Introductory remarks by Helen Taylor Thompson - Chaired by Bela Arora (Professor of Global Governance and Vice Chair of the British American Project) with;

Eric Ngalle Charles (an award winning poet and playwright who fell victim to human trafficking)

Justine Currell (Executive Director at Unseen UK)

Angelina Rodriques (has two decades of experience in victim support) 

Paul Griffiths (Vice President of the Police Superintendents Association and was the senior investigating office in the case of a white British male who was held as a slave in Wales for 13 years) 

Steve Kenzie (Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact in the UK/IRE)

It is estimated that there are over 40 million victims of modern slavery across the globe. Sadly we do not need to look far to find people in the UK who are victims of this heinous crime. There are approximately 13000 victims in the UK. On this panel, you will hear about the investigation into the case of a white British male who was held as a slave for 13 years in Wales but also hear the voice of a survivor of human trafficking who is now an award winning poet. You will also hear about the work being done to support victims of modern slavery, locally and globally. 

Currently, the cost to the criminals is low and the reward remains high. The panel will ultimately remind us how vulnerable we all are and how easy it is to fall victim to a crime that generates $150billion annually in profits.

With Nick Hardwick (former chair of the parole board for England and Wales) Harriet Wistrich ( a solicitor specialising in sexual assault cases and women who have killed their violent partners), Jon Robins (The Justice Gap) , Frances Crook (The Howard League) chaired by Hardeep Matharu (writer for Volte-Face and Byline)

John Mitchinson quizzes members of the public in the reverse of 'any question' format, trying to get answers to the burning questions of the festival.

Chaired by Nick Mabey (TBA)

Emma Goodwin - Landworker’s Alliance south east representative and paleo Coach Emma Goodwin is a small holder with a passion for real clean food. 

John Cherry - Host to Groundswell movement of land management

Philip Greenwood - Land Manager. Sacred Earth Community Benefit Society

Vicki Hird - Award winning author, expert, strategist and senior manager working on farm policy, environment and food issues for over 25 years.

This four piece indie group take influence from the likes of Oscar Jerome, BadBadNotGood, MacDemarco and The Streets. Having been on the scene for a year, PieBoy have just recorded their first EP with their single "What She Wants" due to be released a week before their appearance at Byline Festival! Come and see Sunday night off with the act that's going to make you dance the night away! (Plus it's Paul Thornton's, lead singer's, birthday! Come and celebrate with the band!)

Mark Anthony grew up in Finsbury Park, North London where he began his deep interest in and music. 

Through his love for music, he met a rapper from South London called ‘Hi Breed’and a singer from West London called ‘Paul Lee’. After many years of hanging out together and sharing a deep passion for music, they eventually formed the music group ‘The Meds Collective’.

The Meds Collective then teamed up with London based producer 'BA Nusance' and recorded a catalogue of tracks together.

In May 2012; The Meds Collective released their debut album ‘Heartbreaks & Remedies’ and in January 2013; released their debut EP ‘Change’. These releases were followed up with various tours and shows in & around the UK.

Their busy gig schedule and media presence, saw the group build up a core fan base around Europe and beyond. The group eventually split in September 2014. Now Mark is playing solo gigs, come and see his late night set at the Forest Forum.

Don’s songs have sold on over 10 million records worldwide. A versatile and subtle songwriter his songs have been sought out by pop, country, folk and classical artists. As well as being a successful songwriter Don is also an accomplished performer whose lilting melodies and profound lyrics amount to a deeply moving musical experience.

House of Comedy is proud to bring you the best standups around, guaranteed for a night of laughter.

"Savagely Funny - Fantastically Silly"
The Guardian with Mark Brailsford and Sophia Behn

Post Punk Electro Ballad Group

A one-woman show about curries, lone parenting, startups, mental health, politics, feminism, Islam, Bangladesh, luxury and survival

Modulus Quartet is a London-based ensemble specialising in performing original string quartet repertoire written in close collaboration with a number of international composers. Drawing on its collective experience, the quartet seeks out music of an individual style, developing creative relationships with composers and artists. The quartet explores new ways of presenting music, performing in unusual venues and incorporating visual arts and multi-media technology.

With Peter Kearney and Tommy McKearny, chaired by Bela Arora

Speakers from London Gypsies and Travellers will talk about their experiences and
the work they are currently doing to challenge prejudice and negative stereotypes,
support community activism and use participatory mapping to gather better
evidence.

ILINCA DIACONESCU
Policy Officer
“I coordinate LGT’s strategic policy work, seeking to increase opportunities for
Gypsies and Travellers in London to have a say in decisions that affect
them –particularly in terms of housing, planning and health inequalities. My work
aims to gain recognition of the community’s knowledge and expertise, which is
essential in order to achieve fair and inclusive policies.”

