Sky Arts filmed two sets: the Blake-inspired Irish poet Niall McDevitt performing on the pier; and, in the intimate setting of SeaFish on the Sunday, Deborah Rose and Marie Randall singing an emotional Tyger Tyger, amongst other magical ballads.Poet Atilla the Stockbroker, after his initial anarchic, high-energy deliveries, switched into punk-folk which didn't leave many dry eyes when he performed the poem about his step-dad.

Sounditions' weird world music style went down incredibly well, alongside performances from Sky and The Speak.

There was something in the air and Niall posted 'A beacon has been lit on the Coast'.

All those involved are keen to carry on supporting an authentic Blakean Festival and Attila made a promise to the audience to help organise the next one if the land could be secured.

Julie's work explores the hidden recesses of the subconscious holding both a dreamlike quality and emotional intensity. Based in London she has exhibited her widely. Last month her work was on the front cover of the International Times. 

• Promote a positive image of Bognor Regis
• Reduce crime and anti-social behaviour
• Stimulate the evening and night time economy
• Better parking

Why have a sculpture?
1.      Tourist attraction and photo-opportunity (local history/national figure)
2.      It contributes to the regeneration of the immediate context of a community and complement the work already undertaken to revitalise these areas
3.      Raises cultural awareness on an inter- and cross-community level and provides access to the arts for all
4.      Builds upon the tourism offering of the area and celebrates and interacts with Bognor’s rich heritage
5.      Produces a positive image of Bognor Regis at local, national and international levels

Vincent Gray has worked alongside some notable and highly regarded names in the arts, engineering, military and entertainment, both in the UK and in Scandinavia. His work has introduced him to many leading lights and free thinkers, which he says, ‘do not fail to inspire and influence’. He is the sculptor of the life-size statue of John Keats in Eastgate Square and Leonard Bernstein at St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester. His ambition is to erect a statue of Blake’s Glad Day on Bognor Regis seafront

Today, Blake is still very much part of Felpham. Some 200 years since he walked our lanes, admired our fields and painted from our beach he is enshrined in the history of our ‘sweet Felpham’. So, it was fitting that finally Big Blake in conjunction with Felpham village Conservation Society put on an afternoon devoted to William Blake and offering local people a chance to come and understand a little of the man, his art and his visions.

After a year of planning, preparation and publicising, BlakeFest 2019 began the Sunday before the main event with "Unpacking Blake", a collection of art, a live music performance and a panel discussion, with talks by four Blake experts, at Felpham Village Memorial Hall. With no idea of how many people were going to be in attendance it wasn't heartening that it was absolutely pouring down with rain. Fortunately, the skies cleared after a while and people arrived, in their droves.

Prior to the musical performance, viewers were able to, while enjoying freshly made tea, coffee, cakes and scones, examine representations of some of Blake's art and to experience speaker/Artist Dr. Mikey Georgeson's 'Aesthetic Machines' immersive exhibition. This is a varied collection of, often, interactive installations (two of which have graced previous BlakeFests). Screens and sounds, a childhood bathing memory, a giant egg, a character called Kimey Peckpo, 'Actual Occasion' and 'the nonbifurcated man', among others, captivated and intrigued the curious and appreciative throng also foreshadowing Mikey's upcoming panel presentation, more of which later.

With around 120 people in attendance, the Hall ran out of seating so it was standing room only at the back with people still in the entrance hall when Across The Sea began their live music performance. A combination of textured acoustic guitar effects/ambience of Pete Ferguson with the angelic, expressive voice of Hannah Katy Lewis, Across The Sea best described their style as "Prog/Folk", building landscapes of sound with clever effects-pedal treatment from a single acoustic guitar allowing Hannah's voice to swoop and story tell over the sonic surface intertwining with the inventive shifts in rhythm and harmonic structure. This truly magical duo echoed the transportative and transformative spirit of Blake's work and even performed a spellbinding version of Jerusalem especially put together for this audience.

The four panellists all unpacked different aspects of the impact of William Blake on our society.

Dr Luke Walker spoke about Blake's work and his influence on British counter culture and radical politics in the 1960s and 1970s. Blake was 'rediscovered' and reassessed around 150 years after his death, after remaining virtually unknown and unappreciated during his own lifetime, by the likes of Ginsberg (famously pictured outside Blake's Felpham cottage, uncharacteristically beardless) and Dylan. Blake was finally given his true status as a visionary genius and influencing a shift in creative thought and art.

