Burley Fisher launches weekend festival to mark birthday

Hackney independent bookshop Burley Fisher is to host a weekend festival in October, partnering with indie presses to mark its belated fifth birthday.

The shop officially turned five in February this year, but was unable organise an event due to lockdown. In the autumn it will finally hold a party, aimed at highlighting the strength and resilience of independent publishing and bookselling.

Its event will showcase a programme of readings, discussions, and workshops. It is partnering with indie publishers including And Other Stories, Cipher, Fitzcarraldo, Granta Poetry, Ignota, Influx, Open Pen, Peninsula and Serpent’s Tail. All events will be BSL (British Sign Language) interpreted, and readings will be recorded for the shop's "Isolation Station" podcast.

The festival, running from 7 p.m. on 15th October to 10.30 p.m. on 16th October, will be held at the St Peter De Beauvoir Town church, which is accessible by wheelchair.

The full programme will be announced later in the year, to coincide with new titles released by indie publishers for summer and autumn. There will be the opportunity to buy books, and early bird passes are available to book via the shop's website.