Poetry Non-stop out now

My new book Poetry Non-stop is now available on Amazon. It's a guide for poets of all levels to writing a poem a day for 30 days coming out ahead of National Poetry Writing Month (NaPoWriMo) in April.

The book includes:

• Techniques for quickly generating ideas for poems on any topic
• Forms that can be employed to turn any idea or flash of inspiration into a poem
• Daily writing prompts to complete the 30 poems in 30 days challenge
• More than 30 original poems written using the prompts and techniques in the book to entertain and inspire
• Advice on redrafting and developing poems to a publishable standard
• Useful resources for reading, writing and publishing poetry

I've put the price as low as I can for the first few days, so grab it now and get ready for a creative month. I can't wait to see what poems you come up with!

Show: The Final Headstand

After nearly 7 years on community radio in Cambridge I'm moving on to new things. I was joined for the last show by three guests offering a variety of touching and entertaining contributions. First JS Watts with an evocative set of poetry then Rychard Carrington plunging us into his bizarre yet intellectually stimulating world. Finally Maciek Pawlikowski from Cambridge 105 show Polish Waves turning the spotlight on me with a recording I did for the show whilst living in Poland. There wasn't enough time for everything I wanted to include in the final hour but I've added on a song by An Echo November recorded for the show while I was based in Poland.

Headstand may be ceasing regular broadcasting but I'm always coming across new and interesting music and poetry which I will share here from time to time or maybe via a new show or platform I may develop over time. Thank you for listening and reading over the years. I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have.

19.08.14 Finale with Rychard Carrington, JS Watts & Maciek Pawlikowski by Headstand on Mixcloud

Show: 27.5.14

Richard Burton - Under Milk Wood (Extract)

Hyelim Kim - Shower of Sparks

Isis Wolf Light And Rob Shipster - Finca

Nick Mulvey - Nitrous Man

Kate Tempest - Marshall Law

Adam and Bones - Me And The Liquor 

Moulettes - Elegy

Ezra Furman - My Zero

Girl Band - The Cha Cha Cha

Melt-Banana - Then Red Eyed

Korean Drama - Shotgun Legs

Luke Wright - Nigel Farridge

Einhorn - Swing All Night

Ethan’s Bucket - Chosen

[Fragments] - Constellations

Kaseijin - Aquatic Sleepwalker

Deceived By The Sun - Grinding My Teeth

27.5.14 by Headstand on Mixcloud

6 years of Headstand

Headstand has been going for 6 years now. Here's a recording of a performance I did with Tom Adams at the fifth anniversary celebrations last year. I got to hear Tom Adams playing exactly one year on in the basement of CB1. Performing solo he combined live and electronic instruments with his powerful singing voice in a set of new material. He is working on a new recording to which the words 'eagerly anticipated' can be readily applied. You can hear more Headstand related recordings at headstand.podomatic.com.

Hammer and Tongue with Ray Antrobus & Charlotte Higgins

This Wednesday get down to the Fountain for the last round of the Hammer and Tongue Poetry Slam 2012/13. It's your last chance to qualify for a place in the regional final to be held in September. It's also an opportunity for poets and poetry lovers to check out two great headline acts.

Headliner Ray Antrobus was in top form at the national finals last weekend. His efforts got Hackney second place in the team slam pushing Cambridge into third. He's a seasoned writer and performer. See his website for more info: www.raymondantrobus.com.

He will be supported by Charlotte Higgins who won the Strawberry Fair youth slam - the latest in an impressive list of awards and accolades.

For tickets and more info see the Facebook page. 

 

Patrick Sheil & Patrick Widdess at CB1 Poetry

Last month I did a gig with Patrick Sheil for CB1 poetry. We joined forces for the second set combining music and spoken word. I look forward to more gigs in the future. The next will probably be this Sunday at Allographic at The Fountain.

