Julian Assange’s floating head will make an existential journey through time, space and international extradition law from an appropriately safe distance from his base at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London to make a return appearance at this year’s Splendour In The Grass forum, it has been announced. The Wikileaks founder (present via live feed) will team up with comedian Dan Ilic (Hungry Beast) Dominic Knight (The Chaser), journalist Andrew Crook (Crikey), writer/comedian Alice
Fraser and Network Ten boss Russel Howcroft (Gruen Transfer) for a lively debate on whether we can trust the media moderated by former Fairfax online editor Hugh Martin.
The debate is but one of many key events scheduled to take place at the thinking man’s Tipi Forest this year. Other highlights include a screening of 2013 music documentary The Sunnyboy, featuring a Q&A with filmmaker Kaye Harrison. A secular sermon with Melbourne comedian John Safran. A live performance of Dan Ilic’s A Rational Fear panel show. A live audience Q&A with Australian Greens leader Christine Milne. An honest discussion about the relationship between altered states of consciousness (read: drugs) and creativity with Ben Lee, Lindsay “The Doctor” McDougall, Dave Graney, Clare Moore, Scott Owen (The Living End), Lisa Mitchell, Nadav Kahn
(Gelbison, Kahn Brothers), filmmaker Rak Razaman (Aya
Awakenings) and Sydney/Bond University neuroscientist Professor Bulent
Turman.
Also on the bill is a Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire curated Women of Letters reading featuring Tim Rogers (You Am I), Dave Graney and Clare Moore (The Moodists, Dave
Graney & The Coral Snakes), Lisa Mitchell, Heidi Lenffer (Cloud
Control) and Phoebe Baker (Alpine) discussing the songs they wish they’d written. A panel with Sarah Blasko, Kram (Spiderbait) and a ‘special guest’ discussing songwriting craft. And a round of cool story bro with comedian Dave O’Neil (Randling, Spicks & Specks,
Tractor Monkeys), Tom Ballard (triple j
breakfast), Kirsten Drysdale (Hungry Beast, The Checkout)
and Hugo Gruzman of Flight Facilities.
SPLENDOUR FORUM SCHEDULE
Friday July 26
11:00 – 12:00pm: Interview & Audience Q&A with Senator Christine Milne
1.00 – 2.00pm: APRA Presents: Songwriters Speak
2.30 – 4.00pm: Debate: Can We Trust the Media?
Saturday July 27
10:00 – 11:00am: Women of Letters
12:00 – 2.30pm: Documentary screening: The Sunnyboy
Followed by Interview/Q&A with Director, Kaye Harrison
3:00 – 4:00pm: Comedy: A Rational Fear
Sunday July 28
10:00 – 11:00am: The School of Life Presents: Secular Sermon with John Safran
12:00 – 1.30pm: Panel: Ayahuasca & Altered States of Consciousness
2.30 – 4:00pm: Comedy: Story Club
