Anthony Albrecht and Simone Slattery will perform at the Lyrebird Festival in the Megalong Valley (Photo: Anthony Albrecht)
By Hamish Dunlop
The Lyrebird Festival in the Megalong Valley runs between the 23rd and 26th of November 2023. Immersive multimedia experiences, deep listening, conscious eating and art help to reimagine our place in the interconnected web of life.
Key Points:
The Lyrebird Festival runs in the Megalong Valley between the 23rd and 26th of November.
Art and deep listening can help us reimagine our relationship with the natural world and engage with environmental emotions.
New ways of understanding nature can inform how best to care for ourselves and the planet.
The Lyrebird Festival is a Bowerbird Collective initiative. New Blue Mountains resident Anthony Albrecht and Simone Slattery are co-directors of the Festival and the Collective. Both are also musicians who will perform in the Megalong Valley. Festival events include multimedia experiences that combine recorded soundscapes, film and classical music performances.
Anthony says the Festival is a celebration and exploration of the natural world through music, art, nature walks and talks. “Part of what we’re doing is examining and reimagining the conclusions drawn by environmental science and providing avenues for people to engage with their environmental emotions. Importantly, we want our musical storytelling to enable people to imagine a positive future. A place where their love for the planet informs their decisions about how to care for all species.”
Internationally renowned artist Janet Laurence tells me people can taste the essence of local plants and explore their stories at her Elixir Lab installation. Her concoctions will be served up in test tubes by storyteller-performers in white lab coats. “They’re not all delicious!” she laughs, “but they centre plant stories and cultural histories.”
Andrew Skeoch is an author, environmental thinker and pre-eminent Australian nature recordist. He’s presenting an audio-visual-led journey into birdsong and deep time. He explains how cooperative behaviours among songbirds can inform how we re-embed planetary health values into social institutions. Andrew will also lead deep listening walks. These are complemented by a night frog walk by amphibian expert Oliver Kelly.
Distinguished architects Brian Zulaikha and Simon Anderson will discuss passive design and its relationship to environmental sustainability. Simon lives in the Megalong and you can read about his fire-resistant and sustainable home here.
Other speakers, such as environmental philosopher Glenn Albrecht, will introduce new concepts and ideas. The Symbiocene is a word Glenn coined in 2011. The term describes the transition from the Anthropocene into a period of re-integration between humans and the rest of nature. His hope it that new language can help us generate positive earth emotions to usher in an era of all-species prosperity.
The Megalong Restaurant and Megalong Tearooms will be open during the day and in the evening during the Festival, excluding Sunday night. They serve cuisine almost exclusively grown and prepared in the Valley. It promises another way to discover people, place and plants.
Immersive multimedia experiences – Life on Land’s Edge
The festival will open on Thursday evening with Life on Land’s Edge, an immersive work that focuses on migratory birds. Five composers were commissioned to explore different elements of the birds’ epic migratory flights. These form a soundscape that is complemented by moving images and Anthony and Simone’s live performances on cello and violin.
Anthony and Simone performing as part of Life on Land’s Edge. (supplied)
Anthony says composer Chris Williams was fascinated by the length of their journey and the mathematical improbability of how far and how fast the birds travel: “the sheer wonder of it.” Chris created a work called (Codex) on the Flight of Birds, which is a translation of this physics into sound.
Indigenous Yolngu composer Gambirra chose to create song based on the birds’ vocalisations and how they might communicate in flight. The avians flock to rest and feed where Gambirra and her mother live in northeastern Arnhem Land. Together they chose words from language that expresses something of the story. “We hope one day Gambirra will join us on stage,” Anthony says. “It would be wonderful to see her singing the birds’ journeys.”
Profound musical experiences
There are many other amazing musical highlights. Friday evening features the NSW premiere performance of ‘Nocturnal’, prize-winning guitarist Andrew Blanch’s multimedia, solo recital, created in partnership with the Bowerbird Collective, that tells the story of our cultural and biological connections to the night.
On Saturday morning, Andrew and Anthony team up for a guitar and cello duo at Megalong Creek Estate. That night, listeners will be immersed in the sonic wilds of Tasmania by chamber-folk duo Where Water Meets.