Patrick Sheil & Patrick Widdess at CB1 Poetry by Headstand on Mixcloud

Thresholds

Last Thursday I was at the Fitzwilliam Museum for a reading by poet Owen Sheers as part of his residency for the Thresholds project - an ambitious project curated by Carol Anne Duffy. You can read more about it here. Ten poets have been resident in ten of Cambridge's museums and collections and whilst most are heading home to craft poems from their experiences there are more events and readings coming up:

New Events

Gillian Clarke, National Poet of Wales

Thursday 14 March 1pm

Museum of Zoology, Downing St, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ

Admission is free, no need to book

 

Step Inside with Thresholds poets

Daljit Nagra, Jo Shapcott, Ann Gray  present work in progress

Tuesday 19 March 6.30pm -8pm

The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Downing Street CB2 3DZ

More details: http://www.cam.ac.uk/sciencefestival/events/?uid=55fd0131-b710-4c1c-965d-96d7f526646d&date=2013-03-19

Booking:  Telephone: 01223 766 766
Email: csf@admin.cam.ac.uk

 

 

New blogs on our website from Imtiaz Dharker, Ann Gray and Sean Borodale:  www.thresholds.org/blog/

 

Recordings of Thresholds readings from Sean Borodale, Don Paterson, and Owen Sheers: Go to: http://www.thresholds.org.uk/resources/  and click on downloads

 

Carol Ann Duffy sends a Valentine’s message: http://www.thresholds.org.uk/happy-valentines-day-from-carol-ann-duffy/

and writes about love poetry:http://www.thresholds.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Valentines-Duffy.pdf

 There is still time to book for our 2 Thresholds events next week

Daljit Nagra

5 March 6.30pm (doors open from 6pm)

The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Downing Street CB2 3DZ

Book:

Liz Haslemere:  01223 333516    eh268@cam.ac.uk

 

Ann Gray

6 March 5.45pm The Botanic Garden, Continents Apart, Glasshouse Range

Entry by Brookside Gate.  No need to book.

Coming soon

 

More recordings of readings, new events and date for final event in May with Carol Ann Duffy and the Thresholds Poets.

 

For more details on all these and other events visit: www.thresholds.org.uk/events/

 

Use our comments messageboard:   www.thresholds.org.uk/blog/

 

Follow our blog by the Thresholds poets and museums: www.thresholds.org.uk/blog/

 

Follow us on Twitter #ThresholdsPoets

 

 

www.thresholds.org.uk

Events this Week in Cambridge

There are a lot of great events this week. Unfortunately most of them are on Thursday. Four bands play the Portland on Tuesday Bleech, Beverley Kills - Who have been on the show a couple of times, Mark Ellis and Justin of The Judge Rheinholds. Tickets are £5. Get them here.

On Thursday there is folk-rock from rising local star Just William and the Outlaws at The Bath House and there's music and art at CB1 Cafe with acts including Tom Adams and Dianne Morisson. I'd love to go to both of them but I'm reading at yet another event CB1 Poetry, which confusingly isn't in CB1 at all but at The Boathouse on Chesterton Road. I'll be joined by Patrick Sheil who will be performing songs, poems and stories plus there's open mic so whatever you're planning on Thursday come to the Boat House. Full details are here.

Finally on Saturday Robyn Hitchcock plays The Junction. The prolific song writer and former member of The Soft Boys, The Egyptians, and The Venus 3 plays Cambridge just ahead of the launch of his new album. Check out one of his songs below and get tickets here.

This Week: Hollie McNish, Stephen Morrison-Burke, Mark Niel, The Antipoet and me.

I'll be doing support duties at a couple of poetry events this week. On Wednesday 13th it's the next round of Hammer & Tongue with a headline set from Hollie McNish who needs no introduction to poetry fans in Cmabridge and listeners of headstand and support from Stephen Morrison-Burke winner of the Cambridge heat in last year's slam. If you're a poet you might just be able to squeeze into the slam though last I heard there was only one place left. That means it'll be incredibly exciting! Where do I come in? I'm kicking of the slam as sacrificial poet, not competing but setting a bench mark for the competitors. For full details and tickets click here.
Next Sunday it's the Rhythm Method tour headlined by Mark Niel and The Antipoet, both terrific acts who don't get to Cambridge often enough. Check out the videos below. Leanne Moden and I will be supporting and Fay Roberts is hosting. More info here.
If I hear of anything else worth recommending in the next week I'll let you know on Twitter via the show's new feed. Follow @headstandradio

Jazz, Comedy and Open Mic this week in Cambridge

Any budding writers should head to the Arts Picture House bar tomorrow night for Object Writing, a friendly writing group that involves various games and writing exercises to get the creative juices flowing. You can get more info and sign up here or just turn up at 8 and look for the table with all the pens and notepads. You can read writing by members of the group on the blog.
On Tuesday night The Junction plays host to UK contemporary jazz master Courtney Pine. I've heard great reviews and now I look forward to hearing the music. Tickets available here.
On Thursday there's a choice between Open Mic at Hot Numbers which is bound to attract a good audience and some great performers or comedy at The Junction with my guest on the last show Tom Stade. If anything else comes up I'll let you know, possibly via Twitter. Follow @headstandradio.

