Performances by Liverpool poet Roger McGough and readings from a book conceived by his former colleague in The Scaffold pop group, John Gorman, are among the highlights of Wirral poetry festival from 10-12 May.

McGough will be performing his poetry with the poetry-to-music group Little Machine at Westbourne Hall, West Kirby, on Friday 10 May at 7.30pm. Readings from The Quality of Mersey, the book dreamed up by Gorman and edited by Barry Woods - a book-length “winding river of words that includes history, love, darkness and fantasy” - will take place at West Kirby arts centre on Sunday 12 May at 5.45pm. 

Other events during the festival weekend include a poets and publishers exhibition, The Big Poetry Variety Show, poetry from the small presses, open mic and slam events, and readings from poetry put together during ‘poetry picnic’ ferry trips to a lighthouse and along the river Mersey in the run-up to the festival. More festival details