Words In Motion
April 10th, 2008 by sparky
The literature, poetry and storytelling space hosts leading authors and poets, with an honesty library serving up books for free (as long as you promise to take care of them, and then pass on for someone else to enjoy). More details about the library are coming soon, but already confirmed as performers at Words In Motion are…
Poetry
Elvis McGonagall
Stand-up poet, armchair revolutionary and recumbent rocker, Elvis McGonagall is the sole resident of The Graceland Caravan Park somewhere in the middle of nowhere where he scribbles verse whilst drinking malt whisky and listening to Johnny Cash. Elvis is the 2006 World Slam Champion, the compere of the notorious Blue Suede Sporran Club and is one of the poets occasionally in residence on BBC Radio 4’s “Saturday Live”.
David Neita
Dave Neita – poet and barrister – is an extraordinary man. As the People’s Lawyer he represents excluded individuals and marginalized groups, and as the Peoples Poet he embraces grassroots treatment of social issues. He has been recognized by the Mayor of London for making an outstanding contribution to life in London.
Martin Stannage aka Visceral
Poet, MC and playwright from Manchester. A gifted wordsmith, Martin has been performing improvised lyrics since the age of 14. He performs regularly at his own club at the Contact Theatre in Manchester, and at freestyle nights around the country. He is passionate about his art and the positive effects it has on people of his generation at risk. He has recently been awarded an arts council grant for an inter-generational arts project in Manchester, and is leading outreach work for the Big Chill with school pupils from John Mansefield secondary school in Ledbury.
The D’Archetypes including…Shane Solanki, Nikesh Shukla, Excentral Tempest, Ventriloquist
Performance poets D’Archetypes mix comedy and political narrative into farcical cabaret. D’Archetypes are all about Shane Solanki’s comic political subversive social commentary, delivered over vocalist Sabira’s sweet smoky vocals, spread liberally over a beat that swings between jazz, ska, flamenco, hip hop, ‘world’, electro and whatever else we fancy! They were born in the minds of Shane Solanki and Nikesh Shukla in 2005, and since then lots of lovely people, and excellent musicians have contributed to the project. Last year they toured India with the British Council. Other councils they have also represented include the Style Council, Hounslow Council and the Council of Indian Men Who Defy Stereotype And Simultaneously Represent The Funk.
Apples & Snakes
Apples & Snakes is the UK’s leading organisation for performance poetry. Aiming to stretch the boundaries of poetry in education and performance, giving voice to a diverse range of challenging and dynamic poets.
At the Big Chill they will be celebrating 25 years of pioneering performance poetry, with some of the leading lights of the last quarter century, and some of the best of the next 25 years. The line-up covers poetry, storytelling, spoken word, hip-hop and grime, demonstrating the breadth of the scene that Apples & Snakes has nurtured, and showcasing all that poetry is and can be.
Apples & Snakes release their first album twofive: Vinyl To Download on double LP, CD and digital download, featuring Ty, polarbear, Salena Godden, Jamie Woon, Jean Binta Breeze, and Dennis Bovell and the newest on the block from London, Plymouth and Manchester.
Available from Amazon & iTunes, released 26th May 2008.
www.applesandsnakes.org
www.myspace.com/applesandsnakespoetry
Lemn Sissay
Lemn Sissay is an internationally renowned poet, author of four poetry collections: Tender Fingers in a Clenched Fist (1988), Rebel Without Applause (1992), Morning Breaks in the Elevator (1999), and The Emperor’s Watchmaker (2000). He is also the editor of The Fire People: A Collection of Contemporary Black British Poets (1998), and his work has appeared in many anthologies. He is a regular contributor to Poetry Review and has judged various writers competitions such as The Arvon Poetry Prize and The John Lewellyn Literature prize. He is currently artist in residence at The South Bank Centre, and has been writer in residence at The Cambridge Literature festival, The Belfast Literature Festival, University of Arizona, California State University and Contact Theatre Manchester. His one person show Something Dark (2006) toured internationally, and was adapted for BBC Radio 3, winning the RIMA award 2006. He is also a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4’s Saturday Live.
Jean Breeze
Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze is an internationally renowned Jamaican poet & performer. For both the page & the stage – her work reveals a generous and uncompromising vision, as well as a sublimely tuned lyrical sensibility. Jean’s collections to date include On the Edge of an Island & The Arrival of Brighteye (both Bloodaxe), plus Spring Cleaning (Virago) & Riddym Ravings (Race Today). Her recorded works include tracks with the Dennis Bovell Dub Band (LKJ Records), and Riding on de Riddym (57 Productions) The Fifth Figure – from Bloodaxe. This work represents an extended sequence commissioned by NESTA (the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Art).
