elasticin

I am feeling terrifically melancholy this evening.

Torn up, to see it thistle back to flay;
caltrap to the chest, your knowing
is a force to come unskinned against.

Escape from Alcatraz!

This morning I visited Alcatraz Island and now I'm at San Francisco airport. They feel sort of the same. Actually, I suppose I just said that for dramatic effect, they don't really feel anything like each other.

My flight back to the UK leaves in less than an hour and I am feeling exceedingly glum about leaving California. Over the last two weeks I've visited San Francisco, Davis, Sacramento, Truckee, Reno, Fresno, Tahoe, San Mateo, Berkeley, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz, San Jose and Santa Clara [though I'm not sure that Santa Clara really counts as a place, so much as a series of roads with strip malls attached... Barefoot Cafe is a very very cool place though, and seemingly operates a sexy-baristas-only policy, which was nice]. I've met some wonderful people, gotten great feedback from audiences at my gigs and have been overwhelmed by the general kindness and friendliness of everyone I've encountered. Two people said they'd pray for me; one said I was very wrong to swear.

Santa Cruz was a major highlight of my trip - I spent most of my time there on the boardwalk and actually cried in excitement when I saw the old railway bridge behind it. I went on the merry-go-round and waited for someone to say "I've told you before - stay off the boardwalk" but, alas, no one did so I walked into Santa Cruz proper and met a man who said he was a leprechaun, horse whisperer, woman whisperer, musician, stand-up comic and comedian. Yes, apparently they are two separate things. I also drank coffee in the garden of a tiny anarchist cafe/bookshop called Sub Rosa, whilst gnarly ageing hippies sang, tapped their semi-shoeless feet and played guitar. It was everything I had hoped it would be - and more, because the day I went was Halloween, so everyone looked like oddballs, which I am choosing to believe is representative of SC's general aesthetic.

.

Here is a review of my gig in Fresno: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-18356-Fresno-Poetry-Examiner~y2009m10d30-UK-poet-visits-Fresno-for-Across-the-Pond

High Kultur

So, I have made it back from Tahoe to the bay area, and am now staying with my wonderful new friend Etienne and her family in San Mateo.

Yesterday, we visited the Richard Avedon exhibition at the SF Museum of Modern Art, which was really interesting and beautiful, and then ate cake with pretend flies on it in the museum's rooftop cafe. In the evening we went to see Salome at the SF Opera House - the building itself was massive and incredible, and the performance was astounding, hypnotic... and other similar words with ultimately do it no justice at all...

Today, I'm off to visit the Winchester Mystery House, which I've really been looking forward to - the story is crazy; find out more here: http://www.winchestermysteryhouse.com/

I will be sure to purchase some evil spirits from the gift shop, and bring them home as souvenirs...

Lake Tahoe

This is where I am right now; I met a lovely man this morning and we spent a lot of the day together - first at Taylor Creek nature reserve, where I didn't see any bears but I DID see a ridiculous number of spawning salmon - and then at Emereld Bay - which you can see here on the photo. It's just so incredible! I came in on the road which cuts right through the Eldorado National Forest - IT'S ALL SO DAMN ENORMOUS!

I'm fast running out of minutes right now, so will add more when am next online.

This morning I ate a waffle the size of a dinner plate for breakfast. With a blob of butter the size of a small mouse.

RENO - The Biggest Little City In The World!

Reno is amazing! It seems absurd that it is a town where real people live - I feel like I'm in that part of Back to the Future 2 when Biff changes reality with his sports results book...

My hotel is the very height of gambling chic - check it out here: http://www.sandsregency.com/ I was walking forever before I made it to my room, but when I got there the view from the window was so cool; there's a massive building with green-lit shooting up sections right opposite - just like how the Emereld City looks in the Wizard of Oz.


Right now, I'm in a cafe on the river called Java Jungle, eating houmous and olives. The journey here from Davis was incredible; I came by coach and we went right through the Sierra Nevada mountains. The sky was bright blue and the landscape was just so immense; parts of it were spotted with snow and parts were all burned out from a big forest fire a couple of years ago.

Tomorrow I'm stopping off in Sacramento, California'a capital, for a couple of hours en route to Fresno, in order to stalk Governor Schwarzenegger - I have been given details regarding the hotel he rents a suite in... all I have to do is wait.

