Saturday 23 April 2011

WENLOCK POETRY FESTIVAL

The first words at this year's Wenlock Poetry Festival will be from Shropshire Poets - Beverley Fry, Deborah Gaudin and me.  I haven't met Deborah yet.  Looking forward to it - and to the first session on Friday 29th April 2011 in the Priory Hall, Much Wenlock at 1.00pm. 

Wenlock Well
Should be a wonderful weekend with more Poets laureate than you can shake a stick at.  Saw an article somewhere asking what the collective noun for poets laureate is.  Answers please?  Anyway, in the old days a poet laureate was in the job for life, but now it's almost a temping job.  And with Birmingham having a new one every year, well, they're practically commonplace!
Offa's Poets are on Saturday 30th April from 1.00 to 2.00 and I'll be performing River Passage with live music by Dan Phelps. It'll be the first outing for Nick Pearson's new collection, too.  Not to be missed.
On Sunday there are more poets writing about Shropshire in the shape of Paul Francis, Miriam Obrey, Nadia Kingsley and Emma Purshouse.  They're at the Priory Hall from 4.00pm.
And don't forget Barry Tench, Mark Niel, the poetry slam and Paul Evans.
The poets laureate can look after themselves - give the locals a go.  (What's a local poet anyway?)
For details http://www.wenlockpoetryfestival.org/

Much Wenlock from near Wenlock Edge