Defending Democracy and Truth in The Best Company
Byline Festival Co-Founder and Executive Editor of Byline Times, Stephen Colegrave looks forward to a meeting of minds at this year's festival
Byline Festival is taking place in just over five weeks’ time at Keele University, 11-13 July. More than a thousand people will be gathering together for three days to tackle big issues as well as enjoy music, art, comedy, film, and more importantly each other’s company.
This year’s theme is Defending Democracy and Truth and there has never been a more important time to do just that.
Our opening panel will explore the main theme of ‘Truth in An Age of Extremism’ with Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, Peter Geoghegan, Hardeep Matharu, Peter Oborne and Nafeez Ahmed. Our keynote speaker on the opening day is Kate Raworth, whose Doughnut Economics model has been described as a wake-up call to our capitalist worldview and the answer to safeguarding the planet and the poorest in society.
On Saturday our two keynote speakers are Carol Vorderman and Carole Cadwalladr. Panels include, ‘Why Are We Turning a Blind Eye on Gaza?’, ‘Women on The Frontline of The Information War’, and ‘Are Citizen Assemblies the Key to Tackling Multiple Crises?’.
On Sunday, Chris Steele, Sergei Christo and Carol Cadwalladr are talking about The Westminster Spy Ring. Information about these and many other panels and speakers are in the full festival programme now launched at https://www.bylinefestival.com/programme
There are three main venues at this year’s Byline Festival:
· The Chapel, where the main Byline Times talk programme takes place as well as the highlight of every festival – The Bad Press Awards presented by Rosie Holt MP aided and abetted by John Mitchinson and Peter York. On Friday night, Rosie Holt is reading her new play, Churchill’s Urinal and on Sunday morning Mic Wright, Anna Hyde and Lord Victor Adebowale will be scanning the Sunday papers and finding out ‘What the Papers Don’t Say’.
· The Squirrel, which morphs from a talk venue in the day to a comedy and music club in the evening. Notable talk sessions here we have some great author sessions including with Mike Berners-Lee about his book, A Climate of Truth in which he analyses all the blockers on tackling climate change – the Press, Tufton Street and vested interests – and provides a handbook for what we can all do to help avoid a climate emergency. Social philosopher Roman Krznaric is talking about his book, History for Tomorrow revealing how the future can indeed learn from the past. On Friday evening, the Hook Up Culture jazz and comedy cabaret will explore the funny side of online dating. On Saturday, the Live, Quite Far From The Apollo team from Riverside Studios are bringing their unique brand of stand-up comedy headlined by Mark Thomas.
· The Music Hall will host bands and performers including Ruby-Mae Furlong’s band, Ruby J; The Festival All Star band led by Neal X from Sigue Sigue Sputnik; self-declared “punk, prog, psyche smash” band The Peoples’ Friend, and indie rock band Names. On Saturday night, Tim Arnold is starring in his big tech fight back rock opera Super Connected.
Outside these three main venues there will be plenty more going on. There’s a great choice of hands-on workshops throughout the weekend including the opportunity to write your own protest poem, create your own protest art, draw your own political cartoon with legendary cartoonist Martin Rowson, or even adopt (and potentially save) a billionaire.
On Saturday, Asif Kapadia is showing his epic thought-provoking feature film 2073 and the festival café is teaming with poets and musicians all weekend, as well as an exhibition of our favourite Martin Rowson cartoons for Byline Times. KiLNE, the local nu-marching band will be performing in the festival square, and DJ Smutty, Rob Fiddaman and Ella Wingfield will be in the Union Garden. Also, conceptual artist Jan Can will be persuading as many festival goers as possible to help him create an amazing conceptual work of art.
In our last eight festivals the talks, music, art and comedy have all inspired people to think deeper, find out more and question everything more keenly.
However, the best bits are often in between the formal parts of the programme. Seeing people you haven’t seen for ages, meeting new people in the coffee shop, at the bars or by the food trucks. Countless initiatives, campaigns and lasting friendships have been forged at Byline Festival and this year will be no different.
We intend to be a strong light shining in dark times because that light is needed now than ever before.
Byline Festival is at Keele University 11-13 July. The full programme and tickets are available at www.bylinefestival.com