Galway launch of 'Life Lines' poetry CD in aid of Oxfam

galway | arts and media | event notice Friday June 16, 2006 02:12 by poetry news

The Galway Launch of ‘Life Lines’, the Oxfam Poetry CD, edited by Todd Swift, takes place on Thursday July 20th, 6.00pm in the Galway Oxfam Shop, Abbeygate Street. ‘Life Lines’ will be launched by Galway City Councillor Niall Ó Brolcháin. All welcome. The launch is part of the Project 06 Festival. For further details about the Galway ‘Life Lines’ launch phone 087-6431748

Andrew Motion, Al Alvarez, Simon Armitage, Benjamin Zephaniah, Carol Ann Duffy, Adrian Mitchell, Dannie Abse, Peter Porter, Fleur Adcock, Maurice Riordan, Nick Laird, Kevin Higgins, Roger McGough, Roddy Lumsden, Clare Pollard, Ian Duhig, Jo Shapcott, Lavinia Greenlaw, George Szirtes, John Hegley, Sophie Hannah and Pam Ayres are part of a line up of top British and Irish poets who have recorded an anthology CD for Oxfam. It is the first time ever that such a large group of poets have met to record their work for such a project.

Poetry has been hotly debated within the media recently, facing concerns that it is losing its mass appeal. However celebrities from Johnny Depp; to Marianne Faithful and Jewel all read and even write poetry in their spare time. In a bid to demonstrate how diverse and exciting poetry can be, and to show their support for Oxfam, the UK’s leading poets have teamed up to create a CD of their most enthralling work to date.

The recording took place on 24 February at the RNIB studio in Camden and it will be sold in 174 Oxfam shops around the UK from 10th June priced at £4.99. Oxfam is Europe’s biggest retailer of second-hand books and the CD aims to add to the allure of the shops as a treasure trove of interesting finds.

This project is the brainchild of Todd Swift, Oxfam’s Poet in Residence since 2004. He said:

“ We have 69 poets involved, mainstream poets rubbing shoulders with performance poets, legendary older poets and young stars. Here you will find Andrew Motion’s moving Anne Frank Huis and Wendy Cope’s surprising meditation on 9/11, John Hegley’s St George’s Day and Carol Ann Duffy’s Prayer. The poets banded together and donated a living metaphor for Oxfam. That is, a work that proves poetry is not dying at all, but very much alive and helping to save lives.”

Andrew Motion was appointed as British Poet Laureate in May 1999. He says:

“I think it is such a worthwhile project, and it’s so nice to see so many people supporting it.”

All funds raised from sales of the CDs will go towards Oxfam’s work to overcome poverty and suffering around the world.

For further details about ‘Life Lines’ http://www.oxfam.org.uk/shop/online/poetry.htm