latest poetry updates and views

Dear all;

Here is what I have being up to recently poetry wise (and a few honest
notes with each performance) and what is forthcoming etc:

Just done…

1) I appeared on second ‘Scratch Poets’ event on 8th April 2009
where I gave a debut performance off ‘Return to Kemptown’ minus
any involvement from my band ‘Words and Music’ or my mate the
soundscape poet ‘Matt Dalby’ (more on that later on (which we had
being rehearsing for a good month or so before this was done). Hard to
judge how the piece went down, but it felt comfortable reading it out to
people and I like to think it went down quite well. I also read out
‘Fire like Love’ a slightly older piece which I felt was a nice contrast
although I did stumble a bit with that.

2)I did a couple off poems at ‘Freed Up’ on 16th April 2009 where I
performed my first reading off ‘Don’t be Cruel’ and ‘Purple instead
off Blue’. If I am honest I don’t think this was my best ever reading
as the sound on the mike was quite poor and didn’t get spotted until
afterwards. I know some poets would have being quite upset about
that, but I wasn’t that upset I must admit as I was happy with the two
poems I read out – both off which will be making appearances elsewhere
in due course.

3) I then next appeared at Muta Poem on 23rd April 2009 as a
favour for my pal, the soundscape poet, Matt Dalby
(http://santiagosedeadwasp.blogspot.com/) with my pal,
Jeff as ‘Words and Music’ and fellow poets, Alex and Antoniononi,
(Tony). The night was a odd night all in all, but certainly the set
me and Jeff did we were very happy with them although I got
the feeling from other blogspots for example we weren’t
everybody’s cup off tea. Personally for me on the night however
I particularly enjoyed the concept off Matt’s night where he tried
to get people to remix other people’s work on a creative exchange
and perform them and then also for the second half do some pieces
inspired by what had being seen before.

Memorable events of the night for me were Antoniononi (Tony)
wrote a long poem and asked Jeff to jam along with him on the
spot, which I thought worked really well. Alex did a partly
improvised poem on Bros, which involved him in some cases
rolling up and down the floor, which was spell binding, and
completely off the cuff. Matt also was also first rate in particular
with a piece that he said was completely off the cuff. He also helped
out Jeff and me as ‘Words and Music’ which I think also went
pretty well (I did some good feedback from a number off
people over it).

Next up:

4) Firstly on Lit Media Reviews (www.blogtalkradio.com/litmediareviews)
tonight on 26th April 2009 I will be doing a short interview
at 10.30pm. Don’t know what I will talking about here yet but it will
include all of the above and what’s next.

5) Second, ‘Poets and…’ on Wednesday 29th April 2009 the
third off the open mike nights that I help run. I am hopeful this
one will be our best one yet. I’ll do four pieces with
‘Words and Music’ on this and cropping up elsewhere during
the night too (More to be revealed of course).

6) Third, 6th May 2009 for Amenity International I will be
appearing at a fundraising event for them reading out poetry
about Children in Conflict. I have two pieces done for this and am
trying to get a third done in time for the night also.

7) Fourth, 16th May 2009 – As part off ‘Words and Music’
we will be doing a couple off songs at Bolton’s
‘Poets and Acoustic’ night at the Blue Boar in Bolton.

8) Fifth, 17th May 2009 – I will be popping up during
Chorlton’s Art Festival at Lloyds Hotel during their annual poetry
reading. I loved it last year and am hopeful this year’s will be just as good.

9) Sixth, 21st May 2009 – I’m back over to Freed Up again for another
short set off stuff I haven’t started sorting out or writing yet.

10) Seventh, 18th June 2009 – I will be performing at
Manchester Museum (more details to follow)

Further a field:

11) End off June – will be doing the 4th one of ‘Poets and..’
with special guests to be announced nearer the time (I hope)

12) 11th July – Poets Express in Bantry (Southern Ireland) for Ky
which will be a major thing for a simple Manchester Poet like me.

13) August / September – perhaps sorting out a reading
on L.S.Lowry at a venue T.B.A.

14) End off September – will be doing the 5th one of
‘Poets and..’ with special guests to be announced nearer the time.

15) Autumn time – arranging a charity do for a selected charity
(Gary knows more about this than me)

16) End of year – doing a Trio Writers play.

As you can see – all go! This won’t include other open
mike nights here and there maybe at Scratch Poets
or Write Out Loud.