Hull Poet, Mike Watts' Debut Collection Available Now By Tim Roux Coming to a Street Near You by Mike Watts Published by Night Publishing

Coming from a street near Mike Watts, I happen to know quite a lot about Hull and the extraordinary artistic flare up that has happened there over the last 40 years since the arrival of Philip Larkin of Hull University, John Godber of Hull Truck, and Cilla Wykes of ThisisUll, all of whom have had a major effect on the area (and if those sound like honorary titles they've got there, they should be). Mike is from the ThisisUll stable of poets, writers and musicians, which means that he is scrutinising the streets of his less than fair city with a scalpel and microscope. If he were from the University set, he would be gazing through a telescope into the beyond. That is the significant divide in Hull poetry.

The Hull poetry scene is very much 'Town and Gown', the Town being represented by 'street' poets like Mike Watts, Joe Hakim, Peter Knaggs, Rich Sutherland and the ThisisUll sponsored set. The Gowns include Ian Parks and Tony Flynn, and also Frank Redpath, Andrew Motion, Tony Griffin, Christopher Reid and the great Philip Larkin himself.

The 'Townies' focus on what it is like to live 'real' life in this intriguing, down-to-earth, blasted, tough but spirited urban planet, sometimes described even by its occupants as being located in the back of beyond.

Mike's poetry, with its humour, warm-heartedness and determinedly rigorous observation, exemplifies the writing of the 'Townies'. Don't expect many obscure academic references to Ovid or Byron (although there is a hilarious reworking of the famous Philip Larkin poem Annus Mirabilis). You are more likely to get fish and chip shops, the lottery, prostitutes and life lived in the face of the constant blight of debt. I love this stuff. It looks like Hull, it sounds like Hull and it smells like Hull, a place we are all proud to come from, even if we don't always enjoy the experience of being there at the time. Special Offer - for a limited period only you can buy Coming to a Street Near You for £6.99 from thisisUll.com. Mike Watts Featured Writer Home Page on thisisUll.com Mike Watts on Facebook

See and Hear Mike Watts' poetry on the Apple ™ iPhone, iTouch and iPad. iPoetry on iTunes App Store Larkin25 on iTunes App Store

PRESS RELEASE - Larkin25 (iPad/iPhone/iTouch ) Application on Apple iTunes AppStore Version 1.0 On Sale Now
	Made in Hull - thisisUll.com announces the release of it's latest development - Larkin25 is a living anthology of poetry collected to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the death of Philip Larkin, poet, who made his home in Kingston Upon Hull in the UK. Introducing poetry written by local poets from Hull and its surrounding areas in celebration of Philip Larkin's life and featuring works performed at 'They f*** you up' live performances at Hull Truck Theatre in July 2010. Read more...

News, Arts Write to Speak Presents Poetry/Spoken Word at Hull Truck - Monday 22nd and Wednesday 24th November 2010
	After a year's development of spoken word in Hull, working with local poets and performers, Write to Speak presents two special events to mark the occasion. Monday 22nd November - Larkin25 Celebration Revisited - Write to Speak presents: They f*** you up... The culmination of a series of free, open workshops for this year's Larkin25 celebrations, Read more...

News, Arts Wednesday 20th October - Write to Speak presents: The Petty Concerns of Luke Wright and Helen Mort at Hull Truck
	Show Starts at 7.45pm Tickets £10/£8 Hull Truck Box Office (01482) 323638 Write to Speak, Hull's biggest spoken word/poetry event, returns to Hull Truck on Wednesday 20th October, featuring Luke Wright, with support from Helen Mort. Set against a backdrop of grotty Travelodges and open mic London, The Petty Concerns of Luke Wright tackles ego, ambition and humility in a fast-paced and hilarious hour. Read more...

News, Arts Thursday 7th October 2010 - Write to Speak presents: National Poetry Day at Hull Truck
	Hull Truck Foyer 12.30 - 2.00 and 5.00 - 7.00 Free Entry To coincide with National Poetry Day on Thursday 7th October, Write to Speak presents an afternoon of poetry at Hull Truck Theatre. As well as showcasing some of the poets who have taken part in the Larkin25 workshops, the event is open to all local poets and spoken word performers. Read more...

News, Arts Saturday 11th September 2010 - Write to Speak at the Freedom Festival Hull Featuring Byron Vincent and the Write to Speak Workshop Poets
	Write to Speak, Hull's biggest spoken word/poetry event, is hosting a special one off event at Freedom Festival 2010, featuring performances from the Write to Speak Workshop Poets and a special headline set from Byron Vincent. Byron Vincent is a regular at many of the UK's most prestigious music and literary events including, Cheltenham festival of literature, Read more...

News, Arts Poetry/Spoken Word - Write to Speak at Hull Truck, Wednesday 1st September 2010 Featuring Ian McMillan - Talking Myself Home
	Write to Speak, Yorkshire's first theatre based spoken word night, returns to the studio space at Hull Truck theatre for its third season on Wednesday 1st September, with Ian McMillan -Talking Myself Home Talking Myself Home is Yorkshire poet, comedian and broadcaster Ian McMillan's life story in poems, and a portrait of Darfield, near Barnsley, a place mentioned (briefly) in the Domesday book, now trying to reinvent itself after the wholesale closure of the mining industry. Read more...

News Former Ballerina Stars for Williamsons By Julian Woodford
	Former dancer Gemma Foster has swapped Drury Lane for Chancery Lane and become a fully qualified solicitor. Ms Foster, a trainee at Williamsons Solicitors since 2008, has been appointed to the Hull firm's family department following a two-year training contract. While her Law Society graduation at Chancery Lane on July 26 marked the official start of her professional legal career, it also brought back memories of her 18 years in dancing. Read more...

News, Arts Legendary Band to Launch New Photography Exhibition in Hull
	Iconic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) are set to showcase their first album for 14 years at Hull Truck Theatre - where an exciting new exhibition of photos of the band is also being staged. All promotional photography for OMD's new History of Modern album has been shot by Hull-based photographer O-Ten, who worked with the band at several locations around the city, including Hull Truck Theatre's basement! Read more...

News, Arts Free Drawing Classes
	No drawing ability/'talent' needed! Have you always had a desire to draw but don't know where to start, think you can't or think you need talent? The classes aim to show you where to start and help you realise that you don't need talent to draw really well. Based on the principles of 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain' by Betty Edwards the classes will teach anyone who wants to draw Read more...