Top Tens of 2024

Moments

1. Jim interview Medway River Lit

Medway River Lit interview with Jim Bob, from Carter USM. Read a set from my book, then 30 minute interview and 30 minute acoustic set from Jim Bob. I have already written a blog about both this festival and this event. I have 200 of my book waiting for home and Jim had to reprint some extra books. Not sure if there are any left now but they will be gone soon, so do buy one as soon as you can.

2. My first self-published book

After not being able to find a music publisher interested in poetry and finding my book theme was considered too niche by poetry editors I decided to self-publish my first full-length poetry collection (100 pages). This gave me the freedom to include photos, commission Mark Reynolds for the artwork (which was totally the right choice as he knows the scene and me and captured both teenaged me and me in a mosh pit. I had a book launch at Northern Sole Cafe in October with a fire backdrop and an online launch in December. I also had some guest spot events with the book at Crooked Poets in Prestwich, Slurred Words Walk at Morecambe Poetry Festival (beer poems including a couple from the book) and Words on the Wall in Hexham.

3. Raymond Antrobus signed bedtime story – Morecambe Poetry Festival

A short story around 11pm at a poetry festival? Glad Raymond Antrobus treated us to this and also did an Eric Morecambe impression. Just such a moment on connection, love and joy shared between an audience of maybe 70 and signer and poet on stage, inviting us all in to the story and the affectionate sharing of stage and words.

4. EMF – January & October – Drum Machine and Reach for lasers rave version

Holmfirth Picturedrome – January – I was on the barrier when Adrian came over and asked us to move back a bit, we moved back a few feet and then he said ‘A bit further… we need to fit a 40 piece drum band in front of the stage!’ Of course, we assumed he was joking.

I had a brief chat with James about my old school EMF t-shirt (from 2008 Carter gig when they supported) and then both Adrian and Iain were lovely when I met them in the venue after the show too.

At the end of the gig the Drum Machine joined EMF on the stage for Unbelievable.

Manchester Ritz – was great to see Echobelly, Jesus Jones and EMF at my old haunt from student night days. Just a brilliant triple-header but my favourite moment had to be the extended rave version of Reach for the Lasers which transported us all to the early 90s. So good!

5. Prowsey knees up – Liverpool Academy

I had heard such good things about this annual event. 6 until 11 – three bands culminating with Ian and his 13 piece band Christmas show. So nourishing, joyous and joyful and so many friends in the crowd ready with hugs and grins plus more friends made that night in the pub, the crowd, afterwards in pubs. I will be back next year and will stay for the Monday Club next time and make a long weekend of it. Prowsey’s lockdown gang were at The Wonderstuff gig at The Ritz a few days after and were taking a group photo. I offered to take it and they were ‘oh no! you are one of us now! We need you in it!’ What a utterly lovely bunch of people.

6. Morecambe Poetry Festival Stumble Walk – beer poems event with Barry Fentiman Hall

After several attempts to meet up with Barry this year we made it. He is a good friend and a great encourager to me and he is great company and writes fine poems of description, rich with characters. These contrast well with my more direct and pared back style. Thanks to Matt Panesh for inviting us to be part of the poetry festival.

Morecambe Poetry Festival 2025 – 12th-14th September save the date

7. Work Do – with excellent workmates

I am not sharing photos of the dancing or the gurning singing on here but wanted to include it as I had a brilliant time with workmates who are also great friends. Eating, drinking and dancing and dancing and dancing from 6pm until the early hours. I so love a good full dancefloor and made the most of it. Also, the hat was one I bought for my boss for Secret Santa but then stole back.

8. Peter’s DJ set at The Grove Inn, November

I have some lovely nights with my friends at The Grove Inn in 2024. I first performed comedy there in January, go regularly to the acoustic afternoon, Grovediggers and Pete’s DJ sets are always eclectic, surprising and lively. A lovely community means that whenever I go in there will be a couple of people I know.

9. National Trust Poetry Trail walk

I have been on several National Trust walks this year in Marsden including a poetry trail and one where we visited old sites of pubs and I read some beer poems. I am looking forward to more of these walks in 2025.

10. Morecambe Poetry Fringe and beach fire joy

I arrived at the Fringe on the Friday evening and was just going to check into my hotel and have a quiet night. I should have known better… Both Dave Pitt and Matt Panesh message me to let me know Dave was performing an impromptu show after a couple of other shows had been cancelled due to illness. I dropped by bags and my place and then joined them at The Kings Arms and Dave’s show was enlightening and well-crafted and I was glad I got to see it the next night too. Was brilliant to catch up for the first time in the last couple of years too.

After the shows for that evening we went to the beach and had a beach fire and by the time we left the bay the sun was rising. Lots of chat and hugs and song around the fire with the added soundtrack of the waves. Magical.

