Australian First Nations Writers and Poets are Centre Stage at Byron Writers Festival 2024
L-R: Nicky Winmar, Steph Tisdell, Tony Birch, Amy McQuire, Wayne Bergmann, Ali Cobby Eckerman
Australia’s largest regional writers festival explores the theme 'From the ground up'
Featuring Bronwyn Bancroft, Wayne Bergmann, Tony Birch, Daniel Browning, Ali Cobby Eckermann, Jane Harrison, Delta Kay, Melissa Lucashenko, Amy McQuire, Jazz Money, Rhoda Roberts, Mykaela Saunders, Steph Tisdell, Nicky Winmar and many more…
DISCOVER THE 2024 PROGRAM HERE
In keeping with this year’s NAIDOC theme ‘Keep the fire burning! Blak, Loud and Proud’, First Nations writers will be centre stage at this year’s Byron Writers Festival. The festival features an impressive line-up of brilliant Indigenous writers and storytellers, with a large contingent of local Bundjalung voices joining the festival to discuss everything from politics, history, creativity, the environment, and family. The stories of Australia’s eminent and emerging First Nations writers will be at the forefront of the festival held on Arakwal Bumberbin country of the Bundjalung Nation, where stories have been told for thousands of years.
Bundjalung guests
Respected Bundjalung guests include bestselling author Melissa Lucashenko; Traditional Owner Delta Kay who will take part in the session ‘Wisdom of The Elders’; writer and broadcaster Daniel Browning (Close to the Subject); award-winning speculative fiction writer Mykaela Saunders (Always Will Be); acclaimed chef and restaurateur Mindy Woods (Karkalla at Home); Ella Bancroft and Dr Bronwyn Bancroft who will appear together in the session ‘Mothers’; local hip hop artist Mitch King; and creative powerhouse Rhoda Roberts who will share the stories behind her one woman show My Cousin Frank premiering with local theatre company NORPA in August. Rhoda will also take part in the session ‘Aboriginal Sporting Legends’ chaired by Koori Mail CEO Naomi Moran.
Grace Lucas-Pennington, writer, editor and Byron Writers Festival Board Member:
“The 2024 Byron Writers Festival program is a testament to the strength and joy in First Nations storytelling today. I see lots of connection to the NAIDOC theme ‘Keep the fire burning’, each of our stories an ember of the endless fire that has burned here for millennia. I am excited for Festival audiences who will have the opportunity to hear from so many incredible First Nations voices stretching across the continent, in all our diversity and pride.”
AFL legend and Noongar man Nicky Winmar will share how his proud and defining stand against racism on the playing field 30 years ago continues to resonate today, and brilliant Aboriginal Affairs journalist and author of Black Witness Amy McQuire will examine ‘Press Freedom’, take part in the festival’s keynote event ‘From the ground up’ and discuss ‘First Nations Justice’ in a panel moderated by lawyer and co-host of Blackfulla Bookclub Merinda Dutton.
Nyikina man, lawyer and leader Wayne Bergmann has been advocating for Indigenous rights and self-determination in the Kimberley for more than 24 years. At Byron Writers Festival, Bergmann will discuss his powerful memoir Some People Want to Shoot Me as well as taking part in the panel ‘Wisdom of the Elders’ with celebrated playwright Jane Harrison. Bruce Pascoe and Lyn Harwood will share the lessons they have learnt from working their farm Yumburra as well as the impact Dark Emu has had on their lives. Pascoe will also discuss his new novel Imperial Harvest.
Tony Birch will discuss his latest novel Women and Children with Grace Lucas-Pennington and take part in the panel ‘The Archeology of Memory’. Cheryl Leavy will keep little ones enthralled with Yanga Mother, a timely and poetic celebration of motherhood and First Nations languages. There’s plenty for young adults as well with comedian, actor and debut novelist Steph Tisdell (The Skin I’m In) and Graham Akhurst (Borderland) discussing ‘Coming of Age Stories’. Popular broadcaster Rhianna Patrick will host several sessions at the festival including conversations with Graham Akhurst and Mykaela Saunders for the High Schools program.
First Nations poets weave strong threads throughout the 2024 Byron Writers Festival program including esteemed poet Ali Cobby Eckermann who recently won the prestigious NSW Premier’s Book of the Year Award; multidisciplinary artist Jazz Money with her highly anticipated new collection of poetry Mark the Dawn being released in August; Australian Poetry Slam Champion Rob Waters; editor of The Rocks Remain, Karen Wyld; and poet and musician Nicole Smede. As well as the ‘Electric Poetics’ evening feature event, this year’s festival features a Poetry Walk where audiences are invited to walk between different sites in the festival grounds to hear poets recite their work.
