Splendour In The Grass has a huge music line-up, but there’s also plenty on offer for the festival philosophers, lovers of LOLs and campsite theorists – in the Splendour Forum, Comedy Club and Science Tent offerings.
Part of the programme for the first time this year will be the Forum Live Podcasts too.
Sit down and listen up, as a host of prominent thinkers, activists, politicians and musicians raise the vibrations with discussions, panels, debates, documentaries and more at Splendour Forum across the weekend. The forum will feature an unmissable, exclusive interview with Pussy Riot founder, activist and artist Nadya Tolokonnikova. . . And Pussy Riot will then take to the GW McLennan stage for their only Australian live performance.
Plus, hip hop fans can catch a specials Director’s Cut screening of ‘Burn Gently’, the story of Australian hip hop. Splendour Forum will also host the first ever Splendour Town Hall – an opportunity for audiences to hear from Federal Youth Minister Dr Anne Aly.
Get to the Science Tent and put your thinking caps on for the brain-broadening 2023 edition, and wrap things up with some healthy laughs at The Comedy Club. For the first time, audiences can check out some of Australia’s favourite podcasters, including the crew from The Betoota Advocate who will record their programmes live.
The Forum
On Friday, Australian youth music org The Push will chat to industry reps and break down everything you need to know about music career pathways in So, You Wanna Work In The Music Biz? Next, you can hear from harm minimisation experts, including a live demo of the scientific equipment in Pill-Testing Is Here. Then accompany Nat Damena and Marty Smiley in Generation F*CKED, exploring why gen Y and Z are the first gen set to be worse off than their parents.
On Saturday you can watch a discussion in The Voice To Parliament – Explained, as Brooke Boney hosts a chat with Tony Armstrong, Rachael Cavanagh, Dean Parkin and Carla McGrath about what the referendum will mean. Then, weed out the truth about New Cannabis Laws at Can-I-Buys? moderated by Sam Koslowski. Dr Karl will also explain a bunch of stuff about our planet in Great Moments In Science, while Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova will be in conversation with Hamish McDonald.
Sunday comes and brings with it new documentary ‘Burn Gently’, celebrating 50 years of Aussie hip hop and featuring 36 of the biggest names in the genre. Then, Splendour’s first ever Town Hall will introduce Youth Minister Dr Anne Aly, hosted by Hannah Ferguson, talking politics for young Australians. Social Media x Sex Commerce: The Oldest Professions Meets The Newsest Technology brings the opportunity to hear from some of the pioneers of OnlyFans and TikTok discussing how they’re harnessing the digital age.
Forum Live Podcasts
A host of poddies will be recorded live from the festival grounds, and you can listen in. Author, speaker, therapist and Like A Version creator Lissie Turner aka Mel Bampton will explore the connection between environmental and human mental health. What The Flux will break down three major business stories in five minutes, while Where’s Your Head At? hosted by ‘Love Island’’s Anna McEvoy and Matt Zukowski talks all things relationships, break-ups, reality TV, trending shows, and more. Then, Sometimes Funny Always Awkward with online comedians Maddy MacRae and Grace Hore chat about dating, sex, adulthood, and being a hot mess.
The Betoota Advocate Podcast will record live, and Kinky History explores the evolution of human sexuality. Award-winning Wendy Zukerman will interview scientists for Science Vs, giggling about the science behind blue balls, ketamine, superbugs and more.
Science, Comedy, Art
The Science Tent is back. . . Bigger, bolder, and brainier than before. You’ll forget you came to Splendour for the tunes. Body farms, forensics, conservation, wild animals in drag, the science of wellness. . . It’s all here. Plus, the Splendour Comedy Club takes over, boasting a line-up of comedy treats.
Splendour In The Grass 2023 takes place at North Byron Parklands 21-23 July.
