The Mersey Sound, John Donne, Joolz Denby, Dorothy Parker, Roots Manuva, Ani DiFranco, Carol Ann Duffy, Billy Collins, Taylor Mali, Bettie Page, Frida Kahlo, Liz Taylor, Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, Love and Rockets comics, Sandra Cisneros, Raymond Carver, Queen Sheba, Rosie Lugosi, Kat Francois, Michelle Green, Sharon Olds, Philip Larkin, Sylvia Plath- and all the bad girls, divas and both-end candle-burners ever.
Sophia Blackwell is a performance poet, cabaret vamp, burlesque wannabe, feminist lesbian warrior princess and Italian pasta-momma. Born in Newcastle, polished at Oxford and living in North London, she’s been on the poetry scene for five years after winning her first Slam and getting her first paycheque - which was immediately spent on petrol and a curry.
An eclectic word-flinger, Sophia does quiet love poems, scary blazing rants against oppression and hypocrisy, and meditative rambles about dancing shoes, tomatoes, reality TV and killing your potted herbs- the stuff of life. She owns a lot of red dresses.
From mid-November 2008 to mid-January 2009, Sophia's portrait was exhibited as part of the 'Headspace,' exhibition at the Saison Poetry Library in the South Bank Centre. At Glastonbury this year she will be reading two winning poems from a spoken word competition run by Speak 2B Free and also hosting the open mic session as well as doing a bit of performing.
Her first collection of poems, 'Into Temptation,' will be published in August 2009 and will be available to buy via Paypal on this site, Amazon and Sophia's own website (under construction) Orders will also be taken via email at sophiablackwell@gmail.com. Contact Sophia for a press release or more details.
QUOTES
'If Amy Winehouse wrote poetry, she might sound like this...a thrilling half-hour set at this year's Glastonbury...her work has emotional depth as well as immediate impact.' DIVA Magazine
'Sophistication incarnate- an artist who combines humour and original social commentary with stunning visual performance.' Steve Larkin
'Blackwell's poems deliver what poetry usually only promises...astonishingly intricate, precise, witty, self-aware and formally complete.' Will Holloway
‘Her rhymes and rhythms hit the heights of inventiveness and wit.’ Cherwell Magazine
'Much as I like poetry, I tend to avoid evenings that are devoted to it...so, it’s always good when someone like Sophia Blackwell comes along to remind us just how important the lyrics are. If the idea of listening to poetry sounds boring, forget it. Sophia writes and performs incredible verse that is relevant, vital, passionate and great fun. Do not miss an opportunity to experience this lady’s work.' Peter Coulston, Backstage Pass
'Makes me think of a modern-day Woolf...her f*** it attitude is infectious, you can't help but like her.' Spoonfed London
BOOKING INFORMATION
For booking enquiries and further information please contact Jen Roberts: jr@jenroberts.co.uk
Featured At these Festivals: WOMAD (2004), Glastonbury (Poetry & Words Tent 2004, Speakers’ Forum 2005-7, Enchanted Cabaret Tent 2008, Poetry and Words Tent 2009), Cowley Road Carnival (2004-5) Ashton Court (2006) TruckFest (2006-7), The Big Green Gathering (2006-7), OxJam (2007), Wychwood (2008), The Big Chill (2008) Cheltenham, Swindon, Oxford and Wells Literature Festivals, Bromley Arts Festival, various Prides, The Pink Festival, The Isis Ball, The Cabaret Carnival, York Lesbian Arts Festival
Guested At These Events: Hammer and Tongue, Behind the Mic at the Glass Bar, Soho Revue Bar and Brick House, Apples and Snakes, Farrago, Doolally’s, Agenda, Bar Wotever, New October Poets, The Backroom Poets, Catweazle, IK-TOMS (Unplugged and Wired), ObScured, Velvet London Burlesque, MotherFoucault, The Magic Faraway Travel Agency, W.E Love Sundays, UTTER!, Tabarnak
Radio/TV: Ras Kwame's BBC1Xtra Radio Show, Resonance FM, FYI Culture, BBC Oxford, Dominic O'Rourke's Poetry Podcast- poems available to download now, interview coming soon
PHOTOS
99% of the photos on this page and all the photos accompanying the poems are by Abigail Chicken. Abby is an exceptional photographer, available for weddings, gig photos and other fabulous events. Check her out at http://www.flickr.com/photos/redbettyblack
The main profile photo and one of the pics in the slideshow are by James Reynard (www.thesensualphoto.com). If you want to look at his site I highly recommend it so long as your mum is not standing behind you.
My short story collection, A History of Sarcasm, is out at the end of October. More details on my website – www.frankburton.co.uk.
“The writer William Burroughs once called language “a virus from outer space”, and there’s a sense of that in A History of Sarcasm, where Burton holds words up to the sun and lets the light shine through them.”
"It's the omnipotent value that's the strength behind the force. The steering mechanism that keeps your life on course. That mixes girl and woman with the taste of life's champagne and keeps your party bubbling beyond the last refrain"...
Wanna come to one of your London gigs Sophia - let me know when you do one that admits non-females..xx (ps - have you checked the 'weazle vid of you - cd upload here)
Thanks Soph, great meeting you too. I still can't ggrtover how wordy you are. Fantastic, and not a single noticeable slip up! I have seen the pictures. Abby is very talented with the old shutter-box! S x
Well hello! The fellow Sofia/Sophia! Glad to make internet contact :) we had a great pride. Main stage was awesome, but women's stage was way more fun!
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