.

Tickets are e-tickets so ticket holders must make sure they have their PIN and password ready for entry. Routing passes must be placed in the windscreen before arrival on site.

Recycling Deposit

Shambalists will be charged a refundable deposit of £10 per booking. Simply exchange a bag of recycling at the event for £10 cash or a festival pack!

Bottled-water-free festival

Instead of being able to buy bottles of water festival goers are being asked to bring a reusable bottle which they can refill with free filtered water available at all of bars on site. Festival organisers enthusiastically predict this will reduce waste by an estimated 10,000 plastic bottles.

The Shambala Express

The Shambala Express is a subsidised coach service from various locations around the UK, running on both Thursday and Friday again this year. This is the cheapest and most carbon-efficient way to come to the festival. The festival begins as soon as you board, with movies, BIG prize quiz(!) and a Shambala soundtrack. Departures this year from Brighton, London, Bristol, Sheffield and Birmingham and more t.b.c.

Green credentials

In 2013 the festival will once again be 99% powered by renewable energy, by the wind, sun, waste veg oil and pedalling! Lot's more eco initiatives are expected to be on site too.

On site

There are also independent films, workshops, talks and debates, comedy, a fresh organic market, fair trade coffee, practical demonstrations, speaker's corner, site art (an art trail and a range of get-involved sculptures), survival courses, a real ale and cider bar with a beer garden, multiple stages and lots of fancy dress.

Shambala is predominantly a venue-based festival and this year's new additions include a giant tree house stage in the Enchanted Woodlands, a pirate ship on the lake and The Playhouse - an opulent theatre space.

Whilst making a return will be The Social Club; The Healing Meadow; The Kamikaze Tent, Shambala's main dance music venue; The Wonky Cock, serving real ales and thought provoking debate; Chai Wallah's; The Emporium of Invaluable Insights; The Wandering Word featuring Slambala; Acoustic loveliness in Sankofa's; The Lost Picture Show Cinema Club; The Roots Yard; Compass Presents...and many more!

Expect compost loos in the campsites, showers in the family campsite, even more art installations and sculptures, lots more stand up comedy and walkabout performers, more secret venues and hidden bars, more theatre, talks and storytellers in collaboration with Bristol Storytelling Festival, more brilliant live music and even more opportunities to get involved.

Meadow

The meadow is expected to return featuring it's very own boating lake. Surrounded by trees, and only accessible over two bridges, this will become the tranquil area of the festival, with healing, workshops, sauna, hot-tubs, and possibly a small stage. The amazing art trails in the woodlands re-invents itself.

Family Camping Field

2012 will see the return of a separate Family Camping Field with dedicated hot showers and compost loos, situated next to the car park, where families will have priority parking near the festival entrance and a free wheelbarrow service. There will also be a communal BBQ on Thursday and Friday. The Family Yurt will have toddler play space, a baby-sitting club, an early evening cinema and bedtime stories with hot cocoa.

Expect other new spaces to emerge, which they probably won't tell festival goers about.

Off ground fires

This year organisers are permitting fires in the campsite as long as they are off the ground, as a trial (Fires are still not permitted in the camper van fields however).

Ethos

This small family-friendly green festival focuses on environmental issues and offers the chance to learn new skills and crafts such as silver jewellery, a lantern, or a hobbyhorse.

Kids activities

Each year Shambala offers a wealth of kids activities with a full and diverse program of activities for all ages, such as trampolines, inflatables, music workshops, circus skills, art tent with full programme each day, play equipment and swing-boats, festival newspaper team, puppet shows, cinema, co-operative games, a kitchen academy, DJing, magic, and even a bedtime story tent. Many activities will have themes around cultural awareness, and the environment.

Procession

The theme for the Shambala 2013 has not yet been announced.

Fancy dress

The festival is famous for its outrageous fancy dress for the festival's customary Saturday night parade - everyone joins in on this.

More information will be here when available.

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