THE KATES HILL PRESS, DUDLEY,
ENGLAND
PREVIOUS NEWS STORIES 2005
Previous items from The Kates Hill Press news page are listed below, most recent first.
26/12/05: NEW
BILLY SPAKEMON BOOK ON THE WAY
While the rest of us were maunchin turkey Billy Spakemon was busy emailing The Kates
Hill Press with material for his new book Cor Yow Shurrup a Minit Billy.
The book will have stories, sketches from various stage character as well as
poems and illustrations.
17/12/05: NEW
PROJECTS IN ABUNDANCE
As well as organising and performing in tonight's show, Greg Stokes was busy
discussing next years projects for the Kates Hill Press. There may be a
collection of Brendan Hawthorne poems, there will be a new Black Country
Classic, the poems of John Cornfield (reviewed by Paul McDonald in the Autumn
2005 Blackcountryman), there will be a new collection of poems and other
material from Billy Spakemon, there will be a collection of Sue Hulse's
work. Further to this, Friday evening saw receipt of an email from
Pauline in the south of England who may be putting a new Pocketful of Memories
title our way, this one set in Birmingham - there has to be an element of
secrecy on this one, but hopefully, more about it in the new year. Add to
this the Carol Hathorne title Five Minutes Love set for summer, and the Steve
Grey title The Kingston Agenda set for winter, then 2006 promises to be quite a
year for The Kates Hill Press.
17/12/05: CANT
& CAG XMAS SPECIAL - ABSOLUTE STONKER!
A crowd of over 70 rammed into the Lamp tonight for the Cant & Cag Xmas special.
Billy bost the night off and set the high standard that was to grace the stage
throughout. Paul McDonald followed with a piece from Surviving
Sting. Paul performs his work rather than just read, and this was again
ace. Another of the originals, Brendan Hawthorne, gave yet another
incredible performance capped by a letter to aunt about naff Xmas
presents. Sue Hulse started with a tale from her night nurse days then
continued on the Xmas theme with a guy, doing well, buying the solitary prezzie
at Merry Hill, and her version of the 12 days of Christmas. Greg Stokes
followed with the recently completed Doctor, bringing the house down when
Daleks met Dudley. Beechwood split their set around the break to sate the
audience's need for mince pies. They finished with a singalong version of
the Slade Xmas classic. Top stuff, and more from them in the new year to
showcase their new album.
BBC Midlands Today pulled out of filming the Reduced Nativity at the 11th
hour. That just left the audience to take in Billy's narration and Greg's
plethora of characters weaving the tale of how Jesus got his name in our own
BC. The brilliant Uncle Des rounded off the night with an incredible
monologue about his war years.
It has been an incredible year, and this was the most incredible show to
date. Many more to come in the new year. Don't miss out.
Visit the RoosterKateSpake site for details. www.roosterkatespake.co.uk
14/12/05:
ROOSTERKATESPAKE TROUPE PLAY SHARESHILL
Billy Spakemon led a troupe of RoosterKateSpake performers in a charity show at
Brookfield Social Club, Shareshill tonight. Billy spakemon, Greg Stokes,
Sue Hulse, Lin McCloud, Ken Perry and Keith Whitehouse all contributed.
09/12/05: MY MATE
STAN - NOW AVAILABLE!
John Summerton's history of Birmingham City's St Andrews ground - 100 years old
in 2006 is available a full 6 weeks before its launch thanks to absolutely
sterling work by the Print Services Unit at Wolverhampton University. (They
have also turned around an order for Irene Davies' Pocketful of Memories Rowley
in a day!) John Summerton's book weaves a personal odyssey as a Bluenose with a
history of the stadium. An absolute must for all Blues fans. Visit the Social
History Page for more details.
Publication Details
My Mate Stan
John Summerton
A5 booklet; 48 pages (5 photographs)
£3.00 (plus 50p p&p in uk) ISBN 1 904552 10 2
09/12/05: From the In
the Pipeline page:
POCKETFUL OF MEMORIES
Tossie Patrick's booklet A Pocketful of Memories--Blackheath was always meant
to be the first in a series. It is hoped that many areas of the west midlands
will have their own pocketful of memories booklets as time goes on. The format
is text complemented by a few. drawings or photographs rather than a shed load of
photographs with a sentence under each.
The second in the series will cover Rowley Regis and is to be based on excerpts
from the longer manuscript, "Milestones of Memory" by Irene Davies
(nee Hadley). Publication some time in 2004.
Anyone with written reminiscences of their area is invited to send them to us
at 126 Watsons Green Road , Dudley, DY2 7LG, for consideration
Update: work has now commenced on A Pocketful of Memories Rowley, and it
should be ready by April 2005.
Further update: Work on this project has been severely hampered by the
enormous success of Creative Cooperations and the Alternative Black country
Night Out. But at last it's nearly ready to roll. Greg Stokes has
finally tracked down his old colleague Andy Knight from his days at Harvest
Lodge Children's Centre. It was Andy who gave him the manuscript.
Irene is alive and well. Greg and Andy are to meet her on 27/09/05.
Irene has some pics which could well be included, and she has expanded the
chapter on Christmas. This book will be available in October.
Having met with Irene, the redrafts are even more extensive than at first
thought. October's probably a bit optimistic but as soon as possible
thereafter, this book will be available.
"Once,
houses, cottages, villas, all nesting cheek by jowl with one another in
disorderly array and reaching out from the Church down the hill to
the Sir Robert Peel pub was officially Rowley Village"
A Pocketful of Memories Rowley Regis.
TEENAGE KICKS SO HARD
TO BEAT
A project from local musician Gary O'Dea is in the works, hopefully to be
completed next summer. The work will be published by the Kates Hill Press
in an A4 comb bound format.
In his own words:-
This book looks at the crucial role that the Coneygre Youth Club – Tipton, played in the
development of a thriving underground music scene based in the ‘Black Country’ area of the West Midlands -
England, during a period spanning from the mid 1970s until the early 1980s.
The youth club had other areas of success. It had a decent sporting history as
well. It had excellent facilities and produced a very successful amateur
football team from around the same period (as well as a netball side - not
forgetting the girls). But, its value as a place that nurtured the development
of a creative / thriving music based culture has been drastically overlooked
and undervalued. It drew kids in from areas across the Black Country and as
this book will show, it sowed the seeds that saw the development of many fine
local musicians and bands (and even the odd soul music DJ).
It soaked up the
musical genres of Soul, Reggae, Punk Rock, New-Wave, and then the re-birth (or
new birth) of the Mod and Ska music scenes around 1979. Many local musicians
and bands came out of the rehearsal cellar there, to play the main room at the
centre upstairs, and then go on to local, in some cases national, and for a few
– international success (The Circles, Mighty Lemon Drops etc, to
name a couple).
We shall meet a lot of the ‘faces’ from this particular music scenes
memory lane as we go through the book. This will also highlight how the word of
what was happening at the Coneygre spread far beyond the confines of Tipton.
The book features comments from recent interviews with people involved in the
local music scene from this period, and also from a few of the Youth Club
leaders who worked there at this time. They oversaw something that started with
(and from) an initial chaotic enthusiasm and noise. This then transpired into
something that became very positive, creative, and a whole lot of fun.
If this were some ‘sociological
study’ I was doing, then my strand
of research for it would fall into the ‘Participant Observation’ category. But, seeing as it’s well over twenty years since
the particular period that I’m looking
back at happened, well I suppose it would be better defined as ‘Retro Participant Observation’ – or shall we just stick with
the fact that (to very appropriately quote a line from a song by The Circles)
‘We’re just looking back at good
times, what’s wrong with that c’mon it ain’t no crime.’ (Looking Back - The Circles –
Detour Records 2000).
