Last Saturday I joined a terrific lineup of poets from Cambridge and around in a special evening of music and spoken word. We were accompanied by Norwich band Wooden Arms, who, after only a brief rehearsal improvised an amazing sound track as we performed our work.
The event was organised by Shindig and Allographic and held in the beautiful surroundings of the Unitarian Church. It was great to see the local media get behind the event. I was interviewed for Slate The Disco and The Cambridge News.
Fay Roberts opened the evening and the natural musicality of her poetry was perfectly accentuated by Wooden Arms. She compered the night saying lovely things about the rest of us.
The event was organised by Shindig and Allographic and held in the beautiful surroundings of the Unitarian Church. It was great to see the local media get behind the event. I was interviewed for Slate The Disco and The Cambridge News.
Fay Roberts opened the evening and the natural musicality of her poetry was perfectly accentuated by Wooden Arms. She compered the night saying lovely things about the rest of us.
Leanne Moden was up next up. She always surprises and often shocks with her sense of humour. Wooden Arms took it in their stride sound tracking every line about terrible kissers and real life sex. She raised plenty of laughs and made sure everyone was in a good mood for my set. I have done a few musical collaborations before and Wooden Arms did a wonderful job adding colour and melody to my humble words.
During the evening Wooden Arms played some of their own songs from their last EP and forthcoming release. They will be back in Cambridge next month to play at the next Shindig on 14th February.
The band got a break during a set by Hollie Mcnish, a poet whose reputation has spread far beyond Cambridge. Her " knack for spouting brilliant, stomach knotting sense about motherhood, boobs and immigration," as Cambridge News put it always has audiences hanging on her every word.
The band got a break during a set by Hollie Mcnish, a poet whose reputation has spread far beyond Cambridge. Her " knack for spouting brilliant, stomach knotting sense about motherhood, boobs and immigration," as Cambridge News put it always has audiences hanging on her every word.
Three more poets took the stage in the second half. Russell J Turner performed extracts from his spoken word play. The gruff tales of sex and booze had a different mood and Wooden Arms responded perfectly with roughed up jazz and melancholy folk. Nikki Marrone gave a stirring performance with poems about war and overcoming adversity. Her final piece I Carry The Fire was well-known to many in the audience but it was transformed by Wooden Arms' accompaniment.
Daisy TG brought things to a close with an extended piece about life, love and music in London. The length of the piece allowed a rich dialogue to build between poet and musicians and was a rousing conclusion to the show in a packed venue.