Posts Tagged Words
Archive
November 7, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
Words In November – Sweet Talk: Saturday, November 21, Featherston Bowling Club
Featherston’s Booktown has been one of the shining lights in the NZ literary festivals over the last few years – this year, of course Covid had other plans. So some of the events were rescheduled and spread out across the year. I’m thrilled to be part of the final even for 2020 – Words in […]Archive
August 29, 2020 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 64
Gil Scott-Heron, The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (1974) When I discovered Gil Scott-Heron it was all in – the poems, the songs. The books, the albums. It was just a whirlwind of words, a blur – and I still feel that way, whenever I dip back in. I’ve been feeling that way lately, hooked, […]Archive
September 16, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Poetry at The Fringe – Sunday, 15 September, 2019
Back to The Fringe for some poetry. It was about celebrating Spring, though I either didn’t really process that or didn’t really care (and/or don’t have any Spring poems anyway). So I got up early, second poet this time, and read three short new poems. The first, Stuff, Not Nonsense I wrote late on Friday […]Archive
May 19, 2019 by Simon Sweetman
Poetry at The Fringe – Sunday, 19 May, 2019
After attending both the March and then April editions of Poetry At The Fringe I was back for the May run-through. It’s very much the same crowd that turn up for the open-mic, and maybe I’m part of that now, kinda, with three goes in a row. I recognise that many of the poets reading here have been doing so for years, but you know…I’m almost part of […]Archive
October 11, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
Sweetman Podcast: Episode 137 – Mary McCallum
Welcome to episode 137 of Sweetman Podcast with support from our sponsors – T Leaf T, Yeastie Boys and La Petite Chocolat. I had a chat with Mary McCallum. She’s just published her first book of poems, the excellent XYZ of Happiness. But Mary was playing the long-game, she’s a known, established poet – having studied under Bill Manhire when his […]Archive
January 11, 2018 by Simon Sweetman
The Vinyl Countdown # 451
Bernie Taupin, He Who Rides The Tiger (1980) I’ve always been kinda fascinated by Bernie Taupin – he writes the lyrics for all of the good Elton John songs. We all know this I’m sure. They broke off their songwriting arrangement in the late 1970s and so Taupin released this. His lyrics, his vocals. He’d previously released […]Archive
April 10, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
The Ghost of Electricity: War Stories by Jon McLeary # 157 Liner Notes
I’ve been working through the songs for the album – finishing the lyrics on some and putting them in sequence. Recording has been on hold for a while but we are about to fire up again and get the whole thing finished over the next two months before John goes off to China. We are […]Archive
February 15, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
Sweetman Podcast: Episode 50 – Sharon O’Neill
Welcome to episode 50 of Sweetman Podcast brought to you by Phantom Billstickers. A chat with musician Sharon O’Neill. Sharon has been based in Australia for much of the last 30+ years but she was born in New Zealand and a part of her heart remains here; she certainly (still) has a part of our […]Archive
January 15, 2017 by Simon Sweetman
Setting Up The Story Within The Song: What Is Your Favourite Opening Line?
Did you ever wonder what Mick Jagger was on about when he talked about being born in a crossfire hurricane; about howling and such? Or did you just sing along, hum along with Keef’s riff and then next thing it’s alright (“in fact it’s a gas”). I reckon a lot is riding on the way […]Archive
January 10, 2015 by Simon Sweetman
B.J. Novak: The Book With No Pictures
The Book With No Pictures B.J. Novak Dial One of the true joys of having children is that sometimes – hopefully – the things you want, toys, books, animated films, that you might never quite get to buying/consuming, or might not feel quite right about spending money on, arrive one day in the form of […]Archive
October 11, 2013 by Simon Sweetman