Viva Brighton Issue #78 August 2019

FESTIVAL
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Photo by Raphael Moran
Byline Festival
Think, and have fun
‘Dance, Discuss, Laugh and Change the World’
is Byline’s byline. This month sees the festival’s
third year. Last year 4,000 people came – to
the site in Pippingford Park, Nutley; this year
they expect 5,000. “We started it just after the
Referendum and Trump’s Election”, Stephen
Colegrave, who founded the festival alongside
writer Peter Jukes, tells me. “We wanted to do
something a bit different – not just a music festival
– though also that. But something that inspired
people, and made them think, as well as laugh and
have fun.
“So, we do have a great music line-up – this year
includes Lowkey, The Feeling, Pussy Riot (again)
and 80s legends like Suggs from Madness – and
comedy too, but also three talk tents. We’ve got
Extinction Rebellion coming – because we think
the climate crisis is the biggest issue today. This
year, we hope to encourage people to actually go
out and change the world.”
It’s all about hope and change, he tells me. “And
getting a lot of people together. We never meant
it to be a political festival with a capital P, but
politics are important. “We’ve also always been
massively exercised by ‘fake news’ – and pro
rigorous, investigative journalism. We’ve recently
launched our own newspaper, Byline News. And we
always run a Bad Press Awards – bit like the Bad
Sex Award – though the winners never turn up to
collect their gongs!
“What we’re really interested in is inspiring
people to think about the future. At the same
time as having fun.”
This year Byline is partnering with the Curious
Arts Festival (see page 53), which will run on
the same site – a ticket to either will get you into
both – and the Frontline Club. “Lewes Women’s
FC will also be there,” says Stephen, “running a
chanting workshop, and 5-a-side football.”
There are loads of workshops to choose from
– “learn how to write a punk song; or make a
podcast in your bedroom” – as well as “immersive
experiences”: a human library, where you can
borrow a ‘book’ – ie person – and hear their story
for fifteen minutes; or the empathy museum,
where you literally walk in someone else’s shoes –
through the forest, listening to their story through
headphones.
Or what about the embodiment cloakroom?
“Leave your emotional baggage to one side for
the weekend, by writing it on a paper jacket, and
hanging it in the cloakroom.” Then, why not (re-)
visit the Wag Club? The iconic Soho club will be
recreated onsite for the weekend by its original
co-founder, Chris Sullivan – plus, a vintage 80s
clothing store for any who wish to dress the part.
“The opening event this year is a big Samba
party, with five bands, no less. Plus, the Refugee
Choir, which had me in tears last year. Also there
are lots of family activities.
“What I love about festivals is how people arrive
on Friday, in their weekend gear – that’s actually
quite grown-up – and leave on Sunday looking
completely crazy – face painted, and dressed in
togs they’ve picked up on site. Job done, from our
perspective.” Charlotte Gann
23-26 Aug. bylinefestival.com. Byline News at
bylinetimes.com
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