Update: due to his commitments running the Alternative Black Country Night
Out Gary's work on this project has stopped.
Due to this, and other considerations, this project is shelved until
further notice.
MY MATE STAN
John Summerton has written a history of St Andrews, home of his beloved
Birmingham City. In an incredibly witty book Summerton weaves a personal
odyssey of his life as a Bluesnose with a history of the club and the
ground. The booklet will be about 50 pages, with some pics, and be
published in January 2006 to coincide with the stadium's centenary.
05/12/05: SHED
WINS TURNER PRIZE!
Yes folks, The Grant got it spot on. A shed had won the Turner Prize. Is
Greg Stokes gonna speak to his attorney? No, but he's gonna be sending
copies of the CD to as many journos as possible.
01/12/05: STEVE
GREY PROJECT
Walsall based author Steve Grey delivered the weighty tome of his second novel
the Kingstown Agenda to the Kates Hill Press tonight. After reading, it
will be considered for publication late next year.
29/11/05: MY
MATE STAN - UPDATE
The Camera Ready Copy has been sent to the printers so we are well on track for
John Summerton's history of St Andrews, My Mate Stan, to be available in the
new year.
25/11/05:
SECOND CANT & CAG NIGHT - MOST VARIED SHOW YET
The second night of Black Country Cant & Cag offered the most varied menu
to date, including all the ABCNO shows. The evening bost off with Billy
Spakemon in fine form. Next was Carol Midwood's full debut reading some
of her Edna and Arthur poems and thereby launching her CD of that
material. Steve Grey came on next to read from the book he co-authored
with MD Sandon "From Somewhere Out of Here" about modernism in
Birmingham and the Black Country bringing to life that youth sub culture. Ken
Perry followed, Ken's material is more traditional in nature and wouldn't be
out of place in the original Black Country Night Out - the crowd loved
it. Greg Stokes closed the half with the first part of The Grant to
launch that CD. Billy and Greg opened the second half with two of Billy's
new characters, The Two Babbies, then short sets in the second half from Billy,
Carol, Steve, Ken - apart from the West Life song he slipped in, tish tish, not
what these nights are about - and Greg completing the Grant to pave the way for
the ABs from Walsall whose ribald set went down a storm.
25/11/05: EDNA
& ARTHUR CD AVAILABLE
Carol Midwood's CD of her Edna & Arthur poems is now available. All
fifteen poems from the book are included. The CD costs £3.00 (plus 50p
p&p)
10/11/05: GREG STOKES
AT ARTS COUNCIL
Greg Stokes gave a 40 minute presentation on publishing and live literature in
Dudley at the Key Reader and Writer Development Activists Meeting at the Arts
Council England, West Midlands Office in Birmingham today. Greg was
invited to read the window cleaners in New York scene from Pack of Saftness,
and did so to a great reception.
08/11/05:
ROOSTERKATESPAKE WEBSITE LIVE
the RoosterKateSpake website is now live. Visit www.roosterkatespake.co.uk
04/11/05: MORE
AUDIO BOOKS PLANNED
At the RoosterKateSpake meeting tonight the co-op
undertook to produce a range of audio books by Kates Hill Press authors and
Cant & Cag performers. Carol Midwood is rerecording her Edna and
Arthur poems for the second CD. It is hoped Ken Perry and Keith
Whitehouse will record in the near future too. Add to that Billy's CD,
and the live "best of" from the Cant & Cag nights, and quite a
collection will develop in the coming months.
03/11/05: From the
events page:
Tickets for Alternative Black Country Nights Out can be obtained by contacting Greg Stokes on 01384 255973 Line ups can be found on Creative Co-operations own web site www.creativecooperations.co.uk
Friday 14th October
2005 8.00pm Newhampton Inn, Wolverhampton
Alternative Black Country Night Out featuring music, poetry and literature.
Line up to be announced. Tickets £5.00
Friday 28th October
2005 8.00pm Lamp Tavern, Dudley
Alternative Black Country Night Out featuring music, poetry and
literature. Line up to be announced. Tickets £5.00
31/10/05:
POCKETFUL OF MEMORIES - ROWLEY NOW, COMPLETE
A Pocketful of Memories - Rowley (Milestones of Memory) is now complete.
Publication details are as follows:-
A Pocketful of Memories -Rowley (Milestones of Memory)
By Irene M Davies
A5 comb bound book; 152 pages (with photographs); £6.00 (plus 80p p&p)
ISBN 1 904552 07 2
29/10/05: BILLY ON
FILM AGAIN
The BBC were in town filming Billy Spakemon for more material for the proposed
quiz show. Loz Hipkiss and his son Chris got in on the act this time.
28/10/05: THE GRANT
CD NOW AVAILABLE
Greg Stokes first audio book, The Grant is now available. It costs £3.00
(plus 50p p&p) and contains The Grant and The Big Apple. Black
Country humour at its best, these are both Les and Sheila stories. A live
version of the second part of The Grant (recorded at The Lamp on 22/07/05)
completes the compilation.
28/10/05: FIRST CANT
AND CAG NIGHT - HUGE SUCCESS
A crowd of about 40 saw the first night of Black Country Cant and Cag at the
Lamp. Billy Spakemon bost off the night with a slightly later 8.15 start
and immediately set the high standard. Sue Hulse was sadly down with flu
so Greg Stokes read Grandma's Apparition and Carol Midwood stepped in to read a
few Edna and Arthur poems. Beechwood then took stage for the first music
slot, displaying great vocal talent with their own incredible songs.
Tipton poet Keith Whitehouse followed with a set of his excellent poems.
Greg Stokes closed the half with The Big Apple. Billy and Greg opened the
second half with On The Wall 3, Billy then did a few more poems. Keith
Whitehouse came back on with more of his work, some of which had been written
especially for the night. Pete Boddis provided the second music
slot. A writer of incredible country style songs which he delivers in a
gloriously rich voice, if this bloke hasn't earned a bob or two from his
compositions somewhere down the track then I'd be most surprised. They
certainly warrant it. Billy closed the night with a poem about remembrance.
Another incredible display of Black Country talent at the Lamp - more to come
in November.
26/10/05: THE
GRANT RECORDED
The Grant was recorded at Roosters Studio this morning. The CD will have
The Grant, The Big Apple, and The Grant (live, recorded at the Lamp Tavern
22/07/05) on it. In a fruitful morning the photographs for the CD were
done after a photo shoot for Billy, Laurence and Greg for the Evening Mail at
Merry Hill.
25/10/05: POCKETFUL
OF MEMORIES - ROWLEY. NEARLY THERE!
Typesetting the above title was completed this evening. Just the pictures
to incorporate and we are ready to roll.
25/10/05: SECOND
CO-OP MEETING
The second meeting of the RoosterKateSpake co-operative was held this afternoon
to finalise plans for Friday's inaugural Night of Black Country Cant and
Cag. Also discussed was the production of audio books with the Kates Hill
Press in partnership with Roosters Studio, and the co-operative in partnership
with Roosters Studio.
18/10/05: BILLY AND
DES FILMED BY BBC
Billy Spakemon and Des Stokes were recorded by the BBC this afternoon for the
pilot episode of a quiz show in which a celebrity panel have to guess where
people are from their dialect.
18/10/05: GREG STOKES
READS AT THE BARLOW
Greg Stokes stormed The Barlow this evening with a lively rendition of The
Grant.
