A event held at Bristol Old Vic on Sunday 3rd April. The event starts at 19:30.
This event is now sold out.
Tickets: https://bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/linton-kwesi-johnson-and-anthony-joseph
19:30 - 20:30pm. £5.
An evening of poetry and music to mark the 42nd anniversary of the St. Paul’s Uprising, headlined by two legendary artists Linton Kwesi Johnson and Anthony Joseph. Presented in collaboration with Bristol Old Vic and Speaking Volumes. Hosted by Lyra’s 2022 Festival Poet, Edson Burton.
LINTON KWESI JOHNSON
Linton Kwesi Johnson’s work has always been political, vital and necessary, drawing attention to topics like systemic racism, police abuse and National Front attacks,calling for government, institutions and society to be held to account. His performances are gripping and true to a quote he gave in a 2008 interview:"Writing was a political act and poetry was a cultural weapon."
The legendary reggae poet and social activist was born in Jamaica before moving to London. He was a member of the Black Panthers and the poetry editor of political magazine Race Today, using the platform to introduce important ideas and new voices to the British public, including Michael Smith and Oku Onuora.
In 1974 Race Today published Johnson’s first collection of poetry: Voices of the Living and the Dead. He has had four more books published and in 2002 became only the second living poet and the first black poet to have his work included in Penguin’s Modern Classics series, under the title Mi Revalueshanary Fren: Selected Poem. One of his best known poems, Inglan’ is a Bitch, was part of the self-titled 1980 collection and the album Bass Culture.
Johnson’s first album Dread Beat An Blood was released in 1978, and since then he has released 14 more albums made with long-time collaborator, dub producer Dennis Bovell. He has been running his own record label, LKJ Records, since 1981,bringing new artists to the attention of wider audiences.
ANTHONY JOSEPH
Anthony Joseph is an award winning Trinidad-born poet, novelist, academic and musician. He is the author of four poetry collections and three novels. His 2018 novel Kitch: A Fictional Biography of a Calypso Icon was shortlisted for the Republic of Consciousness Prize, the Royal Society of Literature’s Encore Award, and long listed for the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature. His most recent publication is the experimental novel The Frequency of Magic. In 2019, he was awarded a Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellowship. In 2020 a Polish translation of his afrofuturist novel The African Origins of UFOs was published, followed by a Spanish edition of Kitch. As a musician, he has released eight critically acclaimed albums, and in 2020 received a Paul Hamlyn Foundation Composers Award. HIs most recent album, The Rich Are Only Defeated When Running For Their Lives was released in May 2021. He lectures in Creative Writing at De Montfort University, Leicester.
EDSON BURTON
Dr Edson Burton is a poet, drama writer, curator and historian. In performance and on the
page Edson combines storytelling, with a deep love for the power of words. His work
includes commissions for Situations, & the Welsh National Opera. Edson has delivered
workshops in schools, prisons, churches, and community settings. He is the author of
poetry collection Seasoned (2007).
Part of Lyra - Bristol Poetry Festival 2022.
Entry requirements:
Tickets: https://bristololdvic.org.uk/whats-on/linton-kwesi-johnson-and-anthony-joseph
19:30 - 20:30pm. £5.
An evening of poetry and music to mark the 42nd anniversary of the St. Paul’s Uprising, headlined by two legendary artists Linton Kwesi Johnson and Anthony Joseph. Presented in collaboration with Bristol Old Vic and Speaking Volumes. Hosted by Lyra’s 2022 Festival Poet, Edson Burton.
LINTON KWESI JOHNSON
Linton Kwesi Johnson’s work has always been political, vital and necessary, drawing attention to topics like systemic racism, police abuse and National Front attacks,calling for government, institutions and society to be held to account. His performances are gripping and true to a quote he gave in a 2008 interview:"Writing was a political act and poetry was a cultural weapon."
The legendary reggae poet and social activist was born in Jamaica before moving to London. He was a member of the Black Panthers and the poetry editor of political magazine Race Today, using the platform to introduce important ideas and new voices to the British public, including Michael Smith and Oku Onuora.
In 1974 Race Today published Johnson’s first collection of poetry: Voices of the Living and the Dead. He has had four more books published and in 2002 became only the second living poet and the first black poet to have his work included in Penguin’s Modern Classics series, under the title Mi Revalueshanary Fren: Selected Poem. One of his best known poems, Inglan’ is a Bitch, was part of the self-titled 1980 collection and the album Bass Culture.
Johnson’s first album Dread Beat An Blood was released in 1978, and since then he has released 14 more albums made with long-time collaborator, dub producer Dennis Bovell. He has been running his own record label, LKJ Records, since 1981,bringing new artists to the attention of wider audiences.
ANTHONY JOSEPH
Anthony Joseph is an award winning Trinidad-born poet, novelist, academic and musician. He is the author of four poetry collections and three novels. His 2018 novel Kitch: A Fictional Biography of a Calypso Icon was shortlisted for the Republic of Consciousness Prize, the Royal Society of Literature’s Encore Award, and long listed for the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature. His most recent publication is the experimental novel The Frequency of Magic. In 2019, he was awarded a Jerwood Compton Poetry Fellowship. In 2020 a Polish translation of his afrofuturist novel The African Origins of UFOs was published, followed by a Spanish edition of Kitch. As a musician, he has released eight critically acclaimed albums, and in 2020 received a Paul Hamlyn Foundation Composers Award. HIs most recent album, The Rich Are Only Defeated When Running For Their Lives was released in May 2021. He lectures in Creative Writing at De Montfort University, Leicester.
EDSON BURTON
Dr Edson Burton is a poet, drama writer, curator and historian. In performance and on the
page Edson combines storytelling, with a deep love for the power of words. His work
includes commissions for Situations, & the Welsh National Opera. Edson has delivered
workshops in schools, prisons, churches, and community settings. He is the author of
poetry collection Seasoned (2007).
Part of Lyra - Bristol Poetry Festival 2022.
Entry requirements:
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