Next Fourth Friday May 27: poetry from Valerie Laws, Owen Gallagher; music from Balabustah!

                                          

 

 

 

Valerie Laws,  http://www.valerielaws.com/poetry , is Infamous for painting poetry on live sheep to celebrate quantum theory. 13 books published – unlucky for some!

Originally from Gorbals, Glasgow, Owen Gallagher lives in London. Widely published in the UK and abroad, his poems have been displayed on London buses, in public places in Ireland and on the Listening Wall at the Southbank Centre, London. Collections : Sat Guru Snowman (Peterloo Poets, 2001), Tea with the Taliban (Smokestack Books, 2012) A Good Enough Love (Salmon, 2015).

Balabustah! are a wonderful accordion & Fiddle duo  playing everything from Klezmer to Brahms to original material.

 

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Next Fourth Friday is April 22 – poetry: John Harvey, Danielle Hope; music: Liz Simcock

Ace thriller writer (remember Resnick?) and poet John Harvey; accomplished poet (4 books with Rockingham Press) and editor Danielle Hope; fine singer songwriter Liz Simcock (one of our favourites) and  Voices from the floor.

www.daniellehope.org

www.lizsimcock.com     mellotone.co.uk

 

 

February 26, 8pm. Poetry from Racker Donnelly, Leah Fritz; music from Carol Anderson (fiddle), Alex Seel (singer songwriter/guitarist)

Carol Anderson is an accomplished fiddle player and for many years one of the leading lights in the North-East. She has a style of her own, handling all types of tunes from pipe marches and strathspeys to slow airs as well as more recently composed tunes.

Leah Fritz’s poetry constantly reminds its readers of the important problems of life – poverty, hatred, war – yes, these of course – but also love, respect, how ordinary, everyday things can be invested with a life-enhancing sensibility if viewed aright.

 

Racker Donnelly, Irish Folkpoet & Entertainer, has done thousands of live performances in Ireland, Britain, America & Australia. His racks and songs, mostly comic, many commissioned, are about Sheep, Smoking, Tennis, Oysters, Joyce, Horses, Midsummer, Politics, Christmas, Swans, Yeats, Football, Dracula, Cameron, Goldilocks, Irish Proverbs, English History, Irish & English folktales, & whatever you’re having yourself.

Alex Seel is a young singer songwriter who plays excellent guitar to accompany his fine songs.   http://www.alexseel.com

 

 

(Please note that there will be no Fourth Friday in March – the Poetry Cafe is closed for Good Friday – the next Fourth Friday will be April 22nd with John Harvey, Danielle Hope & music from Liz Simcock – details to come)

next event 22/1/16, poetry from Jo Roach, Valerie Laws; music from Dave Ellis & Boo Howard

Tried & trusted duo Dave Ellis & Boo Howard with songs from their new album Facebook Friend and more besides.  www.daveandboo.com

 

 

and two excellent poets:

Jo Roach has written ‘Dancing at the Crossroads’ (Hearing Eye) and much more. She is also a dedicated and decorated cyclist.            See Jo’s page at www.poetrypf.co.uk

Valerie Laws is infamous for spray-painting poetry on live sheep to prove quantum theory. She’s also had 13 books published. ‘Vivid images and language that rattles and sparks…‘ Poetry Review.  www.valerielaws.com

And, as always, our excellent floor readers.

November 27: poetry: Myra Schneider, Simon Richey; music: Fran McGillivray & Mike Burke

Blues, folk and original songs from Fran McGillivray & Mike Burke – frequent and well-loved performers at Fourth Friday www.franmike.com

 

 

Myra Schneider has 5 published collections (Enitharmon), has been shortlisted for the Forward Prize, has edited several collections and co-runs Poetry in Palmer’s Green… ‘an essential poet: … her fusion of the domestic and the global… the sensual and the spiritual…’ (Acumen); ‘a sharp yet tender eye for the natural world… and the most       ordinary domestic object…’ (Artemis Poetry)

Poet, portrait

Simon Richey is featured in the current Poetry Review. His recent collection, Naming the Tree (Oversteps Books) has ‘the clarity of something that is looked at through water’ – to quote his poem ‘The Moment’.  These are ‘… attentive, lucid, moving poems…’ (Maura Dooley).

Next Fourth Friday, 23rd October: poetry & jazz with John Lucas, John Mole, Paul McLoughlin, Matt Lucas, plus Brian Docherty

John Mole,    www.johnmole.com     poet & clarinettist ,  has compiled radio programmes, co-run The Mandeville Press with Peter Scupham, is a recipient of the Gregory and Cholmondeley Awards for poetry, the Signal Award for writing for children, and an honorary doctorate from the University of Hertfordshire. He has been resident poet to the City of London as part of the Poet in the City project and reviews books on jazz for the Times Literary Supplement.  His libretto for Alban, a community opera received its premiere in St. Albans Abbey in the spring of 2009.

John Lucas is a poet, jazz trumpeter, novelist, academic and publisher of Shoestring Press. No stranger to Fourth Friday audiences, we are delighted to welcome him back.

Poet, flautist, saxophonist Paul McLoughlin has three poetry collections, ‘is unflashy & scrupulous and has a nice, gentle wit’. (Michael Laskey).

These three are joined by pianist Matt Lucas to present an evening of poetry & jazz.

In addition, Glasgow-born Brian Docherty,  ‘has something to say and says it with wit and perspicuity’, (Vernon Scanell). He will be reading from his recent (third) collection.

Next Fourth Friday is September 25th: John Hegley, Ian Roland, Emily Mae Winters

John Hegley – comedian, poet, musician, great entertainer www.johnhegley.co.uk; Emily Mae Winters – Irish Folk, Country, Americana and a wonderful voice www.emilymaewinters.com; Ian Roland, Brighton singer songwriter who wraps memorable lyrics round striking tunes ianroland.com. And, of course, excellent contributions from the floor.     £8/£6     8pm start.