17/10/05: GREG
STOKES CD ON WAY
Two years ago the Baggies played Newcastle in the Carling Cup and Greg Stokes'
family went up for the match, taking in the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art
in the morning. Never a fan of modern art Greg penned The Grant the
following month. In this story the lead character decides to build a
garden shed and stick it in an art gallery. This morning's announcement
of the Turner Prize short list saw a garden shed in with a shout. To show
that we in the Black Country thought of it first, Greg is to bring out a CD
recording of The Grant which he performed at the Lamp on 22nd July. The
big difference between us and the Turner Prize folks is of course that we know
that we are taking the piss!
16/10/05: NEW CO-OP
FORMED
Creative Co-operations is no more. The Alternative Black Country Night
Out is no more. In their place, and carrying the project of live spoken
word performance in down town Dudley forward is the new co-operative
RoosterKateSpake. The name derives from the Rooster of Laurence Hipkiss's
Roosters Studio (music), the Kate of Greg Stokes' Kates Hill Press
(storytelling), and the Spake of Brian Dakin's Billy Spakemon (poetry).
The new shows will be called A Night of Black Country Cant and Cag and the
first will take place on Friday 28th October at the Lamp Tavern in Dudley.
10/10/05: THE TIMES
THEY ARE A CHANGING
The successful Alternative Black Country Night Out is to change in
format. Gary O'Dea is to pursue music projects while Greg Stokes and
Brian Dakin will concentrate on the spoken word. The shows at the Lamp
will remain part of Dudley's cultural environment with more of an emphasis on
the poetry and literature. The name may change too. Watch this site for
details as they unfold.
09/10/05: THE
BIG APPLE ON PODCAST SHOW 16
Those who missed the end of The Big Apple at the ABCNO last week (and those who
have never heard it at all) can hear the story in its entirety on Black Country
Podcasting Show 16 http://www.blackcountrypodcasting.com
Greg Stokes went down to roosters Studio last week to record The Big Apple and
other stories for future podcast shows.
07/10/05: From the
events page:
Tuesday 13th
September 2005, 7.30 pm, Barlow Theatre, Langley
Poetry, song and performance at the regular monthly meeting.
Sunday 25th September
2005, 3.00 to 4.00 pm BBC Radio WM
Billy Spakemon on the Carl Chinn show with his neighbour and friend Mick
telling of his incredible journey from Italy to the Black Country.
Friday 30th September
2005 8.00pm Lamp Tavern, Dudley
Alternative Black Country Night Out featuring music from blues great Perry
Foster and Gojo Music, poetry from Billy Spakemon, and literature from Greg
Stokes and Anthony Cartwright. Also featuring a spot from "uncle
Des". Tickets £5.00
30/09/05: TENTH
ABCNO - A DEPARTURE?
In the July ABCNO, Alex Vann asked tentatively, midway through his set,
"is it ok if I do a cover?" This was testimony to the ethos of
the Alternative Black Country Night having taken root, the ethos that this is a
platform for local creative talent across the genres of music poetry and
literature. The tenth ABCNO saw a departure from this with Dudley
bluesman Perry Foster treating an enthralled and absolutely packed audience to
old blues favourites penned many thousands of miles from the BC, interspersed
with anecdotes in very much a local story telling style. Gary O'Dea's
touching piece on the night on the Gojo' Music website is testimony to the affection
in which Perry is held and how lucky we were to have him play for us. The piece
belies however all that preceded him on a truly memorable night for the 100
plus audience. Directly before Perry was "Uncle" Des Stokes.
This again was a departure. Des is neither poet, writer or musician, but
his set of old style toilet humour set very much in a bye-gone Black Country
was absolutely awesome. Had he been allowed, he'd still be there
now. Keen to get Perry on he was eventually ushered from the stage -
"I ay the fust 82 year old ter be took off stage this wik" was his
parthian shot as the crowd chanted uncle Des, uncle Des! What a pity
Laurence Hipkiss wasn't able to be there to record the show as had been hoped.
The night bost off with Billy Spakemon in sparkling form. He was joined
for his second piece by Greg Stokes in the Tew Ode Codgers sketch which
lamented the fact that things aint what they used to be. Next up was
Dudley author Anthony Cartwright reading from his brilliant debut novel The
Afterglow. Wednesbury poet Brendan Hawthorne followed with probably his
best set to date, including a poem penned that morning "Ring
Tone". Greg Stokes read The Big Apple, a tale about how New York got
its epithet. Gojo' Music closed the half with the Gojo' Music set.
Short sets in the second half from Billy - joined on stage by his brother Gary
on the drums - and Brendan. Anthony read more from The Afterglow, then
came the incredible uncle Des. Sadly, in the keenness to get Perry on Greg was
unable to complete The Big Apple. Perry came on to complete a fantastic
night in terms of performance, and memorable night for the paying
punters. A departure for the ABCNO, but probably the best so far.
27/09/05: POCKETFUL
OF MEMORIES - ROWLEY PROJECT TO PROCEED
Following a meeting with Irene Davies it has been agreed to proceed with the
Pocketful of /Memories - Rowley project. The book will be sub
titled Milestones of Memory, Irene's original title. She has many old
photographs, some of which will supplement the work, and has redrafted the book
since the M/S handed to Greg Stokes in the early 1990s. All this makes
October a bit ambitious. Suffice it to say, this book will be available
soon.
21/09/05: IRENE
DAVIES MEETING NEXT WEEK
Greg Stokes is to meet Irene Davies, author of A Pocketful of Memories - Rowley
next week. The comb bound book, which has been victim of many delays,
will be available in October.
16/09/05: CAROL
MIDWOOD CD
It was late June when Greg Stokes first visited Lozz Hipkiss's Roosters Studios
in the Rowley Hills. That same afternoon Lozz had recorded Carol Midwood
for his ipod radio show. She had read some Edna and Arthur poems. Lozz
had the M/S with him in the studio. Leafing through Greg thought how much
the poems lent themselves to publication in booklet form and just two months
later the book is available in print. It's a nice little tale on the
benefits of networking. Well, the collaboration is to continue, in a joint
project between the Kates Hill Press and Roosters Studios, a collection of
Carol's Edna and Arthur poems is to be brought out on CD. Watch this site
for details.
15/09/05:
CREATIVE COOPERATION WEB SITE NOW LIVE
Creative Cooperations web site is now up and running. Check it out. It
will be added to in the coming months with the facility to purchase tickets on
line hopefully coming soon. www.creativecooperations.co.uk
14/09/05: PERRY
FOSTER GIG SOLD OUT
The next Alternative Black Country Night Out featuring Blues legend and son of
Dudley, Perry Foster to take place on 30th September at the Lamp Tavern has
completely sold out.
12/09/05: EDNA AND
ARTHUR NOW AVAILABLE
Carol Midwood's booklet of poems about the composite characters Edna and Arthur
are now available. Carol and her husband John once kept the Old Mill, a
Holden's house in Upper Gornal. Edna and Arthur are based on the many
parts of their regulars. Join Arthur doing DIY and the housework,
accompany them on trips to Ikea, Spain and the Stourbridge Beer Festival.
Meet their pets, the cats and Gnasher the dog. Whatever they do, a trip
to the pub is never far away for Arthur, and Edna isn't averse to a tipple
herself. The booklet is complimented with illustrations by Karen Brockhouse.
Publication Details:-
Edna & Arthur
32 page, A5 booklet
ISBN 1 904552 08 0
£2.50 (40p p&p)
08/09/05: CAROL
HATHORNE PROJECT CONFIRMED
Carol Hathorne is a Black Country author with a long and national
pedigree. Her recollections of her childhood on Tipton's 'Lost City'
estate were published by the Black Country Society under the title "Slurry
and Strawberries". Carol has written two further volumes of
childhood recollections; "Bread Pudding Days", and "Woodbine
Lines on the Wall." After discussions with Greg Stokes, it has been
agreed that some time next summer The Kates Hill Press will publish the three
volumes in one comb bound book to be entitled "Five Minutes Love."
