Fiction & Social History from the Black Country and West Midlands
EVENTS & LINKS
Events:-
Events:-
Poetry Wednesbury Third Thursday of every
month. St Paul's Church, Wednesbury
Purple Patch Poetry at the Barlow Theatre, Langley.
Links:-
COMEDY
Lenny Henry:
One of the finest comedians in Britain and son of Dudley. Wrote the
foreword for A Witness For Peace. www.lennyhenry.com
Johanne Savoie:
French Canadian comedian, singer songwriter author and all round totally
talented person who did a six thousand mile trek to drop in on the Alternative
Black Country Night Out at the Lamp in July 2005 http://www.gojotv.com/
LOCAL HISTORY
Black Country Living Museum:
The website of the ever expanding Black Country Museum. www.bclm.co.uk
Black Country Society:
The premier local history society in the UK. Many publications including
the quarterly magazine The Blackcountryman. http://www.blackcountrysociety.co.uk/
Cradley:
An incredibly detailed site about the Cradley area of the Black Country. http://www.cradleylinks.com/
In search of Agenoria:
A website set up by photographer Ian Grant who photographed the river Stour with
reference to its importance in the early years of the industrial revolution.
As well as many photographs, much information about Dud Dudley and Andrew
Yarranton.
www.lostlabours.co.uk
Quinton Local History Society:
Vibrant local history group focusing on the Quinton area of Birmingham. http://www.qlhs.org.uk/
Rowley Regis:
A thriving local website covering all aspects of Rowley Regis. http://www.rowleyregis.com/
Sedgley Local History Society:
The society's website packed with information about Sedgley Parish and its nine
villages. http://www.sedgleylocalhistory.org.uk/
United Arab Emirates:
With two titles set in the UAE the Kates Hill Press urge all those who want to
find out more about this fascinating country to visit Roy Richards' brilliant
web site http://www.chirri2000.com/
Woodgate and the Valley History Group:
A local history group focusing on an area on the very edge of the conurbation,
not the Black Country, not Brum but very much their own identity. http://valleyhistory.iccommunities.co.uk/
MUSIC
Jayne Powell:
Website of the immensely talented singer/songwriter from Brum. http://www.jaynepowell.co.uk/
Solartone:
Highly talented young Oldbury band. http://www.solartone.co.uk/
Alex Vann:
Tipton born singer - songwriter - musician. http://www.alexvann.net/
POETRY - PERFORMANCE
Billy Spakemon:
Kates Hill Press author and bard of the Black Country now has his own web site.
http://www.billyspakemon.co.uk/
Brummagem Poetry and Performance Nights:
Run by Zaza Murray, there are open mic nights at The Red Lion, Warstone Lane in
the jewellery quarter on 1st Tuesday of the month and at The Rainbow on the
second Tuesday of every month. No website but Zaza can be contacted on zazaindada@yahoo.com
Emma Purshouse:
Wolverhampton poet and stand up comic, highly intelligent and wonderfully funny,
Emma Purshouse now has her own website. http://www.emmapurshouse.co.uk/
Geoff Stevens:
Veteran Black Country based poet of international renown, Goeff has been
publishing and performing poetry for over three decades. He has run small
press magazines, organised events, and is still going strong. http://geoffstevens.co.uk/
Louise Stokes:
Kates Hill Press author, poet, playwright and performer has now got her own
website http://www.louiseland.co.uk/
Purple Patch Poetry:
The site of Geoff Stevens' poetry magazine. http://www.purplepatchpoetry.co.uk/
Poetry Wednesbury:
The website of Wednesbury based poets led by Brendan Hawthorne and Geoff
Stevens. Details of their meetings as well as Langley Poetry and Music
Group who meet at the Barlow Theatre, Langley. http://www.poetrywednesbury.co.uk/
RADIO
Black Country Podcasting:
The revolutionary venture into the new wave of broadcasting run by Laurence
Hipkiss from his roosters Studios in the Rowley Hills. His podcasts
feature only local talent.
http://www.blackcountrypodcasting.com/
Voices Project:
In conjunction with Leeds University, the BBC are recording the voices of people
from the regions. In February 2005 Billy Spakemon, Gary O'Dea, Brendan
Hawthorne and Greg Stokes were recorded at the Lamp Tavern. Clip from that
session are now on the BBC Birmingham website. www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/voices2005/dudley/
RETAIL
Black Country Books:
Stocks many Black Country titles, including all Kates Hill Press booklets, as
well as a host of second hand books. Situated in Blackheath Market, open
Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays. http://www.blackcountrybooks.name/
Black Country Shop:
An internet shop stocking a wide range of Black Country books CDs etc.
http://www.blackcountryshop.co.uk/
Yampy:
The Yampy concept is to have websites for the community by the community.
The first one covered Gornal and sites for Sedgley and Coseley followed.
It hoped that the entire Black Country will eventually be covered. Over
800 pages of Black Country news and views, now and then. http://www.yampy.co.uk/
THEATRE
Fizzog Theatre:
The Black Country theatre group based at Thorns College, Quarry Bank. http://www.fizzog.org/