Poetry Discussion Topic: LIVER BARDS - a radical poetry night in Liverpool, 21 Nov

LIVER BARDS - a radical poetry night in Liverpool, 21 Nov

Modern telly output – I’m a Celebrity, X Factor, and the preposterously camp and narcissistic ‘Strictly’ – are so superficial, so infantile.

If those confections represent
mainstream culture now – then the berks who run TV can shove it up their arses, frankly.

What does give me a buzz, however, is running performance poetry clubs in Liverpool and Wirral. You get such a mix of oratorical talents and poetic moods at these events, plus some good singers too.

Now THAT’S entertainment!

Last night (21 November) I enjoyed MC-ing at the LIVER BARDS – the Liverpool poetry open mic I run with the award-winning poet Dave Costello in the elegant and spacious concert room of Liverpool’s best pub, the Ship & Mitre.

LIVER BARDS has a distinctively radical and raucous atmosphere – as you’d expect in the unique city that is Liverpool. Yes, I’m that rare beast – a Wiganer who ,loved Liverpool!

I don’t know all the poets’ full names but last night I was entertained by a poem about drinking by a new (to our nights) poet called GLEN. It included the phrase “intoxication station” and was followed by a rant about those retail brigands, the evil supermarket chains.

A guy called JIM performed two pieces which showed he had a profound understanding of the twin dynamics of the poetry scene – referencing “confidence and eloquence” in the first one and “tempers, tantrums and funny moods” in the second one. Hmmmm, maybe he attended last Monday’s very bad-tempered Bards of New Brighton.

The talented PETER WOODS offered several bejewelled pieces during the course of the evening, including one to inflame scatological sensitivities, and another that extolled linguistic lucidity in a rather paradoxical way.

A young lass called EMMA belted out a couple of blinding soul ballads – miles better than any of the Karaoke Kack you get on X Factor.

And DAVE GILBEY from Wirral stirred everyone’s blood with his basso profundo singing, including a negro spiritual.

The impressive CHRIS COEY from Crosby (who’s one of the organisers of another poetry night, Spoke in Liscard, Wallasey) did one of his forensic examinations of religious faith. It had more Catholic references than the average Jackson Browne song.

Chris also reminded everyone that “we are but a broken token” and there was a kind of tribute to people who … DRINK!!! Lots!

There was a moving monologue from ‘The Caretaker’, performed with eerie soul by a guy called PAUL. Later on in the evening I did a two-handed comedy drama scene with him, which seemed to go down well.

DAVE COSTELLO read a Simon Armitage poem then two of his own. Dave’s writing has a magical spiritual lilt to it which commands attention – and turns me green with envy. I had something of an epiphany moment when Dave referenced “orphaned vapour”. And no he wasn’t referring to farts.

GRAHAM ROBINSON, one of the organisers of Poets’ Corner in Hoylake (another performance night) did a thought-provoking poem about the hard times we are living though, including a neat mention of our life “without trimmings”.

Then he did a knickers-wetting ‘Cockerney’ rhyming slang piece that transported me back to my days living in Islington (London N1, not Liverpool!).

MARGI did an impressive poem about the rowdy bars of contemporary culture – including the phrase “hate coming out of their gobs”. Bloody hell, she really must have been at last Monday’s New Brighton Bards!

THOMAS gave us a memorable poem which led to a “moment of freedom and peace” and LIAM gave us a clever funny poem about, if I remember rightly, verb-type names given to pets.

A rollicking good night, and yes, much drink was taken. Hope I haven't missed anyone out.

And what did I perform? Well, among other things, my new poem about Southport, called “Tell Britain”. I was hoping PETER CROIMPTON and FRANKIE woluld be there to see what they, as local, Southport area residents, thought of it.

The next BARDS poetry night is at the Magazine pub in New Brighton, CH45 1HP, Monday 12 December, 8pm and there will be free butties and mince pies.

The next LIVER BARDS will be at the Ship @Mitre, Liverpool city centre, L2 2JH, Monday 19 December. Both nights run 8pm to 10.40pm.

I'll be at the launch of BOMP in Manchester on December 1. RACHEL McGLADDERY has promised to drink me under the table, so I promise to get in a bit of practice before then.

Also, I am planning to come to the Tudor night on Thu 8 December. But I will NOT be baring my arse or private parts – so if any glamorous gals or gorgeous gay guys are getting their hopes up ... DON’T.

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:43 pm