WAITING FOR SUNDAY

WITH SMOKESTACK BOOKS

Smokestack Books has been called, “One of the most courageous little presses in Britain”. Join Smokestack Books director Andy Croft for a special Teesside launch of three recently published collections, with readings by all three authors. https://smokestack-books.co.uk/

W.N Herbert “Bubbles and seethes with wit and polysyllabic adventurousness” Bill is a Scottish poet who has lived in the North East for many years. His work is funny, moving, and energetic. He’ll be reading from Unselected Poems, which features, amongst other fantastical characters his outrageous Murder Bear.

Mark Robinson “Muscular and discursive... the great strength of his work is the straightforward human warmth it demonstrates.” Mark lives in Eaglescliffe and will launch The Infinite Town – you may know the title poem from the Stockton Flyer plinth on Stockton High Street. Mark’s new collection is playful and emotional, like his readings.

Bob Beagrie “Erudite, engaging, attuned to the pulse of the past and the voice of the people, prepare to be challenged and enthralled”

Bob is one of Teesside’s most active poets and will be reading from Eftwyrd, a new epic poem about Brother Oswin, a seventh century monk. Bob’s reading will showcase his unique language and performance skills.

Read more about the books being launched via the Buy Tickets link.

FESTIVE FILM FROLICS

Christmas time is here again and to take a breather and wind down after the big day, why not join Andrew and his archaic Super 8 film projector for an evening of eclectic delights with a festive theme. From Laurel and Hardy selling trees door to door, to unsettling Santa's selling savings bonds, to orphaned family home movies – you can be guaranteed of surprises in this laid back tribute to a bygone era of enjoying movies with friends and family on the big (ish) screen.

To make things even more special, several of the films will receive live musical accompaniment on the piano and other surprise instruments from the versatile Ben Hopkinson

Withered Hand

Edinburgh based cult-indie songwriter Withered Hand (Dan Willson) is back with his first new album in 9 years. “How To Love” was recorded with (Mogwai producer) Tony Doogan in Glasgow, the new record features guests King Creosote and Kathryn Williams (both of whom are long standing collaborators).

Withered Hand broke out of Scotland’s Fence Collective music scene in 2009 releasing his acclaimed debut album “Good News” the same year. Willson toured Europe and North America before releasing a series of lo-fi EPs and his second album “New Gods” (FortunaPop!/Slumberland Records) which was nominated for the Scottish Album of the Year 2014 and shortlisted for an AIM Award.

His music has found favour and support from national and international radio, online and leading print publications.

Artist Website: http://witheredhand.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/witheredhand

Twitter: https://twitter.com/witheredhand

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5s27vvC5dAwOxD3ifVORQw

Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Withered_Hand

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/witheredhand

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/witheredhand

Tom Remon

Jazz Guitarist

Tom Remon is a guitarist based in North London who cut his teeth with the artist development organisation Tomorrow’s Warriors, and made an impressive debut recording with UK jazz hero guitarist, Jim Mullen. Tom has performed, toured and recorded with some of the mos esteemed musicians of the UK including MOBO award-nominated drummer David Lyttle, Neil Yates, Soweto Kinch, Jonathan Gee, Steve Williamson, Sid Jacobs, Denys Baptiste, Nat Steele & Gary Crosby, and has currently 3 studio albums out as a leader. Tom cites jazz guitar legends such as Wes Montgomery and Peter Bernstein as his main influences.

Anglo-Japanese psych inspired by Japanese folk dance, free jazz and tribal African music, Yama Warashi is the artistic creation of Yoshino Shigihara(Zun Zun Egui). Set to release her 3rd record ‘Crispy Moon’ via Prah Records in 2022. Recorded by Capitol K(Thurston Moore, Comet is Coming, Dry Cleaning) at the Total Refreshment Centre. 2021 saw her and band tour with friends Vanishing Twin, in 2022 she will embark on her own UK and European. Yama Warashi have received plays on BBC6 music (from DJ’s such as Cerrys Matthews and Tom Ravenscroft), NTS as we as hosting her own Freakzone show with Stuart MaConie and Camp Radio in Switzerland.

Spotify /// Bandcamp /// Youtube

Bob Fischer - Wiffle Lever To Full!

In early 1980s Middlesbrough, Daleks were on every street corner. And so were Klingons, Vogons and crack Imperial Stormtroopers.

At least that's how it seemed to Bob Fischer, a grubby, wide-eyed eight-year-old growing up in front of the telly. Three decades later, Bob decided to rekindle his love affair with all things sci-fi by taking off on a freewheeling tour of the UK's cult TV and film conventions. From Doctor Who to Discworld, from Star Wars to Star Trek and Robin of Sherwood to Red Dwarf, Bob combines misty-eyed childhood memories with a terrifying travelogue of terrible, torturous... terror. Or something.

Bob turned his adventures into 'Wiffle Lever To Full!' - an acclaimed book published by Hodder & Stoughton. In this unique evening*, Bob will be showing photos and slides from his travels, giving readings from the book (including his epic 1981 sci-fi story 'The Battle To Save Earth') and telling gruesome tales of dancing to Erasure in a freezing cold hotel bar in Stockton-on-Tees while the entire cast of Blake's 7 look on, bemused.

In space, no-one can hear you scream. And don't expect much sympathy in Peterborough, either.

*Well, unique until he does it again somewhere.

"Anyone who agrees that Star Wars was a defining moment of our collective childhoods will love this book" - The Times

TICKETS:

Born in Paris, Stan has been living between New York, San Francisco, Malta and Berlin for about a decade, always on the move. He has recorded more than 100 albums, collaborated with the New York Antifolk scene on several occasions, recorded and toured with traditional Norwegian musicians, and played a lot with The Wave Pictures. Stanley Brinks was once upon a time aka André Herman Düne, sharing lead vocals, guitar playing and songwriting with his brother David in the band Herman Düne for a number of years. They released several albums and toured extensively in UK, gaining and owing a lot to great support from John Peel.

Freschard grew up in a farm in French Burgundy. Aged 18 she moved to Paris, where she baked pies and cakes in a cafe. There, a local musician and regular customer called Stanley Brinks wrote a few songs for her to sing. Homeless in Paris, she saved up just enough money to get herself a ticket to New York. There she found an old electric guitar and started writing her own songs. In 2004 she moved to Berlin, where she recorded her first LP, "Alien Duck". Her second album, "Click Click", recorded in 2006, features electric guitar by Stanley Brinks. On her third album, she plays the drums herself. On her fourth “Shh...” she also plays the flute. For this year’s “Boom Biddy Boom” she also plays the washboard.

BBC Radio Young Folk Awards Nominee, UKE Magazine Best Newcomer winner and now English Folk Expo Mentor Scheme participant, Amelia Coburn is a truly stunning solo performer who bears comparisons to Kate Bush and Nick Drake with beguiling original folk and jazz influenced songs (many of which have received national airplay on 6music, BBC Radio 2 and RTE1 in Ireland - she can count Mark Radcliffe and Tom Robinson as big fans) who has performed at Cambridge Folk Festival, Costa Del Folk in Ibiza and numerous other national and international events including sell out solo shows in her native North East and elsewhere as well as supporting a diverse range of artists including The Wedding Present, Steve Harley and the late folk legend Vin Garbutt.