Friday, 21 February 2025

Cleveland Watkiss - A Ripple in Time with artist Gary Stewart

 


Cleveland Watkiss

Closing Celebration for A Ripple in Time with artist Gary Stewart
Orleans House Gallery
Twickenham
19 February 2025

A Ripple in Time invites us to reflect on our shared past and contemplate the threads that connect us through the philosophy of Dub. Artist Gary Stewart spent four months researching in the Richmond Borough Art Collection. He describes his archival exploration as an ‘excavation’ intertwining history and modernity.  

His research came together at the Orleans House Gallery with remixed sonic elements, original narration, multi-channel video work, vintage objects and artworks from the collection. Like a Dub musician who mixes multiple tracks on a turntable, there are multiple timelines layered together in the space – the history of the British Empire, the history of Western music and the history of sound playback technology. The artist’s practice engages with Dub as a mode of creating, and this layering is Dub in action. 


According to Stewart, ‘A lot of my practice is based on establishing the framework of a linear timeline and then mixing it up so that you can create dialogues between different time periods. What would happen if you had someone listening to a cello in the 18th century in the gallery’s Octagon Room having a conversation with somebody today who’s interested in contemporary folk music?’ 

Wednesday, 12 February 2025

Storytelling Poets - Kingston Curzon

Sinnead Singson

An event celebrating the Writing Cultures’ Festival of Storytelling in the Cafe space of the Kingston Curzon Cinema (The Bentall Centre).

30th January 2025

Eleanor Wilders,
David Spittle,
SJ Fowler,
Marcia Knight Latter,
Simon Tyrrell,
Cameron Wade,
Matt Sokulsky,
Danica Ignacio,
Bob T Bright,
Bella Weerasinghe,
Julia Rose Lewis,
Sinnead Singson

Eleanor Wilders

It was a night of performances that explored the many ways we can tell a story, how we might turn a tale, be it tall or short, into a journey and sometimes a destination. The Café at the Curzon Cinema in Kingston-upon-Thames provided free popcorn for the audience at the Writer's Kingston poetry night, and it proved to be a huge success. Eleanor Wilders kicked off proceedings by launching her dazzling debut poetry pamphlet Offal, from Sampson Low Ltd, buy a copy at sampsonlow.co/2025/01/29/offal-eleanor-wilders/

The night was part of Writing Cultures’ Festival of Storytelling, which continues to run until the March 14th 2025, with events at The National Gallery, workshops and happenings across Kingston University, as well as an exhibition. The performance of the night belonged to Sinnead Singson with her sheep in wolf's clothing tale, which ended with the dynamic poet walking out into the wilds of the Bentall's Centre. She will be launching her debut pamphlet ‘hot milky’, at the The Poetry Society Cafe on February Thursday 27th 2025 (7pm start, Free event).

Cameron Wade

Cameron Wade is a writer, poet and amateur astronomer working in London. He is the poetry editor of 3AM magazine and his work has been commissioned by the National Gallery. He launched his debut chapbook of poetry, I Smell Metal, in January 2023. His story was an macabre estate agents' eye view of an apartment painted in tins of blood, leper coloured paint, and a menagerie of pests and creepy crawlies. 


Bob T Bright

Bob T Bright is a poet, yogi and educator based in Kent, with an MA in TESOL and PGDip in Poetic Practice from RHUL. His poems have appeared in publications such as Bedford Square anthology, Vallum Magazine, Pamenar Magazine, Firmament, Permeable and the Seen as Read anthology (KUP). His debut pamphlet 'Gongfarmer, I love thee' was published in 2023 by Sampson Low. 

Simon Tyrrell

Simon Tyrrell has participated in exhibitions and performances at the Poetry Society Café, Westminster Reference Library, Rich Mix, Willesden Gallery, and at The Museum of Futures with Writers’ Centre Kingston. He published his debut poetry collection 'Presently' in 2022. He is part of the PoPoGrou collective and last year published the critically acclaimed 'Proceedings of the Remediators' alongside Jane Partner, Sarah Messerschmidt, and Sylee Gore. 

Steven J. Fowler 

Steven J. Fowler or SJ Fowler (born 1983) is a contemporary English poet, writer and avant-garde artist, and the founder of European Poetry Festival. His work has become known internationally for his "innovation in the field of live literature". Concerned with the potential of liveness, as opposed to the traditional poetry reading, his repertoire spans a diverse range of experimental practices, including improvised talking performances, action painting and pugilistica.

