HARK! The Sound of Stories

The Hughes & Hughes Sessions

Announcing a cross-continental evening of music inspired by the writings of Langston Hughes & Ted Hughes, presented from the majestic Darlington Crown Street Library, broadcasting online at 7:30pm on January 31st.

Click to stream on Facebook  //  Click to stream on YouTube

LEYLA McCALLA

All the way from New Orleans!
Deeply influenced by traditional Creole, Cajun, Haitian, and American jazz and folk music, US-based Leyla McCalla is bilingual multi-instrumentalist, alumna of Grammy award-winning African-American string band, the Carolina Chocolate Drops and member of acclaimed, Grammy-nominated banjo-playing supergroup, Our Native Daughters. McCalla’s music vibrates with three centuries of history, yet feels strikingly fresh, distinctive and contemporary. Leyla will perform pieces from her newest release, the award-winning and always timely Vari-Colored Songs: A Tribute to Langston Hughes, interspersed with songs from past albums.
Find her music at: leylamccalla.com

BIRD RADIO

BIRD RADIO is a London-based flautist, singer, composer and musician, described by critics as ‘a musical storyteller of rare power’ and ‘a flute-toting, bass drum-beating sensation’. With decades of experience under his belt, in 2019 he collaborated with experimental improv electronics duo Pig7 to create music based on Ted Hughes' Crow poems - a body of work that Hughes himself felt was his masterpiece. The resulting album, Crow, is ‘folk-horror of the darkest hue’. For HARK! Bird Radio brings us three pieces from Crow, performed solo in his uniquely mesmerising style.
Find their music at: birdradio.bandcamp.com

 

HJM BRADSHAW

HJM Bradshaw is a singer-songwriter based in Teesside, having also been regular cellist for North East artists Tom Joshua, Nel Unlit, and Elaine Palmer, as well as Mercury Prize nominated John Bramwell (I Am Kloot), for a number of years. She has an eclectic mix of influences both musical and literary, including solo artists such as Joni Mitchell, Laura Marling, Carole King, Carole Bayer Sager, as well as poets Sylvia Plath, Frank O’Hara and Simon Armitage. Bradshaw’s songs combine wistful, often confessional lyrics with folk-tinged guitar, and delicate vocals reminiscent of both folk and older music hall styles.

Performances will be paired with poetry readings from Teesside writer, podcaster, performer and former BBC Tees DJ Bob Fischer, and emerging poet (and current law student) Zafira Nelson-Ashley.

Find her music at: hjmbradshaw.bandcamp.com

PLUS! FREE ONLINE WRITING WORKSHOP, 2-4pm, 31st Jan
An exclusive writing workshop tailored for this HARK! Event, will look at ways you can use music to inspire and expand your poetry practice.
Suitable for writers of all levels. Places are highly limited!
Sign up for the workshop: bit.ly/harkhughesworkshop

 

Brought to you thanks to amazing support from Arts Council England & Creative Darlington. Stream starts at 7.00pm on our Facebook & YouTube
Poster design by Rob Irish
We advise that this is suitable for ages 13+
Event is FREE to watch, though donations to support future events like this are welcomed at this link