About this Event
Poet Oliver James Lomax will be in conversation with his friend and author Jeff Towns to talk about his new book Bob Dylan and Dylan Thomas: The Tale of Two Dylans’.
The second half of the event will see the return to the Portico Library a full band performance of the album Working Class Love Poem by poet Oliver James Lomax and his band Northangerland.
‘Beautifully written poems from a unique voice of integrity and spirit.’ – Maxine Peake
‘Oliver’s poems celebrate working class life and loves; they dance with originality and are tenderly unafraid of love and belonging.’ – Mark Thomas
Jeff Towns is one of the world’s leading Dylan Thomas experts. He is a speaker, documentary maker and media commentator, and antiquarian bookdealer by trade, based in the poet’s home-town of Swansea. Jeff was originally known, both locally and globally as Jeff the Books. He is now known affectionately and professionally as The Dylan Thomas Guy. www.dylans.com
’As the ultimate Rock ‘n’ Roll Poets, Bob Dylan and Dylan Thomas represent two sides of the same coin. Bob Dylan made the music. Dylan Thomas lived the lifestyle. Both perfected the art of performed literature. Bringing together two of the foremost writers on each artist for the first time, The Two Dylans takes us on a literary and literal path taken by Bob Dylan and Dylan Thomas.
There are so many strange and wonderful connections and coincidences; shared passions and associations that tie these two cultural icons – Bob Dylan and Dylan Thomas together. This provides a rich tapestry – from the ancient Welsh folk tales of the Mabinogion to the poems of the Beat Generation; from Stravinsky to John Cale; from Johnnie Ray to Charlie Chaplin. Rimbaud and Lorca, Sgt. Pepper’s and ‘The Bells of Rhymney’, Nelson Algren and Tennessee Williams and much more.
And the wonderful connections between authors K G Miles and Jeff Towns makes it the perfect partnership to write this book. Fifty-two years ago, Jeff Towns opened his first bookstore in Swansea – he called it Dylans Bookshop – a youthful homage to the poet Dylan Thomas born and raised in Swansea. Eight years before, in 1962, (when he had never heard of Dylan Thomas), he bought Bob Dylan’s first ever LP called Bob Dylan with a track list; In My Time of Dyin’, Fixin’ to Die, See That My Grave is Kept Clean and so on; baker’s dozen of powerful songs. Jeff read that his new hero was born Robert Zimmerman but changed his name to Bob Dylan, a homage to Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. From that moment The Two Dylans became a constant backdrop to Jeff’s life.
And the two Dylans kept on giving – both on the cover of the Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s album. Peter Blake who fashioned the cover of Pepper, was a huge fan of Dylan Thomas’ radio play Under Milk Wood. Jeff went to see Peter, they became friends and still are. Peter gave permission to use his wonderful Tiny Tina image for the cover of this book.
‘…why, you can’t swing a cat without hitting a Dylan… male and female, such are the influences of these two cultural giants. Why did Dylan choose Dylan as his name, where do the worlds of these colossal culture vultures and wordsmiths collide? Some of the answers are found in the pages of this book and a lot more besides. I hope you enjoy the trip as much as I do.’ From the Foreword by Cerys Matthews.
Oliver James Lomax is a poet from Bolton, he has published four collections including The Dandelion Clock (2020) and A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Nan (2021). Oliver has written poetry for film and television. His work is now taught in schools.
Working Class Love Poem
In time travelling poems of love, loss and grief, Oliver James Lomax distils moments of his childhood into beautiful, almost cinematic vignettes, coming of age through the looking glass, he explores the relationship he has with the memory of his grandparents, his precise eye capturing moments in time anchored in a northern landscape where the most humble of happenings seem to take on a universal consciousness. This record sees the emergence of a hyper-vivid voice traveling through ruins and towns, locking antlers with folklore, telling the most broken of fables and the strangest tales with a deft insight. He confronts his ancestors with an open heart and paints love and grief on these soundscapes with humour, beauty and raw urgency.
These poems are set to beautifully crafted musical arrangements and soundscapes by composer Mark Kyriacou with the help of many fine musicians and vocalists…. all 18 pieces were recorded in rooms in New York City, Andalucía but mainly Mark’s Flat.
‘Working Class Love Poem’ was released on Vinyl and Digital download 15th October 2022Shadrack & Duxbury Records.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Portico Library, 57 Mosley Street, Manchester, United Kingdom
GBP 15.00