Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Poem: Ex's Facebook - Riaz Moola

Next Sunday I'm joined by poet Riaz Moola who has been making an impact on the local scene recently including winning a place in the final of the Cambridge Hammer and Tongue poetry slam. Check out one of his poems below and tune in on Sunday.

Friday, May 24, 2013

Poetry This Weekend

Cambridge's maverick poet and electronic musician Pete Um is performing a free gig tonight at The Gatehouse, 23-25 Gwydir Street at 8pm. It's right next to Cambridge 105. Pete has been described as:

'Lo-fi electronic songs, neurotic and quixotic charity-shop funk, highly personal stereo.'



and 

'like a one-man boombox version of The Residents ... like a quiet idea-storm: a procession of thoughts, camera-angles, memories, rambles, rumbles, micro-anthems, marching songs, drinking games, broken raps, Pop-monologues, miniatures, chamberwerks, salon songs, an orchestra of shed.' kidshirt.blogspot.com

http://www.umbusiness.co.uk/


 The event is supported by Bad Timing DJs. Bring a battery powered FM radio to participate. Details here.

Allographic: Other Voices returns to the Fountain on Sunday with Martin Figura and Justina Kehinde plus open mic. In the afternoon there's a poetry workshop with Andrea Porter.

Finally looking ahead to next week Ross Sutherland is reading at the last CB1 Poetry of the season on Tuesday 28th. Excellent!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Wisbech and Fenland Museum Writing and Art Competition

As mentioned on the last show here are details of the competition being run by The Wisbech and Fenland Museum. For more information see http://tenyearstime.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/news-young-peoples-museum-booklet.html.

Leanne Moden writes: "Myself and local artist Karen Harvey are working with the Wisbech Young Curators' Forum to put together a booklet of creative work to celebrate the fantastic collections at the Wisbech and Fenland Museum.
We're currently looking for examples of fantastic writing and artwork, inspired by the collections at the museum and we'd love to invite writers and artists to consider submitting their short stories, poems and drawings to the competition.
The competition itself is open to writers of all ages, and we have three age categories: Under 11s, 12-17s and 18+. The winning entries will be published in a special limited edition booklet which will be available at the Wisbech and Fenland Museum for local people and visitors alike to enjoy. It's a great opportunity for the kids to have their work published and there are so many amazing objects in the museum to spark their imagination!
To enter the competition we ask that participants send their submissions to info@karen-harvey.co.uk along with their name, contact telephone number and a short description of the museum piece from which they took inspiration. Alternatively they can fill out an entry form and post back to the Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Museum Square Wisbech Cambridgeshire PE13 1ES.
The closing date for submissions is Friday 31st May 2013. If you're not able to make it to the Wisbech and Fenland Museum to view the collection in person we're happy to receive pieces on the theme of Museums as creative spaces"

Show: 19.5.13 with Mark Niel


This show opens with guests from the last show The Breaches and features poetry by Mark Niel from Milton Keynes - www.akickinthearts.co.uk

The Breaches - Vodka Jelly
Savages - City’s Full
Hour Hands - Design The Colours
The Handsome Family - Flies
Oh Standfast - footsteps
Tim Clare - The Girl From Donkey Kong
Mark Niel - Poetry
Teen - Paradise
Shawn Waters - Get on Home Mama
Tom Adams - A Sudden Break in the Clouds
Steve Moore - Light Echoes 1

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Poem: Stealing sweets from Jesus by Mark Niel

The show this Sunday features a set from Milton Keynes poet Mark Niel recorded at The Fountain earlier this year. He shares some poems and talks about how he came to be a full-time performance poet. Here's a new poem from his website blog: www.pawhouseboy.blogspot.co.uk. Also check out his website: www.akickinthearts.co.uk

Stealing sweets from Jesus

Was this my first sin
or the green shoots of entrepreneurship,
and is there a difference?

