Glastonbury Festival's Shangri-La reveals more details of their Shafterlife story arc

Glastonbury Festival 2016

Wednesday 22nd to Sunday 26th June 2016
Worthy Farm, Pilton, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 4AZ, England MAP
£228 - SOLD OUT

Daily capacity: 203,000

Last updated: Mon 20th Jun 2016

Glastonbury Festival's Shangri-La, the area that's one massive immersive installation, has revealed more details of their plans for the vast interactive fictional world they bring to life by a creative team of over 1,500 crew, performers and artists. This year is the fourth of The Shafterlife story arc, which has been developing the idea of heaven and hell with contemporary sins and salvations - their message this year is "don't believe what you see hear or read!".

The reason for that is Shangri-Hell is now being run by media moguls & their corrupt press. In an information age Shangri-Hell has it's own international media running the show - Shangri-Hell International TV (SHITV) which has the monopoly on every media outlet in the area which is now overrun with transmitters, roving reporters, daytime television and all spilling their lies to brainwash the masses. As for the other side of heaven& hell this year Shangri-Heaven is being redeveloped into exclusive luxury real estate – The Intoleranch!

This year Shangri-La has its very own newspaper full of original artwork, crucial inside info and Shangri-satire. Proceeds will go towards the refugee community kitchen in Calais and Dunkirk.

For those following the story here's the scrip[t for the last episode coming to a big field near you this summer:

"After the political disaster and anarchic occupation of 2015, the finale of this four-year series comes to a dramatic close.

"2016: The people of Shangri-La have lost their voices amongst the deceit and distractions of the mainstream media. A new power resides over the this sensational, subversive city now that the media has gained full access to its inner workings (and everyone’s personal lives.)

"Shangri-Hell International Television (SHITV) has the monopoly on all media outlets, plus a new HQ to create more mind-controlling trite to make you feel better about yourselves. With the increase of media influence and technologies, a new movement of people power is rising. Using art, music and a fuck ton of 'likes' the people are claiming back their voices and power, hacking into the systems that control them, seeking the ultimate truth."

Shangri-La’s creative director, Kaye Dunnings commented, "Shangri-La holds a mirror up to the masses, challenging people in politics and play. Creating conversations, force-feeding the senses, expanding minds and opening hearts. There are no spectators. This year’s theme explores the media in all its ugliest forms and asks people to seek out the truth, not to believe what they see, hear or read."

Chris 'Tofu' Mackmeikan, Shangri-La Music Director gives a few hints about what Festival goers can expect this year, hinting there's a few surprises in store, saying, "I'm so excited by the music line up it’s one of the best ever in 20 years. Acts we waited years for, secret superstar sets and 10000% the best of the new, Shangri-La'’s music is a shimmering example of festival love."

Robin Collings, Shangri-La’s co-producer commented, "I'm hyped about the line-up this year, but a few sets in particular… Beating Heart, Oli Wood (Black Butter) and Chris Pedley's collaboration using a library of traditional African recordings stretching back 100 years. I'm also a massive junglist so the set of the weekend might well be Roni, Adam F and Bryan G back to back in Heaven."

Those exploring the venues this year should seek out highlights including the first women only venue at a festival – The Sisterhood, Shangri-La Pirate FM will be hijacking Worthy Farm Radio (Saturday midnight to 6am), some of the eclectic musical highlights (see their line-up page here) include Aiden Larkin playing DJ Derek’s mini disk collection, Kate Tempest – Welfare Unit, Caravan Palace, Roni Size, and all day Funk & Soul with Craig Charles. Collaborations with creative media students from the Bath Spa University. Light surgeons and AVTV take over the heaven arena for a video-mapping extravaganza. Extensive visual art including a special secret piece of art revealed made uniquely for Shangri-La. But please don't take our word for any of this!

Ticket holders for this summer's Glastonbury Festival are reminded to take part in their future by making sure they apply for an EU Referendum postal or proxy vote. You will find links to the form to postal vote here and proxy voting here. For more information (see the news page here).

The vast line-up appearing over the five days was announced yesterday and features Muse, Adele, Coldplay, PJ Harvey, Jeff Lynne's Electric Light Orchestra, Art Garfunkel, Cyndi Lauper, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Last Shadow Puppets, Sigur Ros, Ronnie Spector, Ellie Goulding, Explosions In The Sky, Foals, Beck, LCD Soundsystem, ZZ Top, Disclosure, New Order, Skepta, The 1975, Grimes, Annie Mac, Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music, Underworld, James Blake, Chvrches, Savages, Floating Points, Laura Mvula, Stormzy, Daughter, Little Simz, Vince Staples, John Grant, Band of Horses, Jess Glynne, Carl Cox, Nao, Fatboy Slim, Bring Me The Horizon, NHS Choir, Damon Albarn, Richard Hawley, The Lumineers, Lady Leshurr, Rokia Traore, Guy Garvey, Kamasi Washington, Jack Garratt, AlunaGeorge, Hinds, Ezra Furman, M83, Kurt Vile (solo), Mercury Rev, Gregory Porter, Madness, Wolf Alice, Baaba Maal, Ernest Ranglin, Bastille, Roisin Murphy, Santigold, Years And Years, Dua Lipa, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Bat For Lashes, Protoje, Two Door Cinema Club, Jake Bugg, Mac DeMarco, St Etienne, Blossoms, Of Monsters and more.

To see who is playing where and when see our Glastonbury Festival 2016 line-up page or the pages below:

Pyramid Stage
Other Stage
West Holts Stage
The Park Area
Acoustic Tent
John Peel Stage and Tolpuddle Bar
Silver Hayes Dance Area
Avalon Field
The Glade
Shangri-La (The Naughty Corner)
The Common Area
Block 9
Leftfield
Arcadia
Babylon Bandstand
Beat Hotel
William's Green
Croissant Neuf Stage & Bandstand
The Unfairground
The Bread And Roses
Village Inn
Green Fields
Theatre & Circus, Glebeland
Kidz Field
Pilton Palais (film schedule)