Zena Edwards
Revered not only for the easy power of her words but also for her opulent delivery, for the complex manipulation of her voice, Zena’s work is deep and sensuous, rhythmic and startling. Her poetry is not simply supported by music, but is music itself. Using sampling technology to layer her mellifluous singing voice and the raw magic of the Kalimba and Kora, Zena creates her own sound tracks for her words and stories. She fuses jazzy Hip-Hop grooves heavily influenced by her World music collaborations with South African musician Pops Mohamed, one of her most important mentors. Zena was commissioned by BBC Radio 3 for Bloodlines as part of the Africa 05 series, and twice by Apples & Snakes for the Broken Words and Writers on the Storm tours. She has appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Poetry Please, Guy Barker’s World Café for BBC Radio 3, and London Live Radio. Currently she is developing her one woman show, touring in 2008/9.
Ty
Ty is one of UK Black music’s true innovators and popularisers. He’s been making music and pushing boundaries for the last 10 years. With 3 albums, a Mercury Music nomination and countless guest appearances from the likes of Tony Allen, De La Soul, Damon Albarn, Terri Walker, Scratch Perverts, Afro Reggae and Estelle. Ty has long been involved in the spoken word/poetry scene, as well as running workshops in schools and beyond since his pivotal involvement in the mid-90s Ghetto Grammar organisation. Recently performing and hosting Book Slam in West London. A thoughtful, political (he appeared on BBC 2’s Daily Politics Show in Jan 2008) spokesperson, a man of the people, a producer, musician, MC and poet with a killer sense of humour.
"An engaging blend of articulate wordplay, political suss and gentle humour"
- The Independent, 4/5
Jospeh Coelho
Joseph Coelho is a performance poet and workshop leader. He has led workshops for Oily Cart theatre company, RIFCO, Slough Inclusive Youth Theatre Project, and with the BBC and British Library as part of their ‘Silk Roads Project’. He has a background in theatre and has worked as Assistant Director with Battersea Arts Centre, Talawa Theatre Company, The UCL Bloomsbury, with Library Theatre (Manchester) on Jonzi D’s ‘Aeroplane Man’. He has performed as part of Apples & Snakes Broken Words tour and at the International Writers Festival at the Royal Festival Hall.
Byron Vincent
Byron Vincent has won several poetry slams, and he is now traveling round the country performing at literary events, and music festivals, while studying fine art. He recently got his first publishing deal with Crocus books. In July 2006 he appeared at Latitude Festival alongside Patti Smith and Lemn Sissay.
With poems such as Kevin’s an ‘erbert and Never Buy Drugs At a Festival amongst his repertoire, Byron’s subversive brand of barking doggerel has taken the UK poetry scene by storm and kicked it until it’s handed over it’s wallet.
“Looks and sounds like he could easily of stumbled off an Arctic Monkeys tour bus” Bristol Evening Post.
“Hilarious” BBCi
John Berkavitch
John Berkavitch’s performance style is a mix of rap, ironic wit, sensitive social observation, unrequited love, beatbox and a passionate distaste for authority. Packaged together with a sense of urgency and at times breath taking speed and lyrical dexterity. UK Slam champion 2007 and Glastonbury Slam Champion 2007.
Salena Godden
Salena Godden started being published and performing in the early 1990’s, and was then renowned for ‘taking poetry into clubs’, performing under the nickname Salena Saliva. Back then, she read support slots alongside literary heroes, including Irvine Welsh, John Cooper Clarke and Will Self. Later, Salena Godden went on to host and produce the Saltpetre Radio Show for Art Radio Station Resonance FM. She co-hosted Channel 4’s late night chat show Heavy TV, and she presented and wrote the documentary on her home town of Hastings, Seaside Rocks, also for Channel 4. She has been a guest on BBC Radio 4’s Bespoken Word and Woman’s Hour and BBC Radio 3’s The Verb. She has recorded, performed and toured with Coldcut, Simple Kid, and Alabama 3. She writes and performs in cult nu-ska duo SaltPeter with Peter Coyte who recently signed a record deal with Fred Label, launching with the single ‘Everybody Back To Mine’.
Her first novel Springfield Road will be published by Harper Collins in 2008.
Kim Trusty
Kim Trusty grew up in Canada and Jamaica and now resides in Birmingham. Kim has toured England as part of an ensemble with the spoken word extravaganza “Word Temple”. Her first play, Modern Amazons, sold out three consecutive shows at the Birmingham REP and toured in 2006. Her first book of poetry, Darker Than Blue was published in 2002 by McGilligan Books, Toronto.
