Old Salford, everyday politics and humour combine in the poems of JB Barrington whose growing popularity has seen him support top band the Sleaford Mods on tour, as well as slots at the Black Grape reunion and The Fall at the Salford Music Festival. Meanwhile his own one-man show has gone from strength to strength, playing places like Liverpool, St Helens, York and Hull this year, after selling out Salford Arts Theatre in February.
"It's been great, the reaction has been really good and I've had some great reviews" he says "I've really enjoyed it and everyone seems to really like the poems plus the stories in between. The show's been reviewed as a 'roller coaster of emotions' which I kinda like, as it starts funny, moves into some politics, takes you to some quite sad and moving stuff, then comes back funny so you leave with a smile...hopefully."
The support slots for bands have taken the Little Hulton poet to a new audience, where a taster at a concert has led them to want to see the full set...
"Walking out to over six hundred people who haven't come to see a poet can be quite intimidating but it seems to have worked" he agrees "My Hull show sold out on the back of supporting Sleaford Mods there back in March which was great. And it was really nice talking to some of the audience afterwards who said they wouldn't ever had considered buying a ticket to see a poet but when they heard my stuff they just wanted to hear more."
And now it's back to the Salford Arts Theatre on 25th July, as part of the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival, with a new show titled POETRY? What's that all about?...
"It's essentially an updated version of the show I did in February this year at the same place but with new material added" he explains "The title came about after local radio DJ and Salford lad Simon Williams talked highly of my show on his own radio programme after he'd come to see Woodchip Anaglytpa and Nicotined Artex Ceilings.
"Simon said his mates rang him up on the night saying `Where are ya?' He said `I'm at the theatre' and they asked what he was doing at a theatre. He said `I'm seeing a poet'...and they immediately retorted `POETRY? What's all that about?'. I really liked that because that would have been my reaction to a poetry night say three or four years ago. And most of the people coming to see me wouldn't normally go, so the title is perfect."
They would certainly relate to the material... "The characters I met growing up, the dockers in the labour club, the Saturday and Sunday night turns, the committee men... all those people were just brilliant plus of course me mam, one of my biggest influences, and not forgetting my Mrs (not my real Mrs but we're affiliated); she comes out with classics everyday and she's deffo an inspiration for a lot of my work."
JB's rise has been relatively spectacular, with more and more shows and an updated reprint of his first book of poetry Woodchip Anaglytpa and Nicotined Artex Ceilings, which will be on sale at the Salford Arts Theatre gig.
"I just love writing and performing" he says "I never really ever expected it to go where it's gone. I still work full time and am quite happy doing so. I consider the poetry like a hobby and I feel blessed so many people seem to like it. Don't forget though...my poems are like babies; beautiful to their creator but for everyone else they're just silly and annoying...ha ha..."
JB Barrington
POETRY? What's that all about?
Saturday 25th July 7:30pm
Salford Arts Theatre
Kemsing Walk M5 4BS
Tickets £10 click here to book
JB Barrington will also be talking about his work on BBC Radio Manchester with Mike Sweeney 10:45am Thursday 3rd July.
For more information on JB Barrington check his Facebook page JB Barrington
For full details on GM Fringe see http://www.greatermanchesterfringe.co.uk/
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