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Laura Bates, Simon Armitage and Chris Riddell to host events at the first Alton Arts Festival
Laura Bates, Simon Armitage and Chris Riddell will be hosting events at the first ever Alton Arts Festival (AAF), held between 5th and 14th July 2024.
The AAF features literature, music and art events, as well as theatre, events in pubs and a children’s programme. Its aim is to give people the opportunity to experience shows from various artists in the town’s venues, including local bookshop Goldfinch Books, which will be hosting events with singer-songwriter Daudi Matsiko and soundtracking artist Carmody.
The festival will open with a performance by the group LYR, fronted by Poet Laureate Simon Armitage. Meanwhile, Bates—the founder of the "Everyday Sexism Project" website and the author of The Burning, The Trial and Sisters of Sword and Shadow (all published by Simon & Schuster Children’s UK)—will be joined by author Patrice Lawrence for a young adult (YA) panel on 8th July, discussing the importance of representation in YA fiction.
Speculative fiction writers Guy Morpuss, Tim Tilley and Bridget Collins will be hosting a "worldbuilding" event on 10th July, while a crime panel will be led by B A Paris, Simon Toyne and Sophie Hannah—the author of the new Hercule Poirot novels, commissioned by Agatha Christie’s family (HarperCollins).
Other events will include a historical fiction panel with writers such as Louisa Treger, and a Waterstones event with local authors Louise Morrish, Gill Thompson and Suzanne Goldring. A poetry night will also be held on 11th July, featuring a performance by poet, writer and playwright Raine Geoghegan, while local poet Ellora Sutton will lead a workshop and open mic performances.
A series of classes will also take place during the festival, including sessions such as "Ask the Agent", "Editing Your Manuscript" and "Writing for Wellbeing".
Tickets to many events are available online, with more events to go on sale in March. “We are so thrilled to be putting the first events on sale for the inaugural Alton Arts Festival, and to share more of the incredible line-up of artists and creatives coming to Alton this summer," said chair Annie Lancaster. "We’ve worked hard to keep ticket prices as affordable as we possibly can, and there will also be free events across the 10 days to ensure everyone in Alton and the surrounding areas can get involved with this exciting event."
