An eclectic and exciting festival is coming to Keele this summer with a broad range of talks, workshops, spoken word, comedy and music on offer. 

This summer, for the first time ever, Byline Festival is coming to Keele University on 11th to the 13th July, with an exciting lineup of local talent and initiatives featuring in this year’s event, and discounts on offer for local people to attend. 

Now in its eighth year, the festival was created by the editors of Byline Times, a news organisation known for fearless investigative journalism and always reporting ‘what the other papers don’t say’.  

To celebrate the festival being hosted at Keele this year, local people (living within 10 miles of Keele) can take advantage of a 20% discount on ticket prices with the code LUNAR.  

Byline Festival is an eclectic mix of conversation, comedy, music and art. With this year’s theme, ‘Defending Truth and Democracy,’ the festival is more relevant than ever. It’s a chance to challenge perspectives, spark meaningful discussions, and celebrate independent voices. Whether you’re looking to be entertained, learn something new, or connect with like-minded thinkers, Byline Festival is an unmissable weekend of inspiration and discovery. 

This year’s lineup will include: 

• Nu-Marching band KiLNE will spread positivity around the campus through the joy of electronic music.  

• Award-winning local writer and Keele academic Lisa Blower is discussing her play ‘The Miner Birds’ that celebrates the voices of women mobilised during the 1984 miners’ strike, as well as showcasing her project looking at 100 writers from the Potteries for Stoke-on-Trent's centenary year. 

• Urban Wilderness will display art around the campus.  

• Kwazane Collective are bringing local poets and singer-songwriters to perform all day in the festival cafe 

This local talent will be joined by leading national speakers such as Carol Cadwalladr, Peter Oborne, Lord Victor Adebowale, Carol Vorderman, Rosie Holt and many more, as well as music and entertainment from acts including indie-rock band Names, the People’s Friend Band, and Tim Arnold with the Super Connected musical show. 

Professor Bela Arora from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, who has been instrumental in bringing the festival to Keele, said: “Keele has always had a strong civic mission and not shied away from engaging with the big issues that shape our world. Byline Festival shares that commitment to providing safe spaces for people of all backgrounds to reflect together and consider a constructive way forward that creates a more just and equitable world. 

“There will be thought provoking contributions from former Chief Crown Prosecutor Nazir Afzal OBE on male violence, through to award-winning broadcaster and campaigner Carol Vorderman on defending democracy. I’m thrilled we will be hosting the festival on campus and providing an opportunity for communities to come together and change the world.” 

Stephen Colegrave, co-founder of Byline Times and Byline Festival, added: “We are excited about brining our eighth Byline Festival to Keele University and involving great local partners and speakers. It is going to be both a thought-provoking and fun event.” 

For more information, or to buy tickets, visit www.bylinefestival.com, or to get involved with this year's Byline Festival, or to contact festival founder Stephen Colegrave, contact ella@bylinetimes.com