David Spittle

David Spittle is a poet, filmmaker and essayist. Following his pamphlet, BOX (HVTN, 2018), Spittle has published three poetry collections: Decomposing Robert (Back Herald Press, 2023), Rubbles (Broken Sleep Books, 2022), and All Particles and Waves (Black Herald Press, 2020). He runs an ongoing series of interviews with filmmakers talking-about-poetry and poets talking-about-film, the first volume Light Glyphs (Broken Sleep Books, 2021) includes interviews with John Ashbery, Guy Maddin, Andrew Kötting, Iain Sinclair, So Mayer, Lisa Samuels and many others. Spittle's films have screened in festivals and been broadcast on the BBC and, alongside filmmaking, his film criticism has appeared in Sight & Sound and as part of select Blu-ray releases. He continues independent research across film and philosophy.

Julia Rose Lewis

Julia Rose Lewis is a writer and teacher.  She is interested in the ways in which philosophy of science can be incorporated into poetry. She has published nine pamphlets, the most recent of which is Nearly Identical Sharks (Broken Sleep Books 2023).

Marcia Knight-Latter 

Marcia Knight-Latter is a poet and writer, who studied Creative Writing with Psychology at Kingston University. She published a chapbook with Sampson Low titled ‘Ramblings External’ in 2019, and has performed her poetry at venues such as Rich Mix, Rose Theatre and The Museum of Futures.

Matthew J. Sokulsky


Matthew J. Sokulsky studied creative writing as an undergraduate at Kingston University, London, and in March of 2023 was commissioned by The National Gallery for his literary work. A selection of his poetry has also been published under the banner of Sampson Low Publishers, London.


Danica Ignacio is a Filipino writer currently studying at Kingston University. In January 2024, her work was commissioned by the National Gallery and can also be found on @eventualantiques on Instagram & danicaignacio.substack.com. Her writing often explores themes of anthropomorphism as well as other sorts of fantastical concepts that enhance less fantastical realities through poetry & prose.

Bella Weerasinghe

One of the most exciting new poets on the Kingston University creative block, Bella Weerasinghe has already chalked up an impressive list of performances, most recently at the National Gallery in January 2025.



Wednesday, 11 December 2024

Sound Poetry and Sonic Literature - The Poetry Society Cafe

 

Bob T Bright

Writers Kingston
Sound Poetry and Sonic Literature at The Poetry Society Cafe
December Thursday 5th 2024

Phil Minton and Steven J Fowler
Will Rene and Emily Wood
Bob T Bright and Cameron Wade
Serena Braida and Vilde Bjerke Torset
Patrick Cosgrove
Julia Rose Lewis
Mischa Foster Poole and David Spittle

A night that celebrated the potential of the human voice and live literature - in the grand tradition of Sound Poetry, Noise Making, Mouth Music and Improvised Vocalisation - in the Poetry Society’s home in the UK, in the heart of Covent Garden, bringing Writers Kingston into central London. 

Bob T Bright is a poet, yogi and educator based in Kent, with an MA in TESOL and PGDip in Poetic Practice from RHUL. His poems have appeared in publications such as Bedford Square anthology, Vallum Magazine, Pamenar Magazine, Firmament, Permeable and the Seen as Read anthology (KUP). His debut pamphlet 'Gongfarmer, I love thee' was published in 2023 by Sampson Low. 



Steven J. Fowler or SJ Fowler (born 1983) is a contemporary English poet, writer and avant-garde artist, and the founder of European Poetry Festival. His work has become known internationally for his "innovation in the field of live literature". Concerned with the potential of liveness, as opposed to the traditional poetry reading, his repertoire spans a diverse range of experimental practices, including improvised talking performances, action painting and pugilistica.

Phil Minton

Phil Minton is a British avant-garde jazz/free-improvising vocalist and trumpeter. He is a highly dramatic baritone who tends to specialize in literary texts: he has sung lyrics by William Blake with Mike Westbrook's group, Daniil Kharms and Joseph Brodsky with Simon Nabatov, and extracts from James Joyce's Finnegans Wake with his own ensemble. He is perhaps best known, however, for his completely free-form work, which involves "extended techniques" that can be as unsettling as they can be mesmerising. His vocals often include the sounds of retching, burping, screaming, and gasping, as well as childlike muttering, whining, crying and humming.

Vilde Bjerke Torset

Vilde Bjerke Torset is a Norwegian artist and poet based in London. Her publications include the poetry books Apollinaire and Other Horses (If a Leaf Falls Press, 2022), WHAT IT MEANS WHEN YOU DREAMS : A to Z (AFV press, 2021), and the artist book PAREIDOLIA - Dotremont’s Daughter (Timglaset Ltd, 2020). Her performances, including both solo works and collaborations, have taken place at a range of national (UK) and international venues, including The British Museum, The National Centre for Writing, The Poetry Society, Jorvik Viking Centre, and London Rich Mix. She is a member of Norske Billedkunstnere and Norsk Tegnerforbund. She is the founder and curator of SCRYPTH.

