As well as appearing in the main Festival program, selected writers and thinkers will feature in Byron Writers Festival’s program of Satellite Events that will have you laughing, crying, chin-stroking, and truly inspired. Satellite Events are separately ticketed shows taking place over the Festival weekend throughout the Northern Rivers region – the perfect solution if you can’t make it to the main Festival or have never been before and are curious to get a taste of what it’s all about.
Fans of ABC Radio National’s Richard Fidler can get their fix with two enthralling conversations taking place at the Byron Theatre. Friday 2 August will see Fidler interview comedian Hung Le, whose memoir The Crappiest Refugee tracks Le’s journey from a 9-year-old Vietnam war refugee to an international comedy star. On Saturday 3 August, Fidler will sit down and talk all things fire with Professor Stephen Pyne, who has written 35 books on the topic and spent 15 seasons fighting fires in the Grand Canyon National Park. Richard Fidler events are always popular so be sure to get your tickets early.
Byron Theatre will also play host to two vibrant live performances; Solid Air, a spoken-word showcase (Friday 2 August, 8.30pm) and Story Club: Working for the Man, a live storytelling night featuring true, hilarious stories by Benjamin Law, Scott Ludlum, Kate McClymont, and Sisonke Msimang (Saturday 3 August, 8pm).
If getting bookish over breakfast is more your style, then head to Harvest in Newrybar on Thursday 1 August for Breakfast with Clementine Ford. Listen as Ford discusses her most recent book Boys will be Boys while you get your morning caffeine fix and indulge in a delicious breakfast spread courtesy of Harvest and Brookfarm.
There are several free events happening throughout the region, including Gourmet Farmer Matthew Evans on How to be an Ethical Carnivore (Thursday 1 August, Beach Hotel Byron Bay). Writer and activist Nevo Zisin will talk about gender and everything that comes with it in Finding Nevo (Thursday 1 August, Southern Cross University Lismore). Ailsa Piper returns to Lismore Gallery with Object Lessons, a performance inspired by the current exhibition Object Therapy (Saturday 3 August). Acclaimed author Dominic Smith will take listeners back in time to the birth of cinema with a discussion about his new book, The Electric Hotel (Sunday 4 August, Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre).
To see the full program of Satellite Events and to book tickets head to www.byronwritersfestival.com/satellite-events.
