AJ Bell and the Poets (Phantom National Poetry Day)

Kumeu Live presents AJ Bell in Concert with local poets in celebration of Phantom National Poetry Day. The Poets include Arthur Amon, Richard Pamatatau, Anita Arlov, Andrea Malcolm and Gillian Roach. The evening will start with the poets reading their work and then combining their poetry with musical performances by AJ Bell and band.

The Poets
Anita Arlov: Anita writes flash fiction alongside poems, and emcees the monthly event Inside Out Open Mic for Writers.

Andrea Malcolm: A long-time reader of poetry and a master's student at AUT, working on a poetry and prose collection about her heart transplant journey. She lives in Hobsonville Point and enjoys ferrying to he job as a communications manager in the city.

Richard Pamatatau: Richard teaches journalism at AUT University and in the interstices is pursuing a PhD in poetry at Massey University.

Arthur Amon: Apart from the whole poetry lark, Arthur likes drinking tea, making things, and playing with numbers.

Gillian Roach:Gillian's recent poems were inspired by her mum's 1960s hairdressing manual and feature bleach, perms and brilliantine.

AJ Bell Reviews:
Auckland singer-songwriter A.J.Bell released a debut album, Ragwort Touch, that had reviewers, this one included, reaching for their bag of rare superlatives. Bell’s long-overdue follow-up Hi-Biscuit is another album of lyrical depth and gentle musical textures driven by quiet consideration, understatement and keenly refined observations. The second of an almost perfect pair. - NZ Herald

A songwriter of undeniable talent. An insightful, charming, and powerfully rendered discovery. Another exceptional album from the Auckland-via-Austin and Waimana songwriter. In any other country, Bell would be an icon. - The Dominion