Hello All,
I am pleased to announce a new monthly Poetry and Music event.
We will be meeting for the first time at The River View pub on Chester Street, Birkenhead (just down the road from the police station) on the 5th of October at 8pm.
We have three 10 minute slots for acoustic musicians, so if you are interested please contact me by e-mail.
Poets will read in sets of around 5 minutes each and there will be several breaks through the night to allow you to get beer, or even a bowl of hot pot and crusty bread for just £2.50!
Hope to see you all there!
Regards,
Martin
Wednesday 16 September 2009
Friday 4 September 2009
Songs and poems - the crucial difference
As a veteran of many mixed mode live events (singer-songwriters sharing the stage with poets), I think it's hard, though not impossible, to make such nights work.
From a poet's point of view, too many of the singers, and their output, can seem bland. Abd the musicians take too long setting up, are ampl;ified way too much, and their patter between songs is garbage.
Worst of all are those nights where people who sing covers are allowed slots alongside poets performing original material. There is no artistic equivalence.
Much as I quote enjoy a live rendition of "Leavin' on a Jet Plane" sandwiched between some live poetry, I really do not want to hear or see some pot-bellied, balding fool raunching it up with "Mustang Sally".
That's not to say song-writers who peform their own material are necessarily any better.
And I'm sorry to have to say this, but young female song-writers are often FANTASTICALLY BORING.
It seems that for a certain (and numerically dominant) group of whining wimmin singers the thematic seams to be mined for the the composition fo songs are limited to the following three...
(1) My man doesn't understand me.
(2) Men are awful.
(3) Errr, actually, there isn't 3 (see above, repeat and fade).
And while there are good poetic male song-writers, such as Steve Forbert, Morrissey, Paul Weller, Roddy Frame, and Bob Dylan (though it's a shame Dylan's singing voice is so awful), I can't think of ANY female ones that float my boat.
Dido might as well raise that white flag of surrender, as far as I'm concerned.
Mainly, and increasingly as Western rock and pop grows old and jaded, the newer songs are vapid and unambitious conceptually.
That's not to say mnodern pop singers or their songs aren't popular. Of course they are - because people are so thick they lap up crap and fall for all the marketing hype. Girls Aloud,Zzzzz.
Perhaps we shouldn't be too suprised at this. After all, in general terms, song-writing is about the banal expression of easy-to-please sentiment.
Whereas performance poetry, at its best, is the precise opposite of that.
From a poet's point of view, too many of the singers, and their output, can seem bland. Abd the musicians take too long setting up, are ampl;ified way too much, and their patter between songs is garbage.
Worst of all are those nights where people who sing covers are allowed slots alongside poets performing original material. There is no artistic equivalence.
Much as I quote enjoy a live rendition of "Leavin' on a Jet Plane" sandwiched between some live poetry, I really do not want to hear or see some pot-bellied, balding fool raunching it up with "Mustang Sally".
That's not to say song-writers who peform their own material are necessarily any better.
And I'm sorry to have to say this, but young female song-writers are often FANTASTICALLY BORING.
It seems that for a certain (and numerically dominant) group of whining wimmin singers the thematic seams to be mined for the the composition fo songs are limited to the following three...
(1) My man doesn't understand me.
(2) Men are awful.
(3) Errr, actually, there isn't 3 (see above, repeat and fade).
And while there are good poetic male song-writers, such as Steve Forbert, Morrissey, Paul Weller, Roddy Frame, and Bob Dylan (though it's a shame Dylan's singing voice is so awful), I can't think of ANY female ones that float my boat.
Dido might as well raise that white flag of surrender, as far as I'm concerned.
Mainly, and increasingly as Western rock and pop grows old and jaded, the newer songs are vapid and unambitious conceptually.
That's not to say mnodern pop singers or their songs aren't popular. Of course they are - because people are so thick they lap up crap and fall for all the marketing hype. Girls Aloud,Zzzzz.
Perhaps we shouldn't be too suprised at this. After all, in general terms, song-writing is about the banal expression of easy-to-please sentiment.
