There is something substantial satisfying about Byline. It’s a smart festival – intellectually stimulating – full of insight, interest and intrigue. Although the latter I added just for the sake of alliteration.

Let’s be clear, I’m a big fan of the Byline Festival. Each year, I leave with the feeling of having learned a lot about our world, with a refined and polished understanding and a swollen brain.

Nestled somewhat claustrophobically below the Portobello Road flyover, this was the festival’s first year in London after three years in beautiful Ashdown Forest (with a gap of a few years for reasons you may know) . As a result, things seemed more subdued and utilitarian than usual, which inevitably rather reduced Byline’s previous bucolic charm.

This was not helped by numerous discussions broadcast live on Byline TV. It opened the event up to more people (a good thing), but at times it made me feel like I was more of a studio audience than a weekend festival wild child. -end lost.

I needed to adjust my expectations.

After recovering from the near-hypothermia of Friday evening, I confirm that the end of April can be extremely cold, I began to indulge enthusiastically in the great feast of discussions and entertainment offered. I mainly focused on the über urban-chic Media Circus venue rather than the Flyover Forum, mainly because the sound outside was a bit dodgy, but also because there was a lot to enjoy inside . And it was warmer.

I must mention in the dispatches Lord Adebowale who, as well as engaging in a number of inspiring discussions, opened the proceedings and set a relaxed and inclusive tone for the weekend with charismatic aplomb. Other highlights for me include discussions: Empire and the Culture War, Black Lives Matter, Post Trump America, Problems with Policing and the Rise of the Far Right.

The Bad Press Awards – this year hosted by the inimitable Jonathan Pie – are a generally accepted annual feature of the event. I had mixed feelings about it this time around; yes, it was slick and clever, but it was hard not to feel like I had fallen on an exclusive love of the journalism industry in London. It’s not that surprising, of course, because Byline is mostly about journalism. The clue is in the name.

Usually, in addition to the intellectual stuff, I’m also a big fan of the music and comedy on offer. Indeed, Pussy Riot‘s two wild and frenetic sets in Sussex remain the highlights of my gigging life.

It wasn’t due to the quality, but this year the music and comedy left me a bit cold. To some extent literally because it was mostly evening, but also I think because of the location. Central London has no shortage of fantastic attractions, so there wasn’t the rare, haunting juxtaposition of a secluded forest and first-class entertainment. Also, without staying put, the temptation was to leave early to come home as soon as things got colder.

Sunny Saturday was the highlight of the weekend for me. The warmth of the welcome meant I could stroll over a beer in hand in the small outdoor area of ​​the site (surely one of the delights of any festival?), while diving into the proceedings whenever the envy came to me. Didn’t hang around all day, mind you the proximity to Portobello Road meant there were plenty of great food options in addition to the meat options on site.

All in all, this year’s festival was a success, although the Sussex venue is of course more magical than central London. Attendance – the majority age of participants is over 30 – seemed quite healthy to me, if a little thin on the pitch in the early morning and late evening. The queues at the bars and toilets – clean – were short, there were always places to chat, etc . What’s not to like? I definitely plan to go back next year.

Neil del Strother www.neildelstrother.co.uk