deadlines and opportunities

Having finally finished my contribution for the Stony Live programme, it’s probably time to help plan the event I’m taking part in. All the work so far has been ably handled by Scribal Gathering’s Richard Frost. “An evening with the Bard and Friends” will be happening at The Crown on the evening of the 7^th June (Thursday)

My poem “Oxygen” got its maiden voyage at the Rrrants gig in St Albans last night, where I also spoke a little about Stony Live as well. Spreading the word as I believe is part of the remit of being the Bard. And of course, I’m still looking to recruit performers for what will now be known as the Monkey Kettle stage of the Stony Paint Jam in August. I’m really glad to be working with those guys, who will be booking the musical acts, and no doubt have their own “branding” and merch to dress the place up with.

Meanwhile, tomorrow (Thursday) night, I’ll be helping out at Mark Niel’s launch for his CD “Somewhere South of Normal” at University Centre, Silbury Boulevard from 7pm. It’s a charity event in support of Arts Gateway, which advises and supports all kinds of arts projects in the city. See https://www.facebook.com/?ref=tn_tnmn#!/events/376044809083398/ for details.

Also this week I have to fill in those application forms for MK International Festival, as I’m hoping to get the opportunity to help out on a couple of theatre events. A little ushering, selling and possibly “firestarting”! I do believe there is a massive recruitment drive for more volunteers too...

And on that note, I’d best be off, finally pleased that I’ve finished something before a deadline. Plenty of blood, sweat and tears involved of course.

belated procrastination

After two very busy social weekends, this is going to be the one to settle into some writing and performing, I promise!

I’ll be on 3 counties radio on Wednesday morning, at about 8.20am to discuss some issues of the day, as well as to offer a new poem. I’ll also get working on the plan for Stony Live. There will be another (after last year’s successful) “An Evening with the Bard and Friends” on Thursday 7^th June. It’ll be a top-notch evening of stimulating performance poetry with a little light music. Free entry too, with donations going towards Stony Live. I do also have to finish a piece on the topic of Stony Live as well, although again I’m scratching my head and worrying that what I’m working on is a little off-topic.

Also, there’s another meet for Stony Paint Jam, so I have to get some more poets confirmed for the poetry stage for that weekend (get in touch if you want to perform there!), and I still have to plan logistics for a couple of festivals I’m performing at over the next few weeks. If anyone is interested in volunteering at the International Festival in July, there’s a recruitment meeting at MK Gallery on Wednesday too. I’m hoping to get involved as this festival is big news, and it’ll be all hands on deck to make it happen! Get the lowdown right here: http://www.ifmiltonkeynes.org/volunteering.html

Meantime, I have to find some time to sit and assemble a few ideas and scribbles into actual poems!

for more of this, but less of that, two-step over to: http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Buckinghamshire/Milton-Keynes/MK11

April plans

Just a brief one to say that tomorrow (Wednesday 4^th April) will be a busy one for me. Getting up early to sit in on Mark Niel’s regular guest spot on BBC 3 Counties Radio (8.10am), as I’ll be hijacking the spot on the 18^th when he’s on holiday.

Then in the evening, I’ll be meeting with some of the fantastically energetic and talented creative bods behind the Stony Paint Jam, happening across the town on the weekend of the 18^th/19^th August. I met with Ewan and Nikki who are instrumental in putting the whole thing together, on Friday. It’ll be across at least four venues, including an acoustic/spoken word stage at The Bull. It’ll be up to me to get some poetry talent together for that space. There are a lot of slots to fill, but it’s unlikely to be open mic, so please get in touch if you’re interested and you could be in with a chance of taking part in this unique event.

Last week I thoroughly enjoyed the Arts Gateway Mingle, which was a great chance to meet creative professionals, and to find out about some of the stunning events that are lined up for the city this Summer. The International Festival looks (please excuse the hyperbole) mind blowing, with some breathtaking theatre events being promised. There will be fringe events happening around town too, I recommend taking a look at the overview on http://www.destinationmiltonkeynes.co.uk/Visit_us/milton_keynes_summer_of_culture or search for MK Festival Fringe on Facebook or the other usual places.