Feature Events

Be ignited and inspired by a powerful lineup of poets and performers from Aotearoa/New Zealand, India and Australia. From stories of culture and identity, politics and activism, to relationships and desire, be immersed in rhythm and language in this cabaret-style feature event. Featuring festival stars Jazz Money, Nam Le, Tayi Tibble (NZ), Meena Kandasamy (India), Mitch King, and winners from the Poets Out Loud Slam and Australian Poetry Slam heats, with music by Nicole Smede.

Their dynamic voices and beats will bring fire to Byron Writers Festival, and light up the night. Hosted by Mandy Nolan.

Supported by Kassa-Miller Giving

Nourish your mind with big ideas to change our world at the annual Byron Writers Festival gala!

Hosted by ABC First Tuesday Book Club’s Jennifer Byrne, high-profile guests of the festival will grace the stage of Byron Theatre to deliver powerful and entertaining talks inspired by the 2024 festival theme ‘From the Ground Up’. Featuring twice-Booker Prize shortlisted Nigerian author Chigozie Obioma, new ABC Late Night Live host David Marr, Four Corners investigative journalist Louise Milligan, Parramatta’s inaugural literature laureate Yumna Kassab, and Indigenous journalist Amy McQuire.

See some of the brightest thinkers of the festival in one night.

Supported by Greenstone Partners

Join Bob Brown, former senator and parliamentary leader of the Australian Greens, for an intimate evening of discussion. What prompted Bob to write a young adult ‘novelette’, and what can it teach us about engaging young people in the fight for Earth’s future?

Bob Brown’s list of book titles is as long as his list of arrests for environmental action. His most recent book, Thera, is his first work of fiction, but why was it rejected by four publishers? Bob says there is a new revolution in the air and young people are the hope of the Earth. His motto: ‘Don’t get depressed, get active.’ Bob will be joined in conversation by Jan Fran.

Better Off Said: Eulogies for the Living and Dead is a spoken-word salon celebrating words, stories and human experiences. Produced by ABC First Tuesday Book Club’s Marieke Hardy and hosted by acclaimed poet Emilie Zoey Baker, experience moving and hilarious letters written and read by high-profile festival artists.

Festival guests, award-winning First Nations poet Ali Cobby Eckermann, actor and memoirist William McInnes, Midnight Oil’s Jim Moginie, First Nations comedian and author Steph Tisdell, and Georgian novelist Leo Vardiashvili will speak to the phrase “The words I wish I’d said” and deliver a Living Eulogy to someone or something still of this earth, to celebrate the best in our lives while we’re here to hear it.

This event will be Auslan interpreted.

Supported by Vasudhara