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There is no doubt that Luke Kennard is one of the major poets of his generation. Barely into his thirties, he is the author of three highly-praised collections for Salt, two experimental pamphlets (the second of which was a PBS Choice winner) and, most recently, a rip-roaringly brilliant sci-fi novella for Penned in the Margins. He was also nominated for the main Forward Prize at the age of 26. Yes, yes you’re saying but he is any good? Well, I think so and I have every reason to hate his guts, what with stealing my name and getting all the glory. Kennard is an original; his work at turns funny, surreal, bitingly satirical and oh-so-clever. It’s rich in imagery and ideas but it still packs a punch when read aloud. He’s managed to combine literary cleverness with a type of Python-esque humour that never fails to entertain. So yeah, he’s good.

Support comes from Sam Riviere and Martin Figura.

Sam’s debut collection 81 Austerities has impressed everyone from internet hipsters to Ruth Padel (writing in The Guardian). Sam is about to leave Norwich for Belfast in a month or two so this may be on of your last chances to catch him on home soil for a bit. Austerities responded to the government’s austerity measures by placing austerities on poetry. Sam started writing poems about arts funding and pornography; he removed punctuation and left ideas half finished. The result is a cynical but very droll take on modernity and especially our internet-dominated lives. It’s fresh and very clever. Nothing sounds like this.

Martin you might know from his popular stage performances. His book and accompanying show Whistle was nominated for the Ted Hughes Prize in 2010, a year in which he also won the Hamish Canham Prize. His stage performances are witty and warm and he spins poetic yarns that don’t half tug on the heartstrings. Martin is going to be reading from his new Nasty Little Press book Arthur, which reduced me to tears only yesterday (in a good way).

Sounds bloody great, doesn’t it? I’ll be hosting, but don’t let that put you off – I won’t go on.

http://norwichartscentre.co.uk/latitude-poetry-club-luke-kennard/