MENA MONGAN
Community Engagement Officer
“I’m an Irish Traveller from London and I came into my job after volunteering for my
community. I challenge everyday discrimination against my people. My job involves
encouraging Travellers to speak out for their rights and get involved in LGT
campaigns and programmes.”

BETSY MOBEY
Youth Engagement and Campaign Support Worker
“I am a proud English Romany from nomadic roots, with a background in
performance and specialist makeup, advocacy and activism. I know too well the
deprivation many of us face on a day to day basis. I’m at LGT to strengthen the
Gypsy, Romany and Traveller voice, countering ignorance and injustice through
campaigning work, community workshops, one to one mentoring and policy
implementation.”
 

Who was really behind the car bomb that killed the heroic journalist Daphne a year ago? Her sister Corrinne Vella joins Juliette Garside (Guardian) and Stephen Grey (Thomson Reuters) who are investigating the various murky threads around the assassination. Chaired by Catrin Nye 

In partnership with the Pavement Magazine

Mat Amp . A spirit forged in the DIY English cultures of punk, reggae and acid house and formative years spent in Nigeria (the other country I’m from). My lived experience of homelessness included stints sofa surfing, squats, shooting galleries, the street and finally hostels. Now a writer for the Pavement as well as working for Groundswell.
 

 

Chaired by Nicola Baird is an environmental journalist who also teaches journalism. She started editing the Pavement in 2018 and has also written/edited 10 books (most recently Why Women Will Save the Planetfor Friends of the Earth/C40)

Anne Cooper has worked on creative writing projects including at the V&A, The South London and Maudsley Hospital and St Mungos Recovery College. She was writer-in-residence at Cressingham Gardens, a council estate facing demolition and working with residents produced the book 306: Living Under the Shadow of Regeneration. She is the author of Touched and the antiwar poem 21st Century Guernica, She has performed widely including at the Bowery Poetry Club NYC.

Denise Collins I became homeless when my relationship broke down and that lead to a domino effect of everything falling down in and around my life...

and 

Rosie Sparklepants

The three women on the panel have all taken part in the From the Ground Up project the Pavement runs with Groundswell. Funded by Comic Relief the project teaches peer journalism skills to people with lived experience of homelessness. This year we are going to focus the problems faced by women who find themselves homeless. 

With Caroline Orr, James Patrick, Zarina Zabrisky and chaired by Peter York

The London based singer/songwriter stepped into the limelight with her debut single “Torture”, blindsiding the scene with her revitalizing brand of lipstick pop. 'Torture' is an addictive segment of 80's pop with an uppercut of contemporary-fused 90's dance that incorporates feel-good synths and a sensational bass-line that compliments Foster's charismatic and beguiling vocals ravishingly.

Amy’s philosophy is centred on the power of music, in its purest form, to both awaken and heal. An indie folk singer and songwriter, her approach to music has been described as organic, emotive and intensely spiritual with her voice delivering power and invoking mysticism.

Purple Ostrich are rocking the comedy stage at Byline Festival again this August with a brand new (and currently unnamed) comedy lecture looking at the rollercoaster of a year that's passed. They're asking men 'you ok hun?' and talking new found vaginal strength. Expect songs, dances, reenactments of terribly sexist film scenes and political commentary. Round two, fight!

Join Alexei Sayle on the Sofa with Stephen Colgrave

Damian Collins will be summarising his historic Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee report into Fake News with a response from Tom Watson MP,  Shadow Secretary for Culture, Media and Sport 

With Q&A chaired by Peter Jukes

Carolina García Cataño (co founder of Take The Squares, original member of the 15M movement, pioneer in the Spanish free software movement who is currently taking part in the refugee movement),

Bernardo Gutierrez (Part of Ahora Madrid and MediaLab Prado, journalist, author and
original member of the 15M movement),

Claudia Delso Carreira, (Member of Marea Atlántica, a municipalist group running the town of A Corunha, in Galicia),

Peter Macfadyen, (co-creator of Independents for Frome, the pioneering municipalist group in the UK running Frome town council since 2011, mayor of Frome 2014-2015).

Panel to be chaired by Birgitta Jonsdottir (Original member of Wikileaks and producer of the Collateral Murder film, co-founder of the Icelandic Pirate Party and member of parliament, internationally renowned advocate for digital rights and published poet)

IN ASSOCIATION WITH NEW INTERNATIONALIST

With Jacob Crawford, co founder of Copwatch, Asim Qureshi from Cage, Amy Hall and Bonnie Greer, OBE chaired by Lord Victor Adebowale, CBE (TBA) 

Chaired by Asim Qureshi (research Director at CAGE and author of 'Virtue of Disobedience'), Cori Crider, Moazzam Begg (Outreach Director of CAGE) and Denise Le Beouf (ACLU America).

With June Sarpong (MBE) , Anthony Barnett (co-founder of OpenDemocracy), Rushanara Ali (Labour Party MP), Peter Geoghagen, Geraint Davies (MP) and chaired by Lord Victor Adebowale.