Details will appear on our In The Pipeline page as the project develops.
03/09/05: DUD
DUDLEY AND ABRAHAM DARBY - BLOOD RELATIVES
In February 2004 The Kates Hill Press was proud to publish Dud Dudley's
Mettallum Martis to launch our Black Country Classics series. Dud Dudley
was the illegitimate son of Lord Dudley by his concubine Elizabeth
Tomlinson. Dud Dudley had discovered the secret of smelting iron using
coal at a time timber stocks for charcoal were in decline. In his
lifetime he was to be thwarted by lawsuits, flood and riotous mob so Abraham
Darby was accorded by history to be the man who first smelted iron using coal
in 1709 some 100 years after Dud. Dud Dudley didn't record his secrets in
Mettallum Martis. He did however state that he'd leave them in the hands
of his nephew Edward Parkeshouse. History does not connect Dud Dudley and
Abraham Darby. However, Greg Stokes, in his introduction to Mettallum
Martis, left the door open on a possible connection writing "Abraham
Darby was born in Dudley, the son of John and Ann Darby. His father and
grandfather were locksmiths. Whether they knew Dud Dudley, or were aware
of his experiments can only be guessed." Greg did this because
he had long held a theory of a possible connection. Abraham Darby's uncle
Thomas, had married a Hannah Parker, and his sister had married an Anthony
Parker. Parker, Parkes, Parkeshouse, are all possible corruptions of the
same name when non standard spelling and dialect renditions are taken into
account. There was therefore a possible connection between Abraham Darby
and the family to whom Dud Dudley entrusted his secrets. The theory is
still intact as Greg has still to check the Quaker records of the relevant
period. Doing so has become an imperative as Carl Higgs, in researching
his family tree has discovered that Abraham Darby's grandmother, Margaret is
none other than the sister of Edward Parkeshouse to whom Dud Dudley would leave
his secrets. Check out Sedgley Local History Society web site for more
details, www.sedgleylocalhistory.org.uk
and the Black Country Society web site for Carl Higgs' full
article. http://www.blackcountrysociety/articles/duddudley.htm
01/09/05: EDNA
AND ARTHUR DRAFT COMPLETED
The first draft copy of Edna and Arthur has been run off and sent to Carol
Midwood for checking. The 32 page booklet contains 15 of her Edna and Arthur
poems supplemented with 7 illustrations by Karen Brockhouse. The booklet
will be available in a few weeks time, and on sale at the next Alternative
Black Country Night Out on 30th September. The booklet will cost
£2.50
23/08/05: From the
events page:
Friday 5th August
2005 8.00pm Newhampton Inn, Wolverhampton
Alternative Black Country Night Out featuring music, poetry and
literature. Music; Dan Bradley, Alex Vann; Poetry; Billy Spakemon,
Brendan Hawthorne; Literature; Jeff Phelps, Greg Stokes. Tickets £5.00
Sunday 14th August
2005 3.00pm
Billy Spakemon on BBC WM with Carl Chinn as part of Voices Project.
Tuesday 16th August
2005 7.30 pm (ish)
Billy Spakemon with Daz Hale on BBC WM at the Hawthorns pub opposite the Albion
Ground, to read the Graiyte Eskaiype.
Friday 19th August
2005 8.00pm Lamp Tavern, Dudley
Alternative Black Country Night Out featuring music, poetry and
literature. Music; Paul Murphy, Alex Vann; Poetry; Sue Hulse, Billy
Spakemon; Leterature: Paul McDonald, Steve Grey. Tickets £5.00
23/08/05: EDNA
AND ARTHUR TITLE CONFIRMED
The Kates Hill Press are to publish a collection of Carol Midwood's Edna and
Arthur poems two of which are on Story of the Week. Carol can be heard on
Black Country podcasting shows 4 and 7 reading some of these poems. It is
hoped the collection will be available in a couple of months time. See
this site for details.
22/08/05: THE
BBC VOICES PROJECT
Check out the BBC Black Country website for links to the voices project
recorded by Greg Stokes, Billy Spakemon, Gary O'Dea and Brendan
Hawthorne.
21/08/05:
PUBLICITY
Billy Spakemon has certainly been doing his bit these past few weeks with two
appearances on BBC radio WM as well as a mention in the Times Supplement on
Saturday 13/08/05. He has also appeared on several of the Black Country
podcasting shows out of Laurence Hipkiss's Roosters Studio. Greg Stokes
also features on show 8 reading Much of a Muchness. Billy is recording
poems for a CD collection to follow on from his recently released Graiyte
Eskairpe collection. Prospective Kates Hill Press author Carol Midwood reads on
show 7.
21/08/05:
CREATIVE CO-OPERATIONS WEB SITE ON THE WAY
Creative Cooperations have purchased the domain creativecooperations.co.uk and
their web site will soon be on line. See this site for details.
19/08/05: THREE
MORE DEBUTS AT THE LAMP
There were debuts at tonight's Alternative Black Country Night Out for Walsall
author Steve Grey, poet Sue Hulse, and veteran musician Paul Murphy. All
three gave storming performances in what was yet another memorable night.
Next up, the Perry Foster gig on 30th September. Absolutely NOT to be
missed. Get your tickets while there are still some left!
05/08/05:
STORMING SECOND WOLVES GIG
It was a small holiday season audience at the Newhampton in Riches St
Wolverhampton tonight, but they were treated to top class entertainment from
the Alternative Black Country Night Out crew. Gojo Music had a night off
but Gary O'Dea showed his great skills as a raconteur as he compered the
show. Billy Spakemon bosted off, donning a bright pink pully and skirt in
his set he is rapidly becoming known as Billy Spake Ooman. Jeff Phelps
followed with more of his punchy poems and an excerpt from Painter Man - his
debut novel which is receiving great acclaim. Brendan Hawthorne followed
with a set displaying the great range of his expressive powers. Greg
Stokes came on to read a story of a character from his childhood Dennis (the
Menace). The act included a bit of unplanned glass juggling which brought
the house down. No, we are not going to try it again. Dan Bradley
the singer songwriter, guitarist, cellist completed the first half ending in
his incredible version of Mr Blue Sky. The second half saw more
brilliance from Billy Spake Mon and Jeff Phelps. Brendan Hawthorne's set
was as wide ranging as the first half and included a powerful poem about the
education system's treatment of teachers. There was a lot of synchronicity
about the night with all the performers and Gary independently harking back to
childhood in their chosen pieces. Brendan took this further with a
reference to a garden shed in one of his poems, the shed having been a motif of
the last Lamp gig - spooky eh! Greg has a downer on bosses at the moment
and read Shafted, the boss in this tale being a total plonker. Alex Vann,
launching his new CD Riches Street, closed the night with a great set of songs
from the album. For reasons best known to himself he was in pleats when
singing return to New Street - maybe he should get off at Dudley Port if it has
that effect. Dan Bradley (cello) and Gary O'Dea (harmonica) joined him
for the last number - tremendous stuff!
