Poetry residency at 'The Loft Space', Dingle, Liverpool

I have started my residency at Liverpool artist Jo Derbyshire's 'Loft Space' project in Liverpool. This exciting venture was conceived by Derbyshire as she converted the loft space in her home into her studio. Whilst Derbyshire renovates the property in Elswick Street, she has turned the renovated loft/studio into a gallery space with exhibitions running until March 2007. The timetable for the exhibitions follows:

28 January 2007 - 3 February 2007 On The Waterfront by Irene McLoughlin.
04 February 2007 - 10 February 2007 Poetry Installation by Andrew Taylor.
11February 2007 - 17 February 2007 Pastel Series by Peter Worthington.
18 February 2007 - 24 February 2007 The Place where we live -Andrew Hodge and June Rose H.
25 February 2007 - 03 March 2007 Jazamin Sinclair and Karen Henley.
4 March 2007 - 10 March 2007 City, Regeneration, Redevelopment and Waste, ACEO's.
11March 2007- 18 March 2007 Nietzsche's Urbanised Icon by Gaynor Evelyn Sweeney and Tony Knox.
25 March 2007 - 31 March 2007 Book Launch Preview.

I will be exhibiting poems that were written during two previous residencies I undertook at Liverpool Architecture and Design Trust and Liverpool Cathedral.

It is my intention to visit the Elswick Street property and space regularly throughout its duration as the Loft Space and react to it and the exhibitions by writing poetry. A publication will gather the work that is produced during the residency.
To visit 'The Loft Space' contact Jo Derbyshire direct via email: aprilskies1204@aol.com or telephone: 07946353251.
I may post works in progress on this blog.

The Binturong Review

I have just had four poems published in the new magazine The Binturong Review. The magazine is up to its fourth issue and is seeking new submissions. The magazine is stocked at News from Nowhere, Bold Street, Liverpool and negotiations are in place for further stockists in the north-west. Submit work to renewbinturong@yahoo.co.uk
This magazine deserves your support.

Joanna Newsom, Manchester Bridgewater Hall, January 15th 2007.

As you can see from the list of bands I have seen since Echo and the Bunnymen at Liverpool Empire on April 26th 1981, I have visited many a venue and city in the pursuit of entertainment. Another such visit happened on Monday evening. Manchester, so-called rival to our own fair city, was the location for Joanna Newsom at the Bridgewater Hall. I have been to the Bridgewater Hall twice before, to see Durutti Column and Crosby and Nash, but Monday's visit was SO good I had to write something about it here. Now, I read Mojo and Uncut magazines monthly and a startling review brought my attention to Ms. Newsom's latest recording Ys (Drag City records). I facilitated a listen and then bought not one but three copies of the album as Christmas presents. What else pricked up my ears was the news that Steve Albini engineered the album and Van Dyke Parks had arranged the strings and co-produced the recording with Ms Newsom. I consider the album the best album of 2006.
But, I digress. The concert on Monday ranks as one of my top five of all time, (along with Pink Floyd 1994 and The Smiths, New Order and the Fall (same bill)1986). As soon as Newsom arrived on stage I was transfixed. 'Emily' from the new recording is over 10 mins long and as Newsom raised her hands to prepare for playing her harp and the conductor of the Northern Sinfonia raised his baton, the capacity crowd were equally transfixed. My companion, who disliked the Ys recording because of Ms Newsom's voice, regarded her as a 'genius' and has since changed his mind (as I suspected) of the album.
Sometimes words are inadequate. On this subject they are. Joanna Newsom is indeed, a genius.

Bands

There has been a few enquiries regarding the bands I have seen over the years. Following on from Jonny's Gig List here is a list of the bands I have seen since my first: Echo and the Bunnymen and The Blue Orchids at Liverpool Empire April 26th 1981:-

Pink Floyd
The Velvet Underground
The Rolling Stones
Roger McGuinn x4
Love x6
Bob Dylan x2
David Crosby/Graham Nash
The Scaffold
David Bowie (Tin Machine)
Peter Gabriel
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Big Country x3
Echo and the Bunnymen x25
The Blue Orchids
Altered Images
Vic Godard and Subway Sect
Orange Juice
The Go-Betweens
The Smiths x 2
Red Guitars
The Chameleons x 3
Spear of Destiny
Sisters of Mercy x2
The Fall x 3
New Order x3
Icicle Works x2
Billy Bragg x2
James x3
It's Immaterial
The Searchers
The Lotus Eaters
Black x2
Morrissey x7
The Christians
Gerry Marsden
The Rain Parade x2
R.E.M. x3
Teenage Fanclub
Cocteau Twins x3
The La's x4
A Certain Ratio x2
Stephen Duffy x3
The Psychedelic Furs
The House of Love x3
Swervedriver
Slowdive
Brighter x2
Heavenly
The Orchids
Boyracer
The Sun and the Moon
Mark Burgess
Happy Mondays x2
The Railway Children
The Church
Spiritualized x4
10.000 Maniacs
Manic Street Preachers x2
Super Furry Animals
Galaxie 500 x2
Oasis x2
The Wedding Present x4
Kraftwerk
Bob Mould
Link Wray
The Durutti Column x8
American Music Club x2
Red House Painters
Mark Eitzel
Mark Kozelek
Joseph Arthur x2
Cosmic Rough Riders x4
Luna x2
Cast
The Stairs x2
Wah!
Buzzcocks
Puressence
Come
Unrest
Elbow
Gene x4
British Sea Power x11
Television x2
The Stands
The Verve
Richard Ashcroft
The Human League
Blueboy
Secret Shine
Shack
Mogwai x4
Ben and Jason
The Blue Nile x3
Prefab Sprout
The Cardigans
Delays
Embrace
The Divine Comedy x2
Doves
Explosions in the Sky
Felt
Sigur Ros x2
Glide x3
Grant Lee Buffalo
Nick Heyward
I Like Trains
John Denver
The Killers x2
Laura Veirs
Kathrine Williams
Lloyd Cole and the Commotions
Lloyd Cole x2
Longview
Ludivico Einaudi
Mercury Rev
I Am Kloot
Mojave 3
Gnac
Radiohead
Ryan Adams x2
Ryan Adams and the Cardinals
Saint Etienne
Suede x2
Thirteen Senses
Sophia
Marshmallow Overcoat x4
David Grey x2
The Mel-O-Tones
Gone to Earth
Half Man Half Biscuit
Sizer Barker
Lambchop
Hands off Cuba
Paul Buchanan
Big Audio Dynamite
Little Miss America
Air
Cornelius
Super Furry Animals

I will update the list as and when.

Forthcoming poetry residency

I have been approached to be poet-in-residence at a new gallery project in Liverpool. The Loft Space is the brainchild of Liverpool artist Jo Derbyshire. The following link will provide more information on the whole project.
http://www.artinliverpool.com/blogarch/2007/01/the_loft_space.html
I plan to publish the poems written during this residency on this blog.