Dr Simon Mouatt covered how Blake and the Romantics challenged the Enlightenment ideals and informed contemporary psychology, neuroscience and philosophy. Very well-illustrated, this talk delved into Blake's understanding of the Mind, showing a deeper understanding, through his works, than was the accepted wisdom of the time. Far-reaching thoughts and illuminating another facet of Blake's visionary insight.

Dr Mikey Georgeson gave a talk which evolved into an aesthetic poetic performance demonstrating how Blake's thought and mysticism has inspired the philosophy that underpins the practice and dissemination of contemporary art. Captivating the audience with a talk explaining the aesthetic aspects of Blake which, as the presentation developed, backed by a video/audio experience, built to a half-enunciated/recited/sung crescendo exemplifying the effect and provoking spontaneous audience applause.

The panel talks were rounded off perfectly by Cultural Historian author John Higgs on why Blake matters now; a constant presence from video games to novels, from sporting events to political rallies and from horror films to designer fashions. Covering the emergence of Generation Z, a leap forward in society, social mobilisation and access to a whole internet of knowledge, Blake has now become deeply ingrained in our culture. One of the most surprising aspects of John's talk were clips of current video games featuring Blake's direct influence, one of which has a character which will verbally quote Blake at any given time.

There followed a 'Question & Answer' session which involved mainly local residents giving their perspectives of the 60s and opinions on some of the comments made during the talks. Some of these were so un-questionlike that they inspired present poet/Blakehead Stephen Micalef to write a poem entitled "Is that a question". After three hours of art, music, talks and highly-engaged discussion we closed the event and after uninstalling the artworks we adjourned to nearby Blake-era pub The Fox to unravel "Unpacking Blake" and hailing it a well-attended success and a positive, uplifting start to BlakeFest 2019

An eclectic mix of words and music set in the Sussex seaside town of Bognor Regis. William Blake lived in the adjoining village of Felpham from 1801-1803, where he saw visions of angels, was inspired to write Jerusalem and was later placed on trial for sedition in Chichester after an altercation with a soldier outside an inn. Poetry events are curated by the South Downs Poetry Festival. Music includes Charlotte Glasson jazz trio, with legendary guitarist Chris Spedding. Many more bands and musicians lined up throughout the day.

Soundbox - Rob Abbott and Phil Macamara

Acoustic harmony-heavy country-folk blues The Soundbox band is Rob Abbott (guitar vocals) and Phil Macamara (bass vocals). Based in Brighton UK. They play acoustic harmony heavy country-folk blues

Shabbigentile & The Reddleman’s Daughter

Alan Morrison, Mandy Pannett and James Simpson. Three fine South Downs poets present individual takes on poetry today. Coruscating political poetry from Alan Morrison as he launches his newest book, Shabbigentile, South Downs wit and wisdom from Mandy Pannett and Hardyesque mythology from James Simpson’s The Rhyme of the Reddleman’s Daughter. Morrison is well known in new left circles and was nominated for the Forward Prize; Pannett has been nominated for the Robert Graves Award and Simpson is an Arvon/Jerwood Award winner.

Lucy Kitchen - In the search for touchstones

Lucy is often compared to the likes of Joni Mitchell, Beth Orton and, vocally, to Sandy Denny – "Lucy’s vocal tone has hints of the late Sandy Denny in it – a rare and precious thing indeed" (bestnewbands.com) but her sound is all her own. Since her last album, Waking, Lucy has been in demand as a vocalist, working with a number of electronic music acts to write and record songs that have been championed by the likes of BBC Radio 1 and Mixmag. She’s also performed on the John Peel Stage at Glastonbury festival. "These are strong and striking songs, delivered with both fragility and conviction, which deserve to be heard. A gorgeous, atmospheric offering." - Folk Radio UK “Lucy Kitchen has one of those real summer breeze voices, fresh and warm, and it’s very much to the fore on her second album that contains a myriad of delights. And she’s opened up her musical palette here with piano, steel pedal and strings all featured on a release in which she also brings in elements of Americana and lightly toasted psychedelia.” - The Crack Magazine

