After spending almost all of the summer in various fields around the country as part of a team whose job it is to make sure musicians have the best possible platform to entertain a festival audience – and I can’t begin to tell you how much I love that job, nor how utterly consuming and exhausting it is – September sees the beginning of a return to the considerably smaller gigs of the poetry world. And I’m looking forward to that every bit as much.
I will doubtless, be chuntering on about all of these events over the next few weeks. Today, though, I’m pointing the spotlight at this one: Morecambe Poetry Festival.
As you can see from the poster, it’s a pretty impressive list of names, and I’m delighted to be part of it. The reason this humungous festival of poetry is happening is – amazingly – down to the drive and vision of just one man. All the plaudits in the world go to Matt ‘Monkey Poet’ Panesh, who’s been grafting away to bring a mix of household names and community poets to this Lancashire seaside town. He’s found venues and funding and sponsors. He’s invited poets from across the country. He’s worked his roe out. So, get yourself along to Morecambe Poetry Festival. Shake Matt’s hand. Buy him a beer. And enjoy the many different voices of contemporary poetry. It’s going to be the best thing since somebody first sliced bread.