Poetry, punk, plays
Between the couple of miles that constitute downtown Hastings and St Leonards, it isn’t just that there are a great number of talented people joyfully making art and writing poems, writing songs, making music. The attraction is that many of their originators are connected and relish that connection, and in that way new forms are produced. It’s as though the whole town is a salon for both the informal and the formal production of compositions of all kinds, of all genres. So it is that excellent classical musicians join together with adventurous avant-garde improvisers; photographers join with painters, craftspeople produce unique artistic designs, and venues happily accommodate unique happenings.
Lucas the Peaceful Poet
One such venue is in St Leonards. There is a house/shop/venue at 74 Norman Road owned by a Nashville singer, Mike Willis, who has settled here. (His ‘shop’ actually features in one of his songs.) In the past, he has been a subject of one of our community profiles: a multi-talented creative entrepreneur always keen to explore new avenues. Every Tuesday fortnight he hosts an open mic evening.
Actor Dean Stalham has secured his own event, which he will host at the venue on the last Sunday of every month, a project he calls Stretched Lips – The Best in Punk Poetry. For the first show he will have Luther Towart (Lucas the Peaceful Poet) as well as St Leonards poets Thomas Bowie Walker Barron and Tim Barlow. Coming from London for the night is Aaron Barschak, who you may remember soared to fame in 2003 after gatecrashing Prince William’s twenty-first birthday party dressed as Osama Bin Laden and hijacking the evening with a song, a crude gesture or two, and a kiss for the prince. His action caused a major investigation into security breaches at Windsor Castle.
On the door will be Francis Saunders, doing a bit of theatre, and you can bring your own booze. It’s a cozy, homely venue, and you’ll enjoy yourselves.
Stretched Lips with Dean Stalham and Francis Saunders will be at 74 Norman Road at 7 pm on Sunday 22 February
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Hi there! Thanks for the fantastic article. There’s one detail that is incorrect. Our Apples & Oranges Open Mic takes place on the first and third Wednesday of each month.
Looking forward to Stretched Lips!
Mike
Sorry Mike I only just saw this – will correct it in the article i write about this evening (Stretched Lips)
Victoria