Poet Clarke to perform at youth centre (From Malvern Gazette)

Poet Clarke to perform at youth centre

6:00pm Friday 10th June 2011 in News

PUNK poet John Cooper Clarke is coming to Malvern as a part of the first Worcestershire Literary Festival, in a gig promoted by local company Versatile Productions.

Salford-born John burst onto the punk scene in the late 70s supporting many seminal bands such as the Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks, The Fall, Joy Division, Elvis Costello and Siouxsie and the Banshees.

His biting, satirical verse and rapid-fire performance style enthralled audiences and before long, he was headlining his own gigs and drawing huge crowds of fans.

He recorded four studio albums, and released two live LPs, but it was the live arena where John found the greatest success and acclaim.

Since the punk days, he has been recognised as one of England's most important poets and performers. Sky TV recently dedicated an entire night's programming to him the Culture Show on BBC interviewed him for a special feature, and he made a brief cameo as his younger self in the Ian Curtis biopic Control.

He appears at Malvern Youth Centre on Saturday, June 25, with support from Amy Rainbow, Catherine Crosswell, Ray Millar and The Very Grimm Brothers. Tickets are £14.50 from Malvern Theatres box office.

At the same venue the previous Saturday, June 18, Versatile presents an evening of Smoke and Mirrors. Four featured poets take to the stage accompanied by two bands and a spoken word open mike.

The poets are multiple poetry slam winner Emma Purshouse from Wolverhampton, Fergus McGonigal, a new Malvern favourite, Malvern poet Ali Oxtoby and Steve Rooney, winner of the Ledbury slam. Doors open at 8pm and admission is £5.