I started performing poetry in Leicester in 2001, where I quickly built a reputation as "yet another platitudinous ranter". The steady realisation that audiences seemed more than capable of forming their own quite rational and progressive opinions without the aid of my shouting at them, led me to rant with a little less vehemence. Since those early days I've performed at gigs, slams, and festivals throughout the UK.
Most (though not all) of my stuff aspires, at least, to be humorous and looks mainly for (un)inspiration to the worlds of work, politics, popular culture and relationships. Some who've described my material have used words like "irony", "wit", and "ennui", and I'm not about to contradict them. Unless, of course, you're looking for a warm hearted celebration of life's myriad possibilities - in which case, I'm also definitely your man.
My life is not, as it turns out, anywhere near as unpleasant as the poetry might sometimes suggest. As Dr Hook might have sang, "When you're in love with a beautiful woman, the maintenance of a misanthropic, world weary persona, can become rather a strain." As well as being a solo performer I am also - along with Lindsey Warnes Carroll, Steve Carroll and Alex Morgan - part of Complex Trout. CT performs, promotes, and hosts spoken word events in Leicester and Nottingham.
When I'm not performing poetry, I mainly spend my time thinking how I really ought to be more proactive in securing gigs.
That's more than enough from me - here's Louis Armstrong and Johnny Cash in possibly the coolest footage on YouTube or anywhere else.
and here's Emmylou Harris...
... and Son House