POETRY AND jAZZ with Raine Geohegan, Barry Smith and Andy Brown

Stimulating mix of poetry and jazzy sounds. A stimulating mix of poetry and jazzy sounds. Raine Geohegan is a Romani poet currently performing at festivals with her Hedgehog Press book of Romani life poems, Apple Water: Povel Panni. Andy Brown is a Professor of Creative Writing at Exeter University with several collections of poetry to his name, including The Fool and the Physician based on the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch and Fall of the Rebel Angels: Poems 1996-2006. He is also a novelist and the editor of A Body of Work, an anthology of poetry and medical writing. Barry Smith was runner-up in the BBC Proms Poetry Competition and is the director of the South Downs Poetry Festival. Widely published in poetry magazines, he regularly works with jazz and roots musicians.

Charlotte Glasson – Jazz Combo

Charlotte Glasson is an in-demand multi-instrumentalist who has played with the likes of Oasis, Unkle, Divine Comedy, Nick Cave, John Cooper Clarke, Foy Vance and Julian Lloyd Webber... She brings her own jazz combo to Bognor BlakeFest at the Regis Centre on Saturday 28th September. A massively experienced performer, she includes, in her musical line-up, the legendary Chris Spedding which absolutely guarantees a high quality musical experience for anyone who attends. Apart from his hit single "Motorbikin", Spedding's guitar credits read like a who's who of popular music... Paul McCartney, Jeff Wayne's War of the Worlds, Nilsson, Jack Bruce, Alan Parsons, Roxy Music, The Wombles, Roger Daltrey to name a few. Simply put, this guitarist's guitarist has chosen to play with Charlotte Glasson and brings an extra element to her esteemed musical talent for a not-to-be-missed performance.

Noah’s House Band

From within the hull of Noah’s Ark comes a quirky series of family-friendly folkesque tunes, unlike anything you’ve heard. Using vocal dexterity, honky instruments, household implements and the furthest reaches of imagination, the cast of characters regale us with their wonderfully enchanting tales.
The crew: BRUCE KNAPP // Slidings /, Dobro, Ukelele & VocalsDAVE SOOTHILL // Ramblings / Mandolin, Guitar & Vocals STEVE CUBITT // Gruff / Box on Legs & Vocals PHILIP PALMER // Noah / Guitar, Banjo & Vocals ROB SMITH // Twinklings, Banjo, Ukelele, Toots, Clunks & Vocals
Sirens of Titan Heralding the death of a distant star some 4000 years ago, Sirens of Titan sang the universe into a new period of spiritual liberation and inter galactic musical exploration. Rings of milky pop melodies and strident moons of psychedelic rock orbit around constellations of expressive joy, and improvisational tendencies. The Sirens are fronted by the mighty bardic Titan Mike Fry and joined by percussive time-traveller Steve Cubitt, and the emissaries of the Hedula galaxy, Duncan Burgess and Keith Sutton. “They blew me away... one of the best live bands I’ve seen in a longtime... they really cast a spell all their own. Perfectly poised between structure and disintegration the Sirens aren’t afraid to explore new musical territory. Mike is majestic at the helm, bringing a visceral energy to proceedings and his cerebral reflections on life the universe and everything are well worth listening to!” Olivia Stevens

Free Art Exhibition featuring artist Julie Goldsmith + Aldingbourne Trust artists

Julie works in ceramic, bronze and found objects. Taking the forms of animals or mythic creatures, influences are from literature, music and the Gothic. “I like to tell stories. For this show I have made works that are inspired by Blake’s belief in the imagination, and his visions of fairies in his garden.” Julie's work explores the hidden recesses of the subconscious holding both a dreamlike quality and emotional intensity. Based in London she has exhibited her widely. Last month her work was on the front cover of the International Times Vincent Gray. With wide industrial experience including television, theatre, design and manufacturing, Vincent Gray has worked alongside some notable and highly regarded names in the arts, engineering, military and entertainment, both in the UK and in Scandinavia. His work has introduced him to many leading lights and free thinkers, which he says, ‘do not fail to inspire and influence’. He is the sculptor of the life-size statue of John Keats in Eastgate Square and Leonard Bernstein at St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester. He is currently working on a bronze of Admirals Nelson and Murray and has the ambition to erect a statue of Blake’s Glad Day on Bognor Regis seafront.

