Two greats comingtogether for Festival

Author Iain Sinclair, known for his poetically forensic psycho geographical explorations, will be appearing alongside Andrew Kotting. one of the most innovative film makers of the past 20 years.

The 2012 film Swan Down, saw them making a journey from Hastings to Hackney, via the English Channel and inland waterways , in a swan shaped pedalo.

Ian co-exists between Hackney and St Leonards, while Andrew has a studio in Hastings.

The Black Huts Festival will see a screening of Andrew’s latest film By Our Selves, which recreates the walk undertaken by 19th century peasant-poet John Clare, from an asylum in Essex to his native fenland.

It stars Toby Jones and features words by Ian Sinclair and Kotting himself dressed as a traditional Straw Bear.

The film has been described as ‘poetry in motion’ in the national media. It is being shown at the Electric Palace, in the Old Town, 0n Thursday October 29 at 11am.

Later the same day, at 8pm, also at the Electric Palace, Iain will be reading from his recent work Black Apples of the Gower.

It follows his journey along the wave-cut lime-stone pavements of the Welsh coast in search of mysteries derived from Ceri Richards’ paintings. It culminates in his discovery of the Paviland Cavem where the Reverend William Buckland discovered the bones of the Red Lady - the first recorded ritual burial in these islands 36,000 years ago.

Joining Iain will be Catalan poet Jessica Pujol and Elle Osborne, who will present her sound collage Brigg Fair, Dark Nights, in celebration of the oldest gypsy horse fair in the country.

The Black Huts Festival is also taking place at the Beacon, on the West Hill, over the five days.

It also features an evening with traditional English folk icon Shirley Collins and readings by writers James Kelman and John Healy.

John wrote the book the Grass Arena about life as a down and out in London. He was imprisoned and went on to win ten major British chess championships.

His new book The Metal Mountain, records the oppression suffered by Irish immigrants.

The festival also sees Cream lyricist Pete Brown giving a poetry reading. Pete wrote many Cream hits including Sunshine of Your Love.

For the full programme and booking details, visit www.e-truscan.co.uk.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make our website your homepage at www.hastingsobserver.co.uk

2 Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/hastingsobserver

3 Follow us on Twitter @HastingsObs

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Hastings Observer - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.