Hi A few thoughts word about Glastonbury 2008 and another shamelesss merchandising reminder right at the end about my most recent football poetry book Inner Goal..now available on line from Amazon .
Wow.What a weekend at Pilton .I was priviliged and honoured to "perform"(?) 4 times X 45 mins along with my band Out To Lunch alongside the wonderful Umdomo Wesizwe and Siyaya from Zimbabwe and a host of new bands on the beautifully located Fluffy Rock Café stage . The stage is situated green-marketedly between Tiny Tea Tent and Manic Organic (both long-time fave haunts) . The whole experience everywhere at the largest Walking Festival In The World for us was mellow. Leonard Cohen was unbelievable.I've never heard or felt such stillness and respect from the young and old alike.The guy is 75 and awesome. Just a real Glasto moment. It all began on the Friday night where we were crammed in behind the onstage-mixer for Hazel O'Connor. Acoustically majestic with Irish harp, guitar and didg on the Avalon Stage .More tears, muffins, brown rice with stir fry and cajun chips type big crowd love moments with Joan Armatrading, Eddy Grant, The Poetry Tent (we miss you already Pat West RIP), Jimmy Cliff, Crowded House and Amy (just ignore the language and dig the voice (Wineandbeerhouse).Exploring the new spaces and taking it all in.
We love NYC downlow in the heart of Trash City (don't foget your moustache).. the street theatre workmen reading papers in the Theatre Field..the delightfully attired queue of Chinese umbrella waving mannequins (a la Rupert The Bear) quietly following chasing un-suspecting passers-by to shield them from the sun... and even the lovely Sinead O'Connor sadly not happy in the Acoustic this time . Very pregnant and treating everyone to way too much of her new slighty downbeat Theology album, but we still love her. Golden Glasto rule (hello Shakin' Stevens!) chuck in a few they want first. We just missed Sharon Shannon and her lovely smile. I wanted to put an arm around her on hearing of her recent loss of a dear and loved one.
Tired Footnote: We've been been going since 71 and it just gets better and better. I love this new festival generation . So kind and friendly and not falling over you with beer or lighting fires in their tents ! Asking us if we can see alright! All those endless stewards .Stood alone in the dark all night by shadowy hedgerows in the middle of nowhere but always so friendly . So many little touches. Plusses :The new bio-degradable green tent pegs. The Theatre Field with a sign saying Bella's Field (the wonderful Arabella Churchill died so recently but programmed everything beforehand) and cloth wristbands for the second year now. Bigger space .Tipis more at home at the top of the site.Most of all the care and attention to detail. We spoke to every young person that we walked talked or stood or sat next to - and all of them were there for the first time and just loving it all. Timeless so thank you again Michael, Emily Eavis et all..i don't care if it's got corporate.,..we stay our side of the city ...acoustic,theatre.cabaret,jazz avalon ,trash city, ,green futures, croissant neuf, and the stones ..venturing rarely to the Main Stage or Other Stage..never made it to the Park, Peel Stage or the Dance Tent. We really wanted to try out the silent disco where you have two different djs and two choices to dance to...next time..it's our legs!you get the picture..X C+J
CLICK HERE > INNER GOAL
The poetry of football..a journey in rhyme
by CRISPIN THOMAS
For football lovers everwhere young and old. My first collection of football poems is out now. Contains 132 pieces of work: 66 poems 66 hakius and line drawings spanning 10 years of writing poetry about and 50 years of watching football (1957-2007)
Reviews:
"Poems in the street, in the ground and in the heart...
...poetry with balls. I read it cover to cover! !" Michael Foreman
"One of the pioneers of football poetry.Who ate all the pioneers"?"
Attila The Stockbroker
Published by Football Poets Books in paperback
ISBN 9780955 737602 £8.99
Line Illustratons by the author/100 pages
Ways to buy this book:
ON-LINE
from:AMAZON BOOKS
click here > INNER GOAL
The poetry of football..a journey in rhyme
by CRISPIN THOMAS
FROM SHOPS/OUTLETS
NATIONAL FOOTBALL MUSEUM Sir Tom Finney Way Preston PR1 6PA
e-mail enquiries@nationalfootball museum.com
www.nationalfootballmuseum.com Tel 01772 908442
STROUD BOOKSHOP, 23 High Street ,Stroud 01453 756646
MADE IN STROUD, 16 Kendrick Street Stroud 01453 840265
OR BY POST
We still have a few signed first run (pre ISBN )promo copies available at 7.99 + postage (£1.50) first come first served!
Write to:FOOTBALL POETS BOOKS ,4 The Retreat, Butterow, Stroud GL5 2LS
(Tel 01453 757376) enclosing your address+ a cheque for £9.49 made out to "OUT TO LUNCH "
or email Crispin at ctm@crispinthomas.orangehome.co.uk