Show: 21.4.13 with Ian Keteku

This show features and interview with performance poet Ian Keteku who made a triumphant return to Hammer and Tongue this month.

The Specials - Ghost Town
Ivor Cutler - Women of the World
Darren Hayman - Henrietta Maria
Nick Jaina - I’ll do the time
Ian Keteku - My Name is Ian
Ian Keteku  - Interview
Dur-Dur Band - Doo yo
Talk Normal - Shot This Time
Nikki Marrone - I Carry The Fire
Inja - Flex
The Doozer - Fold Up Chair
Robert Wyatt - Shipbuilding
Solar Fields - Surface

21.4.13 with Ian Keteku by Headstand on Mixcloud

Show 7.4.13

Oasis - Rock ‘n’ Roll Star
Just William and The Outlaws - Caroline
Rue Royale - Parachutes and Lifeboats
Charly “The City Mouse” Fasano - Job Seeker
Ian Keteku - Kay
Konsumprodukt - Divorcio Robot
Mwahaha - Swimmer
Nathan Leigh - Tightrope
The Bitter Springs - My Life As Dog in a Pigsty
Little Machine - The Lake Isle of Innisfree (WB Yeats)
Marika Hackman - Bath Is Black
Chris Abrahams - Stabilised Ruin
Jet Jaguar - Single-Digit High
Matthew Shaw - Dans Maen

7.4.13 by Headstand on Mixcloud

Ian Keteku and Wordfest

Hammer and Tongue is back this week with headliner Ian Keteku all the way from Canada. Ian has played Hammer and Tongue in Cambridge before and it's great to have him back. Tristram Fane Saunders will also be performing and of course there's the slam. I can exclusively reveal that slammers will include recent Headstand guest Rychard Carrington. His performances are infrequent but always surprising and memorable. If you fancy slamming yourself be sure to book in advance as it's been a full slam the last couple of months. Full details here.

On Thursday head down to CB2 for an hour of comedy plays by Paul Richards. There appear to be two performances in the evening and the shows touring various other parts of the country. details and tickets here.

Finally next weekend is wordfest. Whether you like poetry, prose, fiction, non-fiction of whatever genre there's bound to be an event for you as some of the best known contemporary writers come to Cambridge for this leading literary event. Head over to the website: www.cambridgewordfest.co.uk.

The Return of Upbeat and the Cambridge Band Competition Final

A couple of events to check out this week. First the return of Up Beat Open Mic. This popular open mic night fronted by performance poet extraordinaire Alex Iamb makes a return this Thursday night to The Grapes on Histon Road. There will be open mic slots and these great headline acts ensuring things start off with a bang:

ALICEBAND
http://www.reverbnation.com/aliceband

An absolute stalwart of Upbeat from the beginning, if you live in Cambridge and don’t know who Alice Walker is then you need to get out more frankly. She’s been shivering spines around Cambridgeshire for what seems like forever and was recently featured on Joan Armatrading’s Radio 2 show. Soaring piano lines, cut-glass vocals and lyrics which actually make you think a bit form a sum greater than the individual parts. Add a super-tight band with some serious dancabililty going on and you really do have something special.

WILL VARLEY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMxwqZVL9L4

Will toured his first album by walking around the south of England. Yes, walking. The man has dedication to the cause to say the least. One of the best songsmiths you are ever likely to hear, he does words to guitar really well. Come buy his new album, he’ll need some shoes to walk home in.

FAITH TAYLOR
https://soundcloud.com/faithtaylormusic/

Super-astute politically conscious lyrics, spine-tingling vocals and finger-picking guitar that’ll set hairs on end. Beautiful stuff.

In between expect blasts of shouty performance poetry from the night's inimitable host. I might even get down to do a slot myself. Details here.


The following night it's the final of the Cambridge band competition. Get down to the Junction to hear five of the best from the Cambridge music scene battle it out for the title “Sound Clash Champion”. Special guests, Page to Performance poets led by Hollie McNish, will accelerate the pace with their rapid fire introductions before each band attacks the stage to give the performance of their lives. Great to see poetry getting a part in this mighty local event! Tickets available here.

If you can't make it down in person Cambridge 105 will broadcasting the event live.

Show: 24.3.13 with Rychard Carrington

Rychard Carrington performs poems and prose and picks tunes with Patrick Widdess in a special show recorded in the comfort of his living room.

Stiff Little Fingers - Alternative Ulster
John Shuttleworth - Life Is Like A Salad Bar
Lady Lamb The Beekeeper - The Nothing Part II
Rychard Carrington - Poetry
Loudon Wainwright 111- Donations
Mwahaha - Love
Peter Blegvad - Mama’s Boy
The Doozer - Burn The Tape
Jonathan Richman - Abu Jamal
Clorinde - Morello
Rychard Carrington - Prose
Jagwar Ma - The Throw
Neil Innes - Evening Sun
The Magnetic Fields - Everything Is One Big Christmas Tree
Sam Inglis Our Work Here Is Done

24.3.12 with Rychard Carrington by Headstand on Mixcloud

World Poetry Day

Happy World Poetry Day! Here's a video from my guest this Sunday Rychard Carrington.

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