MLF Chapter & Verse
The Manchester Literature Festival Blog
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Review: Cabaret for Freedom, A Celebration of the Life and Work of Nina Simone
November 13, 2020
Young Digital Reporter Marouso Menegou finds heartbreak, energy and power at Cabaret for Freedom, A Celebration of the Life and Work of Nina Simone. Cabaret for Freedom this year was a virtual event, but it didn’t lessen the intense and engaging nature of the performances which celebrated the legacy of Nina Simone. People in the […]
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Review: Kae Tempest in conversation with Max Porter
November 13, 2020
Young Digital Reporter Lydia Rostant finds connection and creative thinking at Kae Tempest in conversation with Max Porter. It would be negligent not to address the irony of joining an online video platform to hear the prophetic Kae Tempest talk about their new work On Connection. In what will be their first work of non-fiction […]
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Review: Romalyn Ante, Will Harris & Nina Mingya Powles
November 12, 2020
Young Digital Reporter Jamie King finds words that echo through the generations at Romalyn Ante, Will Harris & Nina Mingya Powles. As the rainclouds open over Manchester, legions of poetry lovers huddle over their computers waiting to hear the words of three people who pierce the veil of everyday drudgery, finding incredible stories behind it. […]
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Review: Ali Smith in conversation with Kamila Shamsie
November 12, 2020
Young Digital Reporter Grace Tomlinson discovers an interesting discussion across time at Ali Smith in conversation with Kamila Shamsie. This latest instalment, directed by Sarah Wood, in a series of what novelist Kamila Shamsie dubs ‘lockdown films’, combines audio of the conversation between Smith and Shamsie with long, peaceful visuals created by all three women. […]
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Review: New Daughters of Africa
November 12, 2020
Young Digital Reporter Alice Skelly finds inspiring discussions and readings at New Daughters of Africa. The digitalisation of this year’s festival by no means hinders its atmosphere, engagement and reception from audiences. Margaret Busby is joined in conversation by contributor Sarah Ladipo Manyika, alongside other writers from the UK, US, and Nigeria. The event is […]
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Review: Tori Amos in conservation with Kate Feld
November 12, 2020
Young Digital Reporter Julia Strawinska finds an artist contemplating the nature of transformation at Tori Amos in conversation with Kate Feld. Tori Amos speaks from her recording studio in Cornwall. A grand piano and the classic Orange amplifier in the background illustrate her career as the ‘singer, songwriter, pianist and composer’ who defined the 1990s […]
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Spotlight on: Wrecking Ball Press
August 12, 2020
For more than 20 years, Hull-based Wrecking Ball Press has published high quality, cutting edge literature. They’ve published a number of writers who’ve gone on to garner critical acclaim including Benjamin Meyers, Adelle Stripe, Shirley May, Isaiah Hull and Helen Mort. We talked to editor Shane Rhodes. When and why did you start Wrecking Ball Press? […]
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MLF & Friends at Home – Reece on Poetry by Black Writers
August 12, 2020
Reece Williams is a Poet, Performer, Mentor and Community Engagement Manager at Manchester UNESCO City of Literature. He has chosen a selection of poetry collections written by Black writers. Crafting the Practice, Diké Omeje (Crocus Books) Never in my time as a reader (or writer for that matter) have I come across a collection of poetry that so […]
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Spotlight On: And Other Stories
June 29, 2020
Continuing our series of Q&As with publishers in the Northern Fiction Alliance, this week we interview Javerya Iqbal, Sales and Marketing Executive at And Other Stories. And Other Stories is an independent Sheffield-based publisher known for its prize-winning literary fiction. And Other Stories was born out of a desire to publish fresh, contemporary literature that was […]
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MLF & Friends at Home: Jo on Poetry by LGBTQ+ Writers
June 29, 2020
Celebrating #PrideMonth, Jo Flynn – Poet, tutor for Write Like A Grrrl, Partnership and Communications Manager at For Books’ Sake and UNESCO Manchester City of Literature, has chosen some of her top poetry picks from LGBTQ+ writers for these trying times (she could never choose top-ever!). Rosie Garland – Things I Did While I Was […]