Reader Profile: Al Hutchins

Stop Press! Joining the Amnesty international fundraising birthday party at Power Lunches next Sunday is the West Midland's finest wordsmith, Al Hutchins!

Birmingham-based poet and howler in John Peel-endorsed grinesters THE COURTESY GROUP-whose album received 4 stars in MOJO, and from Stewart Lee in "The Sunday Times".

Poems mainly about buses, romance and death in the West Midlands. 

John Cooper Clarke's a fan too and namechecks Al in the recent dcumentary "Evidently John Cooper Clarke" & has played The Courtesy Group group many times on BBC6...

Over the years Al's supported- in no particular order- Steve Tasene's "Klepto" (Bham Rep), Malika Booker, the late great Hovis Presley, Simon Munnery, John Hegley and Francesca Beard; performed with The New October Poets at The Poetry Cafe and Ledbury Poetry Festival, and been main support to pop group Guillemots at both The Alexandra Theatre (Bham) and Brixton Academy in London. 

John Cooper Clarke has said:

" I wish I could find the words to describe the level of enthusiasm I feel for Al Hutchins' work; I'm a big fan, but poems like, "Man Reading Gibbon On The Midland Red", "Loneliest" and "I Don't Wanna Do Or See Shit" come to mind. I only pick out these three to illustrate the breadth of which he's capable. But what can you say about poetry that poetry can't say about itself ?!"   

Al joins Tim Wells, Sid Griffin and Ralegh Long & the Primary Three to complete our lineup for this very special fundraiser.  There are a limited number of £3 advance tickets available here, otherwise there are tickets on the door at £5, with all proceeds going to Amnesty. The night kicks off at 7:30 sharp! 

Reader Profile: Tim Wells

If you don't have Sunday September 9th etched into your calendar as the date of the Bands & Books birthday charity fundraiser extravaganza, then you should probably do that right now!  In the meantime, allow us to introduce you to Mr Tim Wells, erstwhile Bands & Books DJ, and poet extraordinaire!  Tim Joins Sid Griffin, Ralegh Long & the Primary Three and Al Hutchins to complete our lineup for next Sunday's Power Lunches show in aid of Amnesty International.

• Tim Wells has cultivated a laugh that’s more like a caress. He walks properly. He does not slouch, shuffle or stumble about. He knows that wide, floating trousers are only good for wearing on a veranda with a cocktail in your hand. His latest collection, Rougher Yet, is published by Donut Press.

After Tim's disc jockey masterclass at Bands & Books in October last year, we knew to expect something a little special from his playlist.  As things transpired, we've not enjoyed compiling one of these playlists as much as we have this one! Tim gave us a list of bands & producers covering reggae, Chicago blues, soul, doo wop and erm, Chas & Dave!   This was a joy to compile, and you should just sit back & enjoy this little gem:

 

Tickets for Bands & Books are selling fast, with only 50 available for pre-sale, so be sure to snap yours up now and save precious money!