Comedian Rob Delaney, award-winning author Gary Younge and former Loaded Editor James Brown are among those appearing at this year’s Stoke Newington Literary Festival.
James Brown’s talk will feature a special guest appearance by Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh.
The festival, which takes place from June 2nd till June 4th, will predominantly be in the Mildmay Club and the Newington Green Meeting House on Newington Green, with satellite events scheduled at The Old Church, Stokey Pop Up and Cult of Youth jewellery store.
It’s a substantial line up covering gritty topics and members of the Local Buyers Club save 10% on tickets. The schedule includes local writer Tom Mitchelson (author of Don't Ask Me About My Dad), a talk by Lush front-woman Miki Berenyi (author of Fingers Crossed: How Music Saved me from Success) and anti-rape campaigner Soma Sara, (author of Everyone is Invited) will be talking to Jamie Klingler (founder of Reclaim These Streets).
Kieran Yates, author of All the Houses I’ve Ever Lived In will be joined by former housing officer Charmain Bynoe – offering survivor stories of what can be done to escape the housing crisis.
Festival organiser Liz Vater said: “Stoke Newington has a bit of a counter culture – it’s full of people who are curious so I’ve chosen a line up which I think will appeal to that. During the pandemic lots of people became more self-reflective and the line-up for this year’s festival represents that. There are some great memoirs out and we’re pleased to be giving that space and acknowledging how helpful it can be to walk in someone else’s shoes.”
This is the 11th Stoke Newington Literary Festival – the event returned last year after a two-year hiatus through the pandemic.
Liz’s love of literature started at a young age growing up in Abergavenny. Her grandfather had lived in a remote mining village in South Wales and, with just four books in the house, relied heavily on the Miners Benefit Welfare library. He encouraged a love of reading that passed through the generations. She added: “He wouldn’t be at all surprised that I’m running a literary festival – he’d be chuffed!”
Although Liz’s career was in design and advertising, when she went to a literary festival in Henley on Thames with her husband (author Pete Brown), she realised it was something Stoke Newington lacked.
She added: “Before the festival, I was an avid reader – I’d get through three books a week. Now it’s double that but I have to skim – I read twice as much but half as much now!”
The festival will include events for children at Grasmere Primary School, including a talk by Louie Stowell (author of Loki) and SF Said (author of Foyles Children’s Book of the Year: Tyger).
Other writers set to appear include comedian Robin Ince (his book Bibliomaniac indulges his lifelong obsession with books and takes a journey across Britain’s bookshops).
On the Saturday James Brown will talk about his book Animal House – a story of addiction, his mum’s death to suicide and his hedonistic lifestyle in the 90s. He’ll be joined by special guest Irvine Welsh and there’ll be a 90s themed disco after.
There’s much more planned - for the full schedule and for tickets visit https://stokenewingtonlitfest.eventcube.io/
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