Thursday, October 28, 2010

Emma's 'Pentland Javelin' is Poem of the Week

'Pentland Javelin' by Emma Strang from Southlight 7 will be next Saturday's Poem of the Week in The Herald. Congratulations Em!

Sadly, the poem of the day has been relegated to Saturdays only as an economy measure. A lot of writers and readers in D&G will miss this. Poem of the Day was one outlet where new writers could be showcased alongside established and legendary writers - there was always just a chance that Lesley would choose your piece. We encourage you to write individually to Jonathan Russell if you feel the same way we do.


Monday, October 25, 2010

Review of 'Venti' by JoAnne McKay



The first thing that strikes you when you pick up JoAnne McKay’s pamphlet ‘Venti’, is just how nice it feels in your hands. Lovingly and exactly designed for both textural appeal and visual beauty, ‘Venti’ is a stunner. The gorgeous illustrations by Matt Kish lift the book and complement the poetry. Awesome work has gone into each and every copy by way of hand-stitching, embossing, a choice of outer cover and differently coloured be-ribboned label…

But this is also dextrous, accomplished poetry. A distinctive voice, wise as well as energetic, permeates these poems. I like the grounded experience that comes through in poems like ‘In These Hard Times’:
‘Tonight, new moon,
whilst washing this single bowl,
I have not seen you.
I screw my eyes and sever
vision from brain’…

JoAnne is an excellent performer of her own work, giving it an almost hypnotic rhythm and sense of narrative. She’s good on superstition, and instinct. ‘Elm Hateth Man, and Waiteth’ derives from folklore, and majors on haunting repetition:
‘Who lives in thee, elm tree?
No one, cried the rooks’

JoAnne can also write both sensitively and unsentimentally about nature, as in the title poem, ‘Venti’:
‘I like the leached night;
my trees talk to me.
Sound-wash soft Rowan
Apple shiver
hard notes of Pear.’

These poems are engaging because the poet’s self-reliance and the intelligent judgement she brings to her observation of the world shine through. ‘Venti’ feels surefooted. And it’s jolly nice to own. If you want to acquire one, explore http://titusthedog.blogspot.com/


Reviewed by Jean Atkin

Poetry and Jazz with Trio Verso at The Bakehouse


A delicious evening of poetry and jazz beckons at The Bakehouse on Saturday 30 October, with improvisation group Trio Verso – poet Brian Johnstone (co-founder and former Director of the StAnza Poetry Festival) and musicians Richard Ingham (saxes, bass clarinet, low whistle, trombophone) & Louise Major (double bass). Get there at 7.30pm to enjoy a most un-Halloween-weekend experience of imagination, fusion and harmony.

Trio Verso’s work interprets and refocuses the 1950s poetry & jazz movement for a 21st century audience, through fusing Brian Johnstone’s evocative lyric texts with free improvised jazz grooves and jazz-inflected soundscapes.
Trio Verso performances are centred on close interaction, the poet exploring different interpretations of the texts in reaction to the sounds created, and the musicians exploiting their technique and their instruments’ potential in response to the readings.

Since forming in 2007, Trio Verso has performed at the Big Tent Festival in Falkland, at the WordFringe Festival in Aberdeenshire, at the Callander Poetry Weekend and for poetry sessions at the Scottish Poetry Library, Shore Poets and the Golden Hour, all Edinburgh and Last Monday at the Rio in Glasgow. Their CD Storm Chaser was released in 2010. myspace.com/trioverso

Tickets from 01557 814175 or email bookings@thebakehouse.info

Supported by GaelForce

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Book your tickets to hear Les Murray at The Crichton!

Pick up the phone and secure your tickets for Les Murray on Tuesday 26 October! Out of the blue we got a phonecall from Les Murray's agent in Britain, offering us the opportunity of a reading here in Dumfries. Since he’s coming all the way from Oz we didn’t hesitate! Les is a great performer of his work - he's huge and dusty like he's just stepped out of the outback, with a kind rumble of a voice and an exhilarating way with words. Absolutely not to be missed.


Les Murray will be reading at the Rutherford McCowan Building on the University of Glasgow campus at the Crichton site at 7pm. This is an exceptional opportunity to hear this great internationally renowned poet. Tickets are £10 and £8, available from us at dgArts on 01387 253383.

Les Murray is Australia’s leading poet and one of the greatest contemporary poets writing in English. His work has been published in ten languages. In 1999 he was awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry on the recommendation of Ted Hughes.

Les Murray was born in 1938 in New South Wales. His Murray forebears had arrived on the Manning in the 1840s and Les has always been proud of both his Gaelic and pioneer Australian ancestry. Les has a soft spot for south west Scotland. Full of humour, energy and inventiveness, his poetry is a real treat.


Thursday, October 07, 2010

Book Launch: ‘I Remember, I Remember’ by The Crichton Writers

A date for your diaries! On Monday 18th October at 7pm-8pm in The Midsteeple, High Street, Dumfries the Crichton Writers will be launching their memoirs album, titled, 'I remember, I remember'.

Neither military nor misery, Crichton Writers read from their 2010 memoirs album, revealing a very broad spectrum of experience drawn from their colourful lives. Copies of the illustrated album available.

Free Admission
S
upported by GaelForce

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Vivien goes south to receive the Poetry London Prize!

Well done Vivien!  Very best wishes from all at dgArts!
National Poetry Day happy returns.
Hope it's a good party...

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Hey - please come along and find us on Facebook!

dgArts has a new Facebook page - do come along and join in. A great place to upload your photos of events, your reviews, your ideas and your random musings or mutterings...
Just click the FB icon on the front of our new website.