FORWARDS Festival announce headline talk line-up for The Information stage

The 2023 programme will tackle inequality in the media, the housing emergency, racism, sexism in story writing, black novelists and writers, queer stories, politics on TikTok and more

Author: Oliver MorganPublished 6th Jun 2023

Some of the UK's 'leading disruptors, artists, writers and social innovators' will be taking to THE INFORMATION stage at Bristol's second FORWARDS Festival this year, alongside the 'epic' music lineup, headlined this year by Aphex Twin and Erykah Badu.

Organisers have today announced the headline talks - including LGBTIQA+ activist, Munroe Bergdorf and founder of gal-dem, Liv Little.

The 2023 programme will tackle inequality in the media, the housing emergency, racism, sexism in story writing, black novelists and writers, queer stories, politics on TikTok and more.

The line-up

Friday 1st September

Liv Little in conversation with Munroe Bergdorf - Telling Our Stories - Reflections on sharing experiences with the world

Author and LGBTIQA+ activist, Munroe Bergdorf and author and founder of gal-dem, Liv Little chat about the power of storytelling, and the importance of sharing personal experiences, reflecting on the ways which women and queer people retell their narratives in different ways and how they are often asked to relive past trauma.

Vicky Spratt talks to David Olusoga - Broadcasting Inequality - An urgent discussion on inequality in the media

Broadcaster, historian and BAFTA award winner David Olusoga speaks to journalist and housing rights activist, Vicky Spratt on the power of using media as a tool to teach audiences on history and inequality, and what more can be done to enact positive change.

Saturday 2nd September

Jonny Banger in conversation with Jeremy Deller - “We're not sure where this conversation will go!”

Conceptual, video and installation artist Jeremy Deller joins artist, raver, provocator and founder of UK-based clothing brand Sports Banger, Johnny Banger, for an unconventional talk around concepts, stories, politics, theories, feelings and their backgrounds as socially conscious satirists and observers.

Danny Price investigates - with Grace Campbell and Josh Berry - Seriously Funny - Is politics a joke? - current affairs for content

Danny Price investigates with TikTok creators and comedians Grace Campbell and Josh Berry, Is Politics A Joke? They'll be examining current affairs in content, what this means and engaging with new audiences.

Liv Little

Voices from the social and political spectrum are once again joining a host of international music names at FORWARDS: from Bonobo, Ezra Collective, Primal Scream, Arlo Parks, Gabriels, Raye, Leftfield to Goldie with the Live Ensemble, Olivia Dean and Biig Piig.

FORWARDS aims to harness the legacy and power of live events for positive change, stirring crowd consciousness in one of Britain’s most progressive and socially-minded cities, Bristol.

THE INFORMATION Stage will for the first time tour to Somerset's Glastonbury Festival this year - with a bespoke programme announced later this month.

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.