The return of Splendour In The Grass is mere weeks away and organisers have just dropped an absolutely epic lineup for the Splendour Forum Presented by The Guardian with plenty more “meaty, spicy treats for your mental appetite”.
The lineup features some of today’s most prominent and interesting thinkers, politicians, musicians, and activists making for an intriguing menu with live discussion panels, debates, interviews, Q&A sessions, secular sermons, literary salons, scientific talks, and more.
This year’s fascinating keynote interview will be with none other than John Kiriakou, former director of CIA counterterrorism operations in Pakistan after the September 11th attacks and the first agent to reveal the CIA had been torturing prisoners.
Kiriakou also revealed that torture had been official US government policy approved by President George W. Bush. The revelations cost Kiriakou two years in prison. Released in February 2015 and now active in peace and anti-torture circles, Splendour In the Grass is his first address to an Australian audience by live video.
Meanwhile, the ABC’s iconic panel program Q&A will be making its return to Splendour this year, having enjoyed a highly successful debut last year. Host Tony Jones will be joined by Greens co-deputy leader Senator Larissa Waters, Liberal MP Wyatt Roy, Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson, Guardian columnist Van Badham, and spy lawyer Bernard Collaery.
There’s also the return of the Splendour Comedy Club and organisers are promising this will be the “biggest comedy show we’ve ever done, and the biggest line up of comedians at any music festival in Australia”, with appearances from Matt Okine, Alex Dyson, Tommy Little, and more.
Splendour In The Grass 2015 Forum Lineup
THURSDAY
6-9pm Comedy
FRIDAY
10-11.30am Science: Future Crunch
12-1.30pm Keynote Interview: John Kiriakou
2pm Film premiere: Better Take Cover
2.30-4pm Panel: Copyright: Artists’ Friend or Foe?
5-7.30m Comedy
SATURDAY
10-11.30am Women of Letters
12pm Film: First Dog On The Moon: Truth, Lies And Oh Look A Bunny
12.30-2pm The Guardian Panel: Truth, Lies & Half Truths in Media
2.30-4pm Q&A with Tony Jones
5-7.30 Comedy
SUNDAY
10-11.30am The School Of Life Secular Sermon: Julian Burnside
12-1.30pm Film: Frackman
1.30-3pm Panel: Energy: Who Owns Our Future?
3-4pm APRA Songwriters Speak: Robert Forster
5-7.30pm Comedy
