Event

Cirque du ArtSwarm: Travel
Wistaston Memorial Hall, Wistaston
6 July 2019

About this event
One of a series of experimental art performance, music and poetry nights at Wistaston Memorial Hall, curated and organised by Mark Sheeky and Deborah Edgeley. The theme of the evening was Travel and the special guest was Tim Lee. The night was a mix of music and poetry acts, with some surrealistic and more interactive elements.

Mark Sheeky opened the show by singing Beyond Mars with some live synth parts. The song was inspired by Bowie's Life on Mars, and is about social media and the quest for musical recognition in the internet age. Ian Parr then read three poems about France, followed by two original songs; City City and Starport City Blues by Maggie Shaw. Poet Carol Forrester read some poems next, then Claire Bassi showed a slideshow of a childhood holiday to the south of France.

Maggie Shaw and Rachel Shaw then sang a duet, and Mark Sheeky performed the Magical Adventures of Pegasus where he sang an improvised song, Fly Horsie Fly, while handing a toy winged horse around the room. Audience members suggested places that the horse could visit Mark added these to the song. Local poet Martin read a poem, then guest Tim Lee played electric guitar and sang three of his songs about identity in the internet age.

Steven Goodwin read three poems, followed by a fun quiz by myself that crossed Play-Your-Cards-Right with Risk. Deborah Edgeley read a poem from her forthcoming collection about Hamelyn; Nicholas Ferenczy sang two songs while playing on keyboard; Moragh Carter read a poem and story; and the night ended with Mark Sheeky singing One Day from his E.P. Gunstorm. followed by a sing-along rendition of Tony Christie's Amarillo.