31/07/05: From the
events page:
Wednesday 13th July
2005 8.00pm
Charity Night at the Village Hotel, Dudley to raise funds for Breast Cancer
Care and Sandwell Breast Clinic. Hosted by Carl Chinn and featuring Billy
Spakemon, Gojo Music, Greg Stokes. Admission by invitation. Get
your invitation by contacting Brian Dakin on 0121 552 4201
Friday 22nd July 2005
8.00pm Lamp Tavern, Dudley
Alternative Black Country Night Out featuring music from Gojo Music and Alex
Vann, poetry from Billy Spakemon and Laurence Inman, and literature from
Jeff Phelps and Greg Stokes. Tickets £5.00
31/07/05: BILLY
ON THE WIRELESS
Billy Spakemon has a number of appearances on the wireless coming up. On
14th August at 3.00pm he is with Carl Chinn on BBC WM as part of the Voices
Project. On 19th August he is on BBC WM again with Daz Hale at the
Hawthorns pub in West Bromwich where he will read The Graiyte Eskaiype.
Billy will be back with Carl Chinn some time in September - date to be
announced - with his neighbour Micky who moved to the Black Country from Italy
many years ago. It's an incredible story.
30/07/05:
JOHANNE SAVOIE DIARY ON BBC SITE
Johanne Savoie's diary recollections of her visit to the Alternative Black
country Night Out are featured on the BBC Black Country web site. www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry
26/07/05: TRIBUTE TO
ABCNO FROM VANCOUVER
French Canadian performer Johanne Savoie who trekked all the way from Vancouver
last Friday to see the Alternative Black Country Night Out has recorded her
thought on her visit on her web site www.gojotv.com
and very warm thoughts they are too!
22/07/05:
SUMMER STUNNER AT THE LAMP
A crowd of about 50 attended the latest Alternative Black Country Night Out at
the Lamp tonight. Billy Spakemon bosted off after announcing that last
Wednesday's charity bash at the Village raised just under £3,000. Billy's
fust set set the standard for the night with a rousing mix of poems and
song. Jeff Phelps, author of Painter Man made his debut with a mix of
haikus, poems and an excerpt from Painter Man. Brummie Laurence Inman
followed with an incredibly funny meld of stand up comedy and poetry.
Greg Stokes came on trying something new, reading The Grant, a long unpublished
story about modern art, in two parts. The tremendous Alex Vann making his
Lamp debut closed the half. The second half opened with Billy and Greg
doing the second episode of On The Wall with Billy as Billy (and sometimes Paul
- you had to be there!) Then more excellence from a solo Billy including
a poignant piece about the current spate of bombings. Jeff and Laurence
continued with their mixes of poetry and reading, and stand up and poetry
respectively, paving the way for Greg to do the concluding part of The
Grant. This involved a rendition of the Garden Shed Song - fair
play and thanks to the audience for their spirited accompaniment. Gojo
Music closed the night with Ollie at his silver fingered best and Gary O'Dea
belting out a timely rendition of his tribute to Abdul Haque not heard for a
few gigs but Gaz, this one needs shouting from the rooftops. There was a
feeling among performers and audience alike that this was the best Alternative
Black Country Night Out yet. In terms of standard it raised the
bar. Tommy, the gaffer of the Lamp, said afterwards, "if they raise
the bar any higher, we'll a' to issue folk wi step ladders ter get the beer!"
22/07/05: ST
ANDREWS HISTORY CONFIRMED
Greg Stokes met with John Summerton before tonight's ABCNO to discuss the
publication of My Mate Stan - John's book mixing a personal journey through
life as a Bluenose with a history of St Andrews. It is planned to have
this work ready for early next year to coincide with the ground's
centenary. See this website for updates.
22/07/05: GREG
STOKES MEETS WITH CAROL MIDWOOD
Greg Stokes met with Carol Midwood before tonight's ABCNO to discuss her series
of poems about her created characters Edna and Arthur. She will be
emailing them in the coming weeks with a view to future publication. See
this website for updates.
22/07/05: BILLY
SPAKEMON CD NOW AVAILABLE
Billy Spakemon's CD the Graiyte Escairpe about the Baggies' recent premiership
survival heroics is now on sale. It is available from the Kates Hill
Press, £3.00 cheques payable to The Kates Hill Press, add 70p p&p.
14/07/05: FURTHER
RECORDINGS AT ROOSTERS
This morning Greg Stokes visited Laurence Hipkiss's Roosters Studio to record
Shafted, Much of a Muchness and Christmas Card To Lev.
13/07/05:
THINGS COME ALIVE - DOWN ON CASTLEGATE DRIVE
Billy Spakemon's charity bash for Breast Cancer Care went a storm at the
Village Hotel on Dudley's Castlegate Drive tonight. Top Brummie
Carl Chinn on top form hosted the show. Billy bosted off with his poem
"yowse is bigga than marsun," followed by the song "Tummy
Marra" about the dignity of fighting on through adversity. Greg
Stokes followed reading the Dudley window cleaners in New York scene from A
Pack of Saftness. Billy and Greg then joined forces to perform "On
the Wall", the observations of two lads on a wall. Billy's second
set continued with a song "John Lennon Sings" and a moving
allegorical poem "Billy Cansa" pointing to the pain cancer brings and
the inspiration engendered by fighting it that over rides that pain. The
scheduled live entertainment concluded with a storming set from a fower mon
Gojo Music, with Gary, Garry and Tone joined by, I believe, Ecka. Gojo
were described by Billy as "local heroes" but renamed as such by Carl
Chinn. The Mayor of Sandwell, the worshipful Bill Archer, proposed a
toast and then gave an incredible impromptu a cappella rendition of "If I
Were a Rich Man". This brought the house down. Carl and Billy
then drew a marathon raffle in which Cyrille Regis's autograph was
auctioned. The final count isn't in yet but the event raised over £3000.
It was one of those you had to be there nights. The real local hero when
all is said and done is Sue Dakin, who had been through so much in the last ten
years fighting breast cancer but who has done so much to live life to the full
and in so doing is an inspiration to us all.
08/07/05: From the
events page:
Friday 17th June 2005
8.00pm Lamp Tavern, Dudley
Alternative Black Country Night Out featuring music by Gojo Music and Jane
Powell, poetry from John Stevenson and Billy Spakemon, and literature from Joel
Lane and Paul McDonald. Tickets £5.00
05/07/05: GREG
STOKES RECORDED FOR SHOW THREE
Greg Stokes visited Roosters Studios this morning to record a piece about the
Kates Hill Press for the third Black Country Podcasting show, this included a
reading from A pack of Saftness. He also recorded 'On The Wall' with
Billy Spakemon, a piece Billy has written that they will perform together at
the charity gig at The Village next week. Possible future projects were
discussed including a collection of Greg's short stories on CD and an audio
version of Pack Of Saftness.
05/07/05: BILLY
SPAKEMON ON BLACK COUNTRY PODCAST
Billy Spakemon features on the second show put out by Laurence Hipkiss'
podcasting venture.
www.blackcountrypodcasting.com
29/06/05: BLACK
COUNTRY PODCASTING
Up in the Rowley Hills Laurence Hipkiss is forging out a Black Country voice in
the revolutionary world of podcasting. Basically, Laurence is putting out
an half hour radio show every week featuring only local talent from singer -
songwriters to poets and authors. The shows are downloaded from the
internet to your PC or ipod/MP3, hence podcasting. It is a major
departure from standard radio broadcasting over the airwaves and given the way
we lead our lives today, very much the future.. Laurence is in at the
beginning and passionate about giving the artistic output of the Black Country
a voice. Tonight Greg Stokes, Billy Spakemon and Gary O'Dea met with
Laurence at his Roosters Studio in the Rowley Hills to discuss ways of
mutual support between Black Country Podcasting, Creative Co-operations and The
Kates Hill Press.