Festival Talks

Prof Fiona Price Blake, the French Revolution and History. History has always been important to the British, particularly when they think about politics. Blake was no exception. But his imaginative recreations were subversive. In his poem The French Revolution Blake uses allegory and allusion to challenge monarchical government and to re-imagine past and present. His poem can be read as part of the explosion of imaginative history that occurred in Britain after the French Revolution. This paper examines Blake's tactics and compares them to those of his fellow radical, Mary Wollstonecraft.

Dr David Fall on The Road of Excess: Blake as Patron Poet of Pop Music

Blake is everywhere in pop music and has infused his flavour into a radical strain of mythic and visionary songs since at least the 1960s. In this talk I’ll look at why Blake’s works might be so inspiring and hold such appeal for pop musicians. I’ll examine some examples of pop songs inspired by the Blakean muse by, among others, The Doors, Nick Cave, and Julian Cope. I’ll be showing how Blake’s rebellious spirit informs not just the content of the songs, but the songwriters’ approach to Blake himself.

Dr Luke Walker.
William Blake and British Counterculture: Poetry, Politics and the Children of Albion.

William Blake re-emerged one hundred and fifty years after his death to become a presiding spirit of the transatlantic counterculture. His poetic and spiritual influence was central to the ‘new vision’ of the American Beats, but Blake was also an important part of British counterculture and radical politics in the 1960s and 1970s. This talk explores Blake’s influence on the poets featured in the 1969 anthology Children of Albion: Poetry of the Underground in Britain, and shows how this can be linked to the New Left politics and radical social movements of Britain in the period.

‘BlakeFest went brilliantly this year... it just seemed to flow from one exciting thing to the next. Everyone seems to have thoroughly enjoyed it. And so good to have the boost of that Arts Council support’. ‘The whole day was an absolute joy and made more so by you (Charlotte) and your wonderful co-musicians. Feedback has been 100% positive, with many complimentary comments. Barry Smith - South Downs Poets From Bognor Regis Post. From Facebook, Dr Naomi Foyle.

Congratulations Rachel Searle, Olivia Stevens and all who co-created another marvellous Blakefest! As the winds roared along Bognor seafront, fiery Tygers prowled through the forest of our minds... thank you to Fiona Price, Luke Walker and David Fallon for the fascinating talks on Blake, revolution and counterculture, to Beatnik Barry Smith for his properly jazzed up poems, performed with Charlotte Glasson and her band, and for curating compelling readings from Alan Morrison, Raine Geoghegan, Mandy Pannett, James Simpson, and Andy Brown, spanning radical politics, Roma histories, South Downs discoveries, illness and eco-apocalyptic folktales; to artist Julie Goldsmith for her fabulous fairyland figurines, sculptor Vincent Grey for his vision of a 15 foot tall bronze 'Glad Day - Albion Rose on Felpham's shore, and finally to poets and Blakean guides Stephen Micalef for bringing the Blakean banner 'Everything that Lives is Holy' into Extinction Rebellion, and Niall McDevitt for illuminating Blake's contrariness in his view of 'Nature as Devil'... Yet 'without contraries is no progression' and at a time when children are forced to weaponise their innocence, and XR is fuelled by our collective creativity, Blake is a prophet for our times, as much as for his own and for the sixties. BlakeFest is now deservedly in receipt of Arts Council funding, and I look forward to seeing it continue to grow, brightly asserting the role of the arts in regenerating and re-enchanting our sick rose of a world.</div> 

In the unlikely location of the West Sussex seaside town of Bognor Regis a cultural stirring is occurring. 'The William Blake and the Spirit of the 60s' event (including live music performances/poetry/art/talks) is the centrepiece of the 3-day celebration of the life and work of William Blake (1757-1827) who is nowadays recognised as a visionary poet, artist, engraver and prophet despite dying unrecognised and close to poverty in 1827.

BlakeFest 2018 occurred over the weekend 14th-16th September with the main focus being the all-day Live Music Festival on Saturday 15th at The Regis Centre/Alexandra Theatre from noon onwards.

