Turning the tide at Turner

When did it happen? I was convinced that the Medway poets had moved on and for poetry now you had to look to London. But here we are - drowning in a sea of artistic talent in Medway. I was wrong. And now I've discovered the Thanet poets are giving it some.

Image credit: S.M Jenkin

My perception is that the Medway poets of the 70s moved around much in pubs. As much as I can admire pub culture - and frequently do - I've noticed that something has changed. We're being noticed outside of the pubs now.

Among the pub and cafe events, there's a regular poetry gig at the Turner Gallery, run by the extraordinarily energetic Neanderthal Bard. Does this mean we're respectable now? I'm not entirely convinced that poets should be. Aren't we supposed to say the unsayable? Are we anything more than an event that ticks some funding box?

Try the Neanderthal Bard's social media feed - his listing of events is not to be missed. It's one way of holding onto the horses neck on the current merry go round of open mics, poetry slams and gigs.

Either way I'm going to be reading at the poetry gig at the Turner on Sunday, 9 July. The event (please note the new date) will be part of the Margate Festival. The poetry starts at 1pm. See you there...?

  

Inspirational Nights - Let's play!

Join Lisa Vigour at the one and only interactive open mic night in Medway. Come to perform or to appreciate the silken words and notes woven onstage for your pleasure.

Can't think of anything to say or to play? Pick one of the prompts on a peg and get going, you may surprise yourself...

Inspirational Nights Rochester, Kent

Mics and PA are provided. There is a piano at the venue you'll be welcome to play. If you want to play another instrument please bring it. All performers at this event get a free drink...

The next Inspirational Night will be at the Northern Seaman on 18 May 2017, from 8.30pm onwards. The Northern Seaman is at 378 Rochester Highstreet, ME1 1DJ Rochester, Medway.

Inspirational Nights are held on the third Thursday of every month. It's a lovely relaxed atmosphere. Come and play.

Website rec - Open Culture

Springtime is a great time of year to clear away the cobwebs and to try new things - hey any time of year is a good time for that. But I digress.

So if you want to try something new, or if you're looking for inspiration try the Open Culture website. It bills itself as "the best free cultural and educational media on the web", and I'd agree.

There are thousands of free courses including languages, free films, documentaries and interviews, ebooks. There is free music and lots of random cultural things too.

As a writer I'm loving reading all the writing tips from authors as diverse as Ray Bradbury and Toni Morrison, and the recordings made by authors like Sylvia Plath and  Dylan Thomas. The free audio books include some poems.

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Silent Sunday

Image credit: SM Jenkin

Keep WOW in print

WOW magazine really is the best of what's on where in Kent. It's the only magazine that lets me know what is going on in and around Medway and beyond. While there may be other listings they are somewhat scattered and lack WOWs range, and the space for people to post reviews. However...

Photo: David Robinson

it's been a labour of love for Emma Dewhurst and her team since it launched in 2010. Since the Beatles don't rule the world we really do need more than love. To make it sustainable it really needs to attract some additional funds. One way that we are being invited to help is by becoming a wow subscriber - there will be other ways to help out too.

To find out more, the ‘Keep WOW in print’ Launch Event is on Sunday 8 November at Sun Pier House, Chatham (between 10am-4pm). The campaign will then be live for 30 days, until midnight on Monday 7 December.

News about the crowdfunding campaign to keep WOW in print is posted to the WOW web page at: WOW Kent Campaign 

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Picture of WOW magazine October 2015 edition: detail wheel of fortune, medieval wall painting, Rochester Cathedral. Photo: David Robinson.

WOW - Bryan Talbot at Rochester Art Gallery

A picture speaks a thousand words, or so the saying goes. This coming month the thousand words comes to Rochester Art Gallery, with a new exhibition from Bryan Talbot, Mark Barnes, Joe Decie and Ian Williams. It runs from the 12 June until August 10, 2014.

Image credit: Wintersixfour

I'm very excited about the exhibition, in my opinion Bryan has been at the forefront of graphic novels ever since the startling Alice in Sunderland, a blending of history, magic realism and Lewis Carroll. It was one of the first graphic novels that expanded the limits of what graphic novels are capable of - besides Watchmen and Persepolis. Graphic novels can explore ideas stories and biography that other mediums cannot touch, and it grinds at me that so often mature is understand as "graphic". 

Information about the exhibition, and the many other cultural highlights coming to Medway are available in the June edition of WOW - What's on Where

The exhibition is going to be graphic - and it coincides with the start of FUSE festival, Medway's marvelous summer arts festival. Details available here

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Image sourced through Morguefile