The Verb's Glastonbury Utopia
Ian McMillan visits the Glastonbury Festival, where he explores the festival as utopia. He ponders a new way to live with Murray Lachlan Young, Nadia Rose and Kathryn Williams.
If you're feeling inspired to write a poem for the Proms Poetry Competition, or you're just interested in how to overcome writer's block and in celebrating the utopian possibilities of music festivals - this is the Verb for you. Join Ian McMillan as he makes his maiden voyage to the Glastonbury Festival where he takes on the challenge, enthusiastically accepted, to write and perform a poem infused with the spirit of the festival; he must complete it in the space of an afternoon and then give it its premiere in the Poetry&Words tent. Along the way he seeks writing advice from singer and songwriter Kathryn Williams, Mik Artistik, poets Murray Lachlan Young, Debris Stevenson, Rowan McCabe, Dominic Berry, and Helen Johnson. The Verb also meets up-and-coming rapper Nadia Rose to find out about the language of Grime. Where else but Glastonbury could Ian also talk crustaceans with cult favourite 'Lekiddo - Lord of the Lobsters!, spin the bicycle wheel of poetry with Winston Plowes, or meet a land-locked life-guard determined to put a stop to petting in the pool?
Murray Lachlan Young is a Glastonbury veteran, he's been the poet-in-residence on ´óÏó´«Ã½ 6 Music and is the author of How Freakin' Zeitgeist are you' (Unbound).
Nadia Rose came 5th on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Sound of 2017 Shortlist, and released her debut EP 'Highly Flammable' in January
Debris Stevenson's show 'Poet in Da Corner' is inspired by Dizzee Rascal's 2003 Mercury Prize Winning album 'Boy in Da Corner'.
Kathryn Williams' new album 'Songs From the Novel Greatest Hits' is a companion piece to Laura Barnett's novel 'Greatest Hits'.
Lisa Hannigan's latest album is called 'At Swim'.
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Murray Lachlan Young
Murray performs a poem about Keith Richards falling out of a tree and advises Ian to look for interesting juxtapositions but to beware the list poem!
Nadia Rose
Nadia Rose explains how important it is for her to rap in her own accent, and advises Ian to ‘access your inner bad girl – or bad guy!’
Debris Stevenson
Ian was delighted to run into an old friend, Verb New Voice class of 2011 Debris Stevenson, who was able to give him a quick lesson on the intersection between poetry and grime.
Kathryn Williams
Folk Singer Kathryn Williams is our resident expert on the refrain, as heard in her new song ‘When Morning Comes’. Kathryn reminds Ian to keep it simple.Â
Lisa Hannigan
Lisa Hannigan’s lesson is on overcoming writer’s block. Her prescription? Seamus Heaney.Â
Lekiddo Lord of the Lobsters
The Verb loves a lobster, so Ian was delighted to meet Lekiddo, Lord of the Lobsters for advice on becoming a cult and spreading joy. Pinchy pinchy kiss kiss.
Broadcast
- Fri 14 Jul 2017 22:00´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 3
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