We’ll be seeing out the festival season in style with an anticipated trip to the island of Jersey for arts extravaganza Branchage. Curating two very special Caught by the River events over two days from Friday September 26th, we bring with us a whole host of our regular contributors, guests and like-minded enthusiasts.
Branchage Festival is not only unique in its location – that cross-cultural land of milk and potatoes – but in the diversity and meticulousness of its programming. Five nights of films, music, parties and performances, all scattered around the island. This year Branchage returns to Jersey for the first time since 2011 and among the highlights are; the Sir Peter Blake exhibition, A Chris Watson Nature Disco, a Heavenly Recordings party featuring Stealing Sheep an H.Hawkline and a screening of Paul Kelly’s must-see film How We Used To Live with a live score by Saint Etienne.
The Caught by the River programme of events is as follows;
Day one – Friday 26th September from 4pm at The Old Court House, Bulwarks, St Aubin
Following on from issue 9 of our An Antidote To Indifference fanzine, we’ll be staging our celebrated Caught by the River Social Club with the appropriate theme of islands. There will be readings from Will Burns, Mathew Clayton, Amy Liptrot, hosted by John Andrews.
“Author, editor and co-director of Port Eliot Festival Mathew Clayton will offer us a preview of his forthcoming book Islands Round Britain, (published Spring 2015 by Ebury Press); Caught by the River poet-in-residence and Faber New Poet 2014, Will Burns will read his luminous verse; Melissa Harrison, author of the greatly acclaimed debut novel Clay will read a new piece written exclusively for the occasion; author, journalist and Orkney island dweller Amy Liptrot will read from her hotly anticipated memoir The Outrun published by Canongate next year; whilst author and purveyor of ‘vintage fishing tackle for the soul’, John Andrews hosts this event with his usual wit and warmth.”
Day two – Saturday 26th September (same time, same place)
The second mass meeting of minds will consider the themes of place, nature, and wildlife, with readings from some of the UK’s best nature writers; Richard Benson, Will Burns, David Callahan, Tim Dee, Emma Warren and hosted by the wonderful Melissa Harrison.
“Bestselling author Richard Benson will read from his latest book The Valley , a defining history of the mining community through four generations of his own mother’s family; Caught by the River poet-in-residence and Faber New Poet 2014, Will Burns will offer an exclusive preview of his first poetry pamphlet published in October; author, journalist and birdwatcher David Callahan discusses his new book A History of Birdwatching in 100 Objects, presenting some of the most eclectic items which have shaped how we study the avian world; BBC Radio producer for over twenty five years Tim Dee, will read from his latest and greatly acclaimed book Four Fields; Caught By The River regular and magazine editor Emma Warren will read from A Year in Oxleas Woods her stunning chronicles of the sights and sounds of a south London wood, throughout the year, throughout the seasons; and for this one, Melissa Harrison hosts with her characteristic wit and wisdom.”
Hope to see you there!