An Evening of Poetry & Music

Mike Garry was a librarian for 15 years before becoming a poet.
He began by reading his own poems to the hundreds of young people who attended his Library
Homework Centre. They loved what they heard and encouraged him to perform them at live
poetry events and Slams, which he did, instantly winning fans and prizes throughout the UK.
His gritty poetry has won the admiration far and wide and his collaboration with Joe Duddell and
New Order in New Yorks Carnegie Hall in 2014 received five star reviews.

Mike has worked in thousands of schools and his three books, Men’s Morning, Mancunian
Meander and God is a Manc have become schemes of work in schools throughout the UK and
his poetry is regularly heard on BBC Radio and TV.
He has read his poems in Prisons, Young Offenders units, Mental Health Hospitals, Children’s
Homes, youth clubs and local pubs. He’s passionate about bringing live poetry to places it
wouldn’t normally reach and to people who wouldn’t normally listen to it.
His performances are passionate swirling rhythms of thoughts and emotions converted to
monologues of quick-fire words.
In 2010, Mike was hand-picked to tour with John Cooper Clarke by his management.
“I liked what he said and the way he said it” said John reflecting on their five year working
relationship performing in over 500 venues throughout the UK and Ireland.
Mike has appeared at Glastonbury, on Radio 3 and CBeebies amongst many other places!
You can see a section of his recent Glastonbury performance here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ_NIUtY0gU
Phil Mellen is BlackSheepLad, a Cheshire-based singer-songwriter who plays live indie-folk
solo or as a duo with a wonderful Stockport guitarist. His songs have been described as follows:
''I can’t get over how creative/original and good this is! It’s beautiful and funny and the
instrumentation is awesome' Blue Doll Music. ‘Great lyrics, wonderful rhymes’ Mike Garry, Poet
‘This is wicked! Top song and video! Love it’ Badly Drawn Boy (on Zombie Romance)
His song 'Zombie Romance' has featured on all BBC Local Radio stations nationally and on the
BBC website as part of the BBC Upload Festival 2021. He has also had coverage in the Yorkshire
Evening Post, the Manchester Evening News and on BBC Radio Manchester.
You can see recent footage of BlackSheepLad live at Yewstock here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmae2bt5lkk
Together Mike and Phil will create a wonderful evening of poetry and music that is sure to
be enjoyed by all. For further details/bookings please contact Phil via email
phil@blacksheeplad.com