Byron Writers Festival 2024 Opens Next Week
Friday 9 August - Sunday 11 August
Bangalow Showground and A&I Hall
Australia’s largest regional writers festival explores the theme 'From the ground up'
The highly anticipated Byron Writers Festival opens next week, with a captivating lineup of literary stars, thought-provoking discussions, and a celebration of creativity from Friday 9 August to Sunday 11 August, 2024. Held on beautiful Bundjalung Country at the Bangalow Showground, the renowned festival continues to be a beacon for story lovers and writers alike.
This year’s program is one of the festival’s biggest ever with more than 160 writers and experts in over 130 different sessions spanning a myriad topics including the environment, contemporary social issues, poetry, politics, memoir and fiction. Taking place over three days, audiences can wander between the festival’s five large marquees and the heritage A&I Hall as they choose. More than 150 volunteers come from across the Northern Rivers region and beyond to help make Byron Writers Festival such a popular and friendly event.
Jessica Alice, Byron Writers Festival Artistic Director, said:
The festival's theme, ‘From the ground up’, underscores our commitment to nurturing creativity and fostering connections. From established, superstar authors to the brightest emerging talents, and diverse books for all readers, there is something for everyone to enjoy.
Be delighted by best-selling author Trent Dalton in conversation with Julia Baird and be captivated by renowned crime writers Jane Harper, Candice Fox and actor-turned-novelist Bryan Brown. Take a deep dive into the wonder of the ocean with James Bradley and learn more about Indigenous cultivation from Bruce Pascoe. Be inspired by AFL legend Nicky Winmar, environmentalist Bob Brown, Booker Prize winner Richard Flanagan and brilliant poet Ali Cobby Eckermann. Gain insight into international politics with former BBC correspondent Nick Bryant, ABC Global Affairs editor John Lyons and Indian academic Meena Kandasamy. Get behind the scenes with Midnight Oil’s Jim Moginie, singer songwriter Kate Ceberano, and Suzie Miller whose smash-hit play Prima Facie has been adapted into a novel. Get plugged in with poets Tayi Tibble (NZ), Jazz Money, PEN award-winning author and poet Nam Le and winners of the Australian Poetry Slam at ‘Electric Poetics’, just one of the special evening events also on offer.
In addition to the main program there is a wonderful Kids Big Day Out program for children, Festival Workshops, Feature Events and Satellite Events in venues throughout the region.
3-Day and 1-Day Passes are available as well as Youth Passes, Kids Big Day Out Passes and tickets to Feature Events and Workshops.
Tickets can be purchased online via byronwritersfestival.com/tickets or from the onsite Festival box office from Friday 9 August through to Sunday 11 August (subject to availability).
Byron Writers Festival 2024
Festival Dates: 9-11 August 2024
Bangalow Showground and A&I Hall.
Bangalow, NSW.
Full program and all tickets at
www.byronwritersfestival.com/festival
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, Ella Bancroft, Eric Beecher, Wayne Bergmann, 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.