with Elaine Palmer

Talented singer-songwriter, curator, and host, Elaine Palmer, brings forth a new addition to her repertoire later this month with the first in her contemporary literature events, to be held in rural, North Yorkshire, hosting that of Bob Beagrie and Bob Fischer.

Residing there herself, Ms. Palmer already hosts musical events at the same venue, the Velveteen Rabbit Club (Great Ayton), and are highly sought after events, whilst she herself, is a musician of the highest calibre having toured both the UK and the USA during a distinguished career.

Beagrie and Fischer are themselves, talented artists, of the literary kind, with the former being that of a poet, playwright and performer, and the latter a presenter, performer and author.

“I am thrilled to be hosting the first ever literature event,” began host, Elaine Palmer.

“This will have live performances from author Bob Fischer, and poet Bob Beagrie, as well as a special guest appearance from Mel McEvoy, at the beautiful, Velveteen Rabbit Luncheon Club, in Great Ayton.

“I host singer-songwriter events down in the candle-lit, bohemian basement there, and I have always wanted to expand these nights to include contemporary literature events too.

“It’s such a special atmospheric space with lush velvet sofas, and Moroccan lamps, which all add to the experience of the performances.”

Looking at the two guests on the evening of 24 February, Bob Beagrie’s latest offering, entitled ‘The Last Almanac,’ is a collection of his poetry spanning the past two decades, and which cover a vast array of what is best described as being ‘shamanic sensibility.’

‘The Last Almanac’ follows recent publications of Beagrie’s which includes ‘Civil Insolencies (2019),’ ‘And Then We Saw The Daughter of the Minotaur (2020),’ and ‘When We Wake We Think We’re Whalers from Eden (2021),’ works that have been translated into numerous languages, across the globe.

Fellow author, poet, and biographer, Kathleen Jones, said of Beagrie’s recent publication that: “The Last Almanac is a dazzling exhibition of the mastery of line, with words that shape-shift through layers of history and language, of place and memory, mythology and spell-craft.

“There’s nothing quite like Bob Beagrie’s poetry.

“The poems in this collection combine the political with the lyrical, to show us the maelstrom we live through, bombarded by images and memes, and the struggle to maintain an inner life that is meaningful and creative.”

As for Bob Fischer, he is perhaps best known for his work, until Spring 2020, of his work with BBC Radio Tees, and his thrice-weekly show covering music, literature, and the arts, along with his fronting the stations iconic, BBC Introducing, and being a guest presenter on BBC Radio 6. In 2018, Fischer (along with Andrew T. Smith) co-wrote and performed the show, ‘Summer Winos,’ at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, before touring it the following year – if you didn’t guess, the show is based on the iconic, television programme, ‘The Last of the Summer Wine.’

Among other things in which Fischer has done, BBC Radio 6 also aired the 2014 documentary, ‘Worms, Witches, and Boggarts,’ about local folklore, whilst his book, ‘Wiffle Lever to Full,’ was published in 2009 and is a crossover of sorts between travelogue, and memoir.

In addition to that of Bob, and well, Bob, Elaine Palmer has also added a special guest to the evenings’ proceedings in Nurse Consultant and Poet, Mel McEvoy. He, late last year, saw his second collection of original poetry, ‘Wading into the Light,’ published, and was something in which was dedicated to those who work in health care.

Tagged as being “A spoken word event with performances from writers,” Elaine Palmer’s first contemporary literature event takes place at The Velveteen Rabbit Luncheon Club, Great Ayton, on Friday 24 February (19:00). Tickets for the event are limited, on sale now, and available only from the venue on 01642 725383

Visit the event page via https:// www.facebook.com/events/5688 58211435407/?ref=newsfeed and check out the venue at https:// www.facebook.com/luncheonclub or keep up-to-date with the host, Elaine Palmer, via https://www. facebook.com/elainepalmerpage