'Glastonbury of poetry' set to begin in Morecambe

A new festival which has been dubbed 'the Glastonbury of poetry' will get under way in Morecambe this Friday (September 16).

Morecambe Poetry Festival headliners include 'godfathers of the spoken word' Dr John Cooper Clarke and Linton Kwesi Johnson.

Dr John Cooper Clarke is the renowned Salford-born 'punk poet' who performed on stage with many of the top punk and indie bands of the late 1970s and early 80s.

Legendary 'reggae poet' Linton Kwesi Johnson was the first black poet to have his work included in Penguin’s Modern Classics.

Other top poets including Lemn Sissay, TS Eliot Prize winning Joelle Taylor and John Hegley will also be part of the event which runs until Sunday, September 18.

First up on Friday September 16 will be Linton and Joelle Taylor (pictured below) at 7pm, followed by Dr John Cooper Clarke and Mike Garry at 9pm and an after party poetry club with Mike Garry, Thick Richard and an Open Mic.

On Saturday, John Hegley will perform a family friendly show at 4pm with Henry Normal & Lemn Sissay in the evening show at 8pm.

Sunday will be the turn of Atilla the Stockbroker and Kate Fox before the closing party.

The Alt stage will open at noon on Saturday and Sunday featuring a whole host of poetry club nights and an Open Mic.

The full line-up for the main stage at Morecambe Winter Gardens is as follows:

Friday

Linton Kwesi Johnson & Joelle Taylor 7pm (£15)

Dr John Cooper Clarke & Mike Garry 9pm (£25)

Saturday

John Hegley 4pm (£5)

Lemn Sissay & Henry Normal 8pm (£15)

Sunday

Alt stage noon to late

Atila the Stockbroker & Kate Fox 7pm

A weekend pass for all shows costs £65. A pass for Friday's shows is £35.

Next door at Johnny’s Warehouse Bar, the Alternate Stage will offer grassroots poets the chance to take part in the festival alongside the headline stars. 

A weekend pass for the Alternate Stage is £10.

Shows before 5pm are suitable for children. Adults only after 5pm.

Tickets are available here.

See here for our exclusive story when we broke the news of the Morecambe Poetry Festival back in May

Morecambe Poetry Festival to debut - Beyond Radio