Poet in the City Presents: Icons and Influences

Poetry does not seem the most obvious inspiration for punk rock lyrics, but this event is presented as part of Poet in the City's Poetry & Lyrics Festival 2018, and aims to reveal the relationship between such song writing and poetical prose.

As part of Poet in the City: Icons and Influences BBC arts broadcaster and journalist John Wilson hosts an evening with Jehnny Beth, front-woman of post-punk band Savages, alongside Simon Armitage CBE celebrated poet, playwright and musician for a discussion on the connection between poems and song lyrics. They will consider how the two forms of expression can overlap and influence each other as well as conflict.

The three speakers each have their own passion for and personal connections with poetry and music, which they have experienced in different ways in both their personal lives and celebrated careers. Beth, often considered to be one of the most powerful women in modern rock, claims much of her writing is inspired by Sylvia Plath, Wallace Stevens and early British war poetry. Armitage is Professor of Poetry at the University of Leeds and University of Oxford and is not only one of the most studied contemporary poets of today but was previously a member of rock band The Scaremongers. Wilson has vast experience having interviewed a huge number of figures from art, music and literature from Ai Wei Wei to David Bowie and his Poet in the City event last year, with PJ Harvey and Don Paterson, sold out.

So if you want to hear exclusive insights into the world of lyric writing and the inspirations that musicians and poets take from one another's art form book a ticket for this discussion.