I still claim God is somewhat culpable:
of all the places in all the world
to site a sweet shop next to a church.

So here’s the scam in easy steps,
(for storytelling purposes and not to
encourage a new generation of Fagin’s friends).

1. Spend all your pocket money
except for two shiny new pence
and take this gleaming conspirator to church.

2. When it’s time for the collection
ask Mum with innocent puppy eyes,
“Pennies for the plate”?

3. Mum, panicked, would rummage for silver.
Usually ten, sometimes fifty pence.
SCORE!

4. Use your best Penn and Teller
French Drop to substitute copper for silver
making the result. Jesus 2, you 48.

5. As soon as the last Amen sounds
slip silently from the blessed hubbub,
check for a tail, meet your dealer at the shop.

6. Launder the cash for kola kubes,
midget gems and only on cooler days,
curly wurlys.

7. Repeat
as often as you can
without arousing suspicion.

These are the seven steps from heaven,
forgotten for many years until
the new, old sweetie shop opened on the High Street.

Fifty pence doesn’t even buy a quarter now,
but the sugar-laden oxygen
takes you on a journey money can’t buy. 

To when Mum was close by and
there was no greater feeling than the
rumpled, paper twist of sweets in your pocket.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Musical museums and poetical musings ousing

This week's recommended poetry event is one I haven't yet been to. Ouse Muse is a regular poetry open mic night in Bedford. Host Ian McEwen is a fine poet and a regular at poetry events in Cambridge so if you can get to Bedford this Thursday go and support or even read. See https://www.facebook.com/events/571255309562960/.

Friday is Museums Night. Over the weekend museums worldwide will be holding special events at night. The Fitzwilliam will be offering a variety of music in its galleries along with talks and other activities from 6-9pm. admission free. See https://www.facebook.com/events/468638009872040/.

On Saturday John Grant plays the Junction. Here's the video for the latest single from the recent album Green Ghosts which won't be getting played on the show.


Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Show: 5.5.13 with The Breaches

The Breaches talk about their music and new album which you can purchase via their website. There's a variety of music and spoken word as usual including some music recorded by Patrick during a brief trip to Morocco. You can read more about that trip here.

Nico Gomez And His Afro Percussion Inc. - Caballo Negro
April March and Aquaserge - Black Bars
The Handsome Family - Octopus
Nick Jaina - Don’t Come To Me
Robert Wyatt - Little Red Riding Hood Hit The Road
Peter Blegvad and Andy Partridge - The Dope On Perelman
The Breaches - Interview
The Breaches - Jesus Wept
Leanne Moden - Take Me Out
Public Sector - Ego
Nathan Leigh - Oh! What a Captain of Industry
Moroccan Musicians - Unknown
The Impossebulls - AmeriKan Indle
Memoryloop - Levitate Jet Jaguar - Will Shred (feat. Clare Wieck)



Sunday, May 5, 2013

Hammer & Tongue and Shindig


I've been out of the loop recently but here are some events to check out this week.
On Monday Cambridge Harmony Chorus are doing a free warmup show before taking part in a national competition. The performance is at 8 at Christ The Redeemer Church, Newmarket Road, Cambridge, CB5 8RS.  It's near the McDonald's fast-food restaurant and Barnwell Roundabout.  http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=CB1+3RW. Check out their facebook page for more info.
Hammer and Tongue returns on Wednesday with Tim Clare and Hannah Jane Walker. For more info, tickets and to book your place in the slam go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/237437786398586/?fref=ts.
Finally Shindig returns this time to CB1 with music from Hour Hands, Slushy Guts, and Mouth. I'll be compering and there will be show and tell open mic. It starts earlier than usual 5pm. Full details here.

Thursday, May 2, 2013

Memoryloop - Illuminate

I'll be back live on air this Sunday after a break in Spain. Here's some free music for you, recommended by Tom Adams, smooth electronic music interspersed with intriguing vocal samples.