Andy N - Writer, Podcaster and Ambient Musician: March 2023

Thursday 30 March 2023

New Spoken Label Session - Ashley Edge

Audio version of the live event Spoken Label recently did from the book launch of Ashley Edge's recent book 'Those days, These Days' recorded last week.

Ashley's book advises "Ashley Edge was an out tomboy before it was cool. This retrospective introspective takes us through growing up, coming out and the adventures that took them through it all. In this collection, they look at love in every form. From exploring their sexuality to poems which declare heir everlasting love of football, this is a ferocious, sometimes furious but always bittersweet must-read that will have you hooked from start to finish.

The book can be purchased here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Those-Days-These-Ashley-Edge/dp/B0BVPFYNNF?

Ashley is on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ashleyedge.poet

***

https://spokenlabel.bandcamp.com/album/ashley-edge-2-sets-from-book-launch-spoken-label-april-2023

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/ashley-edge-spoken-label-live-from-ashleys-book-launch/id1501847969?i=1000606198641

https://podcasters.spotify.com/spokenlabelpodcast/episodes/Ashley-Edge-Spoken-Label-Live---from-Ashleys-book-launch--March-2023-e218cfl

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kOTA1ZTkwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz/episode/NTRjZWQ4NzgtZmZmNC00NGEyLTg5NzctNDM1Mzg5OTMwMTkw?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwiQ5-GKyIT-AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdhkK_xwwW0

https://radiopublic.com/spoken-label-6BalgM/s1!fe400

https://castbox.fm/episode/Ashley-Edge-(Spoken-Label-Live---from-Ashley's-book-launch%2C-March-2023)-id2678341-id582736963

https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/spoken-label-1044059/episodes/ashley-edge-spoken-label-live-168051115

https://podyssey.fm/podcast/itunes1501847969/episode133652705-Ashley-Spoken-Label-Ashleys-launch-March-Spoken-Label

https://www.podash.com/podcast/882087/?fbclid=IwAR2CXLy82QcztJgQliD42UfPBtZlWr6jXFpZWvu0Ftc-o49b4cWrdpgfkmI

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spokenlabelpodcast/episodes/Ashley-Edge-Spoken-Label-Live---from-Ashleys-book-launch--March-2023-e218cfl

https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/spoken-label/ashley-edge-spoken-label-RUz2b8FwpMl/

https://www.bullhorn.fm/spokenlabel/posts/ashley-edge-spoken-label-live

https://podcastaddict.com/?id=https%3A%2F%2Fanchor.fm%2Fs%2Fd905e90%2Fpodcast%2Fplay%2F65367341%2Fhttps%253A%252F%252Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%252Fstaging%252F2023-1-20%252F7bc64a8d-c0ab-0ed5-23e1-295485c20f92.mp3&podcastId=2748767

https://www.podbean.com/ew/dir-59prm-1754fd5e

https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/Spoken-Label-p1317427/?topicId=268429107

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqbYGjBDXFvecl0v12dA1HXik0h06hnDBUsomQ0/

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2P4L1xVR1KPFcHhxxhpIAp

Tuesday 28 March 2023

New Poetry Publication - The Scope of Art and Poetry

Two poems from what is likely to be my last full-length poetry book 'Changing carriages at Birmingham new street' (Between yesterday and today or somewhere further afield & Between then and there as everything disintegrated) are in this new excellent charity book

The book can be bought here

Thanks to Daniel Kay and Mel Wardle Woodend

Monday 27 March 2023

Haiku in Bloom 2023 (My NaPoWrimo - National Writing Poetry Month Project for 2023)

Last year as part of #NaPoWriMo (National Poetry Writing Month) I undertook a series of haiku all written in April in early Spring and simply called it Haiku in Bloom. This year I have decided to simply call it Haiku in Bloom and will put at least one Haiku a day on this blog with various pictures all taken by me through Shepley Woods nearby me.

2022's Haiku in Bloom can be found here

(I)

Spaced in the silence

birds land on top of the trees

welcoming spring back

(II)

Opening the gate;

The grass is already moist

Spring is here early.

(III)

From a nearby field.

A stranger waves at you both

welcoming the spring.

(IV)

Tracing your footpaths

you walk on the riverbank

bathing in the sun.

(V)

Mist at edge of woods;

horses running in the fields

embracing the spring.

