Saturday 19 January 2013

Stony Words, and other busyness, for the outgoing Bard


Trying not to think or talk about the damn weather. This week will contain most or all of the following:

 Myself and Richard Frost being interviewed on BBC 3 Counties Radio between 12 and 1 Monday Lunchtime.

 Extended performance (with Mark Niel on Guitar) at the Bardic Trials in Stony Stratford on Tuesday.

 Appearance on Caz Tricks' show on Secklow Sounds (MK-based internet radio station) Wednesday evening between 6 and 7pm

Performing at the Winter Waterside at Artworks in Linford Wood on Thursday evening 8.15pm

Performing at "From Bard to Verse" Upstairs at the Crown in Stony on Friday night

Possibly popping into the SS Shanty event at York House on Saturday

 Sunday 27th, off to see and support Mr Mark Niel (him again!) MK's own laureate, consummate performer and thoroughly nice chap, appearing and competing as a New Act of the Year 2013 in London.

Phew! Now just hoping that the weather doesn't sneak in and mess up any of these plans. Oops, I mentioned it....

Tuesday 4 December 2012

After the Lights


What a cracking day it was on Saturday. A fantastic afternoon of poets in the Library, then an evening in the market square seeing the lantern parade and being part of the entertainment, before dancing into the night at the Fox & Hounds, with other events and celebrations happening throughout the day. A most incredible atmosphere, built from a lot of people’s love for their town, even the weather (certainly in the evening) was on our side. What a superb thing to be a part of.

We have to thank library staff and the Friends of Stony Stratford Library (FOSSL), for helping us instigate, organise and run our event. All of the performers for each bringing their best, and helping us to run a slick show by sticking to time and keeping the atmosphere alight. Everyone who donated refreshments, friends and family for showing up and helping where needed and all the audience for turning up, enjoying it, and sticking around! Of course huge thanks and respect to Richard Frost for setting up the PA and organising the space, and for being co-host, and pretty much making the thing happen.

We have received the great news that the library would like such an event to be a feature of future switch-on days, and looking at the size and general joy of our audience I’m not surprised. It was a great day.

Also thanks to Ian and Michele Welborn regarding the switch-on itself. There WAS a mix up at the time of the lights due to some confusion backstage, but I followed a brilliant performance by the Pantomime crew before being introduced by our dapper Town Crier onto a stage in front of what must be my biggest ever audience. Reception to my “Illumination” poem, on the night and subsequently, has been good. Which is a fantastic feeling. Also, having followed a tribute to one of the crew who had died unexpectedly just hours before the big day, my ode to those who “bring the light” seemed more fitting.

Stony Lights had the party, and the audience, that it deserved. And again, I am so incredibly happy to have been a part of it. And the “After the Lights” band in The Fox? A truly perfect celebration.

I’m certainly looking forward to going back to the high-street for another look and finishing off the Christmas Shopping.
more about Stony at http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Buckinghamshire/Milton-Keynes/MK11

Wednesday 28 November 2012

Ready for Illumination!


It's been a busy few weeks, performance-wise, with trips to Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Bedford and London.

 
Like many of you, I’m sure, I have been gearing up for a day of festivities on the 1st December. Stony Stratford takes its Christmas Lights Switch-on day seriously (well, not too seriously!), like many of the independent communities around Milton Keynes do. There’ll be live entertainment in the streets, a lantern parade, and an array of activities for all ages. But don’t forget to pop into the library, where you will find a bonanza of poetic performance from local rhymers, and special guests from further afield, from 12.30 to 4.00pm. Then it’ll be time to wrap up warm and move to the streets, where I will be flicking the Christmas switch at 5pm, and performing a commemorative poem to celebrate 50 years of Stony Lights. All are welcome to join us in the library for a nice cup of tea, a mince pie and a day of lyrical entertainment.


Meanwhile, I have been invited onto the Art-iculate show on Friday morning (at around 10 am) on MK's online radio station Secklow Sounds http://www.secklowsounds.org where I'll be talking about the Stony Lights Poetry Spectacular, squeezing in a bit of that poetry, and maybe bringing in a weird tune or two for your listening pleasure.

See you at the Switch On!

Friday 26 October 2012

Stony Lights!

quick note to say that I'm absolutely stoked to have been asked to switch on the Christmas Lights in Stony Stratford as part of the day's celebrations on the 1st December. Huge thanks to organiser Ian Welborne and of course to Richard Frost.

It's been great to see the town accept and embrace the fact that they do now have their own Bard! My time's running out though, next Bardic Trials at the end of January. Anyone up for this auspicious position for next year??