And now to make my way over to West Street Market and do poems. I have to leave here at something ridiculous o'clock in the morning - you should see the bags under my eyes, they are very very impressive.

Until the next...

Californ-EYE-aay!

So - verily, I am here!

On the plane I drank gin and spilled apple juice onto my lap.

At SFO airport I accidentally picked up someone else's bag from the conveyor belt, and by the time I realised the error and had put it back, noticed that my ACTUAL bag was on its way back into the dark tunnel. I literally dropped everything [onto the feet of the lady to my right] and made a lunge for it but something went wrong and I punched myself in the mouth. So my first views of San Francisco came chaperoned by a swollen, bleeding lip.

In short, I am uncool. But all that may be forgotten in California... because I have an English accent and am therefore, in spite of almost overwhelming evidence to the contrary, VERY VERY COOL!

That night I went for a beer with poet and playwright Mel Clay, who I met in the Beat museum [well, the Beat museum gift shop; I am pacing myself...] He's put on some really cool productions in the past and will hopefully be in the UK again with his next project next year...

Later this morning, I'm heading to Davis, where I'll be chatting to Dr Andy Jones on his poetry & Technology radio show [listen here: www.kdvs.org] and then doing a long set at Bistro 33 in Davis tonight. And tomorrow, I am Reno bound, to gamble my money and o.d. on crystal meth [by which I mean, do a gig and run a youth workshop].

Got lots of cool pics, but no means to upload them, so please insert visual imagination HERE.

Catalytic San Francisco

'Le Penseur', at the magnificent Rodin museum in Paris, taken when I was there this Summer - on Patrick Swayze's birthday in fact, August 18th; it is clearly a sign. [That is, not a sign that I am on the brink of death, so much as that we are (were) meant for one another, are (were) kindred spirits, are (were) {insert similar items here.} ] We did, after all, have a very romantic conversation about whistles and horses one night, a few years ago... at the very least he represents one of my more successful stalking adventures. Ah, lost love.


Last week I performed at David Bramwell's Catalyst Club, which was an interesting and surprisingly nerve-inducing experience. My talk was called "Vowels Eating Vowels: The Catastrophic Effects of Love Poetry", which I began with a brand new poem - yes - actually a new, brand new, actual poem! It's a great night, and you can find it downstairs at The Latest Music Bar on Manchester Street in Brighton, every 2nd Thursday.

Speaking of 2nd Thursdays, the next Hammer and Tongue will be on the 12th Nov, not the 5th - what with it being Bonfire Night and all... We have Byron Vincent and Zena Edwards, plus local poet Alan Hay - it will be awesome! It will also be your last chance to take part in the slam [if you are so inclined] until February - as December is the Grand Slam Final 2009, in which all this year's monthly winners will compete for the H&T slam champion title [plus exciting mystery prize...], and January is POETS vs. MCs time! Boo hiss, etc.

I am off to California tomorrow morning, and will no doubt update you with all manner of salacious gossip as I go along. Gig info is on my main website, and do please leave comments on here so I feel loved!

And now I must make dinner, for I have a seven year-old demon tugging at my sleeve, saying: are you going to make dinner are you going to make dinner are you going to make dinner are you going to make dinner are you going to make dinner are you going to make dinner are you going to make dinner are you going to make dinner...

The answer is YES! : I am going to make dinner.

Poison o'clock.

Lost and Found

I didn't realise how long it's been since my last blog, although this time I at least have a pseudo-valid reason, or "excuse", because my laptop was stolen from my very home a few weeks ago, and I have only NOW gotten my hands on a replacement.

Of course, the trouble with doing this so infrequently is that I attempt to cram lots of stuff into each blog, which then becomes a Rosy Digest, when I'd really rather be more Rosy Daytime TV, so henceforth I will give you snippets of news, beefed on all sides by utter nonsense. It will give all the impression of harbouring relevant information and/or potential wisdom but in fact will not even exist: you are merely being haunted by your hopes for what the future may bring.

I'm feeling very excited at the moment because in a couple of weeks I'm heading over to the US of A, and will be there until the first week of November. I have been practicing accents; if you put in the necessary effort and stalk me, you may hear such attempts echoing out through my living room windows. If this is you, please also bring rooibos and vanilla teabags, because I ran out yesterday and am simply too lazy to buy more.

