I help organise Free as a Bard, a poetry and music event at the coast with Peter Mortimer from Iron Press.
Free as a Bard (or FaaB for short) takes place four times a year on a Sunday evening in Whitley Bay’s Jam Jar Cinema. The Jam Jar is a volunteer-run cinema offering something for everyone: mainstream, arthouse, children’s and “silver screenings.”
The final Free as a Bard of 2014 takes place next Sunday 23rd November and features a triple helping of local talent. Poets Scott Tyrrell and Vicky Arthurs are joined by musician and songwriter, Jack Arthurs.
Scott Tyrrell has been writing and performing comedy and poetry since the turn of the century. He is author of two collections of poetry, winner of 10 poetry slams around the country, twice semi-finalist in the BBCRadio 4 Poetry Slams, finalist in the Spokefest UK Poetry Slam and winner of the Manchester Comedy Balloon New Comedian 2003. Scott has performed at festivals around the country and Europe, including Edinburgh Fringe and Glastonbury.
“Scott’s poetry is as funny as the finest stand up comedy with razor-sharp punch lines that hit just in the right places. But it also has a heart. Scott is one of the best live stand-up poets in the country.” Kate Fox, poet.
Vicky Arthurs is a writer and editor based in Newcastle. She is inspired by the natural world, and fortified by tea and cake. She has performed at Books on Tyne and The Iron Age festival. Her poems feature in the IRON Press pamphlet Pieces from Eight. She is currently completing her first full-length poetry collection, Limehaven, forthcoming from IRON Press.
Jack Arthurs is a singer-songwriter based in Newcastle. Born in York, he came to the North East to study English at Newcastle University. He worked for literary magazines IRON, Stand and Granta. Jack’s first solo acoustic album Only Dreams Are True has been well-received, featuring on BBC Radio 3 and enjoyed by audiences at The Iron Age and Books on Tyne festivals. For Free as a Bard, Jack will perform new tracks from his forthcoming second album.
“Music to warm your soul” Newcastle Journal.
In addition there’ll be free fruit, a literary raffle plus a bespoke floral sculpture by Cullercoats artist, Jules Fleur on display.
Tickets £5 from www.jamjarcinema.com