Friday 29 January 2016

Linton Kwesi Johnson & Hollie McNish

WoWfest 2016 proudly welcomes the return of the pioneer of Dub poetry, Linton Kwesi Johnson. Now an iconic figure within literature and reggae Music, LKJ exploded onto the scene with the powerful, angry Dread Beat and Blood, heavily influencing the punk and reggae movements of that era and political thinking in the decades to follow. For LKJ ‘Writing was a political act and poetry was a cultural weapon’; his rhythmic stories of Brixton life and the realities faced by young black people in a racist and oppressive Britain had an international resonance. In 2002 LJK became the second living poet and the first black poet to have his work included in Penguin’s Modern Classics series. In 2012 English PEN awarded him its prestigious Golden PEN Award for lifetime literary achievement, an accolade that raised a few high brows among the literary elite. During a career spanning 40 years LKJ has released 15 albums and has toured extensively as a poet and as a reggae artist with the acclaimed Dennis Bovell Band. His words are as relevant today as they were in ’78 because for many ‘Inglan’ is Still a Bitch’.

Linton Kwesi Johnson has radically changed the way poetry is perceived and many young poets wouldn't be around without him. In this unique event he is joined for the first time by rising star Holly McNish. The first poet to record at Abbey Road Studios, Holly won the UK Slam championship in 2013 and has published two acclaimed poetry collections, Mathematics, Nobody Told Me, and three poetry albums, Touch, Push Kick and Versus.

Holly has some high profile fans including Kate Tempest, Tim Minchin and Benjamin Zephaniah, who 'can’t take his ears off her'. A night not to be missed!


Date: 7th May 2016
Time: 8pm (Doors open at 7pm)
Venue: Black-E (1 Great George St, Liverpool L1 5EW)
Ticket Price: £10/8 BUY YOUR TICKETS HERE

Check out our Festival Website for more updates and tickets 

Tuesday 26 January 2016

From Watchmen to Kingsman: An Evening with Dave Gibbons


Writing on the Wall welcome Dave Gibbons, the UK’s first Comics Laureate to WoWFest 2016. Best known for his work with Alan Moore in creating the legendary Watchmen graphic novels - one of the biggest-selling graphic novels of all time, Dave heads up WoW’s 2016 exploration of all things sci-fi. Regarded as one of the world’s most talented comic artists, Dave Gibbons’ numerous creations include the characters American Belle, Green Man, Rorsach and Nite Owl. He has contributed to many iconic comics and graphic novels including Doctor Who, 2000AD, Batman, Green Lantern, and his own graphic novel, The Originals, featuring hover-scooter riding Mods and Rockers. His most recent collaborations are graphic novel Kingsman: The Secret Service, now a major feature film starring Samuel L. Jackson, and Masks, with Gillian Flynn, author of the global bestseller Gone Girl. Described by Author Lev Grossman as ‘a genius’ in Time magazine, and as ‘one of the major comic book artists of the 21st century, or the 20th, or really any other century you care to name’, Dave will be talking about his career to date, his inspirations, and how to practically develop creative ideas and bring them to life on the page.

Date: 5th May 2016
Time: 7pm
Venue: The Bluecoat 
Ticket Price: £8/5


Tuesday 5 January 2016

Black Poppies Exhibition


On 19th December, Writing on the Wall unveiled the Black Poppies exhibition in Liverpool Central Library. The poppies were hand crafted by members of the community and curated by artist, Faith Bebbington. The Black Poppy sculpture is designed to raise awareness of the events of 1919 and the historic experience of Liverpool’s black community and to highlight the sacrifices made by Black families during the First World War and the period that followed. 

Thank you to Levi Tafari, Faith Bebbington and Anna Rothery for all their help on the day and support of the Great War to Race Riots project. Remember the archive is available to look at online here

 

Get down to the Liverpool Central Library to see the exhibition and learn about the history From Great War to Race Riots. (Archive on 3rd floor).