Punk, poetry and plectrums at wordsmiths' festive party (From Gazette)

Punk, poetry and plectrums at wordsmiths' festive party

9:20pm Friday 18th December 2009 in

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MARTIN Newell is as busy as ever. But that’s just what you would expect from the country’s most published poet, especially when you’re writing a poem for a national newspaper.

“I quite like the buzz of writing to a deadline,” says Martin.

“But I’m pretty used to it now. I started writing for the Guardian in 1984, and, by the end of 1990, the Independent had taken me on.

“Now I'm writing for the Express, and I’ve kind of become a journalist by default.

“When I first started, they assumed I knew what I was doing, but I’ve basically learnt it all as I was going along.

“Recently someone gave me this book by Keith Waterhouse, about the industry, and in the glossary at the back there were just two terms I didn’t know.”

Very impressive indeed for a man who, as well as journalistic poet, can rightly be regarded as a novelist and singer songwriter too.

At this time of year, most will know the Wivenhoe poet from the annual Christmas events at the Colchester Arts Centre, where Martin “brings a bit of variety” to proceedings.

Essentially, it’s an evening of poetry, with legendary punk wordsmith and Colchester resident John Cooper Clarke, who is joining Martin on stage alongside two of their young proteges, Luke Wright and Ross Sutherland, who have also been making big names for themselves.

“We’ve been doing it for at least 12 years now,” Martin added.

“The arts centre had the idea of welding John and I together in some format.

“We had done a few gigs before in local pubs. The first one, John didn’t show because it was snowing and he was stuck at Liverpool Street station.

“It was the Bakers Arms, which I think is the Beerhouse now, in Magdalen Street, and the landlord asked me to do his set as well.

“The next time, John and I actually got to perform together. He said afterwards ‘I’m not working with you again, because you’re too good’.”

Fortunately, he was only joking, because the annual Christmas Poetry Bash, at the arts centre, has now become a traditional mainstay of the local entertainments scene.

It’s also the place where two of the country’s most exciting new poets, Luke and Ross, first got together.

Martin explained: “Ross Sutherland won this competition I was involved in, called Boudica’s Children, and part of his prize was a slot on the show.

“I met Luke through a lyric workshop I was taking. He wanted to be an indie pop star, but made the crossover when he saw Ross performing with us.

“The funny thing was both were from Coggeshall, but didn’t know about each other.

“After getting involved in the Christmas shows, they ended up going to the University of East Anglia to do a creative writing course together.

“I suppose it’s a bit like handing down the baton to the next generation, but now the roles have been reversed because Luke’s getting me gigs.”

Luke and Ross are now making a name for themselves in London, but Martin, at the tender age of 56, is more than happy to leave the bright lights to his young poetic wards, while he continues plying his trade on home turf. “I’m quite happy here,” Martin laughed. “One of the reasons I stopped in Wivenhoe was because there’s loads of talent around here.

“I wanted to build it up so people didn’t have to go to London.”

The Christmas show is just one of the many things he’s done to achieve that goal.

Martin added: “Luke and Ross come on and do their cutting edge gunslinger stuff, then I come on do my stuff, with a little bit of music, and then it’s John.

“There’s poetry, but quite a lot of comedy too. It’s turned into something really special.

“It’s the last gig of the year for all of us, so there's an element of the last day of school about it.

“There are quite a few traditions attached to it as well, one of which is my cough sweets, which I go and buy beforehand and get someone to hand out during my set.”

For more information about the show, visit www.colchesterartscentre.com