Byron Writers Festival is proud to offer fully-subsidised MobTix for three-day, one-day and Kids Big Day Out festival passes, supported by The Vasudhara Fund.
Byron Writers Festival 2024
Festival Dates: 9-11 August 2024
Bangalow Showground and various venues.
Bangalow, NSW
Full program and all tickets at www.byronwritersfestival.com/festival
Byron Writers Festival at Bangalow Showground 9 -11 August, 2024. Photo Kate Holmes
About Byron Writers Festival
Held on the lands of the Arakwal Bumberbin peoples of the Bundjalung Nation, we pay respect to the traditional owners of this land and acknowledge them as the original storytellers of this region.
The annual Byron Writers Festival is Australia’s largest and leading regional meeting place of storytelling, literature and ideas. The festival line-up predominantly features Australian writers and experts who share their stories, inspirations and insights with audiences. Byron Writers Festival is renowned for its relaxed atmosphere and for delivering a diverse program of panels and conversations that celebrate storytelling in all its forms.
Byron Writers Festival 2024 will be held at the Bangalow Showground in the hinterland town of Bangalow, 15 minutes from Byron Bay. Free shuttle buses will be operating daily from Byron Bay.
www.byronwritersfestival.com
Byron Writers Festival 2024
Featuring
Alex Adsett, Graham Akhurst, Sarah Armstrong, Julia Baird, Tim Baker, Emilie Zoey Baker, Bronwyn Bancroft, Ella Bancroft, Eric Beecher, Wayne Bergmann, Tony Birch, Lech Blaine, James Bradley, Bryan Brown, Bob Brown, Daniel Browning, Nick Bryant, Jennifer Byrne, Imogen Carn, Peter Carnavas, Kate Ceberano, Lucy Clark, Alan Close, Ali Cobby Eckermann, Nadine J. Cohen, Laurel Cohn, Matthew Condon, Carody Culver, Megan Daley, Trent Dalton, Chris Dewhirst, Madelaine Dickie, Sally Douglas, Merinda Dutton, Jill Eddington, Anna Featherstone, Richard Flanagan, Candice Fox, Jan Fran, Suzy Freeman-Greene, Kate Fullagar, Joëlle Gergis, Gideon Haigh, David Hallett, Shahar Hameiri, Clive Hamilton, Chris Hanley, Dylin Hardcastle, Marieke Hardy, Steph Harmon, Jane Harper, Jane Harrison, Daniel Harrison, Lisa Harvey-Smith, Lyn Harwood, Ashley Hay, K.J. Hayward, David Heilpern, Nicolla Hemi Morehouse, Annabelle Hickson, Sue Higginson, Lex Hirst, Rebekah Holt, Caoilinn Hughes, Rebecca Huntley, Zacharey Jane, Erik Jensen, Marina Kamenev, Meena Kandasamy, Kon Karapanagiotidis, Yumna Kassab, Delta Kay, Meg Keneally, Kay Kerr, Misha Ketchell, Mitch King, Kris Kneen, Haruko Koga, Royce Kurmelovs, Nam Le, Cheryl Leavy, Bri Lee, Luka Lesson, David Lindenmayer, Julian Louis, Zanni Louise, , Amy Lovatt, Grace Lucas Pennington, Melissa Lucashenko, John Lyons, David Marr, Walter Marsh, Caitlin Marshal, , William McInnes, Laura Jean McKay, Dinuka McKenzie, Amy McQuire, Suzie Miller, Courtney Miller, Louise Milligan, Rosemarie Milsom, Jim Moginie, Jazz Money, Naomi Moran, Priya Nadesalingam, Claire Nichols, Mandy Nolan, Lynette Noni, Kerry O’Brien, Mick O’Regan, Chigozie Obioma, Brigitta Olubas, Bruce Pascoe, Rhianna Patrick, Sarah Percy, Ailsa Piper, Victoria Purman, Sanar Qadar, Isabelle Reinecke, Rhoda Roberts, Jodi Rodgers, David Roland, Lizzie Rose, Sara M Saleh, Sarah Sasson, Mykaela Saunders, Molly Schmidt, Nell Schofield, Julianne Schultz, Peter Singer, Nicole Smeade, Mary Spongberg, Matt Stanton, Benjamin Stevenson, Anne-Marie Te Whiu, Kate Temple, Jol Temple, Sarah Temporal, P.A. Thomas, Tayi Tibble, Steph Tisdell, Jessie Tu, Leo Vardiashvili, Karen Viggers, Maggie Walters, Rob Waters, Nova Weetman, Lili Wilkinson, Kim Williams, Nicky Winmar, Charlotte Wood, Mindy Woods, Stephen Wyatt, Karen Wyld.