Show and Tell, Fuzzy Lights and more in Cambridge this week

 Fuzzy Lights launch their new album next weekend at The Portland

Show and Tell returns to the Portland on Tuesday night with music, poetry, theatre and improv comedy on the bill including a few poems from myself and Headstand favourite Leanne Moden. Check out the review of the last one here and get all the details here. That night is also the first in a run of fortnightly Smokers by The Cambridge Footlights at the ADC. I have yet to see a Footlights show, it's easy to overlook something like groundbreaking new comedy being produced when it's happening on your doorstep. Monty Python, Fry and Laurie, Mitchell and Webb and many more started out in the Footlights. Smokers are the breeding ground for new talent and always feature an unpredictable selection of brand-new material.
Headstand favourites The Scissors play Man on The Moon on Friday and on Saturday Fuzzy Lights play the Portland. They've been getting regular airplay of their new album 'Rule of Twelfths' recently which they are launching at an event which includes a terrific supporting line up of 'Hong Kong in the 60s' and The Doozer. For details of the show and a review of Fuzzy Lights' new album check out Moving Tone.

That's about it as far as I know. If there's anything else, give me a shout!

Music and Spoken Word in Cambridge This Week

A busy week for events kicks off on Monday with the launch of new Cambridge Tour Walking with Women. The tour gives a history of Cambridge focusing on achievements of women and has been put together by Hollie McNish with the help of other women writers from Cambridge. The launch at Michaelhouse spoken word, illustration, architecture and storytelling in celebration of Cambridge's female past. Tickets are selling fast so book now here.
CB1 poetry at the Punter returns for its first session of the new year on Tuesday with
Michael Schmidt. For more information about Michael and the event see the CB1 website.
On Saturday there is music and spoken word aplenty at Shindig at St Philips on Mill Road. Read my interview with headliners Rue Royale here and get all the info on other acts and how to get tickets here. Finally Fay Roberts is running a poetry writing workshop at the Fountain on Sunday afternoon (27th January) followed by Other Voices with Malcolm Guite and Nick Stibbs in the evening. See the Allographic website for full details.
That's about it then. If I've left anything out let me know and have a good week!

Free Music Compilation From Mr Bongo

The well established record label Mr. Bongo Recordings, famous for re-issuing rare and forgotten records from around the world, the label behind legend Terry Callier and recently giving a platform to pop sensation Hollie Cook, have put together a 2013 sampler album and giving it away absolutely free. 

Spanning everything from Dub-Reggae, Jazz, High life/Afro-Beat etc. from around the world, with some very rare recordings, this album will have something for even the most discerning of music fans.

I look forward to sharing these songs on future shows but you can get them all now from http://vibedeck.com/mrbongo

Show: 13.1.13 with Steve Larkin

This show features an interview and poem from performance poet Steve Larkin. There is also a lot of new music including a track from the new album by Cambridgeshire band Fuzzy Lights and one from Christopher Owens' new album which you can read my review of here. There is also a song by Rue Royale who play Shindig in Cambridge on January 26th.

Antibalas - Dirty Money
Fuzzy Lights - Summer Tide
Indians - Cakelakers
Rue Royale - What Next Dear One
Steve Larkin Interview
Volunteers - Straight Edge Kids Make Me Wanna Binge Drink
Sam Hughes - The City
Christopher Owens - Here We Go
Beat Mark - Breezing
Ivor Cutler - Baked Beetles
Bruce Mcrae - Cries of The Innocents
Gaze is Ghost - Invisible Cities
The Emer Mulholland Group - Widower’s Song
Stealing Orchestra - Time Travel Waltz
Bubble Pie - Swing
Krackatoa - Brazilian Wax On Wax Off

13.1.13 with Steve Larkin by Headstand on Mixcloud

Mill Road Radio Show

A new show follows Headstand this Sunday on Cambridge 105 focusing on Mill Road. As a Mill Roader born and bred I'm proud to see the road get its own show and I look forward to the stories and information presenter Ceri Ann Littlechild has to share. Make sure you tune into Headstand at 8pm and stay tuned for Our Mill Road at 9.

