By Anita Foxall Will Vigar’s new poetry collection, Vague Wisdom, should be top of your shopping list if you are looking for a good poetry book. It is rich in images and memories, some borrowed from art and cinema, some very personal. Poetry has always been present in his...
Poetry
“Alas poor culture, I knew him well”
Art, Local News, Music, Poetry
Reported by Charlie Hislop It is the last Friday in November, and off to the side of Guildhall Square, hidden away from the city’s Christmas attractions a small group of people are meeting in the cold evening. Sandwiched between the Arts Council funded MAST theatre, and the Arts Council...
Avant-garde poetry performances come to Southampton
A series of avant-garde poetry performances is being brought to Southampton by Wire Wool Events and Placeholder Poetry, beginning this month. The first event takes place on Thursday 25th January and will see the basement room of The Bookshop Alehouse, Southampton transformed into a world of words. Three outstanding...
Remembering JPF Goodman – a poet’s life
By John Bruce. JPF – John Peter Frederick – Goodman 16/3/1960 to 7/9/2023 I’m sure there are people reading this who knew JPF far longer than I did, and who know more about him, but these are my reflections on a friend and poet who died recently. We met...
Winchester Poetry Festival and Hampshire Cultural Trust launch Hampshire Young Poets Competition 2023
Winchester Poetry Festival and Hampshire Cultural Trust have opened the Hampshire Young Poets Competition 2023 for submissions. This year the theme is ‘home’ and aspiring young poets, living or studying in Hampshire, are invited to write a poem of no more than 14 lines exploring what ‘home’ means to...
Review: Southampton Literature Festival, MAST Mayflower Studios, March 10-12
by Anita Foxall. Southampton has a Literature Festival, and it was brought to the MAST Mayflower Studios by ArtfulScribe, with the support of Arts Council England and University of Southampton. The festival took place between the 10th and the 12th of March and was organised by ArtfulScribe’s poet/producer Antosh...
Reader reviews: Mo’s Forte poetry night, March 5
Mo’s Forte is a poetry open mic, with guest act to close, held on the 1st Sunday of each month from 6pm-8pm at the Hatch (Forte Kitchen), in Parchment Street, Winchester. The 5th of March 2023, was the debut night of Mo’s Forte, with Winchester based musician Blind Z...
Review: February Words at Whiskey poetry evening, featuring Benjin
by Andy Buchanan This is a relatively new monthly poetry night held at the Whiskey Blue bar in London Road, Southampton but it is organised by local poet Issa Loyaan Farrah-Kelly (pictured top). You may know Issa as the face of Southampton City of Culture’s bid, but Issa has...
Southampton’s Interesting Wallpaper release debut EP
by Anita Foxall. March 2020 was certainly unforgettable for us all. But this is also the date that marked the beginning of Interesting Wallpaper, a Southampton based band who have now released their first EP. Pete Harvey, the lead singer and song writer, explained they started as a trio,...
Poem: Who’s up for a New Year’s Day walk?
by Katie Isham. Who’s up for a New Year’s Day walk? Blow the cobwebs away Start the new year afresh Fill the lungs with January air Who’s up for a New Year’s Day walk? …Mum Whatsapped the family group, alongside a boot emoji, A circuit...