marina lewycka

Book Slam – where fiction meets live music

30 June 2012

Last week I went to my first Book Slam night.
Book Slam is a monthly event bringing together novel readings and live music – and as a musician who has recently completed a novel about his band, this seemed like the kind of place I needed to be hanging out.
The event took place at the Clapham Grand, a venue we’ve played many times ourselves (if you need reminding, here’s a photo and here’s a video). The main thing that struck me during the evening was I’d never heard the Grand so quiet. There was a pin-drop silence as the guest authors read, despite the generous 400-strong audience in attendance.
Novelists Chris Cleave (Incendiary, The Other Hand) and Marina Lewycka (A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, Two Caravans) both read from their latest releases, thoroughly charming the attentive crowd, and ukelele-wielding singer-songwriter Purple Ferdinand  with tinkly Lady Gaga covers and a sprinkling of her own songs.
I couldn’t help but feel that this is just the kind of gig I’d like to do with The Lightyears. I think it could work really nicely if one of the readings tied in directly with the live music. The album we’re working on is inspired by my novel, so the link between the two ____.
You can find out more about Book Slam by clicking here. Give me a shout if you’re heading to one of their future events – chances are, I’ll be there.
Oh, and if you haven’t yet had a chance, check out my new novel readings at the Project Lightyears micro-site. We just need another ___ views to unlock our slowed-down, acoustic recording This House Will Burn.
ps. if you fancy helping me along, drop Book Slam an e-mail and tell them how much you’d like to see The Lightyears at one of their events. If it works, I’ll buy you a drink after the show. 😉

Book Slam - a bit like a normal gig, but with more salad.

Last week I went to my first Book Slam night.

Book Slam – “London’s best literary club night” – is a monthly event bringing together novel readings and live music. As a musician who has recently completed a novel about his band, this seemed like the kind of place I needed to be hanging out.

The event took place at the Clapham Grand, a venue we’ve played many times ourselves (if you need reminding, here’s a photo and here’s a video). The main thing that struck me during the evening was I’d never heard the Grand so quiet. There was a pin-drop silence as the guest authors read, despite the generous 400-strong audience in attendance.

Novelists Chris Cleave (Incendiary, The Other Hand) and Marina Lewycka (A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian, Two Caravans) both read from their latest releases, thoroughly charming the attentive crowd. Inbetween their sets, ukelele-wielding singer-songwriter Purple Ferdinand provided the meat to the multi-media sandwich with tinkly Lady Gaga covers and a sprinkling of her own songs.

I couldn’t help but feel that this is just the kind of gig I’d like to do with The Lightyears. I think it could work really nicely if the readings tied in directly with the live music and, with the album we’re working on being directly inspired by my novel, there’s potential there for a link between the two art forms.

You can find out more about Book Slam by clicking here. Give me a shout if you’re heading to one of their future events – chances are, I’ll be there.

Oh, and if you haven’t yet had a chance, check out my new novel readings at the Project Lightyears micro-site. We just need another 270 views to unlock our slowed-down, acoustic recording of “This House Will Burn”.

ps. if you fancy helping me along, drop Book Slam an e-mail and tell them how much you’d like to see The Lightyears at one of their events. If it works, I’ll buy you a drink after the show. 😉

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