Been too long since the last Big Ups! But so much has been happening!!
- It was announced on Sunday night that our fearless leader, Ryan Van Winkle has indeed WON the CRASHAW PRIZE! Looking forward to seeing his first full collection in print.
- Aiko Harman, Nick Holdstock and Russell Jones are featured in the newest issue of newleaf Magazine, which operates out of the University of Bremen and is co-edited by Julia Boll. Read more by Julia Boll and Russell Jones in our Forest Publication Chapbooks!
- Read Kona Macphee‘s poem ‘Cholera‘ from her forthcoming collection, Perfect Blue. Better yet, come hear her live at The Golden Hour this March 24th! (And be sure to check out our interview with Kona while you wait.)
- Benjamin Morris has poems in the brand new letterpress magazine “Amerarcana: A Bird and Beckett Review”, published out of the Bird and Beckett Bookshop in San Francisco. Copies available from Amerarcana.
- And new fiction by Cassandra Passarelli at The Salt River Review.
- Come see BURNT ISLAND at the Golden Hour this March 24th. The List has said of Burnt Island’s debut album, ‘Music and Maths’:
“Subtlety is in thin supply in today’s overwrought music scene, so it’s refreshing to hear a beautiful and understated debut like this. Glasgow-based nu-folkers Burnt Island are based around author and all-round renaissance man Rodge Glass, and this mini-album is a gentle but hugely accomplished slice of modern melancholy, in debt to the atmospheric musings of James Yorkston and the sharp lyricism of Leonard Cohen. Flute and viola infuse proceedings with a folky feel, while the stripped down arrangements of ‘Man on Fire’ and the shrewdly anthemic title track expose sumptuous melodies and well-crafted songwriting. An auspicious debut.”
Can’t wait to hear Burnt Island! Rodge read a belter of a short-story at the Golden Hour last December. Will he outdo himself this month with music??
- Our friend Sinan Antoon who read at the Reel Iraq Golden Hour was featured in a New Yorker round-up of Arabic Novels. His novel, I’Jaam, has been praised:
“He evokes a Baghdad heavy with Orwellian overtones . . . often he strikes the right chord, to haunting effect.” – The Village Voice
Also for Antoon:
“In the tradition of Kafka’s The Trial, or Orwell’s 1984, I’jaam offers an insight into life under an oppressive political regime and how that oppression works. This is a stunning debut by a major young Iraqi writer-in-exile.”
You can listen to Ryan’s Interview with Sinan on the SPL podcast.
- Igor Štiks, who will be releasing a chapbook of new poems at the May 19th Golden Hour, has been included in the anthology “Best European Fiction 2010″ edited by the legendary Aleksandar Hemon and with a preface from Zadie Smith. We can’t wait to see him! More about the book here at Bookslut.
- This past week Foxgang launched their new single ‘A Lot More Goes On (In A Year)’ for download at Tentracks. Check this recent review of the Single.
- Robin Grey has just launched his second album ‘Strangers With Shoes’, which you can check out (and even buy!) from http://robingrey.bandcamp.com
Here are what people have said thus far:
‘a brilliant singer-songwriter ready for a much larger audience’ call it folk
‘the kind of album which you end up developing a real affection for, as I have’ song by toad
‘i’m very happy to present you one of my highest awaited releases… robin grey’s second box of folk-music-pleasure’ lemonjohn
- And a call for film submissions:
Fancy making a short film? Always wanted to try it but never knew how? Ever wondered if you could make a film using your mobile phone? Want to help turn 100 short poems into films?
If you’re nodding right now, then good news — this collection — a project which aims to bring together local writers and filmmakers in collaboration — is on the lookout for budding filmmakers of all ages and levels of experience to help adapt 100 poems into 100 short films. In order to help you become part of the project, they’re running a series of FREE all-day filmmaking workshops in and around Edinburgh.
Run by experienced film co-ordinator Stefanie Tan, you’ll learn everything from the absolute basics of putting together your shots right through to editing your final short together. Stefa will show you how to make the most of the tech you’ve got (whether that’s a van-load of super-hi-tech equipment or just a phone with a video camera function), and give hints and tips on the best way to adapt your chosen poem. You’ll get the chance to go out and shoot your footage, and then learn how to edit it all together to make your film complete.
The workshops are totally FREE but we recommend bringing your own lunch (and snacks!) with you. Spaces are limited so if you’re interested in getting involved, drop us a line to film@thiscollection.com — we’ll also be able to help if you have questions or need more info!
More information at: http://thiscollection.wordpress.com/
Ain’t that all grand? Now keep your ears up for some Big Up EVENTS heading your way.