Sunday morning features a concert of stunning new music for strings, featuring the Bowerbird Collective with Katie Yap on viola, Emily Sheppard on violin and Yyan Ng on shakuhachi. The festival closes with the Collective’s first work, ‘Where Song Began’, telling the story of songbird evolution.
Janet Laurence’s Elixir Lab: Experiencing the essence and stories of plants
The last time Janet Laurence’s Elixir Lab was installed in Australia, it was at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney. At the Festival, guests will be taken across the field from the Megalong Tearooms to an old dairy shed. There they will be drawn into a world of laboratory glass and mirrored lab benches.
Janet Laurence’s Elixir Lab (supplied by Janet Laurence)
“It’s an artwork that crosses over with science,” Janet tells me. “The essence of plants we give people are not essential oils, they’re not alcoholic, or brewed like tea. The shed is not an apothecary or a bar. It’s a portal into a botanical domain where you can discover, among other things, why plants taste the way they do.”
Janet Laurence’s Elixir Lab (supplied by Janet Laurence)
Andrew Skeoch: Hearing your place and listening to evolutionary time
Andrew Skeoch’s talk will incorporate natural sound phenomena, spectrographic renderings of birdsong and discussion of evolutionary processes. How humans have lost their cooperative imperative will be a central theme. “Cooperation” he says, “is a spectacular adaptation that increases survival. Birds communicate through song about territory, resources, relationships; they listen to each other. It’s as important as the evolution of feathers and their ability to fly.”
Andrew Skeoch (supplied by Andrew Skeoch)
Talking about other sounds in nature, Andrew reflects on the logic of protecting all species. “Sometimes you hear people saying it’s just one species of frog, but the coalmine will power all these homes and industry. This is the logic of a single generation, maybe a few generations.”
“But think about a chorus of crickets in the evening, or frogs croaking after rain. You’re listening back into deep time, hundreds of millions of years, to the story of life on earth. This informs the way I listen and highlights how unthinkable it is that in our lifetimes we’ll lose some of these voices.”
At the end of our conversation, Andrew touches on curiosity and the development of an openness to all creatures and all life on earth.
“What I hope is that we learn to listen more deeply. To spend more time in wild places. The wilder the better. Can we be still and listen to life around us?” – Andrew Skeoch
I hope that people can listen with open hearts and curious minds, because our personal relationship with nature and our place within it is audible.”
Many of Andrew’s nature recordings will be featured in the concert ‘Nocturnal’ on Friday night.
‘Nocturnal’ is a 60-minute multimedia performance by outstanding solo guitarist Andrew Blanch. The work is an ode to the night, and a call to action on light pollution. Tickets are available for as little as $30 for adults and $5 for U18s.
Learn more and buy tickets
To find out more and to book tickets to Lyrebird Festival events see lyrebirdfestival.com. The Festival runs from 23rd to 26th of November.
The Bowerbird Collective is a registered charity that creates and tours multimedia performances throughout regional Australia and internationally. Income from these performances, festivals, and digital engagement, as well as grant funding and philanthropic support, keeps the Collective’s initiatives running and supports its educational outreach programs. You can make a tax-deductible donation to the Bowerbird Collective on their website.
Take Action:
Attend Lyrebird Festival events to experience firsthand how music and performance and new concepts can bring us closer to nature and ourselves.
Explore the Bowerbird Collective’s other events and projects focused on improving planetary health, including Songs of Disappearance – Australian Bird Calls and Songs of Disappearance – Australian Frog Calls. On these ARIA chart-topping albums you can hear 53 of our most threatened birds and 43 of our most threatened frogs. You can now pre-order Songs of Disappearance – Australian Mammal Calls at www.songsofdisappearance.com.
Learn more about opening your ears to the natural world in Andrew Skeoch’s new book: “Deep Listening to Nature”
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
Plate to Planet: Blue Mountains Food Security Fair 2026
We are pleased to announce that the program and registration for Plate to Planet: Blue Mountains Food Security Fair 2026 is now live!
