THE 9th Peterloo Poets Annual International Festival is due to take place at Calstock next week, beginning on Friday September 7 and continuing until the afternoon of Sunday September 9. Including readings by poets from Devon, Cornwall and further afield, more than half a dozen authors are involved in this year?s event, which takes place at The Old Chapel, Calstock. In addition, there are festival lunches being held at The Boot Inn, Calstock, and at Christopher?s Restaurant in Tavistock. The event begins with an appearance by André Mangeot at 7.30pm on the Friday. André lives and works in Cambridge. A prize winner in the 2006 Peterloo and Scottish national competitions, he is currently writing a novel set in Romania and has had two collections published so far, plus a book of short stories. He is followed by Hugo Williams, a regular contributor to the Times Literary Supplement who has published eight collections of poetry. Appearing on Saturday are Peter and Alice Oswald ? there will also be a poetry cabaret featuring Valerie Laws ? infamous for attracting Arts Council funding to spray paint poetry on sheep. Joining this year?s event is Irish poet Gabriel Fitzmaurice, an author of more than 20 books including poetry in English and Irish. Gabriel, an award winner at the Gerard Manley Hopkins Centenary Poetry Competition, has twice represented Ireland at the European Festival of Poetry in Belgium. A musician and singer, he has played and sung on a number of Irish CDs and frequently broadcasts on Irish TV and radio. Gabriel appears at the festival on Sunday at 7pm. The festival will be rounded off by musical entertainment by The Rubber Band, an eclectic bunch of musicians from the Tamar Valley, playing anything from a harp and mandolin to a washboard and accordion, and who are well known for the fun and merriment they bring to their performances. A festival ticket for all sessions costs £20, or individual sessions may be attended at a cost of £6. For more information, call Peterloo Poets on 01822 833473 or go to the website at http://www.peterloopoets.com">www.peterloopoets.com
