9,500 festival-goers bid farewell to Boughton House as Greenbelt era ends
Around 9,500 festival-goers descended on Boughton House for Greenbelt Festival’s final event at the Northamptonshire venue after 12 years.
The festival has been staged in the grounds of the stately home near Kettering since 2014, but organisers had previously announced that this year’s event would bring the Boughton era to an end.
Now in its 53rd year, Greenbelt combines music, comedy, activism, arts and talks, with this year’s line-up including The Proclaimers, Arrested Development, Charlotte Church, Martin Sheen and Grace Petrie.
Despite wet and muddy conditions, organisers hailed the final Boughton festival as one of their best.
Greenbelt creative director Paul Northup said: “We enjoyed a muddy but marvellous final festival at beautiful Boughton House.
“Despite the rain, Greenbelters experienced one of the best festivals we’ve ever staged for a fitting send off to our time here.”
The Proclaimers headlined the main stage on the opening night, while Afro-futuristic punk collective Fulu Miziki took to the stage on Saturday.
Arrested Development then brought the festival – and Greenbelt’s 12-year association with Boughton House – to a close with their Sunday night performance.
Other artists appearing across the weekend included Flamy Grant, BCUC, Jordan Stephens, Luisa Omielan and Ria Lina.
Festival favourite Grace Petrie also returned to perform with a full band as Greenbelt marked the end of its time at Boughton.