Serena Braida

Serena Braida is a writer, performer and academic, interested in exploring the interrelations between the materiality of language and the body. A chorister from the age of 6, she performed extensively before earning an MA in Cultural and Critical Studies from Birkbeck and subsequently an MFA in Voice Studies from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Serena is the author of a poetry pamphlet, Blue Sheila (Dancing Girl Press, 2018), and has published poetry and prose in magazines, journals and anthologies. 

Cameron Wade 

Cameron Wade is a writer, poet and amateur astronomer working in London. He is the poetry editor of 3AM magazine and his work has been commissioned by the National Gallery. He launched his debut chapbook of poetry, I Smell Metal, in January 2023. 

Emily Wood and Will René 

Will René and Emily Wood work at the National Poetry Library in London. Will presents the Plastic Language show on NTS Radio, exploring spoken word across recorded media, spanning dub, jazz, ASMR, sound poetry & much more.

Patrick Cosgrove

Patrick Cosgrove is a London based artist. His work utilizes the body, collage, text, sound/voice, digital, moving image, paper, paint, felt tip, biro, found objects etc. His work often begins with something ready-to-hand or discarded and develops from there. In 2021 he published  SLURPS (Sampson Low) and BIROS (Hesterglock Press).

Julia Rose Lewis 

Julia Rose Lewis is a writer and teacher.  She is interested in the ways in which philosophy of science can be incorporated into poetry. She has published nine pamphlets, the most recent of which is Nearly Identical Sharks (Broken Sleep Books 2023).

Mischa Foster Poole

Mischa Foster Poole grew up in South London, and studied at Magdalen College, Oxford. He has a particular interest in the arts, history, philosophy and languages.

David Spittle

David Spittle
is a poet, filmmaker and essayist. Following his pamphlet, BOX (HVTN, 2018), Spittle has published three poetry collections: Decomposing Robert (Back Herald Press, 2023), Rubbles (Broken Sleep Books, 2022), and All Particles and Waves (Black Herald Press, 2020). He runs an ongoing series of interviews with filmmakers talking-about-poetry and poets talking-about-film, the first volume Light Glyphs (Broken Sleep Books, 2021) includes interviews with John Ashbery, Guy Maddin, Andrew Kötting, Iain Sinclair, So Mayer, Lisa Samuels and many others. Spittle's films have screened in festivals and been broadcast on the BBC and, alongside filmmaking, his film criticism has appeared in Sight & Sound and as part of select Blu-ray releases. He continues independent research across film and philosophy.


Tuesday, 26 November 2024

The Kingston Camarade - Kingston University Town House

 

Matthew Sokulsky and Cameron Wade

Writers Kingston event #82 :
The Kingston Camarade

November 21st 2024 - Kingston University Town House 

Brand new performative and literary collaborations, made for the night. The Camarade is a dynamic event model, asking pairs of poets, writers, artists and other creative practises to come together and explore the potential of collective innovation and playful experiment. This time staff from Kingston University, students and alumni, from a wide range of backgrounds and specialities, present their new collaborative live works with colleagues and other invited performers. 

Harper Stringer and Tye Rajapura 

Featuring Martin Dines and Nicola Field / Cameron Wade and Matthew Sokulsky / Caitlin Nugent and Bella Weerasinghe / Safia Kamel and Marcia Knight Latter / Oscar Rodriguez and Sinnead Singson / Eleanor Wilders and Danica Ignacio / Harper Stringer and Tye Rajapura / Lily Ferret and Zara Auckbaraullee / Nick Foxton / Steven J. Fowler.

Nick Foxton

Nick Foxton is lecturer at Kingston University where he teaches a final year special study in 'Environment and Literature'.

Nicola Field and Martin Dines

Martin Dines is a lecturer in English Literature at Kingston University. His research interests are focused on two areas: the place of the suburbs in Anglo-American writing; and gay and lesbian culture and politics, and particularly, the interconnections between national identity, space and sexuality. 

Nicola Field is a writer, researcher, artist and socialist activist who has lived in south London for 30 years. Her creative, political and arts writing have been published widely and her book Over the Rainbow is published by Dog Horn Publishing. Her painting, drawing, ceramics and video have been exhibited at spaces across London including the BFI Southbank and the V&A.

Steven J. Fowler

Steven J. Fowler or SJ Fowler (born 1983) is a contemporary English poet, writer and avant-garde artist, and the founder of European Poetry Festival. His work has become known internationally for his "innovation in the field of live literature". Concerned with the potential of liveness, as opposed to the traditional poetry reading, his repertoire spans a diverse range of experimental practices, including improvised talking performances, action painting and pugilistica.