Follow this link to view the program and register your place: https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-2026-food-security-fair
Key information:
When? Saturday 10 October, 9AM - 4PM
Where? Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre, Katoomba
Who is it for? Families, gardeners, enthusiasts, community groups and businesses, anyone looking to learn about how to be more resilient through local and sustainable food systems.
What to expect? Talks, workshops, demos, market stalls, family activities, music, food
Is there a cost? Entry to the Fair and Markets is free. Talks and workshops are ticketed (both free and paid) and have limited capacity, so please register in advance.
Program highlights:
🌏Headline talk: The age of renewable Food – Julian Cribb AM 🎋Wild edibles foraging workshops – Diego Bonetto, Eat More Weeds 🏞️The importance of bioregions in uncertain times – Rowe Morrow, Permaculture Matters 🥒Home canning and food preservation workshop – Kirsty Berté, Permaculture Hawkesbury Valley 🏡Designing your own Permaculture Property – Leni Nyssen, Alchemy Farms 🍃Utilising what’s in front of you – Uncle Lex, The Ganya Shed 🪱How to worm farm - BMCC 🎸Live music by Olivia Dustmann 🌾Community crop and seed swap
Tickets are limited so please register your place now: https://events.humanitix.com/blue-mountains-2026-food-security-fair
We are also seeking stallholders for the event. If you are a grower, retailer, community organisation or business that would like to get involved, please reach out to [email protected]!...
Thank you to everyone that joined us at the Planetary Health Centre on Saturday for the first of our Skill Share Saturdays program!
The Centre was a hive of activity all day, and we heard from @alchemyfarms_permaculture, the @ediblegardentrailbluemountains team and Andy Mann. Also thanks to Sherlie McMillan from Greater Blue Mountains Rotary for teaching the Fashion Upcycling workshop, and Virginia Field for the Tai Chi and Qigong class.
The next event will be held on Saturday 1st August - you can register your place here: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre
🖐Get involved!
Do you have a skill, program or interest that promotes planetary health that you`d be willing to share with members of the local community? We are looking for more workshop and session hosts for our future events.
Join us at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba on the first Saturday of every month for Skill Share Saturdays!
Our July program includes: - What to grow in a Blue Mountains climate - Eating for Earth - Tai Chi and Qigong - Fashion upcycling and clothing reuse workshop - How to get involved with the Edible Garden Trail
You are also welcome to bring any surplus seeds or produce for our Crop Swap, or wind down in the Planetary Health Cafe (until 2pm).
If you have a skill that you want to share, or any questions or queries, please contact [email protected]
Visit the website to view the full program of events and register your place.
Join Andy Mann, a 23 year old Lawson local, for their Eating for Earth session 🌏
Eating for Earth is a judgement-free plant-based educational workshop that all types of eaters are encouraged to attend. There will be a presentation about the environmental impact of diets, a discussion section, and best of all, food! The food will be fully plant-based.
Andy wants to help inform our passionate community about how we can better reduce dietary environmental impact.
The session will run from 11AM - 12PM on Saturday 4th July.
Other sessions include: - What to grow in a Blue Mountains Climate - Fashion Upcycling - Tai Chi and Qigong - Bushcare on the Planetary Health site - How to get involved with the Edible Garden Trail
To register your place, visit our website: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre...
We’re excited to announce the second Blue Mountains Food Security Fair, taking place in Katoomba in October 2026.
This annual event will bring together growers, thinkers, makers, and community members to explore one of the most important challenges of our time: how we grow, share, and sustain food in a changing world.
Across the weekend, we’ll be exploring themes including: - Healthy soil and regenerative systems - Food and human health - Plant-based food futures - Home and community food resilience - Water-sensitive and climate-adapted growing - Indigenous food knowledge and systems - School food systems - Australia’s food procurement - Global food security challenges Expect a dynamic program of inspiring speakers, practical workshops, and hands-on experiences designed to leave you informed, empowered, and connected.
Key information Date: Weekend of 10th October 2026 Location: Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre, Katoomba, NSW We’ll be announcing speakers and program details soon.
We are also inviting expressions of interest from individuals and organisations who would like to contribute to the program, host workshops, run a stall or partner with us.
Do you struggle making the most of your veggie garden all year round?