HISTORY
Blake lived in the village of Felpham, on the outskirts of Bognor, from 1800-1803 where he saw visions of Angels, was inspired to compose the text which is known as, and widely-celebrated as, 'Jerusalem' and also ended up on trial for assault and sedition after an altercation with soldier outside a local drinking establishment. In a letter to John Flaxman from 1800, Blake wrote that "Felpham is a sweet place for study because it is more spiritual than London. Heaven opens here on all sides her golden Gates; her windows are not obstructed by vapours; voices of Celestial inhabitants are more distinctly heard, & their forms more distinctly seen; & my Cottage is also a shadow of their houses."   After a successful 2017 event this year's collection is once again spearheaded by local resident and Blake-enthusiast Rachel Searle to gather together different artistic streams to celebrate William Blake.

BLAKE
Blake's work has spread like through the generations, persistently inspiring groups of artists beginning with The Ancients including Samuel Palmer, George Richmond and Edward Calvert, who all studied directly under Blake until his death. The Ancients inspired the pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, notably Dante Gabriel Rosetti, who resided, for a time, in Bognor and acquired a manuscript book of Blake's "from an attendant at The British Museum" which he obsessively studied and laboriously copied out. Modernists such as James Joyce clearly show Blake's influence and his influence also inspired such 60's Beat Generation poets and performers as Allen Ginsberg, Michael Horovitz, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Jim Morrison and Patti Smith.

BlakeFest 2018 - Line-up

THEATRE
BlakeFest2018 was an exciting fusion of Arts in various forms headlined by acclaimed Post-Punk/New Wave Legend, Lene Lovich.  Lovich and her band were playing a rare UK gig at BlakeFest in Bognor Regis in the midst of an international tour with The Psychedelic Furs. A 'purveyor of Love songs for the weird', this performance was a real coup for Bognor and not to be missed as this was not just a 'normal gig', Lovich and her superb band, headed by Jude Rawlins, are a cut above and, together create memorable eccentric dynamic 'events'.

Second on the bill were the 10-piece All Things Must Pass Orchestra. This George Harrison tribute takes in a range of songs by the 'visionary Beatle', many of which are ingrained in popular culture.  George Harrison ‘The quiet Beatle wrote some of their greatest songs.  Bob Dylan said of him ‘He inspired love and had the strength of a hundred men. He was like the sun, the flowers and the moon’.

The evening event at The Alexandra Theatre was opened by a talk on 'Blake and the 60s' by the accessible and scholarly Tobias Churton. The internationally-recognised and respected Churton, a very erudite orator, was shedding light on Blake's enduring contribution to our culture, focusing on the resurgence of his popular influence through the 1960s which still resonates across the arts, philosophically and spiritually.

STUDIO
In the afternoon, before the evening event takes over in the main auditorium, in the Studio room were an accompanying set of live music sessions headlined by the Jamie Leeming Trio - a fast-rising, exciting Jazz combo, this was a fantastic opportunity to sample the very lyrical style of guitar playing by Jamie and creating an overall wonderful vibe to soothe the soul.

Jamie will also be accompanying the Southdown Festival Poets.

Joy: Poetry & Jazz with Sasha Dugdale, Niall McDevitt, Naomi Foyle , Barry Smith and Jamie Leeming (guitar).  The genre-crossing compositions of Jamie Leeming (Heartsong) with strong roots in the jazz tradition, but with folk-influenced imagery and textures meet the Blake-inspired words of South Downs poets culminating in Sasha Dugdale’s   vocalising of Catherine Blake.

Surreal Man and the Nutter in the Shrubbery: Ciaran O’Driscoll and Margaret Farrelly with John Davies (aka Shedman)

Irish wit and wisdom meet itinerant poet Shedman for an hour of scintillating poetry interspersed with lyrical Celtic sounds from Margaret Farrelly.

If you haven't seen Lem and the White Fire yet then you are in for a real treat. Lead singer, Lem Parker's colourful personality shines through her strong voice which can light up any room. Backed by a band as powerful and dynamic as Lem's vocals, with a collection of infectious, foot-stomping songs you will end this set singing along with a broad smile on your face.