I'll be flying out to San Francisco, doing a few gigs around California and Nevada, and getting some hardcore pottering done. If anyone is familiar with that bit of the world, please feel free to forcefeed suggestions.

Speaking of forcefeeding [sort of], along with writers James Burt and Kay Sexton, I became a part of the Wordia "Visual Dictionary" last week. It was most bizarre but rather good fun - check out my entries on the website, under "note" and "incorporate", and upload your own if you have such technology at your fingertips.

Next Thursday, on National Poetry Day, I will be giving at talk on Cannibalism and Love Poetry in Performance, at David Bramwell's excellent Catalyst Club, in Brighton. For more info, see here: http://www.catalystclub.co.uk

I am all alone this evening for the first time in ages and it is a strange feeling. Perhaps if I drink tea and listen to Ace of Base it will begin to feel less strange, but just in case, please send me gentle companion-based thoughts [maybe more].


p.s. The shop is in Gardenstown, Aberdeenshire and well worth a visit if you are keen on crazy vendors, non-bargains and perilous levels of grime.

Trailer Trash!, Glastonbury, Volodya, Radio 4... AND MORE!

Oh dear,

I barely know where to begin; so much has been happening and I've been so terrifically lax with my blog-action.

The All Mouth event at Steyning Arts Festival [June 3rd] was brilliant - and sold out completely, so thank you to everyone who came along, as well as to Rachel Weston and Jacob Berkson for co-hosting with such wit and panache...

Trailer Trash! TARANTINO on June 20th was magnificent [and bloody] - thank you to the Duke of York's for kindly donating two free passes to see the next Tarantino offering [Inglorious Basterds] to the winners of our Jack Rabbit Slim's Twist Contest. Our next Trailer Trash! theme is COMIC BOOK FLICKS, and will take place on Friday September 4th. Buy tickets here: http://komediabrighton.ticketsolve.com/shows/8527576/events and check out "Trailer Trash" on facebook for more details.

Glastonbury Festival was crazy, woozy, exhausting, damp, giddy-making and generally GREAT. I performed at the Poetry and Words stage, run by Helen Gregory, and only got a little bit flooded in my pea-sized tent.

Hammer and Tongue proper was replaced in July by the South-East heat of Radio 4's UK-wide poetry slam. The rather lovely Paul Stones came in to host with me, and the winners were Pete the Temp and Danny Chivers, both from Oxford, with Spliff Richard taking third place. I had such a great night; brilliant poetry and performances, and a magnificent audience too. The semi-finals happen over September/October, so keep your eyes peeled and ears skinned for that. In August I'm off to gay Paris, so there won't be another Hammer and Tongue until Thursday 3rd September. More info on guests to come...

My new cd, VOLODYA, is now on sale at gigs for £5 [check out the performance link on my main site, or myspace/rosycarrickpoetry for upcoming dates], or else you can email me directly for a copy at info@rosycarrick.co.uk. It was recorded "rough and vibrant" by Egg, Chair and Cupcake Ltd in Hove, and with kind support from Norman Leaver at Learnatrade Ltd.

On July 7th I co-hosted this year's showcase event by participants of Little Green Pig, a Brighton-based ongoing series of writing workshops for children and young people aged between 7 and 18. In spite of the unbelievably aggressive downpour lots of people came to watch and support the performers, and it was really wonderful to see so much creative talent and confidence - for more info on LGP, have a look at their site: http://www.littlegreenpig.org.uk.

And now? Well, today I will sell 100 beautiful cupcakes... and next week I am off to the north of Scotland to relax a little.

On Saturday 1st August I will be facilitating "Poetic Inspiration", a 3 hour creative workshop as part of the Tresspass Magazine masterclass series. See here for more details: http://www.trespassmagazine.co.uk/workshops.html but ignore the bit about it being in Leeds! It is in Brighton, I tell ye, BRIGHTON!

That is all for now. I promise to say 10 Raspberry Berets, 3 Beat Its and 45 Born In The USAs for my infrequent blog-sins, and henceforth vow to be more regular, in this and every context...

Poets Needed for BBC Radio 4 Poetry Slam - S/E Heat!

