BOOKS, BOOZE AND BOOGIE WOOGIE

The Book Club Boutique are returning to Standon Calling with their particular brand of ‘books, booze and boogie woogie’ and this year they’re bringing their own speakeasy.

“With a wry, rye whiskey flavour of gangsters, New York speakeasys and a Bonnie and Clyde theme, prohibition has never been sexier,” says BCB host and curator, Salena Godden, of the crime-themed literary programme. She’s recruited a gang of some of the edgiest outsider writers and the wildest underground bands to entertain and rob you blind of any inhibitions

The line-up includes the notorious Sara Stockbridge, Vivienne Westward’s muse, and the author of Hammer. This is a fast-paced and racy read depicting corruption, poverty, harlots and petty thieves in London’s Victorian crime underworld during the 19th century. Actor and author Ray Shell, who shot to fame with Iced, a hardcore tale of crack addiction and crime set in New York in the early nineties, is also reading. So too is Amber Marks. She’s the daughter of the infamous Howard Marks, as well as an author, journalist and criminal barrister. As well as reading from her latest book, she’s also produced some pieces specifically for Standon Calling to spark debate and get the festival-goers thinking.

Most of the readers, performers and musicians are composing stories, poems and songs to tie in with ‘Murder on the Standon Express’ theme. Expect tales of the unexpected, improvisation and late-night collaborations, plys psycho-killer tunes from the BCB’s DJs. On the music side, Trash Money’s rendition of ‘Satan You Lied’ will set the tone. Brighton’s very naughty Pink Narcissus will lower the tone, before Zodiac Mindwarp guitarist, Cobalt Stargazer joins Salena Godden and Max Doray and the Book Club Boutique’s band attempts to blow your minds, the safe and anything else in their path.

THE LINE-UP

AUTHORS AND POETS
Sara Stockbridge; Amber Marks; Ray Shell; Salena Godden; Amah-Rose McKnight; Kate Tempest; Xavier Leret; Oli Spleen; Kim Sherwood; Nikesh Shukla; Stuart Evers; Moldeviant

LIVE MUSIC
The Book Club Boutique Band starring Ms Max Doray and Cobalt Stargazer; Jont;  Lisa Lore; Claire Nicolson; Trash Money; Pink Narcissus; Orlando Seale; Kate Daisy Grant; Moustache Man; PLUS Special Guests

DJS
Carbo & Hydrate; DJ Redman; Boris McNabb

FILM AND VISUALS
Sally Dunbar & Kelly Davitt

Tagged as: Standon Calling, The Bookclub Boutique