(VI)

Below the footpath
sunrise starts winking at you
yes, winter has gone.

(VII)

Returning sunshine

you walk to the woods at 7

not rushing to work.

(VIII)

Heading into March

you rush towards the forest.

Leaves still frost bitten.

(IX)

Cold still grips the air

holding back the seasons

from reaching Spring.

(X)

Stopping at the gate

the spring sunshine suddenly

turns into rainfall.

(XI)

Dancing in the sun

the shadows waltz next to you

like a dance partner.

(XII)

In the moon’s shadow;

the sun waits before rising

until you have gone.

(XIII)

The air is fragrant

carrying across the fields

opening the gate.

(XIV)

The path is lush green

and the trees waves in the air

glad winter has gone.

(XV)

Turning clock backwards

Sun starts to rise earlier.

Changing the cycle.

(XVI)

Birdsong on the trees

bring the reservoir to life

welcoming back spring.

(XVII)

Gentle breeze in face

opening the forest gate

stretches in welcome.

(XVIII)

Pulling into land

a bird flies on the river

glad the ice has gone.

(XIX)

A rabbit wakes

burrows upstairs then pausing

to worship the sun.

(XX)

Sneaking behind you

the roof on the way to work

Spring loves teasing you.

(XXI)

The woods come to life

luscious scenes near the river

transforming our moods.

(XXII)

Forest in the rain,

shelter under an old tree

Nature is laughing.

(XXIII)

A horse trots over

across the meadows to you

just to say hello.

(XXIV)

stick in the dog's mouth

you smile watching the owner

shouting to come back.

(XXV)

butterflies dancing

over a flower scatter

when you walk past them.

(XXVI)

somehow missed by Spring

the river was still frozen.

Nature taunting you.

(XXVII)

Waiting in the skies

the aeroplane has to wait

in the Spring sunshine.

(XXVIII)

The softest kisses

stroke against both of your cheeks,

recalling Winter.

(XXIX)

Looking at children

Each year seems further away

starting every Spring.

(XXX)

Holding hands as one

the sunset follows you home

glad it is Spring too.

Saturday 25 March 2023

New Spoken Label Session - Roy Page

Brand new from Spoken Label (Author / Artist / Poet Podcast) features from originally Salford but now Denton, the amazing Roy Page talking about his debut book "Fifties Child" as well as his love of bands and painting / drawing and growing up and around Salford (UK) in the 1950s.

Roy's book can be purchased from him direct at: www.facebook.com/roy.page.1297

https://spokenlabel.bandcamp.com/album/roy-page-spoken-label-march-2023

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/roy-page-spoken-label-march-2023/id1501847969?i=1000605317660

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spokenlabelpodcast/episodes/Roy-Page-Spoken-Label--March-2023-e1uifpj

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kOTA1ZTkwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz/episode/N2VjOTcwYmEtNWRlNi00MzRmLWIyZDItZmE4NTkxMTFmOWZi?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwiQ24OH8Pb9AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ

https://radiopublic.com/spoken-label-6BalgM/s1!001f1

https://castbox.fm/episode/Roy-Page-(Spoken-Label%2C-March-2023)-id2678341-id581038059

https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/spoken-label-1044059/episodes/roy-page-spoken-label-march-20-167435514

https://podyssey.fm/podcast/itunes1501847969/episode131495412-Spoken-Label-March-Spoken-Label

https://www.podash.com/podcast/882087/?fbclid=IwAR15zABLsKBuxDVQrrl3ORTitBd3q7HScNIGb5bWns1NHvtTGvparXm05mc

https://anchor.fm/spokenlabelpodcast/episodes/Roy-Page-Spoken-Label--March-2023-e1uifpj

https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/spoken-label/roy-page-spoken-label-march-w7T8I3akK9E/

https://www.bullhorn.fm/spokenlabel/posts/roy-page-spoken-label-march-2

https://podcastaddict.com/?id=https%3A%2F%2Fanchor.fm%2Fs%2Fd905e90%2Fpodcast%2Fplay%2F64617715%2Fhttps%253A%252F%252Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%252Fstaging%252F2023-1-6%252F62dc78b5-0336-706d-9e7b-cb0ceb96faaf.mp3&podcastId=2748767

