Korova launch flyer

couldn't resist

Geoff Stevens' Memorial Prize Book Launch

Date: 8^th June

Entry: free

Open Mic Event

Contact: tsqdor@hotmail.com

Winners of the Geoff Stevens Memorial Prize Julie Maclean ( When I saw Jimi ) and Terry Quinn ( The Amen of Knowledge ) launch their collections on the 8th June at The Barlow Theatre. Julie lives on the Surf Coast, Australia but was born and grew up in Bristol and this retrospective collection sparks through those times. Terry lives in Preston, Lancashire and his everyday language covering ordinary subject matters have a subtext which has become the hallmark of his poetry.

Together they will attempt to find common ground when they tackle similar issues from their books but will also read separately and there will be open mic slots throughout the afternoon.

The prize was instigated by Indigo Dreams Publishing in commemoration of Geoff Stevens, editor of Purple Patch ( national treasure, the Guardian ) Black Country poet and artist and after a break for refreshments Geoff’s poetry and artwork will be on display with selections from his poetry being read. There will also be an open mic for his poet friends to add to their memories with poetry readings.

The event starts at 2-00pm (doors open at 1-00pm) with the evening session beginning at 7-00pm.

Venue Details:

     at Barlow Theatre - 2.00pm

Address: 3, Spring Walk, Oldbury, B69 4SP, GB

podcasts

Mike Cracknell, Glenda Charlesworth and myself have been presenting the Arts Scene programme on Preston fm for the last 7 years. It is a weekly, hour long show which, as the name suggests, covers the arts in Preston. What the name doesn’t suggest, however, is that our guests come from all over the world. If they are in Preston they will be interviewed – and without exception they have been terrific. We try and balance local with regional and international. So we might have the Preston Lacemakers in the first half of the show and Vasily Petrenko in the second. We’ll intersperse them with appropriate music, a Poem of the Week and end up with our What’s On guide.

Which brings me to the point of why mention this on terry quinn poetry uk. Well, we have a podcast facility and if you want to listen to an interview with Billy Collins or Sarah Hymas, Alan Dent or Sophie Hannah then click on the link.

And I’m mentioning it now because I’ve just put an interview with Chris McCabe, the Librarian at the National Poetry Library, on it. I think you’ll enjoy the twenty minutes or so. Though I wish I’d mentioned the hard chairs.

Reading by Tony Curtis

Last week I went along to Hebden Bridge for a reading by Tony Curtis at the Crown Inn organised by Arc. If you're going to be left with an hour to spare in cold, windy, snowy conditions - then Hebden is not a bad place to be left in. One of the best Mochas ever in one of loads of cafes.

Tony doesn't so much read as envelope an audience in his own world which takes in so many places around the actual world that it seems quite normal that one should go out and find oneself driving along a small country road in Kansas, or whatever, trying to find an Old Peoples' Home and ending up in a mansion.

His imagination, in his poetry, is such that a Pony Society asked him to write a book about their breed of pony. He replied he didn't know anything about horses - which wasn't a good start. They said they didn't care as they were sure he could do the book. And he gave a few examples from the eventual book which proved their point.

Charisma can be a derogatory word but in Tony's case it fits. He's not putting it on. I heard him as I was getting off the train and he was exactly the same as when as in front of an audience. You'd love to have a few beers with him in the pub after.

To prove a point - the reading was taking place in the main bar of the Crown and people were coming in just for a pint. They looked a bit bewildered at first but all of them stayed to listen.

And thanks to Arc for holding the event.