Quantum Frolics: Ordering Details

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John Turnbull's solo album, Quantum Frolics - which we reviewed earlier - is now available via iTunes in addition to John's official Ebay store.

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It's an album full of gems and is recommended to all.

Wilko's UK Farewell Tour Dates

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Following last week's bad news about Wilko Johnson's illness, his manager has now released the details of Wilko's UK Farewell Tour.

6/3/2013: London Koko 

7/3/2013: Bilston Robin 2

8/3/2013: Holmfirth Picturedrome

9/3/2103: Glasgow o2 ABC 

Tickets go on sale Monday January 21.

To quote Wilko’s manager, Robert Hoy, “The four UK dates represent an opportunity for Wilko to express his sincere thanks to his fans for all the support he has had over his long career.”

Full details, including booking information, can be found here. 

New Music

Five new CDs have arrived at Marsh Towers.

Stay tuned for reviews...

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Wilko's Last Stand

This week brought some sad news for Wilko Johnson's fans, when his manager released the following statement:

WILKO JOHNSON – IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

I am very sad to announce that Wilko has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer of the pancreas. He has chosen not to receive any chemotherapy.

He is currently in good spirits, is not yet suffering any physical effects and can expect to enjoy at least another few months of reasonable health and activity.

He has just set off on a trip to Japan; on his return we plan to complete a new CD, make a short tour of France, then give a series of farewell gigs in the UK. There is also a live DVD in the pipeline, filmed on the last UK tour.

Wilko wishes to offer his sincere thanks for all the support he has had over his long career, from those who have worked with him to, above all, those devoted fans and admirers who have attended
his live gigs, bought his recordings and generally made his life such an extraordinarily full and eventful experience.

Thank you.

Robert Hoy
(Manager)

I have been fortunate to see the former Dr. Feelgood man in action three times over the last year and a half (Shildon, The Arc and The Sage). It looks like the next time will be the last time.

Watch out for news and tour updates over at the Wilko Johnson website.

Dave Young Interview: Part 3

We now present the concluding part of our exclusive interview with Dave Young.

Parts 1 and 2 can be found here and here.


I know you've done some public readings and other events. Do you enjoy performing your work or is it an uncomfortable necessity? 

I do enjoy performing. Most people who come to listen are there because they are like-minded and interested. The intriguing aspect for me is comparing how an audience perceives the poem in relation to my rendition of it.

Photo © Dave Young

A writer needs a strong online presence. Where can readers find you? 

Readers can find me on my website, which I update on a regular basis. I encourage people, via Facebook, email and Twitter, to post comments and messages.

 Who are your literary inspirations? 

Of the modern poets Carol Ann Duffy (before she became poet laureate), Jo Shapcott are influential. I do reference influences in some of my poems. Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson, the first book I read from cover to cover in one sitting (see my poem, Growing Up) and when I was a teen, Bob Dylan (see my poem Young Skin parts 1, 2 and 3). I, like many, were awestruck by the way Dylan revolutionised the way language was used in song. This led me to the beat poets and Kerouac etc. I should also include Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath. Their relationship was destructive but creatively inspiring.

What can you reveal about your plans for 2013?

The travel blog as I mentioned earlier is on going. It has ideas and therefore legs. It just needs an injection of effort. Angelspit will also take me into 2013 and at my current rate should be completed on the website by April. I aim to do some more travelling and hopefully continue with my creative writing groups.

Photo © Dave Young

Dave Young, thank you very much! We will be back with you later in the year for another update. Meanwhile, please head for Dave's website to catch up with the Angelspit project.

Dave Young Interview: Part 2

Continuing our interview with author and poet Dave Young, in which we discuss Dave's three poetry collections and the art form itself...

Photo © Dave Young

Tell me a little bit about your collections of poetry: Ready to Ignite Water's Edge and Angel Spit.

Ready to Ignite is a mix of themes ranging from the joy/frustration of writing, the reality of life for some living on Teesside, the awkwardness of a first kiss and the poet's natural stomping ground love and death.

Water's Edge
Image © Dave Young

Water's Edge is a collaboration with Teesside fine artist Juliet Adele exploring themes of childhood, growing up, nostalgia and the pain of lost love. Juliet and I describe it as poetry and art coming together from the sane inspiration source.

Angelspit explores the themes of change, intimacy and self doubt. The word angelspit is a metaphysical symbol visualised through the shape of a tear, a drop of water, a glucose drip, the pearl buttons of a wedding dress etc. The shape, in its various forms, provides the glue that holds each poem in this collection together.

How relevant is poetry today? Is it a dying art?

I don't believe poetry is dying, far from it. In Teesside alone there are many poets practicing their art in venues across the Tees Valley. In challenging times it is often the arts that provide a vehicle for people to identify with. Poetry has and will continue to roll with the times because poets write about universal themes that effect us all.


To be concluded...

Dave Young Interview: Part 1

We were fortunate indeed to have secured an interview with author and poet Dave Young.

Dave is busier than ever in the literary world and is involved in numerous exciting projects. For the first part of our interview, we focused on his first novel and his cross-genre writing...  

It's unusual for a writer to enter the worlds of both fiction and poetry. Have you always been interested in both genres and why do you think the crossover is a comparative rarity?

I am interested in all forms of writing. Hopefully, like not reading the best book I've ever read I haven't written my best poem. I suppose it is unusual for a writer to be published in both fiction and poetry; some noted exceptions of course such as Maya Angelou, Ted Hughes and of course Shakespeare. My passion though is poetry and has been for over 20 years. I love its form and its rhythm, it can be as structured or as unstructured as you wish.

Photo © Dave Young

Waiting for Jericho to Fall (Book Guild, 1996) was your first published novel. How long did it take, from the first idea to publication?

'Jericho' took about three years to write from the first germ of an idea to completion and another year to find a publisher.

Is there a new novel in the pipeline?

There is no new novel in the pipeline although I am currently throwing ideas at a draft page on my website. I did some travelling around Europe last year and kept a diary of sorts as I journeyed. It is a mix of prose, poetry, anecdotes and even the odd recipe thrown in for good measure. I am trying to avoid the Notes From a Small Island genre so I've re-imagined a number of the situations I found myself in.

Part 2 will follow tomorrow...