Places that felt like home in 2024

1. Home in our place and our valley full of herons, donkeys, goats and wide skies.
2. 21 Degrees window team – my team at work – supportive, friendly, affectionate and focused.
3. The Sair Inn music room – home of my regular poetry night, Grand Plans
4. The Grove Inn – home to comedy, quizzes, acoustic sets, DJ events & ale.
5. The Parish – Huddersfield – A brilliant small venue with affordable tickets and a short bus ride from home.
6. Angel of the North and Dockers Cottage, Gateshead – a cosy place we have stayed in on holiday for several years and I don’t remember visiting the Angel of the North before 2024.
7. 90s indie fan groups – a virtual space to share our passion, joy and (occasionally) disappointments. Especially, Gig Life Crisis a group that was started by Debbie Jones early summer when the gig-goers Whatsapp group had grown unmanageable. A lovely bunch of people (that has now grown to 10k members which means any solo-giggers will usually be able to find Gig Life friends who will be there. I have met many of them this year and hope to meet many more in 2025. Especially at my first Shiiine Skegness weekender and Gigantic Indie All Dayer in Bristol.
8. Morecambe Bay – the skies, the sand, gulls, friends and spaces (Playhouse Christmas do warmth special mention).
9. The Ritz, Manchester – is like going back to being seventeen again. Also, the trains to Huddersfield now run after 9pm which means I can get to more things over the Pennines and with Oxford Road being a couple of minutes walk away…
10. Reservoir, Todmorden – I went over to Tod for Miles Hunt solo gig in a church and went for an explore and found a walk that was all waterfalls and steep rocky tracks and ended up at a reservoir which was so tranquil and being beside it felt so calm.

Best Poetry events

Yes, We Cant (online) – a loving and supportive online space. Quaity open mic and guests – every first Sunday of the month – hosted by the Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists who also host the Wolves Lit Fest Fringe (Dates January 25th – February 2nd.
Cafe Writers (online) – Monday once a month. Lovely space. Quality open mic and guests.
Words on the Wall, Hexham brilliant event, warmly hosted by Joe Williams. I am not sure of the future of this event but I really enjoyed guesting there with Kate Fox
Grand Plans – The Sair Inn, Linthwaite – my night I know, but that means I have the joy of it every month and the regulars are a lovely bunch and make it an honour to host. 2nd Sunday of the month (occasionally moves if I have other commitments).
Morecambe Poetry Festival – 12th-14th September 2025. Get there!
Medway River Lit – Small and affection festival team and chatty volunteers – headed by Barry and Sam Fentiman Hall and Anne Marie Jordan.
Crooked Poets, Prestwich – Host John Darwin – nice venue, great guests and open mic.
Book Launch venue – My book launch was at Northern Sole which is a great venue which serves coffee, wine, beer and the menu looks amazing. I will be back soon.
Monday Club, Cavern Pub, Liverpool – hosted by Ian Prowse and Barry Sausages – a night for original work – music, poetry, etc – 8-midnight every Monday evening. I was surprised how far people travelled to be at this night. Ian couldn’t be there when I visited in August and apologised and made sure Barry looked after me and became a new friend too.
Brian Bilston and Henry Normal – The Lowry – So early on in the year it felt like 2023. I prefer a smaller venue but both poets managed the venue well and were entertaining, amusing, sometimes moving.

Best music gigs (no order)

Jim Bob – Louder than Words with Christopher Thorpe-Tracey
Jim Bob – Medway River Lit, Chatham Library
Shed Seven, Wythenshawe Park
EMF, Drum Machine, The Dirt – Holmfirth Picturedrome
The Wonderstuff – The Ritz
EMF/Jesus Jones/Echobelly – The Ritz
Prowsey big Christmas knees up – Liverpool Academy
Hellflowers/Hillbilly Moon Explosion – The Parish
Lovely Eggs, Thick Richard and The Empty Page – The Parish
Ian Prowse solo gig – The Parish

Thanks to those who have been part of my 2024 and sorry if I haven’t mentioned you – I had a wonderful year full of friendship, adventures, hugs and dance. I also rolled my ankle twice which made the dancing more of a hobble and the walking much slower. I also had a brutal stomach bug the day of my book launch and had chest infections from December 2023 to May 2024. This didn’t clear with three courses of antibiotics, steroids and inhalers. So, I am taking January very easily resting up, catching up on sleep, healthy-eating, having a soberish (maybe dry January).

My main job (brilliant employers) have approved an extra 5 days of unpaid leave for me to work on book events and I am now in the very early stages of plotting a show around the book. I have booked almost all my annual leave for 2025 already for music gigs and festivals and poetry gigs across the UK. See you on a walk, a dancefloor, in a mosh pit, at a poetry event soon.