What’s On

The trading name for Jo Bell

My summer includes an epic boating journey and some actual writing - but I will be helping out at the UK’s biggest festival of poetry Ledbury Poetry Festival, and reading at Larmer Tree Festival in July. I’ll also be at Swindon Literature Festival.

Summer: damned hard work

Details of these and more below – including dates for a new residential course in the South of France in spring 2013. Get planning, get saving, it will be a good one and two places are already booked! To book me for a reading, a workshop or to run a project, just get in touch at jo@jobell.org.uk. From September 2012 I will be based in Wiltshire and am really looking forward to meeting new partners and audiences all over the SW of England.

June

Inca Cafe Bar

Friday June 1st – Inca cafe bar, Macclesfield. Join us at this lovely cafe on Sunderland Street for a glass of wine and to hear me reading from my relaunched book Navigation. Apart from Barnaby, this may be the last chance to hear me in Macc before I head south for the winter. But you can always buy my book to remember me by…. More details soon.

Tuesday June 12th – Scribal Gathering, Stony Stratford near Milton Keynes, in the Bull Hotel. I’m a featured reader at this popular and lively evening…. more details closer to the time.

Longfella: he’s very tall but what is he for?

Thursday June 14th - Vocabaret, Prestwich Book Festival, north Manchester. I’m always delighted to find myself on the bill with Longfella, aka Tony Walsh – one of the UK’s very finest performance poets and, like me, a former Glastonbury Festival poet in residence. Tony’s poems will make you cry, then cry with laughter – human, humane and humorous, a truly unique voice. See a film of his poem Sometimes here. 8pm at The Church Inn, Church Lane, Prestwich M25 1AJ (see map). £4 on the door.

Wednesday June 20th – reading in Manchester at Spoke’n'Heard with Mista Gee. This is a night run by Monkeypoet Matt Panesh at the legendary Gulliver’s Bar on Oldham Street. Looking forward to it.

Friday 22nd-Sunday 24th June – Macclesfield’s Barnaby Festival returns and I will be running three events including a performance of Riverlands at teatime on Sunday 24th. Times and details soon.

Friday 29th June – Sunday 8th July – Ledbury Poetry Festival. The UK’s largest, longest and best festival of poetry returns to Herefordshire with its best ever line-up. I will be on the sidelines, helping where I can. Ledbury has a really special atmosphere so come and be part of it.

Last time at Larmer Tree: breakfast at the Tea Bus

July 

Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th July – I’ll be reading at Larmer Tree Festival near Salisbury, with a host of others in the poetry tent.

September

Saturday 15th September – a day of workshops and readings with me and Martin Malone at the stunning location of the Water Tower, Brigstock, Northants. Formerly home to the renowned international gallery Fermynwoods, the house is now used by artist Ros Stoddart for creative happenings like this. The day includes two workshops, an excellent lunch and an evening reading from the tutors, including extracts from our collaborative project Fireships and Jo’s Northamptonshire-based show Riverlands. £50 for the full day including the reading – or join us just for the evening reading, £7 including a glass of wine. Contact ros@fermynwoods.co.uk to reserve a place.

29th-30th September: an early autumn residential weekend at the Garden Cafe in Gloucestershire – with me and Helen Mort. More details and booking here.

Gardoussel, near Nimes

Exciting news – next spring from 30th March-4th April 2013 Martin Malone and I will be running a 5-day long residential writing space at Gardoussel Retreat in the south of France. It’s a fantastic spot and the cost will be around the £500 mark, including all food and accommodation in single rooms. More details here in the summer – but if you’re interested, drop me a line and I’ll put you on the waiting list to let you know more, nearer the time.

Questions? Email me on jo@jobell.org.uk. Thanks very much and hope to see you soon.