Lanzarote Poetry Festival 2023 VERSOS, VOLCANOES Y VIENTO (Spanish edition)

Encontramos un lugar para sentarnos y escuchar mientras los veinte poetas invitados leían cada uno un poema, con el tema del título del festival Versos, Volcanes y Vientos. A lo largo del concierto fui dudando cada vez más de mis derechos para estar en esta compañía. Comencé a preocuparme de que el poema que había seleccionado podría no ser tan apropiado como podría haber esperado. Escuché palabras que no podía entender ya que los poemas en español estaban todos bellamente leídos. Cada lector produjo un ritmo suave y una cadencia cuidadosa y entregó su trabajo con el respeto que merecía. No parecía nada salvaje aquí, (¿cómo podría haber allí en el paraíso?) pero, sin embargo, se hizo referencia al cambio climático y las necesidades sociales.

Lanzarote Poetry Festival 2023: VERSOS, VOLCANOES Y VIENTO

The first thing that struck me, (if we don´t count that lightning a few years ago) was the politeness, the courtesy and the attentiveness of the people around the square. It was typical of Canarian good manners, with audience members properly listening, and my fellow poets also paying me the courtesy of listening to the words. That is a long way from the sound of pints being served and slurped,  tills clanging, and the barmaid shouting ´time gentlemen, please´ just before I was due to read, all of which was part of soundtrack to many readings in  England.

PORTSMOUTH CHORAL UNION & THE RENNAISANCE CHOIR

The recording of the Rachmaninov Vespers by Alexander Sveshnikov and the State Academic Russian Choir, from 1965, is described as ‘bone-chilling’ by one reviewer.

THE RENAISSANCE CHOIR IS SET TO TOUR

The Renaissance Choir members are already busy filling their diaries for 2023.  They have designed an exciting programme for the year ahead, including a tour to Wells Cathedral, Bridgwater and Glastonbury in May.

INTRODUCING ARTISTS: highly recommended

Among the half dozen artists mentioned here, recommended by Sidetracks And Detours, or The Lanzarote Art Gallery Arts Space, or by The Adsubian Gallery there might well some of whom you are already aware. However, ´finding´ a new artist is always a lovely feeling, and to find two or three at once is a pure delight, and if by any chance you have learned of six new-to-you artists today, then as Satchmo said to himself,…. ´what a wonderful world !¨  
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DOING THE SPACEWALK as astronauts land on Lanzarote

Whether or not you view Man´s exploration of Space as Enterprise (a great name for star-ship !) or encroachment (which might be just as appropriate a name) the NASA trainees are acclimatising here on Lanzarote.  So we might here some strange sounds form our lunar-lookalike lava fields. Those sounds might be of a Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band member howling at the moon, or of an urban spaceman calling occupants of inter-planetary, most extraordinary craft.

2023 TEASERS

The Jazz Defenders put a modern soul spin on the classic hard bop style, brining that 20th century sophistication and excitement o the 21st century stage…

MUSIC OF THE ELEMENTS

John Fenton, writing for Jazz Local, described Wax / Wane as ´music defying the mundane, an invitation to a better place where gravity is abandoned´.  
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… SINGING TWO SONGS FOR US,  WE HAVE…

In his 1934 publication, JB Priestly described his journey between Bolton and Manchester as; “the ugliness is so complete that it is almost exhilarating. It challenges you to live there." These days people from Bolton don’t have rickets but they do have funny bones. Check out Peter Kay (Phoenix Nights  and Car Share): Diane Morgan (Cunk) Paddy Mc Guinness (Top Gear), Sophie Willan (Alma’s Not Normal), Sarah Cox (Radio Two DJ), Vernon Kay (TV host). Perhaps its in the waters?I’m married (45 years and counting), with two sons and two beautiful grand-daughters.

JAZZ FOUND NOT GUILTY

JAZZ FOUND NOT GUILTY Norman Warwick hears evidence from Geoffrey Himes Geoffrey Himes has written about pop music on a weekly basis in the Washington Post since 1977, and has been a contributing editor to No Depression magazine…