Join Leni from @alchemyfarms_permaculture on Saturday 4th July for her Permaculture Workshop: Learn how to grow WITH the Upper Blue Mountains seasons, rather than battling against them.
During the two-hour session, you`ll cover crop selection for different seasons, what to grow from seeds vs seedlings, frost and wind protection, and nurturing your soil with a seasonal cycle.
Register for this and other sessions as part of our Skill Share Saturdays program via this link: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre...
From Saturday 4 July, we are opening up the Planetary Health Centre for our monthly Skill Share Saturdays program: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre
Throughout each day, you can expect to find a variety of sessions focused on restoring the health of the planet, in terms of the environment, community and economy.
Sessions at the first event include:
- What to grow in a Blue Mountains climate - Plant-based eating - Tai Chi and Qigong - Fashion Upcycling and clothing reuse workshop
You are also welcome to bring any surplus seeds or produce for our Crop Swap, or wind down in the Planetary Health Cafe (until 2pm).
Visit the website to view the full program of events and register your place: https://events.humanitix.com/skill-share-saturdays-at-the-planetary-health-centre
Registrations essential.
We are also inviting expressions of interest from individuals and organisations who would like to contribute to the program - please reach out to [email protected] if you are interested!...
🍃Volunteer weekly at the Planetary Health Centre 🍃
From next week, Tuesday 28th April, come and join Leni from @alchemyfarms_permaculture from 10am - 12pm, to help with the management of the Planetary Health veggie gardens, where any surplus produce can be shared!
The gardening session will be followed by a complimentary tea or coffee in the Planetary Health cafe.
📆Day: Every Tuesday 🕙Time: 10AM - 12PM
📍Where: Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre 33-39 Acacia Street Katoomba (follow the pathways at each side of the building, round to the terrace and gardens).
What shall I bring? All you need to bring is water, gardening gloves and a hat.
Last week we had the pleasure of hosting the first year Medical students from @notredamesyd for their Rural and Indigenous Immersion trip across Katoomba and Lithgow. Across two days, 150 students learnt about the link between human health and a healthy environment, the work of the @bluemountainsplanetaryhealth Initiative and the @bluemountainscitycouncil to create climate resilient communities, and got to explore our site using heat mapping tools....
Join Rotarians for Planetary Health on International Women`s Day, from 2.30-4pm Sun 8 March, for the opening of a portrait display to celebrate local women who have made a meaningful impact on protecting animals and nature. The photographs by Sue Lightfoot and others are part of a long-term initiative to build a living, community-driven database of women working to protect animals and the natural world.
The display will be open until 1 April, Thursday to Saturday, 9.30am–3.30pm at the Junction 142 Village markets (church space). As the project develops, community members will be invited to nominate women whose work deserves recognition.
The launch follows the Uniting Church and Plant Inspired`s monthly community luncheon from 12-2pm, which this month features the Older Women`s Network Blue Mountains. For more information contact 0434 691 496 (Teya)
In a world being threatened by war, greed, cruelty and selfishness, the Planetary Health Wellness Weekend will close with a gathering of people who have faith that kindness, generosity, love, creativity and community, and the healing of our land, are a better way forward. We`re thrilled that harpist Dawn Egan will be performing at this inspiring event in the Planetary Health exhibition space. Afternoon tea will be provided. Register to attend here (link in profile under Wellness Weekend): https://bit.ly/4kUkzfm
Had lunch yet? Head over to the Planetary Health Centre for these delicious offerings from @8thingskatoomba today (Sat 28 Feb): South Indian dosa, Korean bao, NY Cheese burger, Bali nasi, Mullum tofu fries, shoestring fires & red bean mochi!
Hamish Dunlop is a writer, visual artist and environmentalist. During his career he has worked in communications, as an academic at UNSW and ACU and more recently in the conservation space. He is currently completing a Diploma in Conservation and Ecosystems Management. He lives on the bush in Medlow Bath and is a passionate bush walker, gardener and cold-water enthusiast.
The concept of planetary health is rapidly gaining attention globally, as the world increasingly confronts the interconnected challenges of environmental degradation, climate change, and public health crises. But what does the term 'planetary health' really mean, and why does it matter?
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