Last year I was contacted by Claire Alleaume who had an idea to bring skate creatives together in the form of a zine called 'Two Set' and I'm super excited that issue one is finally here! Two Set is a zine focused on writing with a healthy dose of photography and art - all by skateboarders. The theme of the first issue is 'Nostalgia' and I wrote a piece specifically for the zine.
Launch night is this Friday at Morale skate shop in Shrewsbury, with live music from Myles Newman. If you're in Shropshire, get down and be one of the first to get your hands on a copy.
If you are yet to check out the 'Still Boartd Shitless' art show, due to popular demand it's been extended an extra month until November 1st! Get yourself down to 'The Circle London' to check it out.
Tiki's Live was an awesome open mic that helped revive the live music scene in my old home town of Hemel Hempstead. Founded by Robbyn Snow & Ian Newman both members of the band Dodobones, they recently announced it would be coming to an end this August. A huge host of artists came out to support and make sure Tiki's Live went out with a bang! I was particularly stoked to share the stage with my old friend Tim Watt.
Below is just my small contribution to the night featuring 'Advice', 'Polaroids' and 'No Regrets', big thanks to McLeod AV for the video.
I'm absolutely stoked to be part of the upcoming 'Still Board Shitless' exhibition, the long awaited sequel to the very awesome 'Board Shitless'. The list of artists is huge and this may a one time only opportunity to see so many skateboard artists in one exhibition! It comes in partnership with Death Skateboards, 1991 denim, FreshArmy,FBBB & KNOKNO! Confirmed Artists: Eloise DörrWill GuiseCJ - WhateyeceeChris Dillon - The Real DillDavid Charles - DiseneloMike BoydJeremy Jones Phil HackettAlexander Ceron (coming from LA)Mat Lloyd (spoken word poet)Barbara Bazso Photo exhibition by Josh Nice The exhibition will be on from 5th - 26th September 2019 with the official launch night on Thursday 5th September. Find out more via the event page https://www.facebook.com/events/2338787789776555/
On Friday 21st June Slam City Skates will be hosting a jam at Raemers Skatepark (Victoria Park), to celebrate the life of Ben Raemers. The jam will start at 3:30 pm, there will be special guest riders for you to marvel at, as well as a shed load of prizes to be won.
Couldn't be more honoured to headline one of my favourite poetry nights in London - 'Trouble Tongues' on Thursday the 2nd of May! I honestly owe a lot of my recent output and the release of my latest collection 'Short Poems' to the energy and vibes I've experienced at Trouble Tongues that really have stoked my creative fire (as cheesy as that might sound). Come down and check out an awesome lineup including my old homie Black Score! Sign up on the night from 7pm, entrance is FREE!!
Some nights the vibes just right and this was one of those. 'Polaroids' is a personal piece written without a crowd in mind but it just felt right to finish my spot.
This ones about relationships and break ups, how they can seem so perfect in the moment but seem to end so badly. I've learn't a lot from these experiences and whilst I'm nowhere near perfect they have helped me as I've grown.
Recorded live at Trouble Tongues in Kentish Town. Original video shot by Tony Camden.
One of Londons premiere spoken word nights Trouble Tongues happens every first Thursday of the month at Neighbour in Kentish Town. Hosted by the very awesome Sonny Green the level is high and the atmosphere is extremely positive. Heres a couple from my first visit 'No Regrets' and the brand new 'Polaroids'.
I feel lucky to have a couple poems that via a few contract signatures are used in classes as far afield as Australia and Canada. It's an awesome thought but rarely do I hear from the teachers or students that use them. A couple of weeks ago I was contacted by Sara Prinsloo an artist and skateboarder working at Oaklands College in Watford. She wanted to know if she could use my poem 'Two Inches to the Right' with her students. I was stoked to receive the below images of their work and a little info from Sara after the class...
"The students had great fun illustrating it using the printed poem itself. They had just 30minutes to make something compulsive and representational of Two inches to the right.
Some students represented the sentencing of idiot and used handcuffs to do this as well as prison bars and chains. A lot discussed the subject of consequences and the repercussions of your actions as well as the characters situation. The current issues of UK knife crime, gangs and youth violence came up when analysing the poem as a class. Described by them as a dark and deeply emotional as well as a poem which could be used to inspire others and conveys a very important message. A lot of our students thought that alcohol was most probably to blame for Idiots actions, as well as bad impulses and peer pressure from friends. A lot of the work made had links with the miss use of alcohol and the sadness and brutality of death. I think a lot of our students related to the poem and we thank you for writing such a raw and realistic piece of work. I hope it inspired my classes and makes them question the decisions they make in life." Sara Prinsloo
World Poetry Day is celebrated on 21 March, and was declared by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) in 1999. Its purpose is to promote the reading, writing, publishing and teaching of poetry throughout the world and, as the original UNESCO declaration says, to "give fresh recognition and impetus to national, regional and international poetry movements". So to help celebrate #WorldPoetryDay here’s one of my all time favourite performances from Lemon Andersen that introduced me to the work of Etheridge Knight and what would become one of my favourite poems.
This is from Def Poetry Jam season 1 back in 2002, the full title of the Poem is 'DARK PROPHECY: I SING OF SHINE by ETHERIDGE KNIGHT'.
Available for the first time on Amazon is my second collection of poetry 'The Cracks and Curbs EP'. Originally published in late 2015 and reissued every year since, it’s previously only been available from this website and from my own hands after gigs. Last year when I sold the final copies of the latest reprint I decided it was time to let someone else handle the distribution of future copies so I can focus on new work. I am truly humbled by everyone whose purchased a copy of 'The Cracks and Curbs EP', but if you missed out now's your chance to get a copy:
Amazon has changed the level of support it givers authors through it's publishing platform. 'Demo Tape' my first collection netted me £0.23p per sale, and the only way this could be improved was if I hiked the price of the book up. With Amazons new setup I can keep the price at £5.99 and still get a respectable amount per copy purchased. It also means everyone who missed out on 'The Cracks and Curbs EP' or just wants to check it out can now get a copy across the world and Amazon handles the publishing, printing and delivery!
What's next?
Hopefully the first of two new collections will be out later this year. The first is a be a book of short poems originally written for the page that will come out in a similar style to 'The Cracks and Curbs EP' paying homage to DIY skate zones that I still buy today.
"Here's to all the influential women in skateboarding, who've been there just as long as the guys have!"
In celebration of International Women's Day the talented folk at Memory Screen release a retrospective featuring women in skateboarding! As someone who lists Elissa Steamer in my all time top five skaters I was stoked to see her inclusion. Get stoked, go skate...