The Boy Wonders formed recently to breathe live life into the original songs of lead singer/guitarist Joe Butt. Joe's intelligent, guitar-driven pop songs are perfectly complemented and enhanced by the thoughtful guitar playing of Jeremy Hayward with a talented solid rhythm section behind them. This was one of their first gigs together and the song melodies will stick in your head long after they have packed away their guitars.

The solo acoustic songs of David Farnan are the culmination of years of writing and performing with several local bands and performers of note. David combines a wonderfully melancholic, yearning voice with soulful lyrics from various perspectives and manages to be sublimely uplifting. His accomplished guitar playing supplies a beautiful accompaniment to his thoughtful tunes.

If you want to explore the work any of these performers, or if you are in the slightest doubt about attending, simply type their names into YouTube and then make up your mind. We doubt you will be disappointed by this incredibly varied, very talented, collection of artistes.

FESTIVAL FRINGE
Alongside the wonderful musical lineup there was a graffiti art exhibition, literary walk plus re-enactment, a free Silent Disco, bitesize talks, performance poetry and more...

Bognor Regis is a town poised at the brink of regeneration following similar projects in Margate, Hastings and Liverpool, possibly including a major "William Blake Theatre" (in one of the proposals), which channel local Culture and Arts to enrich their current heritage and touristic allure.

Mikey B Georgeson has been a major mover and shaker in his invaluable involvement with Bognor BlakeFest in capacities ranging from Musician, Art Exhibition Curator, Speaker and generally inspiring those around him.  As an Artist he recently gave a talk to the Royal Geographic Society Conference on his nonbifuracedman installation at Bognor Regis Library, BlakeFest 2017. 2018 was no exception, contributing an art installation ‘'An Actual Occasion' reflective of Dancing with Albion.

Vincent Gray was unveiling, and available to discuss, an exciting possible sculpture as another part of the Bognor Regis Regeneration, Albion Rose. Vincent recently completed a Keats Sculpture now permanently installed in Eastgate Square, in Chichester.

Bite-size Festival talks were provided by Dr Luke Walker on Graffiti, Ginsberg and Blake, Dr Simon Mouatt on Blake and the Divided Brain, Professor Fiona Price on Female Revolutionary Figures.  Dr Naomi Foyle will be reading from a Blade of Grass an anthology of Palestinian Poetry and American Poet Tamar Yoseloff  with A Practical Visionary and more.

'William Blake and the Spirit of the 60s' @ The Regis Centre/Alexandra Theatre, Belmont Street, Bognor Regis.

Festival Director: Rachel Searle

Festival Organisers: Sedge Seymour, Olivia Stevens and Simon Mouatt

This event was the idea of Rowan Coleman, best selling novelist and winner of Richard and Judy Book Club choice and Richard Skinner Director of Fiction at Faber Academy, novelist and published poet who hosted a literary afternoon to raise money for Blake’s Cottage. We also published a collection of poetry inspired by Blake.

This one-off event brought together an eclectic range of bestselling and award-winning novelists, poets, and Blake aficionados to celebrate his life and poetry in the unique setting of his former parish, St Mary’s Church in Felpham. The parish of Felpham is where William Blake lived during the time he wrote Jerusalem. In the South Chancel wall is the stunning ‘Blake Memorial Window’ which commemorates the 250th anniversary of William Blake’s birth.

The line-up included readings and discussion from Forward Prize-winning and T. S. Eliot Prize shortlisted poet, Ian Duhig; poet Martin Malone whose debut pamphlet was described by Carol Ann Duffy as ‘breathtakingly assured'; singer and acclaimed thriller writer, Nuala Casey; author of the newly published Jerusalem: The Real Life of William Blake, Tobias Churton; Barry Raebeck Blake Biographer from New York.

An 'inspired by Blake' Poetry Competition sponsored by The University of Chichester where the winner had the opportunity to read their poem at the Big Blake Project’s and Big Mouth Productions sister event in London later that year when George Szirtes (who will judge the competition) and Kate Tempest will join the line-up.

There was the chance to buy their books and have them signed by the authors after the event. What was particularly thrilling for the organisers was the response of the poets as a measure of the strength of feeling towards William Blake and the importance of the appeal they have been inspired to write. Ian Duhig said, “I was particularly inspired by learning that Blake wrote Jerusalem at Felpham and began making a series of connections that resulted in the sequence of poems.”