Louder Than Words

PLEASE NOTE: Artists over the weekend will be in conversation, not live music performances.

Louder Than Words is a new genre-based festival celebrating words – oral, written and published – associated with the music industry. The event will bring some true greats from the worlds of words and music to the city - voices such as Wilko Johnson (Dr Feelgood), Zoe Howe (author), Jah Wobble (Public Image Ltd), Tim Burgess (The Charlatans), Lucy O'Brien (academic, author and former musician) and Alan McGee (Creation Records) - and provide a chance to hear from them in a uniquely intimate environment.

FRIDAY
The festival launches with a series of events in the wood-panelled splendor of the Directors Suite. These include a performance by Tony Walsh of his commissioned poem ‘And The Dreamers’, and then Ben Osborne’s narrated DJ set celebrating 100 years of electronic music, all culminating with the delights of John Robb’s Late Night Music Quiz.

SATURDAY
Saturday’s programme runs from 10am through to 1am Sunday. In the morning, choose from the Club Culture panel discussion, or Led Zeppelin author Barney Hoskyns in conversation with Simon Warner. As the day progresses, events include the panel Have Academics Killed Rock & Roll; a workshop on getting your own work published; and conversation with Elaine Constantine celebrating the music, moves and movement of Northern Soul. In the afternoon, David Hepworth is in conversation with Hugh Cornwell, lead singer of The Stranglers; Charlie Connelly goes In search of Elvis and Alan McGee is in conversation with John Robb. A very special guest of the Festival is Wilko Johnson, guitarist of Dr Feelgood, who will be in conversation with Zoe Howe, author of his biography Looking Back At Me. Evening sessions include discussion and anecdote on identity and the world of the music obsessive in the company of Tony Fletcher, author of books on The Smiths, and a special performance of the critically acclaimed John Peel’s Shed by author John Osborne.

SUNDAY
Sunday kicks off bright and early with panels on The Future of Rock Writing, and the impact of technology on Music Writing. Zoe Howe will be joined by Douglas Hart to discuss her pending publication on The Jesus and Mary Chain, and the UK’s foremost Bob Dylan expert, Clinton Heylin, is in conversation. After lunch, former members of The Fall are joined by fellow protagonists to discuss the impact of this most awkward of bands, and there's topical debate in the all female line-up for the Women in Rock panel. In terms of performances, there’s a very welcome outing for Stella Grundy’s The Rise and Fall of a Northern Star and Wilko Johnson will also present the inaugural Wilko Johnson Writers Award, celebrating great new writers under the age of 25. The festival then builds to a fantastic crescendo, with Tim Burgess (The Charlatans), and then Jah Wobble (Public Image Limited) both in conversation with John Robb, respectively Tellin' Stories and recalling their Memoirs of a Geezer.

If you love music, and the way people write about music, Louder Than Words provides a unique opportunity to spend time with key voices… such as Chris Salewicz, CP Lee, Lucy O’Brien, Mick Middles, Sarah Bee, David Barker, Stella Grundy and Martin James. Whether your interest is Led Zeppelin or house music; Bob Dylan or Northern Soul, there is sure to be something for you, with a tremendous line-up populated by some of the best names in music, and music writing.

Visit www.louderthanwordsfest.com for more information.