Life in Transit Book Launch, Thursday 15th November 2012, Arcola Theatre Tent

To celebrate the launch of my new book, ‘Life in Transit’, I’ve invited some poetry friends to help me put on a poetry showcase at the Arcola Theatre Tent in Dalston: 2 Ashwin Street, E8 3DL. Doors are 7:15pm. Performing alongside me on the night will be:

Dizraeli: MC with the Small Gods and 2 x UK Poetry Slam Champion. Dizraeli has developed a brand of poetical-hiphop that is uniquely his own, with a complex lyrical dexterity and showing influences from folk and older forms of storytelling. He also has a knack of writing catchy hooks and banging protest tunes. http://www.dizraeli.com/

Zena Edwards: travelled extensively round the UK, the US, Africa and Europe, sharing the stage and anthologies with poets like Linton Kwesi Johnson, Lemn Sissay, Jean Binta Breeze and Roger McGough. Hard-working and innovative, her poetry combines her brilliant musicality with theatrical movement and a commitment to life and humanity. http://goodnewzee.wordpress.com/

Salena Godden: Singer, poet and General of The Book Club Boutique. In many ways she feels like the queen of the underground poetry scene. Salena regularly features on Radio 4, recorded with the likes of Cold Cut and Alabama 3, has written her memoirs while creating a niche for herself as something like the English Bukowski. Tales of the glamorous and the seedy, seldom far apart. http://www.salenagodden.com/

Jonny Fluffypunk Anarcho-hippy, boat-dwelling carpenter, Jonny describes himself as “Stand-up poet. Give-up guitarist. Sustainable Nihilist”. His latest book, ‘The Sustainable Nihilist’s Handbook’ is published by Burning Eye Books and has as a front cover the image of a 17th century broadside. The enjoyment of his poetry, which is always insightful, funny and self-mocking, is matched by the enjoyment of his intros, through which the poet takes us into the world of the ‘sustainable nihilist’. http://www.jonnyfluffypunk.co.uk/

Hosting the event will be Poetcurious, rapper, teacher and self-educated loudmouth. Despite the miseducation of his upbringing, he’s been storming the poetry scene, winning high-profile slams with intelligence and humour. His poetry will grab you with its catchy lines, finely crafted rhythm and wordplay, unabashed vulgarity and pro-human politics. http://artofcurious.blogspot.co.uk/

Your DJ for the night will be Xahdrez with his ever-eclectic mix of music from all over the world.

There will be films of some of my poetry from Lily O’Kelly

Book tickets in advance from the Arcola website. They cost £10 and will entitle you to a 40% discount off the cost of the book. Doors are 7:15pm