https://www.podbean.com/ew/dir-qc86k-174a74b3

https://podbay.fm/p/spoken-label/e/1679474752

https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/bae49616-2295-4e7c-b931-91415a724cb6/episodes/dc8cd4e6-21f5-496c-a1f7-a20c60128bde/spoken-label-roy-page-spoken-label-march-2023

https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/Spoken-Label-p1317427/?topicId=266900186

https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Roy-Page-Spoken-Label-March-2023-Podcast/B0BZ89WB2K?ref=a_pd_Spoken_c4_lAsin_0_0&pf_rd_p=a202f891-0d90-47a2-ac3f-8ebc4b2943db&pf_rd_r=SZJ3B803WJBY1NJJDXBB&pageLoadId=wQJ9y85IEbtBFFnP&creativeId=43463e8d-6f2b-4d01-a759-854a1034c4b8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42EL0sZrBkg (Interview)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLjN0snaAzg (Reading)

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqNZEuNj7hAubFGKn9PvFAy4_N3_noWKNZuGMA (Interview)

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqNZfNjDM4vL4KcunJi6ph8J1FZ2p5jApOVGKw0/ (Reading)

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3BvEzfL2VxFz47t5nOifkN

Thursday 23 March 2023

Speak Easy Readers - April 2023

List off readers can now be confirmed for our next show on Thursday 06 April 2023 at Dulicmer, Chorlton - starting around 7.30pm or so.

To go on our subs list - email Andy N on aen1mpo@yahoo.co.uk

Not in Order of reading:

1. Andy N

2. Amanda Nicholson

3. Steve Smythe

4. Phillip Carter (Guest Host)

5. Janine Brown

6. Joy Wassell Timms

7. Andy Cash

8. Amy Langley

9. Lucy Power

10. Daniel Findell

11. Thomas Butterworth

12. April Manderson

13. Drew Garty (Andrew Garty)

14. Lindy Newns

15. Gordon Zola

16. Eve Nortley

17. David Bond

18. Roy Page

19. Michael Burton

20. Grant Curnew.

21. Tony Andrews

22. Megan Barber

23. Esther Koch

24. Siobhan Hoy

Europa 7: total disarmament (1st video)

I'll talk about this more over the next few days in more depth when I was concluding work recently on my recent full-length poetry book 'From the Diabetic Ward' at the same time, I was also concluding work on the latest in the Europa (our anti-war poetry book series) poetry book series I write with my friend Nick Armbrister (Nick Goth).

We first started this series in 2011. Europa 7: total disarmament makes our 7th book in this series talk about what happens after a war has finished (and is available on Amazon and all of the usual places)

Here is a video of my first poem in the book:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDAGv-RhvzA

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqINYF1joSxMpF0EOoSD4H_SjMYu8tcKYwxrow0/

https://www.tiktok.com/@andynwr.../video/7213675441150856453

Sunday 19 March 2023

New Spoken Label Session - Karina Fiorini

Latest up from Spoken Label (Spoken Word / Poetry / Artist Podcast) features the amazing Karina Fiorini.

Karina is a poet and an environmentalist of Maltese origin, now based in France. I started writing poetry and short stories at the age of ten and been campaigning in favour of a better environment for over sixteen years.

Her poetry is marked by scraps of fragments, teasing rhythms and subtle colours, at times postmodern and minimalist. I am the founder and coordinator of the Luxembourg Poetry Group.

In 2022, Habiba was highly commended by poet Joelle Taylor, judge for the Ledbury Poetry Competition. In 2021, the poem The Calling featured in PEN International and PEN Malta's A Poetry Memorial for Daphne Caruana Galizia. My poem Ruts placed third in The Mattia Family 15th International Poetry Competition in 2013. Twelve inky years received a special mention by the Welsh Poetry International Competition in 2018, whilst La Moselle was chosen as an editor's choice in the 2020 Hammond House International Literary Prize, awarded by the University Centre Grimsby. In 2020 I served as a judge for Stories of the Nature of Cities, New York.

She has undertook a MSc in Sustainable Development at the Imperial College and SOAS Univeristy and a BA in Geography at the University of Malta. She is now now reading for a BA in English with Philosophy at the University of London – Goldsmiths and Birkbeck, whilst working on her first poetry collection.