The regional heats for this year's Radio 4 slam take place throughout the UK in July. If you have won any poetry slam since the last R4 slam competition in 2007 then you are eligible to compete!

The South East heat covers poets WHO ARE BASED in these regions: Milton Keynes, down through Oxford and Reading to Southampton and Portsmouth then through Brighton, Hastings Gulidford, Crawley, Maidstone and all points East below London [London itself has a separate heat]. There are some grey areas, so if you are unsure as to whether this is the correct regional heat for you to enter, please get in touch.

The S/E heat will be held at 7.30pm on Thursday 2nd July 2009 at the Komedia theatre in Brighton.

As there are limited spaces in the competition, I will operate a first come, first served basis when choosing poets to take part.

Please contact Rosy Carrick, at info@rosycarrick.co.uk. by 11th June AT THE VERY LATEST.

Good Luck!

Steyning Arts Festival Performance Poetry

For the very first time, Steyning Arts Festival is incorporating a performance poetry event into its programme!

"All Mouth" is on Wednesday 3rd June at 8pm in The Norfolk Arms, and costs £5 (£4 concs).

I will be there, performing alongside Jonny Fluffypunk [www.myspace.com/jonnyfluffypunk] and Brendan Cleary, and the event will be hosted by the very talented and finely cheekboned Toby Amies [www.tobyamies.com]. There are also some 5 min open mic slots, so if you fancy performing, arrive early to sign up!

For more info, or to book tickets, go to:

http://www.steyningfestival.co.uk/literature.html

Holiday In Scotland?

A small note for you - I stayed at this cottage last month to get away from it all and get a bit of writing done, and had the most wonderful and relaxing time ever - the village and coastline there are incredible and the house itself has been very beautifully renovated and decorated:

http://www.uniquescotland.com/anchorcottage/index.html

New Performance Dates and Events!

I have just uploaded some upcoming events onto my myspace page:

www.myspace.com/181381409

I shall endeavour to get them up the Rosy C website proper asap, but for now that will jolly well have to do.

Last Friday I performed in Bristol at a fundraising event run by Acoustic Night, the city's longest-running open mic organization and, indeed, the very place that I began to perform my own stuff. The other performers were absolutely incredible - I would highly recommend checking them all out if you know them not:

Music burst forth from 10 Ton Tongue, Jamie Harrison and Boy, and more poesie than you can shake a dead rat at came out of Peter Hunter and Byron Vincent.

And now I am going shopping for white clothing, for a cannibalistic and rather brilliantly bizarre-sounding art project I'm sitting for for Jake Spicer later on today. (www.jakespicerart.co.uk)

I will keep you posted...

News Update

I am a lazy blogger; I had my suspicions that this would turn out to be the case and it seems that, as ever, I am absolutely correct.

The good news is that I can give you my plans and whatnot all at once and it'll sound like so much more than it would in tiny sentences; you'll weep with excitement into that half can of cold beans and flaking candle stub.

Hammer and Tongue has exciting plans for 2009. We've got some great performers lined up this year; for more info on what has and will be going on, see:

http://www.thehussy.co.uk/rosy-carrick/01/

and also:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/urbanundiscovered/hammer-and-tongue-komedia


In terms of the latter link, I'm not sure how useful it is to the local poetry scene to suggest that its renewed popularity has mostly to do with its relocation into another spoken word genre - see in particular:

"The hip-hop connection has been good news for the poets. 'Now that people have made the association with hip-hop, we're perceived to be a similar thing, ... [t]he 'p' factor doesn't exist any more, we've overcome that. Poetry is a cool thing in Brighton.'"

Shall we feel proud like George Kirrin, accepted at last by the cousins; after all, she CAN climb a tree as well as most boys and swim better than any of them. No one will ever know we're still poets; we just have to wear baggier clothes and cram stuff into a 4-bar.

In other news, my workshop programmes are expanding. This Spring I'll be starting up a second weekly KS1&2 group and also one for more elderly children, or, as they may prefer to be called, 'young adults'. I'll also be taking a couple of sessions as part of the Little Green Pig project in February and March. See www.littlegreenpig.org.uk for more info on what they do.

My next performance is on Feb 13th at Tight Lip in Brighton. I'll post up full details of this and other upcoming gigs in the near future, but for now I am off.

As off as gorgonzola.