The Very Hungry Caterpillar

In the 40th anniversary year of one of the world’s best-loved picture books, Sarah Adby leads this art session using Eric Carle’s beautiful pictures to inspire caterpillar puppets and butterfly masks. Ages 3-8 – children must be accompanied by an adult.

The Life and Death of the Enlightenment

Justin Champion, Steve Fuller, Robert Eaglestone

Are we witnessing the death of ideals which for 300 years have driven the progress of Western society and defined its outlook?

Historian Justin Champion, controversial sociologist Steve Fuller and postmodern philosopher Robert Eaglestone get to grips with where are and where we've come from.

Sponsored by The Liberal

Free but ticketed 

Gaynor O Flynn

Metaphysical music in the form of a solo acoustic set from award-winning musician Gaynor O’Flynn’s most recent album, Who Am I?

Free but ticketed.

Andrea Santangelo and Mr Black

Purple Radio DJs Mr Black and Andrea Santangelo’s musical policy is reasonably open-minded: anything goes so long as it’s soulful and deep, from disco to jungle to downtempo.

Midnight until late : Aubrey Fry

The globe at hay rave legend Aubrey Fry finishes the night as we mean to go on with an upbeat set of continental electro and not-quite-minimal techno.

The Age of Immorality

Richard Bronk, Christopher Hamilton, Phillip Blond
Simon Blackburn chairs

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, but above all it was an age without morality.   

Do we live in a time without morals?  Is an absence of morality damaging to the fabric of society? Or is this an inevitable response to the vacuum left by organised religion?

Economist Richard Bronk, political theorist Phillip Blond and philosopher of religion Christopher Hamilton consider if we are facing moral anarchy and whether we need to find a solution.

Ana Silvera

Ana Silvera brings lush vocals and unexpected perspectives back to the globe at hay after her mesmerising performance last year - this time joined by a co-conspirator on the cello.

Drama and Games

Theatre surrealists The Village Idiots host a mask-drama workshop inspired by their own trademark take on the Venetian tradition. Ages 6-10.

Ewan Pearson

Berlin, Ibiza, Hay-on-Wye: the wildly brilliant academic-turned-superstar DJ talks about the history of dance music before taking to the decks at 10.30pm.

Theatre: The Village Idiots

The Village Idiots introduce the ancient discipline of masked theatre to this workshop for young people, taking in aspects of mime and physical comedy. Ages 11-18.

Richard Swift

Multi-talented US wunderkind takes leave of Mark Ronson and brings his own brand of piano-based folk pop  to the globe at hay. 

Banks, Bonuses and Inequality

Phillip Blond, Eamonn Butler, Fabienne Peter
David Goodhart chairs

Widespread outrage has been the response to the “bonus culture” of big banks.

What is at issue here? Is it the sheer scale of such bonuses, or the reward for failure and the lack of merit that is the problem?  What sort of equality do we want: that of opportunity, or outcome?

Little Lost David

Haunting wilderness beauty drawing on a host of rich influences from ex-recluse LLD whose voice enraptured Secret Garden Party and Great Escape audiences last year.

Dave Norton & Ivor Van Jivor and Bex Dex

Dave Norton

 10:30-12:30

Funk, soul, and African fusion from the Big Chill DJ.

 12:30-late

Resident techno-electro-hip-house pro Ivor Van Jivor and Bex Dex warm up the dancefloor.

Puppetry with The Paper Cinema

The Paper Cinema introduce the ideas and techniques behind their magical world of live cinema. Learn the art of paper puppetry from its masters and inventors.

The Tyranny of Freedom

Zygmunt Bauman
Julian Baggini chairs the Q&A

The famed sociologist considers the ramifications of our individualised, live-for-the-moment society. When we owe allegiance to nothing, and no-one, and everything is expendable in the pursuit of an ill-defined notion of happiness, is our “freedom” doing us more harm than good?

The Amethyst & Mash Cinema

Reggae, rock and roots meet 21st century electricity as Tafari Hinds and Jonty Balls bring their unique sound to the globe.   


12.00am     Mash Cinema

Mash Cinema create a space to reassess your relationship with film with a mixture (and indeed mash-up) of visuals, art and music.

Puppetry with The Paper Cinema

On Tuesday the Paper Cinema introduce the ideas and techniques behind their magical world of live cinema. Learn the art of paper puppetry from its masters and inventors.

