The invitation and promise of the festival fulfil what Pighog has always believed – that poetic language is and has energy, and a very special energy at that – connecting at one range of its spectrum with the public and political, at another with the intensely felt and personal; at yet another with language as bodily function, physically generated and located in a space; at still another with plough and harrow, turning up new material (almost as it’s needed) at the same time as harrowing and mashing the old, the redundant, the hackneyed.

A barometer, ‘is an instrument for determining the weight or pressure of the atmosphere, and hence for judging probable changes in the weather (OED). Here at Pighog, in a battered old case, we have a unique poetic barometer, and over the last year it’s needle has been swinging wildly between different traditions and poetics. But as the pressure of desire for imaginative and visionary political change slowly builds it’s noticeable that the needle is steadying towards poetic experiment and revitalisation, transforming and subverting both traditional forms and attenuated postmodernist phrasemaking at one and the same time. Word-smatter and language poetry, just as much as the wry turn and ironic wit of the conformist English lyric, are challenged by the mettle of new and younger dynamics, absorbing, synthesising and superseding older forms, habits, growths.

You’ll find that ‘language energy’ at every event in the festival. But as well as attending the events that reaffirm your particular poetic, Pighog would also encourage you to attend the events that challenge your particular notion of poetry.

There’s the unique evening with Harwood, Raworth and Sinclair (Thursday 24 November) – a perhaps never to be repeated meeting of poets who have supercharged English poetry in ways yet to be fully acknowledged. The needle of the poetic barometer, with a glint of sixties déjà vu, is certainly flickering back in their direction.

There are the skilled and accessible poetics of Ciaran O’Driscoll – poetry rich in rhythm and cadenced beauty – contrasted with and complemented by the pared down elegance and power of Hugo Williams, both set off by the discrimination and delicacy of Kay Syrad’s distinctive word work. (Wednesday 23 November)

There are open mic opportunities a plenty when fresh voices can charm and challenge on Wednesday 23 and on Tuesday 22 , when Neil Rollinson and Brendan Cleary bring their earthy centredness and lack of ‘fancy footwork’ to entertain and enchant any audience, in company with Susie Campbell and her unusual diary poems that chart months of emotional weather.

On Friday 25 November, Lorna Thorpe will be launching her new collection from Arc – Sweet Torture of Breathing. Expect robust, questioning poetry, poetry that gets audiences’ heads nodding in affirmation of content, sound and feeling. Lorna Thorpe is a consummate reader and performer of her work. Audiences connect with her accessible poetry, often written from and about the heart, but sparkling with a self-deprecating wit and lightness of touch. Visceral and intelligent, her readings are a complete experience. She plans her delivery carefully with an ear for dramatic impact – every performance is a journey for audience and poet. Charlotte Gann, Pighog’s most recent Sussex series poet, will be joining Lorna together with musicians led by Simon Beavis.

And for the festival finale on Saturday 26 November, four very different top flight poets will provide a memorable evening of the finest contemporary poetry. In association with and introduced by Mark Hewitt from Lewes Live Lit, Mimi Khalvati launches her new collection (from Carcanet) Child. Hosted by Jackie Wills, Peter and Ann Sansom (of Smith’s Doorstop and Poetry Business fame) make a rare appearance in Brighton. And to round the evening off, one of Sussex’s favourite poets – Catherine Smith – with poems both tantalising and terrific (in more ways than one).

In addition to the marvellous mix of voice and subject at the 8pm readings every evening, there are also shorter free readings at 6pm on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with Rachel Woolf, Philip Pollecoff (Chair of the Poetry School), Mark Whelan and Clare Best.

Tickets for the 8pm events are available now on our website. Early booking is advised as capacity is limited and by booking your ticket in advance you’ll have a seat reserved for you at the venue. For best value you can invest in a festival pass which will entitle you to a reserved seat at all of the 8pm readings. At just £16 (£10 concessions) it’s a real snip.

So a poetry festival as juicy, as tender and as tasty as a suckling pig, hence the name! Pigbaby. Brighton Poetry Festival 2011. Come and enjoy this autumnal feast!

Looking forward to meeting you there.

With best wishes

John Davies, Director
PIGHOG PRESS