Meanwhile, please join us for on the 1st December, poets in the Library from 1pm, and the switch-on at 5pm.

Sunday 30 September 2012

Autumnal musings.


Firstly, apologies for the delay, it has been a while since I’ve updated this, but time has certainly been flying by!

Having lived in Stony for a month now, I’m beginning to get used to the local ways and customs. So, it’s probably high time to cut down the beer consumption and try to focus on the writing and performing, always a challenge when there’s such vibrant life all around you!

 Since appearing and reading at Stony Library on the 1st September, dedicated to the children of the library, I also visited for a fantastic talk on the life and achievements of Mary Woolstencraft on the 11th, right before heading off to Scribal Gathering over at The Crown.

More recently I’ve ventured a little further afield, to Northampton on the 24th to see a local friend storm it at a comedy gig, then off to an open mic in London’s Brick Lane on the 25th. Then on Thursday to the fantastic Sunset Lounge sessions in Newport Pagnell. A great week of fantastic entertainment, but the latter probably trumps the others, fantastic musicians, friendly audience and a charismatic and welcoming host. This is highly recommended for new or established performers, and anyone looking for an entertaining night out that’s not too far away.

Coming up, well it’s National Poetry Day on Thursday 4th October, and plans are afoot to have some poets reading/performing in Central Library between 6.30 and 7.30. Organised by Mark Niel, it looks like there’s a nice spread of personalities to come and see and listen to.

Also in the works is a busking stage at the Stony Lights Switch on, on 1st December. There is a search for performers wanting to take part, and I, amongst others will be commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Stony’s Christmas Lights.

And of course, there’s also the planning for the next Stony Words festival, from 19 - 27 January 2013, which will include the next Bardic Trials on the 22nd, which will again be held at The Crown.
The end of the year is in our sights, but there’s still so much more on the calendar to enjoy and take part in. I hope to be back a little sooner next time. Until then, please visit this site for all things Stony: http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Buckinghamshire/Milton-Keynes/MK11

Sunday 12 August 2012

hotting up!


Well, it’s August, and we’re finally getting a good dose of sunshine. Hope this lasts a while as everything is so much more cheerful! First of all I have to announce that Stony Paint Jam has now become MK Paint Jam, and will be held at Inter-Action near Woughton on the Green, still 18th & 19th August (this weekend!). I still have some spots available for poets, but we have a great line-up of entertainment to compliment the rest of the days artistic activities.

Back in Stony, we have of course Scribal Gathering on Tuesday 14th, where I’m hoping to have something new to share. If you want a great night of music and poetry, please join the Gathering upstairs at the Crown (yes, they’re back in that beautiful room, making the usual racket) from 7.30, it’s free entry too.

On a personal note, I’m really excited to be finally moving to Stony in September. Seeing the town looking so pretty on Saturday, and a band striking up in the street, before joining some friends for a cold beer in the garden of the Fox & Hounds.... my decision was easily made!

Before then, I have my next “bardic duty” on the 1st September, a “double celebration” at the Library from 11am until noon, with an unveiling of the new sign and a variety of children’s activities. I’ll be sharing a poem for the occasion, and I look forward to seeing a few people, and hopefully making some future dates for library-based activities.

That’s probably a lot to get on with, I’d better crack on!

Sunday 29 July 2012

In Gratitude - for MK International Festival


Here is just my impression of these ten amazing days:
I’ve embraced my inner arsonist and set the park ablaze.

Got muddied and ash-blackened
And I’ve seen the World Tipped,
Been wowed by acrobats and balancing acts,
Not a single one slipped.
I’ve imbibed in an Arabian tent,
Attempted a little Franglais,
Whilst ackee & saltfish, and the best damn burritos
Have spirited my soul away.

I’ve been catered for and cared for with generosity and flair.
And seen a happy public dig deep to donate
Whatever they could spare.
I’ve seen our concrete city
Illuminated by collective joy and surprise.
I’ve been eaten alive by mosquitos
And witnessed some stunning evening skies.

I’ve whooped and whistled in a hall of mirrors
Blessed by the weather, (except for a showery final day)
Experienced a steampunk junkyard orchestra,
And played some giant sculpture games.
Rocked out to some furious Bombay fusion beats
That shook us all out of our seats
Then some wild pyrotechnic dancers
Went stomping through our streets.

It’s been Ten Amazing Days for sure.
And I hope that all the artists, cast, crew, caterers, cleaners, technicians, security and everyone else involved in it,
I hope that you, like myself,
Have loved every minute.