The Information Stage returns to Bristol's The Downs Festival 2017

The Downs Festival 2017

Saturday 2nd September 2017
Clifton Downs, Bristol, Bristol, BS9 1FG, England MAP
£45

Daily capacity: 27,000

The Downs Festival, which takes place on Clifton Downs, Bristol on Saturday 2nd September 2017, has announced a line up of keynote speakers to address issues affecting UK society and thought-provoking panel discussions for it's Information Area. This year a broad range of topics will be discussed including austerity, homelessness, engaging young people in politics and how festivals impact on culture.

Alongside a musical line up headlined by Elbow, a combination of on-stage talks and panel debates will take over The Information Stage, Venue and Tent, enabling ticket holders to engage with social and political debates, ideas and experiences. The speakers have been carefully selected from a range of backgrounds to reflect Bristol’s diverse cultural landscape and unorthodox nature.

Building on the success of the Information at last year’s inaugural event, 2017 sees the area expanding into three distinct parts. The Information Stage for speakers and performers, the Information Venue for panel discussions and talks, and the Information Tent for charity and current affair exhibitors.

Rapper, poet and historian Akala will be headlining at The Information Stage. A supporter of Musicians Without Borders and an advocate of offering young people valid political choices, audiences will know his music as well as his moving TEDex and university talks. Suhaiymah Mazoor-Khan, a third generation British Pakistani woman and author of The Brown Hijabi blog will tackle topics such as politics, race, gender, feminism and Islam.

The creative minds behind satirical show The Revolution Will Be Televised, which poked fun at the political establishment will also take to the stage. Journalist, satirist, comedian and director Heydon Prowse and fellow writer and actor Jolyon Rubinstein won a Bafta for the show, which, among other stunts, saw them present the then Chancellor George Osborne with a GCSE maths text book. Spoken word artist Vanessa Kisuule addresses feminism through her poetry and will deal with topics such as attraction, social action and the influence of writers on their subjects.

Panel Discussions

Panel debates will air some of the burning issues of the day to inform and inspire discussion. Panelists will look at the future of the UK, how Brexit and austerity will affect the coming years and if we can shape a new, fairer society with this opportunity? Under the title of ‘The Future’s Yours; Design new systems for the world you want to inhabit’ a panel will look at how the landscape has changed since movements like Grime for Corbyn and how to motivate future youth politics. Another panel will look at how grassroots movements can inspire change and how much impact an individual and their votes can have.

Addressing Bristol’s growing homeless crises the Information Stage will invite the city’s homeless representatives, the volunteers who support them and the key staff who work alongside them to address solutions to the homeless issues in the UK and how people can get involved. Lastly a panel of music industry reps and musicians will debate the role that music and festivals can play for positive change in society despite being on the surface self-indulgent and consumptive events.

Musoic come from headliners Elbow, joined on the main stage will be Seasick Steve, De La Soul, Soul II Soul, and American rock band The Districts. There's a second stage too, with Groove Armada (DJ set), David Rodigan, an exclusive live festival performance by Roni Size to celebrate 20 years of his mercury prize winning album New Forms, and Mad Professor.

Tickets are priced at £45 plus booking fee, and will go on sale at 9am on Friday 28th April. We'll have links to buy when on sale.

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All online ticket sales will be subject to a £1 donation with funds going directly to the upkeep and maintenance of The Downs, for all of Bristol to enjoy.

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