Punk poet Laura Taylor is coming to Preston for one-off outdoor performance – and wants local poets to join in

Punk poet Laura Taylor is set for a unique outdoor performance in Preston – and wants local poets to get back on the stage with her.

The gig at Market Street Social is Taylor’s first live performance in over 18 months, and marks the publication of her third book, Speaking in Tongues, published by Flapjack Press earlier this month.

The poet wants Preston’s vibrant poetry community to share the stage with her following a ban on performances in the UK during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Taylor said: “I am beyond delighted to be doing my first gig for over 18 months, to an actual real live audience. Like so many others, I had a summer full of fantastic gigs lined up for 2020, and then Covid put a big fat full stop to it all, with no prospect of anything for the foreseeable.

“It’s been a long hard slog, and I started to forget what it was to be a poet. I desperately missed the buzz and connection of live performance, and sharing stages with other artists, so I am double-excited to be welcoming some local poets to the gig for the open mic section of the show. My new book is finally published, and I cannot wait to share some of the new poems with everyone!”

Taylor’s insightful – and often angry, often political poems – have won her plaudits across the UK.

Attila the Stockbroker – who will be at The Continental on Thursday 9 September for his 40^th anniversary tour – labelled Taylor as ‘one of the country’s finest poets’.

Taylor, a regular performer at UK festivals, last played Preston in 2018 with a hugely successful double-bill gig at Ham and Jam café with Steve Pottinger.

The new outdoor gig will be performed in the courtyard at Market Street Social, just off Friargate, where some seating areas are undercover, with extra cover able to be put in place should it rain.

The gig has been organised by Garry Cook’s EnjoyShow.co.uk events company, which has already brought legendary poets to Preston, including Mike Garry, Hollie McNish, Kate Fox, Louise Fazackerley, Matt Abbott and Jess Green.

The gig takes place on Tuesday 17 August at 8pm. Tickets are available from Skiddle.

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