The Poetry Bath

Surrey-born poet Matthew Stewart has lived in Extremadura, Spain since he was 22. He tells me about his life there and how it feels to move back and forth between two languages. Matthew reads primarily from Whatever you do, just don't, a collection of 'poems of recognition' and talks to me about identity, belonging and estrangement and how in his poetic use of faction and performance he's careful to avoid going for an easy goal. 

The Poetry Bath's theme tune is composed and performed by Nigel Horn.

In 2023 The Poetry Bath moved to Buzzsprout from Wildhart Radio. You can listen to all 51 earlier episodes via my website. 

In this second part of my interview with composer, performer and renaissance man Ron Geesin, Ron tells me how his career with the Original Downtown Syncopators began in a carpark in Crawley and how he and his wife, the textile artist and researcher Frances Geesin, moved to London and became part of the sixties creative scene. Ron also talks to me about blackbirds and how they have sung their way into his new work. 

For this episode only, The Poetry Bath's theme tune is composed and performed by Ron himself. 

In 2023 The Poetry Bath moved to Buzzsprout from Wildhart Radio. You can listen to all 51 earlier episodes via my website. 

Composer, performer and renaissance man Ron Geesin joins me in the Poetry Bath for the first part of another Sussex Special. In this episode, Ron tells me about his childhood in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire where he developed his love of sound and spent more time learning the banjo and piano than studying for school. He traces his early journey as a musician, from his first band to touring with the Original Downtown Syncopators. 

The Poetry Bath's theme tune is composed and performed by Nigel Horn.

In 2023 The Poetry Bath moved to Buzzsprout from Wildhart Radio. You can listen to all 51 earlier episodes via my website. 

Robert Hamberger returns to The Poetry Bath with his new collection, Nude Against A Rock. In this second episode, Robert reads a couple of poems from his Keith Vaughan sequence and talks to me about lyricism, the wonderful variety of writing available from the small presses, and the importance of remaining joyful. 

Robert mentions ekphrasis. The Poetry Foundation website has a useful definition of the term.

Content warning: this episode contains references to suicide. 

Robert will be reading at Kemptown Bookshop in Brighton on 4th April. 

The Poetry Bath's theme tune is composed and performed by Nigel Horn.

In 2023 The Poetry Bath moved to Buzzsprout from Wildhart Radio. You can listen to all 51 earlier episodes, including my previous chats with Robert, via my website. 

Robert Hamberger returns to The Poetry Bath with his new collection, Nude Against A Rock. In this episode, Robert talks to me about some of the themes of his collection, including music, love, ageing and the importance of celebrating queerness in these uncertain times. 

Robert will be reading at Kemptown Bookshop in Brighton on 4th April. 

The Poetry Bath's theme tune is composed and performed by Nigel Horn.

In 2023 The Poetry Bath moved to Buzzsprout from Wildhart Radio. You can listen to all 51 earlier episodes, including my previous chats with Robert, on Wildhart's website and via mine too. 

The second part of Siân's interview with Sarah Salway, in which Sarah talks about and reads from her 2023 poetry collection Learning Springsteen on my language app. In this episode Sarah tells Sian about learning to write 'with a more compassionate eye' and asks, 'Why is it so frightening to play?'  

The Poetry Bath's theme tune is composed and performed by Nigel Horn.

In 2023 The Poetry Bath moved to Buzzsprout from Wildhart Radio. You can listen to all 51 earlier episodes on Wildhart's website and via Sian's too. 

Sarah Salway returns to the show to talk about and read from her 2023 poetry collection Learning Springsteen on my language app. Sarah and Sian also chat about the writing pod they share with Jill Munro, in which they support, surprise and delight one another with writing prompts and workshops. 

The Poetry Bath's theme tune is composed and performed by Nigel Horn.

In 2023 The Poetry Bath moved to Buzzsprout from Wildhart Radio. You can listen to all 51 earlier episodes on Wildhart's website and via Sian's too. 

In the second part of Siân's interview with Claire Taylor, Claire talks further about growing up on a farm at the edge of Sharpthorne in West Sussex. Claire and Siân reminisce about their childhood in Sharpthorne and West Hoathly, their inspiring primary school teachers, going to harvest festival in the village church and being hunted by monsters.

The Poetry Bath's theme tune is composed and performed by Nigel Horn.

In 2023 The Poetry Bath moved to Buzzsprout from Wildhart Radio. You can listen to all 51 earlier episodes on Wildhart's website and via Siân's too. 

In this second Sussex special episode Siân meets her oldest friend, the musician and artist Claire Taylor. Claire and Siân talk about Claire's early life on a farm near Sharpthorne in West Sussex and their shared childhood in Sharpthorne and its neighbouring village, West Hoathly. Claire tells Siân how life on the farm was both magical and lonely, and they discuss how the Sussex Weald shaped their love of haunted landscapes.

The Poetry Bath's theme tune is composed and performed by Nigel Horn.

In 2023 The Poetry Bath moved to Buzzsprout from Wildhart Radio. You can listen to all 51 earlier episodes on Wildhart's website and via Siân's too. 

In this second part of Siân's conversation with Johnny Marsh, Johnny tells Siân about his reluctance to call himself an artist, the muses in his life and his own role as a muse, and his love of Harveys beer.

On 7th & 8th September, Johnny will be taking part in Mayfield Open Studios 2024: http://www.crowboroughopenstudios.co.uk/

This episode contains strong language.

The Poetry Bath's theme tune is composed and performed by Nigel Horn.

In 2023 The Poetry Bath moved to Buzzsprout from Wildhart Radio. You can listen to all 51 earlier episodes on Wildhart's website and via Siân's too.