***

https://spokenlabel.bandcamp.com/album/karina-fiorini-spoken-label-march-2023

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/karina-fiorini-spoken-label-march-2023/id1501847969?i=1000604220600

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kOTA1ZTkwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz/episode/YTY0OTFiMzktZTM2NS00NzlmLTg0ZGItYjM4OThjM2NmZDI0?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwjYt9ra6PH9AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS0dh_nw3Eo&t=2s (Interview)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRYfHqoMvIU (Poetry)

https://radiopublic.com/spoken-label-6BalgM/s1!71ae3

https://castbox.fm/episode/Karina-Fiorini-(Spoken-Label%2C-March-2023)-id2678341-id578870587

https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/spoken-label-1044059/episodes/karina-fiorini-spoken-label-ma-166747894

https://podyssey.fm/podcast/itunes1501847969/episode129890215-Karina-Fiorini-Spoken-Label-March-Spoken-Label

https://www.podash.com/podcast/882087/?fbclid=IwAR3zYUmH8CU3WQBZ4Vfl_GR1QQl_avMhlQyVJ5qT9TJeiBfsFS_CAQINEFk

https://anchor.fm/spokenlabelpodcast/episodes/Karina-Fiorini-Spoken-Label--March-2023-e1v9ans

https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/spoken-label/karina-fiorini-spoken-label-Z2l4SHntPWD/

https://www.bullhorn.fm/spokenlabel/posts/karina-fiorini-spoken-label-m

https://podcastaddict.com/?id=https%3A%2F%2Fanchor.fm%2Fs%2Fd905e90%2Fpodcast%2Fplay%2F65366204%2Fhttps%253A%252F%252Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%252Fstaging%252F2023-1-20%252Faf3ca2ba-4e79-48ab-4d10-1f09101bd185.mp3&podcastId=2748767

https://www.podbean.com/ew/dir-66ba2-1738874c

https://podbay.fm/p/spoken-label/e/1678838400

https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/bae49616-2295-4e7c-b931-91415a724cb6/episodes/ac6c081c-33ee-462a-b319-f8a32a11e435/spoken-label-karina-fiorini-spoken-label-march-2023

https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/Spoken-Label-p1317427/?topicId=264283047

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp9yvvLDDWcz_MNBdZsjlyw16MZBb9YPPDohjM0/ (Interview Segment)

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp9y99NDRiYH6tvZucXhiNWcrFnFVsEvAQcIKE0/ (Poetry Segment)

https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Karina-Fiorini-Spoken-Label-March-2023-Podcast/B0BYH9RGYC?ref=a_pd_Spoken_c4_lAsin_0_1&pf_rd_p=a202f891-0d90-47a2-ac3f-8ebc4b2943db&pf_rd_r=CCJ1Q2VQFAJ37C70NPH8&pageLoadId=rfm2seVaybWCn3Jc&creativeId=43463e8d-6f2b-4d01-a759-854a1034c4b8

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0GH0v8a9416TmjdEpP5rUv

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spokenlabelpodcast/episodes/Karina-Fiorini-Spoken-Label--March-2023-e1v9ans

https://spokenlabel.bandcamp.com/album/karina-fiorini-spoken-label-march-2023

Wednesday 15 March 2023

New Spoken Label Sessiom - Alf Whitby

Latest Spoken Label session (Artist / Writer Podcast) features a exclusive interview and session with London born now Manchester based Folk Singer songwriter Alf Whitby.

Alf's alternative folk style revolves around a core of voice, guitar and piano, and draws influence from both traditional folk (Nick Drake) and more modern alternative styles (Sufjan Stevens).

Juxtaposition between tenderness and angst is a key element to Alf's songs, with dynamic shifts bringing the listener along on a meandering ride. Lyrically the songs began as a cathartic release of thoughts and feelings too often left buried inside, but this has evolved into more structured storytelling involving an array of characters and imagery.

