Red, Like Our Room Used to Feel had a terrific run at the Melbourne Fringe Festival, and the poet Bronwyn Lovell wrote a really engaged and deep review of the show for Australian Poetry. Have a read if you’re interested in a really thoughtful point of view.
Deborah Pearson sits down with Jim Haynes in his Paris apartment where they discuss his long and eventful life. A founder of the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh, a pioneer of social networking and a real festivals junky, Jim is an amazing man – he admits in the interview that he’s basically acted on every idea he’s ever had. We also feature the track ‘When I Come Home’ by Behm MacRae. Jim Haynes interview edited by Deborah Pearson.
We discuss translation, identity, the value of mistakes and the virtues of bad poetry with the prolific novelist, translator and poet Ouyang Yu, who I interviewed in Darwin, Australia earlier this year. Ouyang reads a number of his poems and discusses the experience of being a Chinese poet who has been living and working in Australia for the past 20 years and how this affects his practice.
Lach made his name in New York City as founder of the legendary anti-folk movement. With a few simple rules and an open stage, a community of artists arose including recognisable names like Beck and Regina Spektor. Since moving to Scotland, Lach been growing a community of musicians and artists through three weekly events at Henry’s Cellar Bar in Edinburgh. We sat down to talk about the open-stage ethos and what might bring a man from the the Big Apple to Scotland’s capital. A talented songwriter himself, we also feature a track from Lach’s most recent musical offering, ‘Ramshackle Heart’ which is available on his Bandcamp.
This New Year season I’ll be taking Red, Like Our Room Used to Feel to sunny Australia for the Woodford Folk Festival! It will be warm, nay, HOT, it will be in a tent, it will be the festive season like you’ve never seen it.
We’re performing in Artisania from Friday 27 Dec – Wed 1 Jan, and on New Year’s Day 2014, enjoy a final feeding word frenzy with this post-NYE bain marie including the tender poetry wings of yours truly, the black pudding of punk-folk Billy Liar, and the sweet alphabet soup of Lady Rose. MC Ghostboy. It would be excellent if you came and joined us.
Enjoy a rare, intimate, one-on-one poetry reading with poet Ryan Van Winkle. Hide away in a cosy bed-sit, among trinkets, ephemera, artworks and an original score. Select your poems, lay back, make yourself at home, enjoy a snifter of port or a spot of Earl Grey, and drink in the specially created atmosphere.
Jim Poyser runs the world’s first entertainment show about our profound ecological challenges, the Ain’t Too Late Show. He talks about the importance of trying to get people thinking about the realities of climate change using humour, performance art and theatre and how he decided to get off the hope and despair rollercoaster and try to do something positive. We also feature the track Green Mountain Blues by Canyon Collected.
I will be performing at Henry’s Cellar Bar Saturday 7 December with our good pals Hiva Oa at DECAGRAM, Ten Tracks Collective’s party night.
The DECAGRAM collective bring you a series of extended Saturday nights with short film and visuals, live music and club in one. Featuring DECAGRAM artists joined by very special guests …
GRNR :: NUMBERS ARE FUTILE :: HIVA OA :: RYAN VAN WINKLE :: ANIA URBANOWSKA :: SMALL FEET LITTLE TOES :: DAVID WHEATLEY :: EUAN MCKENZIE :: TRUDATSOUND :: KEVIN PICKERING :: DUNCAN COWLES
Tiered pricing ensures those most inquisitive for a bit of independent film and audio/visual collaboration (7pm) can stay right through the gig (9pm) to the club night (11pm) for only £3.
Whilst those arriving later for what they prefer about the night don’t pay an arm and a leg (gig £4; club £4/£6).
The headline band for the gig *is* the band for the club night, and plays at 11pm before the club price goes up to £6 (midnight) for the live electronic set and/or DJs.
What: DECAGRAM
When: Saturday 7 December, Short Films kick off at 7pm, Live music at 9, Club at midnight
Where: Henry’s Cellar Bar, 16 Morrison St, Edinburgh, EH3 8BJ
How Much: 7pm tickets £3, 9pm tickets £4, midnight tickets £6/4.
‘Some poems come along at the right time. They come along, strike and get stuck. There is no telling when this will happen. You flirt with good, well-meaning, perfectly suitable poems for years but never want to marry any of them. Like love, there is a certain amount of luck, a certain amount of gut. And like love, we know if it has happened once, it can happen again.’
My essay on Bob Hicok’s poem “Bottom of the Ocean” is published by B O D Y. If you’ve got a few minutes to let me tell you about an excellent piece of work, do give it a look.
Ryan Van Winkle discusses dance, dance education, the power of non verbal language to make political points and how the “total conquering of my body turned my brain on” with David Hochoy, the Artistic Director of Dance Kaleidoscope. David studied dance in New York at the Alvin Ailey and Martha Graham school and has worked all over the world. Winner of numerous awards, the Indiana Historical Society recently named him an Indiana Living Legend.
I have a poem behind today’s door of the 26 Stories of Christmas. This is a really cool collection of poems, microfiction and artwork from some really talented writers to raise money for The Teenage Cancer Trust. Take a look, maybe give a donation, it’s a really good cause. Thanks!
