28th June 2016, Yelde Hall, Market Place, Chippenham SN15 3HL
"A blinding event! Enjoyed every single second and that's not always possible to say." Alan Summers.
OK, Alan was one of our guest poets, so there's an element of bias in that summary, but our ChippFest satellite edition of Words & Ears was such a relaxed, friendly and funny night, I have to agree with him completely. And after a couple of wildly busy Words & Ears in recent months, it was good to snuggle into some more intimate gatherings this week, both here, at the brilliant Cocklebury Club on Tuesday, and last night at our Swan Hotel 'home'. In Chippenham, as ChippFest organiser Brian said: "much fun was had exploring sex and death and Brexit" - which indeed it was - and there were lots of good discussions about poetic practice, and excellent open mic contributions, too. Of special note for me were Alan's haiku cycle Ticking Moon, which references 'the war that has continued since 1914'; and Alan's fellow guest poet, Sam Loveless's excellent and moving In My Absence, about what someone should do should he 'go'. This was Sam's first time as a headliner, and he clearly shares with Alan a natural ability to entertain. His work is original and direct, and his delivery is superb - take note, event organisers.