17/06/05: YET
ANOTHER BOSTIN NIGHT AT THE LAMP
A crowd in excess of 70 saw the latest Alternative Black Country Night Out at
the Lamp tonight. Greg Stokes compered - minus the velvet jacket, it was
too hot! Billy Spakemon bosted off with a masterful set of poems and
song. Paul McDonald, who seems to get better every time read from
Surviving Sting. Next up was debutant Stourbridge poet John Stevenson
whose quirky short verses had the audience roaring. Also making his
debut was Joel Lane with a pacey reading from From Blue to Black. In a
break from custom, Gojo Music closed the first half with another tasty
performance. There was method in this, they knew what was coming.
The second half saw Billy bring the house down with his piece The Great Escape
about the Baggies' recent heroics. This was recorded and will be
available soon on CD. Joel was up next with a piece from his recent
anthology. John treated the punters to more of his snappy poems and Paul
delivered the torture scene from Kiss Me Softly Amy Turtle -it meks ya loff and
it meks ya wince. All this paved the way for the fantastic Jayne
Powell. To those who missed it, this was awesome. Don't miss her
next time!
10/06/05: From the events page:
Friday 3rd June 2005,
8.00 pm Newhampton Inn, Riches St, Wolverhampton
Alternative Black Country Night Out featuring music from Gojo Music and Alex
Vann, poetry from Billy Spakemon and Ian Henery, and literature from Anthony
Cartwright and Paul McDonald. Tickets £5.00
Tuesday 7th June
2005, 7.30pm
Comic Fiction Reading at the CDT Centre, Moseley Birmingham, featuring Polly
Wright, Laurence Inman, Paul McDonald and Greg Stokes. Tickets £5.00 at
the centre.
10/06/05: BLUES
LEGEND TO PLAY THE LAMP
Perry Foster the Dudley Bluesman who has rubbed shoulders with the likes of
Sonny Boy Williamson and The Reverend Gary Davis will top the Alternative Black
Country Night Out
bill on Friday 30th September at the Lamp Tavern. It'll be a solid Dudley
night with Anthony Cartwright and Greg Stokes on the same bill together with
the incredibly funny Uncle Des.
Talking of incredibly funny, Laurence Inman is to make his ABCNO debut at the
Lamp on 22nd July.
07/06/05: ST
ANDREWS HISTORY IN THE PIPELINE?
Tonight Greg Stokes met with John Summerton, a lifelong Bluenose (Birmingham
City supporter to those outside the west midlands football fraternity.)
John is working on a history of Birmingham's ground St Andrews which celebrates
its centenary next year. The work is both autobiographical and historical
and includes many humorous anecdotes. The Kates Hill Press is considering
this work for publication.
07/06/05: GREG
STOKES IN BRUM
Greg Stokes opened the batting in the comedy reading event at the CDT centre in
Moseley Village tonight. He read the Dudley window cleaners in Manhattan
scene from A Pack of Saftness which received a great audience response.
Paul McDonald followed with a selection from Kiss Me Softly Amy Turtle.
There was then a group discussion about the nature of comedy writing - it was
in Moseley - leading up to the break. Polly Wright opened the second half
with a piece based on a holiday experience. Duncan, the mystery
unpublished writer read a story set in a London pub- won't say anymore so as
not to spoil the punch line for future audiences, and Laurence Inman rounded
the night off with and incredibly funny piece, Danny The Bastard, base on
Birmingham underworld characters.
03/06/05:
WOLVERHAMPTON SUCCESS
The Alternative Black Contry Night Out had its Wolverhampton debut tonight at
the Newhampton Inn on Riches Street. With Poetry from Billy Spakemon and
Ian Henry, readings from Paul McDonald and Anthony Cartwright, and music from
Alex Vann and Gojo Music the event, which attracted a crowd of over 40, was
labeled a complete success. Further dates at The Newhampton will be
announced.
23/05/05:
VOICES PROJECT ON BBC WEBSITE
The recording made by Billy Spakemon, Brendan Hawthorne, Gary O'Dea and Greg
Stokes back in February for the Voices Project is now on the BBC Birmingham
website.
www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/voices2005/dudley/
22/05/05: BILLY
SPAKEMON IN THE MERCURY
A major article by local broadcaster Malcolm Boyden on Billy Spakemon appeared
in today's Sunday Mercury. (Page 32)
22/05/05: From the Events Page:
Friday 22nd April
2005 8.00 pm
An Alternative Black Country Night Out featuring Gojo Music, Rachel Mainstone,
Billy Spakemon, Brendan Hawthorne, Paul MacDonald and Greg Stokes at the Lamp
Tavern, High Street, Dudley
Friday 20th May 2005
8.00 pm
Alternative Black Country Night Out featuring music by Gojo Music and Dan
Bradley, poetry from Brendan Hawthorne and Billy Spakemon, and literature from
Greg Stokes and Barry Morris.
21/05/05: BARRY
MORRIS SHORT STORY COLLECTION
With Barry down from Liverpool for the weekend discussions were held about
getting his first collection of stories into print. It is hoped to book
will be ready around autumn time. Watch this website for details. (A
Pocketful of Memories - Rowley is now at the typesetting stage.)
21/05/05: GREG
STOKES AND PAUL McDONALD IN BRUM
Greg Stokes and Paul McDonald are to do reading at an event showcasing comedy
writing at the CDT building in Moseley, Birmingham, on Tuesday 7th June.
See Events page for details.
20/05/05:
FOURTH ALTERNATIVE BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT
ANOTHER GREAT SUCCESS
A crowd of about 50 were in the Brewhouse at the Lamp
to witness the fourth Alternative Black Country Night Out this evening.
There were debuts for Dan Bradley and Barry Morris. Dan's set featuring his own
songs accompanied by acoustic guitar or cello was rounded off by an incredible
version of Mr Blue Skies which had the crowd whoopin and stompin for
more. He'll be back, don't miss him next time. Barry Morris had the
audience gripped with a reading from Ghost Voices portraying the Royal Marines
in a village in Vietnam. In the second half he read Bungalow Bill -at
turns, funny and poignant - based on a character from his Liverpool childhood.
He'll be back too. Billy Spakemon was at his best with new poems about his trip
to Italy and Uncle Des's Inside Carsi as well as old favourites like Council
Boy. Brendan Hawthorne said beforehand he wanted to do summat a bit darker, and
he delivered, displaying the incredible range of his work. Greg Stokes
read Much of a Muchness from his Gulf collection in the first half and an
excerpt from a Pack of Saftness in the second. Gojo Music rounded off
another fantastic evening with another thunderous set. Next up The
Newhampton Inn, Wolverhampton on 3rd June, and back at the Lamp on 17th
June.
15/05/05:
CREATIVE CO-OPERATIONS - MEETING CANCELLED
A meeting of the Creative Co-operations board was cancelled at short notice
tonight. With mobile phone traffic in West Bromwich at saturation point
Gary O'Dea finally managed to contact Greg Stokes on the metro at 6.00pm.
"Ah suppose yoe'll be wantin a beer woe ya?" In a tense afternoon of
fortunes changing by the minute, the Baggies had pulled off the greatest of
great escapes to fight again in the Premier League next season. So the
answer was "Ar!" "Ah'll tell Bri then." Life's
like that some times.
08/05/05: WM
GOES INTERNATIONAL
Live from Italy, Billy Spakemon joined Gary O'Dea and Greg Stokes on Saul
Abner's Wolverhampton Community Radio show tonight. Gojo Music performed
a live track and Greg Stokes read an excerpt from Much of a Muchness, a short
story in his Gulf collection. The Creative Co-operations crew were
promoting forthcoming events at the Lamp Tavern on 20th May (get in quick
tickets going fast) and The Newhampton Inn on 3rd June (this has a sell out
feel to it too)
07/05/05: AWAY
SIDE GET PENALTY AT OLD TRAFFORD SHOCK
What's this got to do with Black Country culture. Well, the away
side in question was none other than the Black Country's own West Bromwich
Albion. The match ended 1-1 and set up a down to the wire finale with Albion
needing to win their last match to give themselves a chance of Premiership
survival. Greg Stokes will be unavailable on Sunday 15th May.
