A British musician who is a founder, keyboard player and primary songwriter of the Coventry, England, based ska revival band The Specials, The Special A.K.A. and The Spatial AKA Orchestra. He also founded 2 Tone Records. In November 2006, Dammers was awarded an honorary degree from Coventry University, celebrating by DJing at the launch party of the Coventry branch of the Love Music Hate Racism organisation. In the same month, he attended a private viewing of a Harry Pye curated art exhibition in east London that featured paintings of bands and singers that had once been championed by the late BBC Radio 1 DJ John Peel. Dammers read out a four-page poem, in which he thanked Peel for helping his own band, and for supporting black musicians.

Izzie Yardley is an alternative folk artist based in London. The music is mesmerising - honest, poetic songs of life, death, humanity. Similarities have been traced to the likes of Feist, Laura Marling but with influences including Nick Drake, Etta James and Frank Zappa the blend of folk/jazz/soul is truly unique.
In a short time she has a earned impressive performance experience including playing Union Chapel with the highly celebrated ‘Letters Live’ and supporting Ethan Johns. Garnering interest from industry and musicians alike, this is just the start for Izzie.

Frankie Forman is returning to Byline Festival with her latest venture, Cairo Moon. Her vocal tones are often compared to Lana Del Rey and Mazzy Star. With her musical influences being the likes of Billie Holliday, Bob Dylan, PJ Harvey, Leonard Cohen, Nina Simone, Massive Attack, Tom Waits and Portishead, Frankie’s sound marks the dark place where Trip Hop, Soul and Bluesy Rock n Roll meet.

Frankie’s new project, Cairo Moon, is a more lighthearted chapter in her musical career. Formed with her friend Jack O Shea from The Vex, their sound is a stormy tribe of vintage spirits, melting a potion of 60’s Soul and ethereal Rock.

Performing at festivals such as Isle of Wight, Camp Bestival, Blissfields, Leefest, Danny Boyle's shuffle festival and Boomtown to astounding reception, Frankie Forman has truly left her mark on the music scene. Make sure you get down to the Future Dome to see her latest musical venture.

Will Purdue is a singer - songwriter influenced by all the great sad young men, such as Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young. His music is an introspective throwback to the 1960's, with the lyrics and melodies taking centre stage.

If we turn on the news, open a newspaper, look online we are constantly reminded of the issues facing society in the UK. However, more often than not, we aren’t hearing about them from the experts who have experienced them.  There are people in our communities who are full of insights and ideas for solutions to create lasting change.  But are they being listened to? Are their voices being heard?

Being the Story www.beingthestory.org.uk is an immersive storytelling experience to inspire new ideas, challenge perceptions, and stimulate conversation on the big social issues. Being the Story provides a platform for people who don’t normally have one, to share their story and ideas in front of a live audience.  In the long term Being the Story aims to diversify the voices we hear in the media by nurturing and supporting these new voices and working with them beyond the event to be media savvy spokespeople.  Being the Story at Byline Festival will feature the thought-provoking insights of extraordinary individuals whose stories need to be heard. 

Taking the stage this evening will include:

Simeon Moore Co-founder of DatsTV

Simeon is a writer, musician and advocate for young people. He was a member of a notorious Birmingham gang and now works to tackle what he sees as the glamorisation of gang culture, which gives young people aspirations to live negatively. He brings vision, creativity and influence to positively impact on their lives. @zimbosla www.youtube.com/datstv

 Travon Steadman

Travon works with Drive Forward Foundation, a charity that supports care-experienced young people into employment, He is a strong believer in the power of lived experience to drive change and progress; highlighting the struggles young people face under government protection @steadmantravon

 Bryony Albery

Bryony was a frontline worker supporting rough sleepers now retraining as a social justice lawyer to ensure our most vulnerable get access to justice.  @bryonyAlbery

 Anne-Marie Douglas  Founder Peer Power

Anne-Marie's belief in empathy and personal experience of peer led services led her to found the charity Peer Power in 2015. The empathy led charity works with children, teenagers and young adults who have experienced significant trauma and adversity. It aims to improve the wellbeing and career prospects for young people involved, and to support them to disrupt, influence and improve the services that support them.

 Steve Arnott Aka Redeye Feenix Hull Beats Bus Founder

Hull resident Steve Arnott was a struggling warehouse worker by day and hip-hop performer by night. After a chance encounter with award-winning documentary maker Sean McAllister, Steve was asked to get involved in a film Sean was making: A Northern Soul. He now runs the Hull Beats Bus, a social enterprise mobile recording studio committed to building confidence and giving young people the space to be creative through music and art workshops.

Femi Oluwule

Geraint Davies MP

Adam Ramsay

Music by Madeleina Kay

Luke Harding

Misha Glenny

CHAIRED by Sana Safi

CHAIRED by OTTO ENGLISH

Mike Stuchbery

Dr Louise Raw is a writer, broadcaster, historian and activist.

Caolan Robertson

Chair - Maggie Murphy, Lewes FC Women’s new General Manager

Suzy Wrack, women’s football journalist

Claire Rafferty, commentator & former player, was a hugely experienced defender in the WSL, having recently just retired from West Ham United. She is Chelsea’s longest-serving player and has played at the World Cup and Olympic Games for England and Team GB respectively.

Outside of football, Claire has an economics degree from Loughborough University and alongside her playing career held down a part-time job as a financial analyst for Deutsche Bank from 2012. Having recently retired at the end of last season, Claire has taken up her new role of Partnership Sales Manager at former home club Chelsea FC.

CHAIR: Taniel Yusef

With Laura Nolan and Liz O’Sullivan