A Night Of Black Country Cant & Cag
(the sound of the region in spake & song)
WRITERS/STORYTELLERS
ANTHONY CARTWRIGHT
Dudley born writer Anthony Cartwright won the Betty Trask Prize with his brilliant debut novel Afterglow. His work has already been widely acclaimed. Cant & Cag performances to date: 27/05/06
STEVE GREY
Originally from Smethwick, Steve has lived
much of his life in the suburbs of Walsall. His first book - about modernism, From
Somewhere Out Of Here, was co-witten with Mark Sandon and published in 1997.
His crime novel A Cold Snap on Snow Hill was published in 2000.
Steve organised the Modernism Exhibition at the Lighthouse media centre in
Wolverhampton in 2003. He is to hold a second exhibition on crime fiction
in March 2006 at the same venue.
Cant & Cag performances to date: 25/11/05
SUE HULSE
Born and brought up in a mining community
in Yorkshire, Sue has lived in the Black Country for 30 years. A writer,
storyteller and poet of great skill, warmth and humour, she performs much of her
work without notes. Sue is writer in residence for social inclusion in
Sandwell, and has a long performance pedigree both locally and nationwide.
Cant & Cag performances to date: 14/12/05 (Shareshill) 17/12/05, 03/03/06,
27/05/06, 30/06/06
RAY JONES
A regular contributor to the Blackcountryman, Ray is a seasoned storyteller. Listen to Ray and you'll think you are tuned into Radio Four. In short, he's top quality both in terms of writing and delivery. Cant & Cag perfomances to date: 21/07/06.
PAUL McDONALD
One of the originals from the Alternative
Black Country night Out, Paul is by day senior lecturer in American Literature
at Wolverhampton University. He has written two brilliantly funny novels, Surviving
Sting, and Kiss me Softly Amy Turtle, both of which chart the
progress of Dave Icabod Mcvane through Walsall in the 1970s and 80s and both of
which are published by Tindal Street Press. Paul is an accomplished and
popular performer.
Cant & Cag performances to date: 17/12/05, 03/02/06 (Tap & Spile,
Walsall)
BARRY MORRIS
Born
in Liverpool, before retraining as a social worker, he served for 14 with Royal
Marines 4.2 Commandoe serving in the Falklands, Northern Ireland and with the UN
in Vietnam. His experiences in the latter theatre are recorded in Ghost
Voices, published by the Kates Hill Press. His writings are both passionate
and poignant. A volume of his short stories, The Book Cellar, is due to
appear late 2006.
Cant & Cag performances to date: 28/04/06
GREG STOKES
Greg Stokes,
has been writing sine the early 1980s. He set up the Kates Hill Press in
1992 as a vehicle for A Witness For Peace which told of his father's murder in
Morocco after the Libya bombings in 1986. The Kates Hill Press has gone on
to publish several local authors across over 20 titles. In 2005 Greg moved
into live literature, founding Creative Co-operations with Billy Spakemon and
Gary O'Dea and then became a founder member of RoosterKateSpake with Billy
Spakemon and Laurence Hipkiss, when Gary moved on. Black Country
Stories & Sketches, A Witness For Peace, Tried By Prejudice, The Gulf, and A
Pack Of Saftness are published by The Kates Hill Press. An audio book,
The Grant has been brought out in association with Roosters Studios.
Cant & Cag performances to date: 28/10/05, 25/11/05, 14/12/05 (Shareshill),
17/12/05, 20/01/06, 03/02/06 (Tap & Spile, Walsall), 24/02/06, 03/03/06 (compere),
25/03/06, 28/04/06, 27/05/06, 23/06/06, 30/06/06 (compere), 21/07/06, 18/08/06,
16/09/06 (Black Country Museum), 22/09/06
JOHN SUMMERTON
John
was born a stone's throw from Birmingham City's St Andrew's ground. Work
took him away from home but allegiance to the Blues remained. He has been
a frequent contributor the the Men in Blue Fanzine and his first book My Mate
Stan - a personal odyssey and history of St Andrews was published by The Kates
Hill press and launched at the January Cant & Cag. He is currently
working on a novel set in the mental health arena of the NHS.
Cant & Cag performances to date: 20/01/06, 23/06/06, 23/12/06
DAVID TRISTRAM
David
Tristram is one of Britain's most popular comedy playwrights whose plays are
performed all over the world. He has turned his comic genius to the novel
with A Bolt Out of The Blue appearing in 2005. This is an absolutely,
(and I mean health warning side splitting here) hilarious book.
Cant & Cag performances to date: 24/02/06
GEOFF TRISTRAM
Geoff
(David's older brother) is a professional artist/cartoonist. In the course
of his career he has painted such notables as Ian Hislop, Jonathon Ross and Alan
Shearer. He has designed album and book covers, he plays guitar and
clarinet to virtuoso standard, and he calls David the talented one. He has
now written a novel A Nasty Bump On The Head which is as hilarious as it is
brilliant. A top bloke he has taken time off from his busy schedule to
support RKS and help us promote local artists.
Cant & Cag performances to date: 24/02/06, 22/09/06
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