Jan Blake
Jan Blake is one of Britain’s outstanding female storytellers, performing in theatres and festivals the length and breadth of Europe. She was born in Manchester to Jamaican parents. Inspired by recordings of ‘Miss Lou’ (Louise Bennett) she came to telling stories in 1986. She rapidly gained an international reputation for witty and exhilarating performances. She has a powerful singing voice, and can seize any stage. Specialising in folk tales from West Africa, North Africa, the Arab world and the Caribbean, her repertoire is full of tales of powerful women, and her versions of Ananse’s exploits are definitive. She has worked as an artist in residence at various theatres in England, developing particularly close links with the National Theatre (where she is the Consultant on Storytelling), the London Philharmonic Orchestra, The Deptford Albany, the Lyric theatre in Hammersmith and Battersea Arts Centre. She is closely involved with projects that will develop a new generation of British storytellers of African and Caribbean descent.
Words…
Robin Ince
Named ‘Best Compere’ at the 2007 Chortle Awards, and founder of the Book Club which won the innovation award at the same ceremony in 2006, Robin is frequently heard on Radio 4, and he regularly supports Ricky Gervais on tour. Robin will be performing in the Words In Motion area throughout the weekend.
Ben Goldacre
The Guardian’s Bad Science columnist – Ben is an award winning writer, broadcaster, and medical doctor who has written the weekly Bad Science column in the Guardian since 2003. He appears regularly on Radio 4 and TV, and has written for the Guardian, Time Out, New Statesman, and the British Medical Journal as well as various book chapters.
He has won numerous awards, including ‘Best Freelancer’ at the Medical Journalists Awards 2006, the Healthwatch Award in 2006, ‘Best Feature’ at the British Science Writers Awards twice, for 2003 and 2005, and the Royal Statistical Society’s first Award For Statistical Excellence in Journalism (£250 and an engraved crystal paperweight!).
John Hegley
The peoples poet Laureate whose works include;
Glad to Wear Glasses (1990)
Can I come down now Dad? (1992)
Five Sugars, Please (1993)
Love Cuts (1995)
The Family Pack (1997)
Beyond our Kennel (1998)
These were your Father’s (1999) (not mentioned in his Who’s Who entry)
Dog (2000)
My Dog is a Carrot (2002)
The Sound of Paint Drying (2003)
Uncut Confetti (2006)
John will be performing two specially devised shows in the Kids Tent, and with the Popticians in Words In Motion.
And The Independent Debate (more to come…)
Literature – Books and authors for 2008
Doug Johnstone – The Ossians – Penguin
The Ossians by Scottish novelist Doug Johnstone. It’s about an Edinburgh based indie band on the verge of being signed, going off on a alcohol soaked, drug-fuelled tour of the Scottish highlands, very fast moving and lots of fun.
Toby Litt
Penguin novelist Toby Litt’s new book I Play The Drums In A Band Called Okay is about a Canadian rock ‘n’ roll band, and their rise to fame and descent into various forms of addiction. Toby’s performs with a steel guitarist accompanying him.
Joe Dunthorne
Submarine (Penguin)’This first novel by a young Welsh poet is the sharpest, funniest, rudest account of a periodically troubled teenager’s coming-of-age since Catcher in the Rye.’ Joe is a regular on the festival circuit as he’s also a performance poet, and has performed at Hay on Wye, and Glastonbury.
Paul Kingsnorth
Real England (Portobello Books) is the latest book by high-profile young, Oxford based writer Paul Kingsnorth. Part personal journey, part manifesto, the book offers a snapshot of England at a precarious moment in its history. Starting with the common signs – the chain cafés and mobile phone outlets that dominate the high streets, the disappearance of knobbly carrots from our supermarket shelves, the headlines about yet another traditional industry going to the wall – this book seeks to make the connection between what appear to be isolated, incremental, local changes, and the bigger picture: a nation whose identity is being eroded. Kingsnorth travels around the country meeting farmers, foragers, canal dwellers etc., and reflects the kind of conversations that are taking place in country pubs and corner shops across the land – and he reminds us that these quintessentially English institutions may soon cease to exist. Kingsnorth is a well known environmental protester and anti-capitalist activist. He covers green issues for, among others, the Guardian, Independent, Ecologist and the Daily Telegraph. His first book, One No, Many Yesses (S&S, 2003), explored the global resistance movement.
Neil Boorman
Journalist and author Neil Boorman’s book Bonfire of the Brands is coming out in August, following great reviews last year.
“What do you do when you wake up and realise that your life has been an empty pursuit of the superficial and the trend-driven? That your identity and value systems are based upon a brand hierarchy of your own creation? You take a stand. You burn them. Burn them all! On 17th September 2006 Neil Boorman did just that. As a product of a generation that has been sold to since birth, Neil examines the social, historical, economic and psychological ways in which brands have gripped our society, as well as documenting his personal trials and tribulations as he tries to live a life without brands.”