27/04/05: GREG
STOKES ON LATE SHOW
Greg Stokes was interviewed by Jimmy Franks on BBC Radio WM's Late Show tonight.
Greg spoke about how and why The Kates Hill Press was set up and how the
project has developed over the years. It is hoped that subsequent to this
a story will be serialised and go out Monday to Thursday on the Late
Show. Details will appear on this site.
26/04/05:
ALTERNATIVE BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT
- WOLVERHAMPTON GIG
The successful Alternative Black Country Night Out breaks new ground with
prospective dates at the New Hampton pub on 3rd June and 8th July. Dates
and line up will be confirmed on this site.
22/04/05:
ALTERNATIVE BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT
- ANOTHER STORMING SUCCESS
The third Alternative Black Country Night Out played to a packed and
appreciative audience at the Lamp Tavern tonight. The line up included
Music from Rachel Mainstone and Gojo Music; poetry from Brendan Hawthorne and
Billy Spakemon; and literature readings from Paul McDonald and Greg
Stokes. The next gig is 20th May, see events/links page for
details.
18/04/05: GREG
STOKES TO APPEAR ON LATE SHOW
Greg Stokes will be interviewed on BBC radio WM's Late Show at about 10.30pm on
Wednesday 27th April about the Kates Hill Press. Greg will also be on
Saul Abner's show with Gary O'Dea and Garry Oliver on Sunday 8th May at 7.00pm.
16/04/05:
BOSTIN BIRTHDAY BASH
Gojo Music and Billy Spakemon took the stage at the Lamp tonight at Greg's
birthday bash. Greg too took the stage to read an excerpt from A Pack of
Saftness. Star of the show however was Uncle Des whose brand of old style
Black Country toilet humour had the audience, which included Lenny Henry, Dawn
French, and Cyrille Regis, in stitches.
14/04/05: GREG
STOKES - HAWAII FIVE 0
Greg Stokes today celebrates his 50th birthday. Saga Saga here we come.
13/04/05: BILLY
SPAKEMON AT POLICY LAUNCH
Billy Spakemon performed at Sandwell and west Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust's
launch of their Diversity and Equality Policy. Carl Chinn was main
speaker and Nigerian poet Kokumo also took the stage. Kates Hill Press
had a stall at the event.
11/04/05: POCKETFUL
OF MEMORIES - ROWLEY
While the focus in the last few months has been falling on performance arts,
work has continued on A Pocketful of Memories - Rowley. It is hoped that
publication can take place in July. See In The Pipeline Page for further
details.
30/03/05: SELL
OUT AT THE LAMP
The third Alternative Black Country Night Out to be held at the Lamp Tavern on
22nd April 2005 has sold out. Further dates have been organised
throughout the year. (20/05/05, 17/06/05, 22/07/05, 19/08/05, 30/09/05,
28/10/05, 25/11/05 - all Fridays - and a Christmas Special on Saturday 17th
December)
27/03/05: BILLY
SPAKEMON CHARITY GIG TO BE HOSTED BY CARL CHINN
Billy Spakemon has organised a second charity night to be held at the Village
Hotel in Dudley on July 13th 2005. The event will be hosted by Carl Chinn
and feature Gojo Music, a reading from Greg Stokes as well as Billy's
poetry. Funds raised will go to Breast Cancer Care and Sandwell Breast
Clinic.
17/03/05: FIFTH
ALTERNATIVE BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT ANNOUNCED
A fifth Alternative Black Country Night Out will take place on Friday 17th June
at Dudley's Lamp Tavern. Line up to be announced. Further dates
will be scheduled throughout the rest of the year and announced on this
website.
09/03/05: LINE
UP FOR FOURTH LAMP GIG CONFIRMED
The line up for the fourth Alternative Black Country Night Out will be:
Music by Gojo Music and Dan Bradley, the cellist who has played with major
orchestras as well as writing his own modern material, poetry from Brendan
Hawthorne and Billy Spakemon, and readings from Greg Stokes and Liverpool
author Barry Morris whose hard hitting account of his time in Vietnam with the
UN, Ghost Voices has been published by the Kates Hill Press.
04/03/05:
SECOND LAMP GIG
A crowd of about 40 attended the second Alternative Black Country Night Out at
the Lamp Tavern in Dudley tonight. The audience braved atrocious weather
and eschewed alternative attractions (Ken bloody Dodd at Dudley Town Hall) to
witness poet Brendan Hawthorne host proceedings. Paul McDonald read two
excerpts from Kiss Me Softly Amy Turtle, Zaza Murray belted out a number of
Scottish songs and a torrent of ribald poetry. Greg Stokes read an
excerpt from A Pack of Saftness and Shafted from Black Country Stories and
Sketches. Rachel Mainstone closed the first half with another masterful
set of original songs and stunning vocals. Once more Gojo Music closed
the night. The two Gaz's were joined by Tone Jeth on the bongos in
another storming set. A good night was had by all, including uncle Des
who said "that Scottish ooman's rude."
04/03/05: KATES
HILL PRESS TITLES NOW AVAILABLE AT BLACK COUNTRY SHOP
Three Kates Hill Press titles are now available at the Black Country Shop (link
on Events/Links page.) This will provide customers with the facility to
pay by credit/debit card. Titles currently available are Black Country
Stories and Sketches by Greg Stokes, Chant of the Mutha Tung by Billy Spakemon,
and Mettallum Martis by Dud Dudley.
02/03/05: LAMP
GIG IN MAY
A fourth Alternative Black Country Night Out gig has been set up at the Lamp
Tavern for Friday 20th May 2005, line up to be announced.
05/03/05: From ‘Events’ Page
Friday 4th March 2005
8.00 pm
An Alternative Black Country Night Out featuring Gojo Music, Rachel Mainstone,
Brendan Hawthorne, Paul MacDonald and Greg Stokes at the Lamp Tavern, High
Street, Dudley
Plus special guest ZaZa Murray
Wednesday 23rd
February 2005 7.30 pm
Poetry Wednesbury Meeting, The George, Union Street, Wednesbury.
Tuesday 15th February
2005 7.45 pm
Langley poetry and Music Group, The Barlow Theatre, Langley
Friday 11th February
2005 8.00 pm
Music and poetry event at The Lamp Tavern, Dudley, to feature Billy Spakemon
and Gary O'dea. SOLD OUT
27/02/05:
ALTERNATIVE CREW IN "VOICES" RECORDING
After Billy Spakemon was approached by the BBC and he rounded up the possee,
Greg Stokes, Billy Spakemon, Gary O'Dea and Brendan Hawthorne were recorded at
the Lamp Tavern tonight by Nadine Tavell of BBC Radio WM. They were
discussing the Black Country dialect as part of the Voices project run in
conjunction with Leeds University which will lay down for posterity the
nation's regional dialects. The recording will be broadcast on WM and BBC Radio
Four some time in August. Further details will be published on this web
site.
14/02/05:
CREATIVE CO-OPERATIONS WEB PAGE:
A web page dedicated to Creative Co-operations and their Alternative Black
Country Night Out has been added to this site accessible from the links page.
