An Evening with Jo Bell
6th September 2015, 7:30pm - 10:00pm, The Swan Hotel, 1 Church Street, Bradford on Avon, BA15 1LN
Reading by award-winning poet Jo Bell, including work from her recently-published second collection, Kith. Also featuring work by local poets (some pretty distinguished names among them!), who were course participants on the day's poetry workshop with Jo.
The reading was great fun. It was good to hear Jo read from her new collection, and also to hear the poets from the day's workshop reading their own work. The event was well attended - and members of the audience included holiday visitors to Bradford on Avon who had read about the event in the Tourist Information office that day, and one woman who was visiting from Australia - a fine distance to come to hear Jo Bell read!
Audience comments on the evening included these:
"It was very well organised. Everything ran like clockwork and there was a lovely introduction from Dawn Gorman to start. There was plenty of time for people to read, we a had a short interval for refreshments and also to purchase books which were on sale at the venue. The venue made it possible to be able to get up close and personal with the artist, which gave rise to a much more relaxed, enjoyable evening." John Hancock
"Very well organised, well introduced, and the perfect length." Tania Hershman
Jo Bell is an award-winning poet and occasional broadcaster, described by Carol Ann Duffy as 'one of the most exciting poets now writing.' She is the first Canal Laureate of the UK. Jo is an archaeologist, and a boat-dweller who knows the Kennet & Avon well. Her second collection, Kith, out now from Nine Arches Press, has been called 'witty, sexy and deft'. Formerly in charge of National Poetry Day, Jo now devises national projects such as 52, a huge new poetry community with many awards to its name.
This event was brought to you by Words & Ears, in conjunction with the Bradford on Avon Arts Festival and supported using public funding by Arts Council England.
To see photos of the performance evening, use the following link:
