Yes We Cant was back after a summer break. It marks my final booking this side of National Poetry Day – I guess I have to get proactive. I have never gone in search of gigs before, but after 4 years I may have to.
There were new t-shirts, bags of cooking apples, bottles of Rhubarb and Custard cider and lots of poems!
It was a brilliant night and worth every minute of motorway nightmare (roadworks). The night was MCed by Steve Pottinger & Dave Pitt, there were lots of open mic and a good mix of poets, one first timer who nervously took to the stage. She was fab and also won the Poetry Competition.
Yes We Cant is always a fantastic night. It takes place upstairs at The Pretty Bricks Pub in a room which is always hot with energy & words.
PPP – Steve Pottinger, Dave Pitt and Emma Purshouse (reading the winning poem).
The exceptional performers on the Open Mic.
Yes We Cant always have a Headliner and a Half-ender. I was delighted when Emma asked me to be the September Half-ender and it also guaranteed I used my return ticket from Australia. I did a set from Fragile Houses, a couple of new ones (including one I wrote during Aaron Lee’s Workshop in Perth) and an old, old one.
It was lovely to chat to people in the interval and I think the mix of poems I chose from humorous to heart-tugging went down well.
Rob Barratt finished the night with an incredible set. He was entertaining and even got the room singing a selection of popular songs, no easy feat… but of course Walsall was up for it! I love watching performers I have not have the pleasure of meeting before and this was no exception.
I now have Rob’s book to re-read the poems he performed at a powerful pace, at leisure and he really hit the nail on the head with his poem about Education and ‘Distressed’.
Here’s an interview with Dave & Rob.
Rob Barratt who was a bag of awesome wrapped in a bow of wonder. – Dave Pitt
I also received received a PPP lotto ticket and won! £1.00 – but as Emma pointed out I could buy another ticket!
Walsall, you were wonderful – thanks for having me!
And just to put the scratchcards in context… here’s the 1st Birthday Party clip!
awritersfountain 