Jeremy Warmsley

When he isn’t entertaining the likes of Mystery Jets, Ed Harcourt, Noah and the Whale, and Soko in in his own living room, Jeremy Warmsley wows with his witty brand of soulful indie folk electronica.

The Limits of Freedom

Will Hutton, Eamonn Butler, David Goodhart
Fabienne Peter chairs.

Laissez faire capitalism is in retreat.  The burst of the economic bubble has rallied calls for increased regulation from all sides and with it demands to control individual excess.

To what extent should freedoms be limited?  Who regulates the regulators?  And is there a danger that we will jump from the frying pan into the fire?

Roots Union

Rousing, complex folk to get lost in and dance to from the brilliant Roots Union.

Drumming with Cheikh Dop

Cheikh Dop and Edi Hamilton host this drumming and percussion workshop exploring drumming techniques from around the world and polyrhythmic beats along with the vibrant energy of a drumming circle. All ages – children welcome.

Please Note: Earlier we planned to have Manu Song leading the drumming session, however now it will be Cheikh Dop, You can view his website at www.tribalvibes.org.uk

New Ways of Thinking

Christopher Hamilton, Hilary Lawson, Shahidha Bari
Julian Baggini chairs

If reason and truth have both been robbed of their authority, where do we go next?  Can we muddle along where we are, should we be returning to a pre-critical mode of thinking, or must we find alternative ways of thinking about the world?

Julian Baggini looks for new answers from philosophers Christopher Hamilton, Hilary Lawson, and Shahidha Bari.

Comedy at the Globe: Mike Bubbins

Penetrating insights into tracksuits, bitterness and misery from ex-PE teacher Bubbins’ Edinburgh Festival preview.

The Rollercoaster Project

The Rollercoaster Project brings its mix of synthesisers, electric guitar and ambient laptop strangeness to the globe at hay.

Body and Soul Yoga with Emma Phillpotts

Emma Phillpotts takes this open yoga session for all ages and abilities in her own popular active, stretching style.

Imagination in economics: uncertainty, metaphor and what economists can learn from the Romantics

Richard Bronk

Is over-reliance on reason at the root of the present economic crisis? Richard Bronk, author of The Romantic Economist (CUP, 2009), argues that economies are driven by creativity, fear and emotion. 

Geoff Mulgan chairs Q&A

Sponsored by the Forum for European Philosophy

Michael Nyman

If Michael Nyman means The Piano to you, think again.  In this intimate live session, Michael Nyman combines his own video pieces with haunting music to create a pioneering new work situated somewhere on the edge of a new art form.

Crystal clear sound will be powered by the new Bose L1 system.

Rev Dub and DJ SOUL

Rev Dub and DJ SOUL (Sounds Of Unity and Love) play afro beats, funk and reggae.

Fabulous Felt

Felt is the oldest form of fabric known to mankind. It can come in any form, shape or size and be used for almost any purpose. Laurie Lewis teaches you how to make felt and then use it to create a colourful picture – the only limit is your imagination. All ages.

The Return of Revolution

Phillip Blond, Geoff Mulgan, Alex Callinicos,
Shahidha Bari chairs

Talk of a crisis in capitalism may be premature but tales of the end of history now seem quaint and revolutionary talk is out of the cold and back into reality. 

Is it credible to speak of wholesale political transformations? If revolution were to return, what would it look like?

Radical Tory theorist Phillip Blond, former director of Blair’s strategy unit, Geoff Mulgan, and Marxist thinker Alex Callinicos contest the ideals that should be motivating political change.

Comedy at the Globe: Elis James

Deceptively conversational comedian Elis James previews this summer’s Edinburgh Fringe show, The Most Cautious Little Boy in Wales.

Body and Soul Yoga with Emma Phillpotts

Emma Phillpotts takes this open yoga session for all ages and abilities in her own popular active, stretching style.

Carl Rylatt and Huw Evans

B-musicology, folk peculiarities and eclectica from psych duo Carl Rylatt and Huw Evans.

12.30 – late Widelode VJs

More talent from the principality with this audiovisual spectacular from Cardiff’s creative all-rounders, featuring film, animation, sounds and whatever else they happen to get their hands on.

Roger Eno + The Paper Cinema

Enter into the enchantment of The Paper Cinema where a new world emerges through music and intricate paper imagery to create a live cinema experience. Guest composer Roger Eno improvises on a baffling array of instruments, proving that talented eclecticism runs in the family. 

