Wow - how many people can we fit into the Howcroft? Last night we somehow got 40+ and some of the regulars where missing!

We saw some fantastic poets making their WOL debuts last night, Dominic Berry, Stuart Beach, Eileen Mather (the first time she's read her own work) and Tabitha Sims - all putting in totally different but excellent performances.

We also had the welcome return of Hilary Walker and Akil Chinelo, a couple of old friends who have been missed.

Photos of the poets can be found in "Galleries"

Another boiling cauldron of great poetry!

KP

I don't know his name but I really liked deep down, and Dave's poem about us poetic thieves was excellent and the best of what I saw, I also liked Darren Thomas's poem about being late very witty - as ever Val Cook's poem was witty and thoughtful, I enjoyed Peter's poem and thought he was very brave to discuss such personal things so publicly, and Seamus's fox hunting poem was brilliant, very moving.
xxxx

How the hell do you remember them all? It most certainly was a coiling bauldron of poetry. So many different poems, ideas, perspectives, clever lines, word play.
Stevie's poetry is dense and clever; Seamus' poetry addicts poem very funny; Peter, brave? yes. He is always brave, but marks for bravery go perhaps to Eileen Mather, just edging out Phil Golding. Or no, on second thoughts, I was the bravest for sitting by the door and having to get up every time it opened.
And Eileen's poem was lovely, and all.
Though brave, too, for Tabitha to step up and sing to us without knowing us proper, like. There were lots of comments on her lovely voice. I hpe we hear more.
Hilary's offering was an Hilaryous sideswipe at a certain Liverpool poet who cannot count beyond two, or see further than the end of his own ego. And it was good to see her back (which I did throughout the entire evening).
Darren is superb as (it only seems like) ever. I really rate Don's poetry, too. Don, do you do any non-rhyming stuff? You are a proper poet-like (Write Out Loud's highest accolade).
I was especially glad to see Dominic and Achil. Only disappointed that neither Amanda nor Anwen read for us, after all, there was plenty of time :-)
Dominic is such a powerful performer, doin ghis cycle of poems last night. Achil was probably the best I have seen him, too. His presence, too, is so powerful on stage (yes, it turns into a stage when Dominic and Achil grace it).
And Gordon Zola just gets better (he will, one day, be fully recovered).
The person of the match award, though, should go to that damn dog, Howlin' wolf! Mad Mel's moaning mutt!
More photos of last night just going up
Enjoy!
Julian

I hope Paul remembered to invite the older people to the poetry workshop the wonderful Moxy Casimir is running for National Poetry Day at Bolton Central Library on the 4th of October? Please could you mention it at Rochdale and the Octagon also - the more bums on seats we get the more chance we have of getting the gig next year and getting much more time to prepare something - if we get enough interest maybe we could get the BEN to do a feature.
xxx

Hi all

Congrats on what sounds like an excellent night last night - sorry to have missed it. I was decorating and had to work late to get finished :-(

Suffering from a bad attack of Real Life at the moment - work, domestic stuff etc all kicking in after the summer and limiting matters poetic.

Great to hear Hilary's back. Sorry to have missed Akil and Dominic - and everyone else of course.

Hope to see you all soon. Got a few newies to inflict on you! More power to WOL. Onwards and upwards.

Cheers

Tony

I'm so sad that i missed the night and I really wanted to come but i had to pack and clean up my flat. i'm sad i missed the return of Hillary and Anwen, i've been feeling like one of the few women on the block, Magi and Sandre have been powerful leads but its good that you're back to swell the ranks. Dave Morgan, thank you, you know and understand.
Looking forward to seeing you all. Cheers

What a great night that was and proper packed! My mate Tabitha was wonderful, I've never heard her sing before in all the time I've known her and her voice is amazing! The selection of different poetry was wonderful, I think Gordon Zola was my fave poet of the night, I really like the one about the vampire in bed with Buffy- haha!

Hello everybody

Thank you all for another great night

With the number there it created a superb atmosphere I am learning more and more each time from each poet’s performance

The Howcroft, this month, was my third time on stage. Each time I have been on stage my nerves have reduced and I felt confident enough to put some of my personality into performance, although my Parky tremor in my left hand looked as though I was waving. I got a real feedback buzz when I read my Grass poem. The high I got certainly beats grass.

Thank you all

thank you all for an amazing night and letting me contribute. so many people and such an electric atmosphere. i'm not going to name names as i was overwhelmed by the talent and feel every contibutor excelled! all the feedback has been so positive too! please invite me to your party again some time soon!
tabitha

ps: open mic at the Albion in Bolton tonight. come hear more tunes, bring your own!