Whereas performance poetry, at its best, is the precise opposite of that.
Thursday 3 September 2009
7WAVES RADIO
Just wanted to say that I really enjoyed the hour I was on the show last night, it was good to have a chance to read out ones own poems and chat with Chris (who is lovely). They also let you select music for the hour too so that was a real bonus!
I was also amazed that Padraig Duggan one of the 3 Duggan Brothers from Clannad happened to be in studio - I had asked for the Theme from Harry's Game (Clannad's biggest song) to be played as my first song.
It seems to be the radio station is amenable to having people on from time to time, so it's good forum to promote poetry in the Wirral per se. Also, now that we're getting more together and organised it's something we should bear in mind more.
I was also amazed that Padraig Duggan one of the 3 Duggan Brothers from Clannad happened to be in studio - I had asked for the Theme from Harry's Game (Clannad's biggest song) to be played as my first song.
It seems to be the radio station is amenable to having people on from time to time, so it's good forum to promote poetry in the Wirral per se. Also, now that we're getting more together and organised it's something we should bear in mind more.
About this Blog and Site
Hello all,
I'd just like to take a moment to explain what this blog and website are and why they have come about.
Earlier this year Mr. John Gorman called a meeting following the Oxton Secret Gardens to debrief and to suggest ways in which poetry on the wirral could be promoted. Following that and several other meetings of poets from Wirral, our little 'alliance' of poets was born.
This little website and blog exists quite simply to keep you all informed of any meetings coming up, any poetry related news and events and of course what is being done to promote poetry on Wirral and beyond.
Wirral has a vibrant poetry scene with several groups meeting regularly and dozens of talented poets performing their work. So here is a little bit of information about the groups that will be meeting this month.
1st Thursday
This group meet at Lingham's Bookshop in Heswall on the 1st Thursday of each month. There is an entrance fee of around £4 and the evening starts at 7:30
The Bards of New Brighton
Meeting on the 2nd Monday of every month, the Bards is approaching its second year and attracts many talented and engaging poets and musicians from all across the north west. You can join the Bards at the Magazine Pub, New Brighton on the 14th of September at 8pm.
The Wirral Ode Show
Wirral's longest running poetry evening, the Ode Show is held on the 3rd Thurdsay of each month in the Stork Hotel, Birkenhead. With it's mix of funny, serious, sensual and perplexing poets, the Ode Show is an evening not to be missed. You can join the Ode Show Poets on the 17th of September at 8pm.
Until the next post, take care.
I'd just like to take a moment to explain what this blog and website are and why they have come about.
Earlier this year Mr. John Gorman called a meeting following the Oxton Secret Gardens to debrief and to suggest ways in which poetry on the wirral could be promoted. Following that and several other meetings of poets from Wirral, our little 'alliance' of poets was born.
This little website and blog exists quite simply to keep you all informed of any meetings coming up, any poetry related news and events and of course what is being done to promote poetry on Wirral and beyond.
Wirral has a vibrant poetry scene with several groups meeting regularly and dozens of talented poets performing their work. So here is a little bit of information about the groups that will be meeting this month.
1st Thursday
This group meet at Lingham's Bookshop in Heswall on the 1st Thursday of each month. There is an entrance fee of around £4 and the evening starts at 7:30
The Bards of New Brighton
Meeting on the 2nd Monday of every month, the Bards is approaching its second year and attracts many talented and engaging poets and musicians from all across the north west. You can join the Bards at the Magazine Pub, New Brighton on the 14th of September at 8pm.
The Wirral Ode Show
Wirral's longest running poetry evening, the Ode Show is held on the 3rd Thurdsay of each month in the Stork Hotel, Birkenhead. With it's mix of funny, serious, sensual and perplexing poets, the Ode Show is an evening not to be missed. You can join the Ode Show Poets on the 17th of September at 8pm.
Until the next post, take care.
Wednesday 2 September 2009
Welcome
Welcome to the new blog for the Wirral Alliance of Poets. Watch this space as we bring you all the latest news, and information about Poetry on and around Wirral!
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