My weekend has been spent at another festival! This time I was at Sotterley near Beccles, the new venue for FolkEast and it was rather lovely. A beautiful setting in the grounds of a country house, with a relaxed and easy atmosphere, lots of space and great music, dance, crafts and conversation.
This afternoon I was talking to novelist Kate Sawyer about her latest book 'Getting Away'. Kate is always great fun and has so much to say about the writing process and the inspiration and intent of her works, and this is another fabulous book.
It was rather hot on Friday for my interview of Robert Macfarlane, author of Is a River Alive? but we had a vast, cool, dark barn as our venue. The audience was packed in. Every seat was taken and people were sitting on the floor, leaning against the ancient brick walls, and standing two or three deep at the back.
The size of the audience was indicative of Robert's popularity, of course, but also the level of interest in the state of our rivers, not just in this country but around the world. It was encouraging to see this support and concern, and to hear such interesting, informed and intelligent questions raised by those present, both in the main event and in the long signing queue afterwards.
Later in the day Robert appeared on a different stage with Stevens & Pound, a very talented and accomplished percussion and accordion duo with whom he has collaborated on a work of music and words.
It was called Earth: The Silent Planet and was composed to mark the 150th anniversary of Holst last year. In this reinterpretation of the Planets Suite, Robert speaks verse about the planets, including Earth (which Holst omitted due to it being 'astrologically insignificant'), stressing 'the urgency of listening to our planet and amplifying unheard voices in the conversation around the climate'. This was its 'world premiere' and it was incredible to see and hear performed.
Robert has worked on many collaborations but says that when working with musicians, 'what they're doing in front of me is making absolute magic. It's miracle-weaving happening in the moment. I feel the pen is such a leaden tool compared to that. And you'd never want to watch a writer writing on a stage!'
We're certainly grateful to him for his writing on the page and for all that he shares on stage in conversation and performance, and in his activism. There will be more details about this event on my website here in the next few days.
Thank you for reading.
PS We're meeting in Framlingham at Ottie and the Bea on Wednesday evening to discuss this month's Book Group book 'Hello Beautiful'. If you'd like to come along, scroll down for details.