More details about Alf can be found on his website: www.alfwhitby.com

https://spokenlabel.bandcamp.com/album/alf-whitby-spoken-label-march-2023

https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/alf-whitby-spoken-label-march-2023/id1501847969?i=1000603214359

https://podcasters.spotify.com/spokenlabelpodcast/episodes/Alf-Whitby-Spoken-Label--March-2023-e1tp9j4

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kOTA1ZTkwL3BvZGNhc3QvcnNz/episode/MzdlYjFiYTEtNjdhNS00YTUxLWFlNzQtOTkzNTlhYjI3MTc0?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwiozNuA8N79AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3WcRNIkvEw (Interview)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXC9eABvnBg (Song)

https://castbox.fm/episode/Alf-Whitby-(Spoken-Label%2C-March-2023)-id2678341-id576851174

https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/0/episodes/alf-whitby-spoken-label-march-165923382

https://podyssey.fm/podcast/itunes1501847969/episode129890216-Whitby-Spoken-Label-March-Spoken-Label

https://www.podash.com/podcast/882087/?fbclid=IwAR0TTc0D1OmJQleM5pWBZ51QWBu8-kTdcG7zbQcA9OpTs05hWRXeL56J42s

https://anchor.fm/spokenlabelpodcast/episodes/Alf-Whitby-Spoken-Label--March-2023-e1tp9j4

https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/spoken-label/alf-whitby-spoken-label-eME6Uq2F_OT/

https://www.bullhorn.fm/spokenlabel/posts/alf-whitby-spoken-label-march

https://podcastaddict.com/?id=https%3A%2F%2Fanchor.fm%2Fs%2Fd905e90%2Fpodcast%2Fplay%2F63792164%2Fhttps%253A%252F%252Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%252Fstaging%252F2023-0-20%252F6cd07669-d8df-594e-351b-c24845fad449.mp3&podcastId=2748767

https://www.podbean.com/ew/dir-8gfxx-171f47e5

https://podbay.fm/p/spoken-label/e/1678233600

https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/bae49616-2295-4e7c-b931-91415a724cb6/episodes/bf73bb16-375e-432b-aedf-dab590fe4ff5/spoken-label-alf-whitby-spoken-label-march-2023

https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Alf-Whitby-Spoken-Label-March-2023-Podcast/B0BXMVQP96?ref=a_pd_Spoken_c4_lAsin_0_1&pf_rd_p=a202f891-0d90-47a2-ac3f-8ebc4b2943db&pf_rd_r=ECGDGYHWA6NWMZAN0D9K&pageLoadId=xXhXwLyl4nqTN2MG&creativeId=43463e8d-6f2b-4d01-a759-854a1034c4b8

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0p5EAjTViScgZKSBbYOgI3

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp0zJUNDXIyUfyjdPYEEZJmYzkrPQR6MCCbeJc0/ (Interview)

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp0zg83D2eNnSc5rqBWHxmH9WrJOyMeyBVuWG40/ (Music)

https://spokenlabel.bandcamp.com/album/alf-whitby-spoken-label-march-2023

Wednesday 8 March 2023

New Spoken Label Podcast - Scarlett Ward

Latest Spoken Label session features the amazing Scarlett Ward.

Scarlett advises "I have been writing poetry for 10 years, and was first published by Verve Poetry Press in 2019. In 2022 I was shortlisted for Women Poet's Prize, and I have come runner up in several prizes such as The Spellt poetry prize, verve prize and Wolverhampton literature festival. I ofted give poetry workshops to schools and have recently ran a series of workshops with the BBC and Verve Poetry Festival.

I set up my own publishing company called Fawn Press in 2021, and I work to discover emerging and under-represented writers in the community to produce their books. Fawn Press was nominated for a Saboteur award in 2022.

I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2021, when I fell into a coma and had to learn how to walk, talk, read, write and even eat again. I worked to overcome these challenges and now live with my chronic illness. I am passionate about raising awareness about this disease as I was misdiagnosed with "anxiety and period hormones" when I first started to display symptoms.

I am a queer writer, and find great strength in my poetry as a woman who loves women."

Some links about Scarlett:

www.instagram.com/scarlett.ward/

www.instagram.com/fawnpress/

www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCsE_lza7H0

vervepoetrypress.com/product/ache-scarlett-ward-pre-order-free-uk-pp/?v=79cba1185463

www.iambapoet.com/scarlett-ward-bennett

deardamsels.com/2021/10/13/my-therapist-asks-me-how-my-weeks-been/

inksweatandtears.co.uk/scarlett-ward-bennett/

www.fawnpress.co.uk

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocGgKYJzZcs

www.bbc.co.uk/events/eqpqwh/acts/a9j9xj