Myths and Magic

Contemporary magician and mythologist David Rankine reads from his book Stories of the Cailleach – The Old Woman Who Shaped Britain.

Free 

21st Century Enlightenment

Susan Neiman

Hot foot from Berlin where she runs the influential Einstein Forum, philosopher Susan Neiman calls for a new enlightenment.

Susan Neiman’s latest book ‘Moral Clarity’ was one of the New York Times’ top 100 notable books of 2008.

Kenan Malik chairs Q&A

Sponsored by The Liberal

Pete Lawrence

A set of his photographic images set to music, followed by a more freestyle DJ set.

Comedy at the Globe: Tom Craine

The 33^rd Sexiest Man in Wales previews material from his forthcoming Edinburgh show Comfort Blanket.

Circus Art Session

Bring the adventure of the Big Top to life at this art workshop as Hay’s favourite craft teacher, Sarah Adby, takes the circus as inspiration to make sculptures using the delicacy and strength of wire.

Ages 8-14.

Beyond Progress: Science & Religion

Douglas Hedley,  Alun Munslow,  Mark Vernon, Ken Binmore

The Enlightenment called for the light of reason and science to provide progress in place of the prejudices of  religion.

In the current era, when postmodernists have argued that science and religion are merely competing narratives, to what extent can we look to either science or religion to deliver truth?  Is it still possible to talk of progress at all and, if not, then where are we going?

Stephen Fretwell

Riding high from his gold-selling album featuring Run, the soundtrack to BBC’s hit comedy Gavin & Stacey, Stephen Fretwell plays his only UK festival date as he prepares to record his third album. 

Dreams of Utopia

Ruth Levitas,  AC Grayling, Kenan Malik,  Alex Prichard, 

Susan Neiman chairs

Dreams of utopia have all too frequently turned into nightmares.  Is there space left for utopian visions and if so what might they look like?  Or are they to be avoided as dangerous mirages that risk leading us to destruction?

Making Wild Things - Becky Griffiths Animal Masks

Becky Griffiths hosts this wild and messy workshop, showing you how to create amazing animal masks from recycled fabrics. Ages 5-11.

Baka Beyond

Festival favourites and pioneering Afro-Celtic fusion geniuses Baka Beyond play tracks from their recent album Baka Beyond The Forest interspersed with short films.

Imagining the Sacred

Douglas Hedley, Kenan Malik, Hilary Lawson

Mark Vernon chairs

Fundamentalism may be on the rise worldwide but, in many parts of the west, belief in organised religion continues to ebb away.  Is there a role for the sacred in our culture of surface and how might it be approached?   

Philosopher of religion, Douglas Hedley, journalist Mark Vernon, and post-post-modern philosopher Hilary Lawson imagine alternative worlds.

A Philosophical Walking Tour

Details of the route and a pack of material will be made available on the How to Live site at www.htlblog.com presently.   Participants are asked to download the reading material from the site, and come prepared to walk, talk, read and roam.  Solitary walkers and groups welcome.

Back of the Moon: Richard James, Le B and Sweet Baboo

Brilliant ex-Gorky’s acid folk singer/songwriter Richard James curates and headlines this evening of emerging Welsh folk talent especially for How The Light Gets In, featuring darkly bittersweet alt. country artist Sweet Baboo and folk chanteuse Le B.

Future Culture

Phil Hutchinson, Joe Kerr, Anders Sandberg

Siân Ede chairs

Where might our values and beliefs, or our lack of them, take our culture?   Will environmentalism be our new religion?   Will technology re-shape human nature?

Environmental philosopher Phil Hutchinson, Oxford University futurist Anders Sandberg, and architectural historian Joe Kerr discuss the shape of the world to come. 

Comedy at the Globe: Ed Aczel

Preview of deeply dystopian new material from the intentionally shambolic Ed Aczel for his forthcoming Edinburgh Fringe season.

Philip Jeays and Robin Ince

Double bill of music and comedy: melancholic arch troubadour Philip Jeays sets the scene with intense philosophical lyrics for warped liberal Robin Ince.

Jess Childs

Acoustic singer songwriter Jess Childs showcases her thoughtful material spanning folk, pop and Americana.

Syspender

Upbeat Welsh girl band Syspender are all dressed up and ready to go with an evening of celebratory reggae and pop-influenced riffs on love, desire and being alive.

Free