Yesterday I was on stage at Concorde2 for the first time. I opened At the Edge of the Sea Festival by reading my short story I'm from further North than you, which was inspired by a Wedding Present song with the same title.(The Short Story organisation Short Fuse was behind this idea and there were three more reading acts throughout the day.)The singer of the Wedding Present - David Gedge - said my story was naughty, but then it was his lyrics that started it all off ...
The headlining band was of course The Wedding Present, but I also enjoyed David's other band Cinerama (picture) and the Ukrainians among other bands. I think it's a great idea to mix literature and rock. Good news is that the selected stories will be published in an anthology that will be sold as Wedding Present merchandise. My story will most likely be illustrated in the format of a graphic novel.
I must confess that it was quite nerve-wracking to open up a festival - just ten minutes after I arrived. After my reading I felt faint and had to go and sit on the beach, at the edge of the sea.
Photo: James Burt
Hey Louise, you had a tough job opening the whole festival and pulled it off very well. Getting up there first and reading such a risque tale to a packed venue would have made anyone feel faint. From where I stood, the audience seemed to love it. Here's to more hårdrock attityd!
ReplyDeleteWish I could have been there! Wow, opening the festival - that's full on, and sounds like it went well...your courage inspires me.
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