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Sound check: My word! It's a rap
Evening Standard 22.05.09
Eurovision champ: Alexander Rybak
Budding star: south London rapper Speech Debelle
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Given that society will permit Geri Halliwell to publish books, the very least it can do is allow literary types to enjoy a bit of decent music now and then.
That's where Patrick Neate, Whitbread Award-winning author of Twelve Bar Blues and The London Pigeon Wars, comes in with his Bookslam.
Conceived in 2003 with Ben Watt of pop duo Everything But the Girl, and flitting around various west London nightclubs ever since, it's a monthly book club for people who want some music with their readings. Musicians such as Kate Nash, Plan B and Ty have shared the spotlight with authors including Hanif Kureishi, Monica Ali, William Boyd, and more usual suspects Nick Hornby, Zadie Smith and Dave Eggers. Next Friday, Bookslam scores its greatest coup to date by landing David Simon, now one the world's most in-demand writers thanks to his creation of The Wire — the TV series that must, by law, be called the greatest ever made by anyone who mentions it.
Simon will read in a few 10- or 15-minute blocks to a 400-strong crowd of the kind of people who would have to be dragged screaming to a Waterstones's signing table (“You don't half meet a lot of loons at bookshop readings,” says Neate.) A DJ will play in between the author turns, and people will have plenty of opportunities to talk loudly and drink.
To close there'll be a live set from south London rapper Speech Debelle. The music acts may not be such big names as Bookslam's authors, but Neate, a former music journalist with a deep love for hip hop, has a keen eye for future stars.
Debelle's debut album, Speech Therapy, is released by Big Dada next week and is a mellow gem, softly-spoken rhymes weaving around a jazzy, acoustic backdrop. Xylophone, oboe and trumpet join acoustic guitar and double bass to create a sound that has real soul. And, of course, she has a bit of a way with words, too.
Explaining his concept, Neate says: “The people we know who go to gigs also read, so we put the two together. It was no cleverer than that.” Others too are realising that books and music can share some common ground. The Hay Festival in the Brecon Beacons all next week, described by Bill Clinton as the “Woodstock of the mind”, will feature performances by Asian Dub Foundation, South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela and the Big Chill DJs among its vast line-up of authors.
Southwold's Latitude Festival (16-19 July) has literary and poetry “arenas” hosting the likes of Andrew Motion, Simon Armitage, Blake Morrison and Jonathan Coe alongside main stage music by Nick Cave, Pet Shop Boys and Doves.
Looking around the typical Tube carriage at the number of people reading books while listening to iPods, it's surprising there isn't even more cultural cross-pollination going on. Plenty of authors have pop star egos — let's see more of them sharing the big stage.
The next Bookslam is on 29 May at 12 Acklam Road, W10. Tickets £6 from www.bookslam.com
NEW ON THE NET
*A second number one for Dizzee Rascal is imminent, given online enthusiasm for hilariously rowdy new single Bonkers. “A heavy bassline is my kind of silence,” he rants over growling synths while a robot intones the song's silly title. It's only 50p in the 7digital store this week.
*Alexander Rybak's record-breaking Eurovision triumph for Norway should translate into a UK hit single too. Fairytale's jolly fiddle stomp is now on sale in the iTunes store.
*Moody New Yorkers Interpol are dividing and conquering. Drummer Sam Fogarino has formed shoegazers Magnetic Morning, while singer Paul Banks has renamed himself Julian Plenti and prepared a solo album for August. The first fruit, chugging rocker The Fun That We Have, is downloadable free at www.julianplenti.com.
*When indie trio Ash announced they were no longer going to release albums, turns out it wasn't just a sulk after the poor sales of their last one. This week you can download comeback single Return Of White Rabbit at www.ash-official.com, the first of 26 fortnightly single downloads which will take us through to this time next year.
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