11/02/05: From
‘Events’ Page
Friday 11th February
2005 8.00 pm
Music and poetry event at The Lamp Tavern, Dudley, to feature Billy Spakemon
and Gary O'dea. The Full Flyer:-
Creative
Co-operations
presents an evening of cool contemporary Black Country Culture at
THE
LAMP TAVERN
116 High St, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 1QT
Tel: 01384 - 254129.
on Friday
11th Feb 2005
£5 admission
Doors open @ 8pm.
featuring LIVE music from
GOJO' MUSIC
(Acoustic
Set)
&
Rachel Mainstone (singer / songwriter).
Performance Poetry from:
Billy Spake Mon
& Brendan Hawthorne
Plus readings from local published authors including
Dudley's very own Greg Stokes - Kate's Hill Press Publishing.
This is an 'Alternative' Black Country night
out - spotlighting the wealth of original contemporary creative output in the
Arts genres of music, poetry and literature in the area. It's going to be
passionate, in your face - and a whole lot of fun. We want to raise the profile
of these genres, as we feel that recognition to 'contemporary original works'
is something that has been (and is) undervalued and drastically overlooked in
our area. The areas rich historical / industrial heritage is well and truly chronicled
- we want to profile the fact that we also have a rich, diverse contemporary
arts culture as well.
This event will be performance arts - by the people - for the people.
Please note: 'Prawn sandwiches will not be available...ar kid.'
Thursday 27th January
2005 7.30 pm
Poetry event at Dudley Library, St James' Road, Dudley. A new venture,
details when they are available.
Wednesday 26th
January 2005 7.30 pm
Poetry Wednesbury Meeting, The George, Union Street, Wednesbury.
Monday 17th January
2005 BBC TV
Billy Spakemon's participation in a discussion of Anita and Me by Meera Syal to
be televised. More details when they are available.
11/02/05:
ALTERNATIVE BLACK COUNTRY NIGHT OUT A TREMENDOUS SUCCESS
Tonight's gig at the Lamp went down a storm with Billy Spakemon performing
acting as compere. Music from Rachel Mainstone and Gojo Music was complemented
by readings from Brendan Hawthorne, Paul McDonald and Greg Stokes. The
sell out crowd were rapturous in their applause and all feedback was positive.
09/02/05: ZAZA
MURRAY TO GUEST AT SECOND LAMP GIG:
Glasgie Black Country wench who belts out Billie Holliday numbers that make yer
tremble will be guesting at the second Alternative Black Country Night Out at
the Lamp on 4th March. Zaza used to live in Rosland Avenue, a stone's
throw from the Kates Hill Press. Greg Stokes said, "I always
wondered who it was as was chuckin them bricks in our garden."
09/02/05: BLACK
COUNTRY SHOP TO STOCK KATES HILL PRESS TITLES
Greg Stokes met with Martin Reeves of Yampy Solutions today. Yampy
produce website which cover communities of about 20,000 people. The first site
covers Gornal, with sites for Coseley and Sedgley following. Part of the
venture is the Black Country Shop, an internet outlet for a wide range of Black
Country works. A range of Kates Hill Press titles will shortly be
available through that outlet.
07/02/05: NEW
LAMP DATES ANNOUNCED
Due to the brilliant response to the first Alternative Black Country Night Out
two more dates have been added:-
Friday 4th March 2005, 8.00 pm featuring Gojo Music, Rachel Mainstone, Brendan
Hawthorne, Paul MacDonald and Greg Stokes.
Friday 22nd April 2005, 8.00 pm featuring Gojo Music, Rachel Mainstone, Billy
Spakemon, Brendan Hawthorne, Paul MacDonald and Greg Stokes
06/02/05: BIG
FUN IN LITTLE STUDIO ON WM
Gojo Music (Gary and Garry), Billy Spakemon, Brendan Hawthorne, Paul MacDonald,
Rachel Mainstone and Greg Stokes squeezed into the Wolverhampton Community
Radio Studio with presenter Saul Abner tonight to promote the Alternative Black
Country Night Out. All performed pieces of their own work.
Listeners described an incredible piece of live radio as a bunch of people who
were really enjoying themselves while being thoroughly entertaining.
03/02/05: LAMP
GIG SOLD OUT
The Alternative Black Country Night Out gig at the Lamp has sold out.
Further dates will be put on and announced later.
03/02/05: PACK
OF SAFTNESS IN THE STAR
An article and photograph of Greg Stokes and Billy Spakemon appeared in
tonight's Express and Star about A Pack of Saftness.
01/02/05: BILLY
SPAKEMON TO PERFORM AT IMPORTANT POLICY LAUNCH
Billy Spakemon is to perform at the launch of Sandwell and West Birmingham
Hospitals Equality and Diversity Policy on 13th April at City Hospital Birmingham.
Carl Chinn is to be the main speaker. The Kates Hill press will have a
stall at this event it was later confirmed.
31/01/05: BBC
WEB PAGE NOW LIVE
The page on the BBC's Black Country section highlighting the Lamp event is now
live.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry/going_out/2005/01/28/alternative_black_country_night_out.shtml
29/01/05:
PUBLICITY FOR LAMP GIG
All the participants in the event at the Lamp Tavern on 11th February - billed
as An Alternative Black Country Night Out - pitched up for photographs at the
pub yesterday afternoon and were rewarded with a front page feature and colour
picture in tonight's Express and Star, Dudley edition.
28/01/05: GREG
STOKES INTERVIEWED FOR HEARTBEAT ARTICLE
Greg Stokes did an interview today for Heartbeat, the staff magazine of
Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust regarding A Pack Of Saftness.
26/01/05: GOJO MUSIC
WEBSITE LAUNCHED
Gojo Music featuring Gary O'Dea and Gary Oliver launched their new website
today. Gary O'Dea is working on a book Teenage Kicks So Hard To Beat, to
be published by the Kates Hill Press later this year - see the In The Pipeline
page for more information about this book and the Events/Links page to access
the website.
22/01/05: WM INTERVIEW
Greg Stokes, Billy Spakemon and Gary O'Dea are to appear on Wolverhampton
Community Radio on Sunday 6th February at about 7.00pm. The show is
broadcast by BBC Radio WM.
20/01/05: BRENDAN HAWTHORNE BOOK LAUNCH
Wednesbury poet Brendan Hawthorne launched his new book Urban Dawn at
Wednesbury Art Gallery tonight. The book is published by Bluechrome
Publishing and retails at £5.99. For further details access the Poetry
Wednesbury website via the Events/Links Page.
18/01/05: PAGE ON BBC WEBSITE FOR LAMP GIG
The BBC Black Country Website is to incorporate a page about Creative
co-operation's Alternative Black Country Night Out gig at The Lamp. It is
hoped the page will go live next week.
17/01/04: BILLY
SPAKEMON ON INSIDE OUT TONIGHT
Billy Spakemon appeared on tonight edition of Inside Out in which the threat to
our local dialect was discussed.
07/01/05: LINE UP FOR LAMP GIG SHAPING UP
The line up for the gig at the Lamp Tavern on 11th February is shaping
up. There'll be music from Gojo and Rachel Mainstone; poetry from Billy
Spakemon and Brendan Hawthorne, plus readings from Greg Stokes and possibly
other local authors. The event aims to display the fact that the Black
Country has a vibrant arts culture producing original and contemporary
work. See Events/Links page for more information.
02/01/05: APPEAL FOR
INFORMATION
Know of anyone who used to get up and perform or tell stories - not
professionally, but in the pub, at family get togethers. If so, Billy Spakemon
would like to hear from you. As part of his Phd project he is seeking to
show how the spoken word is part of our identity and the important role these
raconteurs played in this process. Contact Brian Dakin on 0121 552 4201 or
email dakinbrian@hotmail.com