CB1 Poetry Reading

Entry: £3 / £2 concessions; Open Mic and featured performers featuring Andrew Philip and Rob McKenzie, readings begin at 8pm and the event finishes shortly before 10pm.
(If you’re wandering around on the night, try to remember that the readings are held in the converted barn to the rear of the pub’s courtyard.)

This month our reading features two fantastic Scottish poets, Andrew Philip and Rob Mackenzie, who we are lucky to have secured for a reading whilst they are south of the border for a whistle stop tour.

This is a rare opportunity so put it in the diary now. Details will be on our website as usual but if you fancy a little pre taster here are some details about them.

Andrew Philip’s first book of poems, The Ambulance Box, was published in spring 2009 by Salt ; shortlisted for the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust First Book Award 2010 and the Aldeburgh First Collection Prize 2009; and highly commended in the 2009 Forward anthology. It follows two successful poetry pamphlets with Happenstance press.

A seasoned performer of his own work, Andrew has given readings and led workshops throughout the UK, from Orkney to London. He has also written for the Scottish Poetry Library’s Ideas Box, tutored for The Poetry School and his introduction to writing poetry is one of the most popular pages on The Crafty Writer website. He blogs at Tonguefire.

Andrew was born in 1975 in Aberdeen, north-east Scotland and grew up in a former mining village near Falkirk in the Scottish central belt. After leaving school, he lived in Berlin for a short spell, returning to Scotland studying linguistics at Edinburgh. He now works part time for the Scottish Parliament’s official report.

The Ambulance Box is a timely reminder of the range and power of the lyric – from philosophical exploration to tender and intimate elegies. This is a powerful debut, and Andrew Philip’s is a significant new voice. Michael Symmons Robert.

Rob Mackenzie collection The Opposite of Cabbage is also published by Salt . His pamphlet collection, The Clown of Natural Sorrow, was published by HappenStance Press in 2005. His poems, articles and criticism have featured in many literary publications. He is an associate editor with Magma magazine. He blogs at Surroundings and at the Magma blog.

Rob was born and brought up in Glasgow. He received a law degree from Aberdeen University and then abandoned the possibility of significant personal wealth by switching to theology at Edinburgh University. He wrote over seven hundred songs and doubled on guitar and saxophone for cult art-rock bands Pure Television and Plastic Chicken. Despite airplay on Radio Scotland and a rash of gigs in tiny Glasgow pubs, he failed miserably to achieve rock stardom. He spent a year in Seoul, eight years in a Lanarkshire housing scheme, five years in Turin, and now lives in Edinburgh with his wife and daughter where he organises the Poetry at the Great Grog reading series by night and works as a Church of Scotland minister by day.

Rob A. Mackenzie’s vibrant, kaleidoscopic poetry displays a playful, witty and fertile imagination’ (Bernardine Evaristo)

“Come along just to listen to some great poetry, or arrive by 7.45pm to sign up for a 2-minute slot to perform your work before a friendly, attentive audience. Events usually have one or more featured poets, who begin each half before the open mic slots.”

CB1 is a genuinely friendly, inclusive poetry night, with some gob-smacking featured performers.

“CB1 Poetry aims to encourage excellence in poetry: in writing, performance and appreciation. We seek to attract and develop new audiences for poetry.

“CB1 Poetry events are open to the whole community. We seek to provide an accessible venue and a welcoming environment for all participants.

“Through open mike evenings and guest poet readings, we provide a platform for local writers And the development of new talent before an appreciative and discerning audience. We also offer the opportunity to listen to and appreciate well-established writers.

“We are non profit making and are grateful to receive support from Cambridgeshire County Council and Cambridge City Council.”

http://www.cb1poetry.org.uk

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