Lateral G

Last Sunday, I was the guest at Grand Plans, at The Sair in Linthwaite.  Because of the motorway closure, our numbers were small, but it was a lovely, intimate evening.  Thanks to Sarah L Dixon for having me! (And for these photos)

Last night, I went to an open mic for the first time in months.  Bradford Library Open Mic – a monthly event, in the main library. 

I’ve been ill since March and had to pare back my poetry outings, so I haven’t been going to open mics at all, just gigs.  Keeping things minimal.

It was nice to read some work in progress, and enjoy other people’s writing and performances. There were some good performers, including people I haven’t seen before.  Can recommend!

Big Tree Todmorden Opening Weekend. September 6th and 7th. Late night business – DJs, musicians and even some spoken word!

Grand Plans, The Sair, Linthwaite. September 8th 6pm.

Ironbridge Poetry Slam, The Engine Shed, Enginuity, Coalbrookdale, Telford.  September 15th 2.30pm.

And then it’s Ink Spill Festival on September 21st at The Head of Steam, Hudds .

A year ago, I thought I had everything ready to start recording a collection of poems about my life in electronic music.  I had one go in the studio, with pretty ropey results, which wasn’t an issue, because we intended to go back and do a few sessions until we had decent recordings.  Then life got in the way and my sound collaborator was repeatedly too busy for the project. 

Never mind, I thought. We’ll get to it at some point.

A year later and Boris Donkson’s done his back in.  I wouldn’t normally celebrate someone else’s pain, but it means he’s really limited in what he can do, and suddenly, we are back on for my project!

So, this afternoon we did some ad hoc recording, down in the basement, with very little equipment, and the results weren’t bad at all.  They’ll need soundscape treatments, and it turns out that three of the poems were too rusty to record at all today – I haven’t kept them prepped.

As a spoken word artist, it feels wrong to present my words in written form – I think they need to be heard, in my voice.  I make a real effort to write for my delivery, and as such, my poems often don’t work at all on the page.  So it seems sensible to make a recording as an alternative to a book.

Hopefully, this is the first step towards that.  These are poems I don’t often perform, as it’s a bit of a niche subject matter,  but I do want to share them, as they are records of my personal history – and a moment that changed the lives of a whole generation.

This was the second year of Whitchurch Slam, and it was really nice.  A good selection of poets, more varied than last year, with greater depth.  I enjoyed it.  Didn’t get through the knockout stage this time, but that’s the joy of slams!  I do like the unpredictability. (I know lots of my poet friends don’t.)

My hat’s in the ring for another couple this year.  We’ll see if I get picked.