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Forty-eight hours and counting! The 21st Aldeburgh Poetry Festival, 6 - 8 November 2009

Just two days to go until the finest national and international poets land in Aldeburgh for a weekend of outstanding words, music, exhibitions and cabaret. We do hope you can join us in Suffolk’s irresistible seaside town for this celebratory 21st Festival. It’s the complete poetry experience - with 49 events (15 entirely free). As a ‘Pick of the Week’ in The Independent and featured in Saturday’s Guardian Guide, Aldeburgh is the place to be this weekend. If you can’t make it in person, there’ll be plenty of highlights to enjoy on The Poetry Channel in the months to come.

A number of events have now sold out but there are still seats available for some truly fantastic readings and performances. A small taster below.
Call the Box office on: 01728 687110

 

Philip Levine’s Journeys

Philip Levine is a giant of US poetry, making his first UK appearance for over 30 years. His deeply human poetry of the assembly line finds a ‘voice for the voiceless’. And according to The Poetry Trust’s Naomi Jaffa and Dean Parkin who heard Levine ‘in conversation’ at the Dodge Poetry Festival in New Jersey, he’s a phenomenally entertaining raconteur with a refreshingly frank approach! No poetry fan should miss this very rare opportunity to hear him.

Philip Levine’s Journeys, Saturday 7 November, 2.00 - 2.45pm, £7

 

Family Reading: John Hegley

A comic genius for all ages. Join the rib-achingly funny John Hegley for an hour of songs, poems and joining in’s. The evening begins with a short and always endearing reading by the winners of the Suffolk Young Poets Competition.

Family Reading: John Hegley, Friday 6 November, 6.00 - 7.00pm, £6

 

Performance: Peter Blegvad

Successful Singer/Songwriter Peter Blegvad will provide a musical interlude during the weekend of words. Described by The Poetry Trust’s Artistic Director Dean Parkin as a ‘veritable mix of Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Leonard Cohen, Loudon Wainwright III and Tom Waits’, this is a rare chance to hear him solo and acoustic. Take a listen to one of Peter’s songs.

Performance: Peter Blegvad, Saturday 7 November, 5.45 - 6.30pm, £6

 

The Poetry Paper

Festival goers will be the first poetry lovers in the country to get their hands on Issue Six of The Poetry Paper. This beautifully designed (and shockingly pink!) paper features exclusive interviews with Sharon Olds and Alan Brownjohn, as well as new poems from Tom Paulin, Philip Levine, David Morley and more. Peter Blegvad, the Festival’s Commissioned Illustrator has lent his surreal vision to the artwork - find out what happens when his Independent on Sunday cartoon creation Leviathan ‘Goes to Poetry School’. And the question we most wanted to ask Festival poets? What’s your favourite seduction poem?! And if that wasn’t enough, The Poetry Paper is entirely free, so make sure you pick up a copy in Aldeburgh or contact us and we’ll even send it to your door (UK addresses only).

 

Blogger in Residence

Join our official ‘Blogger in Residence’ and Commander of all things Facebook, Charles Christian, as he takes on Aldeburgh, armed with just a Blackberry and an ‘Access all Areas’ Festival pass. Charles is Publisher & Editor of the poetry blog Ink, Sweat and Tears. Throughout the weekend he will be sharing his Festival experience with his 10,500 regular readers and hopefully some new friends. Will he be called upon to provide backing vocals to John Hegley’s droll reflections on life? Will he find his first encounter with England’s greatest living poet Geoffrey Hill suitably inspiring? And more importantly will he ever make it to the front of the legendary Aldeburgh Fish & Chip shop queue?! Follow Charles and share your own Festival experience at www.ink-sweat-and-tears.com or by joining The Poetry Trust’s Facebook group.

 

Look out for …STUFF November 2009 Part two …

With a full Festival round-up and details of the winner of the 2009 Aldeburgh First Collection Prize ...