Hi All,
Just a quick update on a few things 'cos the last couple of weeks have been a bit of a whirlwind!
The Basque Country / Spain
The Domestics popped over the The Basque Country on 1st May, and played three gigs there, plus one just over the border in Santander. All the gigs were wicked, and despite my reservations (hadn't twigged until it was too late that it was a bank holiday weekend that we'd agreed to do and thus the flights were not cheap!) we'd covered our costs and even came back slightly in the black! Amazing people that made us so welcome, brilliant gigs, fantastic scenery, and a great band (Build Me A Bomb) to borrow equipment from, hang out with, and enjoy (check photo for silly drunken antics in their rehearsal space). A special few days bringin' the noise. When things slow down a bit here we're gonna see about getting them over to the UK, probably early next year.
Luke Wright
I'd only been back a few days and I was supported one of the best and well know live poets in the country, Luke Wright. I'd been looking forward to this for ages, and the gig - at Sudbury Arts Centre - was brilliant. Biggest crowd I've done the poetry to so far. They laughed in the right places, gave some nice compliments afterwards, and I sold some books, so I'm taking that as a big win. And, as goes without saying, Luke Wright was his usual marvellous self.
Word Habit
One day off and then on the Sunday afternoon I was host, MC, and performer at Word Habit, an event I run in my local every couple of months. After a last minute change due to illness, the lineup consisted of yours truly, Barry King, JS Watts, Amy Wragg, Ricky Frost, and the day-saving Lorna Mackinnon. Check them all out - as Tony the Tiger used to say, “They're Gggggggrrreeeeeaaaat!!!”
In-between the events above, I had a Chapbook (why are they called that?!?!?) published by the excellent Backroom Poetry. It's 30-odd pages of new stuff, a couple of which I've been doing live, and like all of the stuff Backroom do it looks great. Quite utilitarian, but with lovely little touches like the embossed logo on the back cover. Very nice. Only £5 from me here, or from Backroom here. And only 50 printed. Once they're gone, they're gone!
Norwich!
This Saturday I'm getting up at the crack of dawn to help run an Earth Island Books stall at Norwich Independent Book & Zine Fair. I'm co-running it with me ol' mucker, and fellow poet published by Earth Island, Sam Marsh (ex-Volunteers, Jacob's Mouse etc.), and I think maybe Gaz of Suspect Device zine fame. Come along and say hi, and maybe pick up a book or two! I'm recommending Sam's ‘Wisdom of the Punk Buddha’.
Next gigs!
Next gig for The Domestics is supporting the amazing Long Knife from Portland, Oregon on Sunday 26th May. Unbelievably they're coming to Ipswich! Details and tickets here (slightly cheaper in advance). My next spoken word gig is at the 5 Year Anniversary of Poetry Scum in Nottingham on 30th May.
That's it for now. Think I need a lie down.
Cheers
James