More details here.

Show: 30.12.12

The last show of 2012 featured more festive tunes from artists including Aidan Smith and local band Beverly Kills who feature on the new compilation Rocket to Romsey. You can read my review of the compilation here. There is also a poem from Simon Mullen from one of the videos featured on the blog which you can see here and a song from Andy Buclaw recorded at a night that Tom Adams and I also performed at. You can find all the music from that gig and many others over the last year at shallowrecords.co.uk.

George Ezra - Let it Snow
Aidan Smith - Christmas Hangover
Beverly Kills - Walking in the Air
Porky the Poet - Father’s Christmas
William S Burroughs and Kurt Cobain - The Priest They Called Him
The Mountaineering Club Orchestra - Christmas at Godthaab (Absorb the Sun Remix)
Terry Edwards - The Christmas Song
Sam Hughes - Punks at The Cashpoint
Simon Mullen - Fire150
The Decapitated Hed - Kolendy Scięcie
Richard Wilbur - Year’s End
Starporn - The Ice Dropper
Andy Buclaw - The National Curriculum
Ghostpoet - Morning Ft Micachu
People Like Us - I’m Backwards
Ubik - I’m not myself

30.12.12 by Headstand on Mixcloud

Best of the Free Music Archive 2012

The Free Music Archive is rich source of music that I regularly turn to to keep the variety of music on Headstand fresh and interesting. Here is a mix of tracks featured on the show over the last year for you to stream and download for free.

'As another year comes to a close it's great to look back at all the music that's made it from the Free Music Archive onto my fortnightly show on Cambridge 105 (cambridge105.fm.) Starting with Auld Lang Syne played in traditional fashion on new year's day the mix takes a twisting route to the far reaches of the archive's diverse selection of music concluding with The Decapitated Hed beheading Christmas carols (according to Google Translate.)
FMA has been a constant source of inspiration during 2012 and this mix doesn't even include the music played in the FMA Special show in January. That music is available in a separate mix. I hope you enjoy this mix and listen to the show at headstandradio.blogspot.co.uk.
I look forward to sharing more music from the archive in 2013. Happy New Year to everyone at FMA!'

The Smell of Cubes

I have an album of poetry and experimental music available on Band Camp. It's kind of my Christmas present to everyone this year. It's pay what you want so you can give me a Christmas present back if you like.

Patrick Widdess & Tom Adams Live Recording

A recording of a recent set I did with Tom Adams is now available for free streaming and download courtesy of Only Shallow Records.

Show: 16.12.12 with Grahame Johnson and Suzi Shimwell

I was joined on this show by poets Grahame Johnson and Suzi Shimwell from the writing group Free Inkers. They shared a terrific selection of poems. We got into the Christmas mood with some festive tunes including some tracks from the excellent new compilation All Ready for the 25th? An amazing selection of Christmas music and spoken word including David Coulter on musical saw, Robyn Hitchcock covering Captain Beefheart and a jazzed up We Three Kings. The show also featured a track from the new live album by Cambridge band The Scissors. You can listen to and download it here. Name your price.

Enjoy the show and please vote for Headstand on Mixcloud's best of 2012 by going to mixcloud.com/headstand and click the vote button.

David Coulter - Silent Night
Mr.b The Gentleman Rhymer - Mr.b’s Christmas Song
The Scissors - HC Ecstatic (Live at MOTM)
Malty Media - Man vs Enema
Rue Royale - Snow on Snow ( In the Bleak Midwinter)
Bob Dylan - Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right
Charly “the City Mouse” Fasano - Gasoline Fumes
Robyn Hitchcock - There ain’t no Santa Claus on The Evening Stage
Pipo Pegoraro - Samambia
Wire - The Outdoor Miner
Staygold - Staygold Theme
A Collection of Notes - Forsake Me

16.12.12 with Grahame Johnson and Suzi Shimwell by Headstand on Mixcloud