Safia Kamel and Marcia Knight Latter


A number of the poets performing at The Kingston Camarade (November 21st 2024) have published pamphlets with Sampson Low as part of the Writers Centre Kingston series. These included MOLD by Oscar Rodriguez, The Book of Matthew by Matthew J. Sokulsky, I Smell Metal by Cameron Wade, Smrt by Safia Kamel, RAMBLINGS EXTERNAL by Marcia Knight-Latter, and most recently moral cavity by Danica Ignacio.
https://sampsonlow.co/wck-pamphlets/

Sinnead Singson and Oscar Rodriguez

Oscar Rodriguez is a Salvadoran American poet based in Kingston. Avid writer since childhood, his migration to London for studies was a manifestation of resilience. Their poetry reflects on trauma, religion, identity, and queerness. He collaborates with Writers Kingston frequently and in the past with Spotify Radar. 

Bella Weerasinghe and Caitlin Nugent

Lily Ferret and Zara Auckbaraullee

Eleanor Wilders and Danica Ignacio



Friday, 25 October 2024

Divanhana - A World in London

Selma Droce 

Divanhana

Selma Droce (vocals)
Larisa Droce (violin)
Irfan Tahirović (percussion)
Nedžad Mušović (accordion)
Neven Tunjić (keyboards)

23rd October 2024
A World in London
Resonance FM

Neven Tunjić

Live in the studio, a special sevdah session by Sarajevo superstars, Divanhana, before their Jazz Café concert on October 24th! 

Listen to the latest episodes of A World in London at www.mixcloud.com/Resonance/playlists/a-world-in-london/

Nedžad Mušović

Listen to this show again on Saturday 26th October at 3.30pm on Resonance 104.4fm or anytime worldwide at Mixcloud/DJ Ritu. 

More about Divanhana: This multi-award-winning band has been on the road since 2009, wowing audiences across the world with their original compositions and unique adaptations of traditional urban Sevdah music. In this AWIL live session, Divanhana’s skilled and fluid musicianship rocked the studio as they sailed through 4 of their tracks, including an exclusive preview of the yet-to-be-released ‘Rijekama’. 

Irfan Tahirović

Selma Droce (lead vox) and Neven Tunjić (piano/melodica) told us about the beautiful sights in Bosnia & Herzegovina and the diverse musical landscape. We were even treated to signed copies of their 6th and latest album, ‘Zavrzlama’! Only a section of the band played for us tonight… imagine what the full lineup sounds like! 

Find Divanhana on tour near you and go see them!
Oct 25th Midlands Arts Centre - MAC,
Oct 26th/27th Musicport Whitby! 

Larisa Droce


Wednesday, 12 June 2024

Julian Costello - Jazz Sanctuary Free Birds

 

Julian Costello

The birds are the musicians, free to express themselves and fly.
The beauty and chaos in nature.

Julian Costello - saxes
John Turville - piano
Andy Hamill - double bass
Tom Hooper - drums

6th June 2024
The Jazz Sanctuary
Turks Head, The, 28 Winchester Rd, Twickenham TW1 1LF
www.thejazzsanctuary.co.uk/

The Julian Costello played music from their latest release, And All the Birds Were Set Free, which was released in April on the 33jazz label. 

John Turville

Tom Hooper




Monday, 8 April 2024

Mieko Shimizu - Wonky Plonky Electronk

 

Mieko Shimizu
Wonky Plonky Electronk

Mieko Shimizu
Dhangsha
Shape Navigator
Jasmine Morris

All is Joy (Soho)
28th March 2024


Shape Navigator

The dark resonant footsteps of Wonky Plonky Electronk stomped into the former Warner Bros cinema at All is Joy in Soho last month for a night of unbridled electronica. The line-up included nonconformist Japanese outsider Mieko Shimizu, noise-bass guerrilla Dhangsha, modular synth landscaper Shape Navigator and breakthrough Sound Artist & Composer Jasmine Morris.

Jasmine Morris

Wonky Plonky Electronk is an uncompromising sonic meltdown of experimental, noise & ambient electronic music. Watch out for live events throughout the UK in 2024. Currently their artist-in-residence is Mieko Shimizu, the composer, multi-instrumentalist and vocalist whose music transports you into a world of dreams and nightmares, oscillating between visions both real and surreal.

Dhangsha

Recently Shimizu re-released her album My Tentacles, featuring the mesmeric standout track, Think Like a Swarm, reminiscent of Laurie Anderson’s art meets pop sensibilities. The album bristles with quirky, dysfunctional beats and chimeric fusions. Her Tentacles are truly her own, for this free-spirited champion of outsider art pop.
https://mieko-shimizu-co-uk.stackstaging.com/