John Hegley's first visit to the Topic was in 1976 as a Bradford University student, to see the marvellous Nic Jones. Since when, he has taken up the role of performer on stages at Cambridge and many other folk venues and festivals with his animal songs, love poems and tales of his half French father (the bottom half). He sang on two John Peel sessions with ‘The Popticians’ and was poet in residence at London's Keats House, from which he will be enlarging on lesser-known aspects of the great poet, including a bout of celery sword-fencing and his slight aversion to the French.
John has produced twelve books and one mug. The story of Stanley's Stick has been translated into Icelandic.
John has written a special poem to celebrate Bradford 2025 “A Celebration of a Nation's City of Culture.”
'Genuinely funny' Poetry Review
'Awesomely mundane' The Independent
Before the guest night in the fully accessible Hullabaloo bar, John will perform a free short set ‘Keats with Seats’ with priority for those unable to attend the evening’s main event or who have access difficulties in ascending to the performance area/toilets.
The venue does food.
Free car-park on Crowgill Road.
There are a few steps to the performance room.
Toilets are upstairs.
