I’ve just got a handful of shows left this year. In October, I’ll be in Southampton and Bristol, with the brilliant Henry Normal, followed by two solo gigs in Dublin and Belfast. If you fancy coming along to any of these, more info is here: brianbilston.com/events/

Ollie Watkins goal with commentary by Alan Partridge #EURO2024 you're welcome

no one should be worried about ai taking their jobs

Come and see us with the umbrellas! The other SF date (and all West Coast dates) are sold out.

Brilliant!

We loved seeing work at St Cuthbert and The First Martyrs’ School today. Inspired by onjali rauf's book 'The Boy at the Back of the Class', Brian Bilston's poem 'Refugees' & Refugee Week 🧡's theme 'Our Home,' they wrote to MP Naz Shah, encouraging her to speak up in Parliament about refugee rights!🙌🎨📝🧡

And just to add that the lovely cover is by the very brilliant Joe Berger

#Refugees by Brian Bilston is a powerful reverse #poem which is being published as a #picturebook. It explores fear & suspicion versus compassion & empathy & encourages us to consider opposing views & prejudices we may encounter 🫂 storysnug.com/2024/07/refuge… #JoseSantabria #poetry

These shows will most likely both sell out so do get your tickets early ⁦Brian Bilston⁩

Off to London tomorrow to sign some advanced copies of this fab new edition of ‘Refugees’. It’s coming out in a smaller ‘gift book’ format and publishes next month.

Never even liked tennis anyway.

The Unrequited Love of an Olympic Pole Vaulter    I guess   it wasn’t   meant   to be    your bar   was set   too high   for me    it’s been   four years   since we   last met    and I  haven’t   got over   you yet

As usual, I'm with Massive Attack.

Liverpool, Walthamstow, Oxford, Bristol - beautiful scenes from up and down the country of communities coming together in the face of hatred this evening. THIS is who we are, THIS is what we should be striving for.

SLEEP CYCLE, INTERRUPTED I lay awake all last night, trying to understand the omnium - turning the pedals of my mind, while suffering from insomnium.

It’s only a couple of months now until my next (small) run of shows, so I suppose I should give them a plug. 14 Oct: SOUTHAMPTON (with Henry Normal) 15 Oct: BRISTOL (with Henry Normal) 17 Oct: BELFAST 18 Oct: DUBLIN Tickets available here: brianbilston.com/events/

Chuffed to get an advance copy of my new book today. It looks the dog’s bollocks / cat’s pyjamas / hamster’s dungarees etc. My cat would have been proud to have seen her poem referenced in it, too. It publishes on 26 Sep and can be pre-ordered here: linktr.ee/brianbilston

Somehow it’s September, which means it won’t be long until I head out to read poems again. I’ve only a smattering of shows this autumn: Southampton & Bristol next month with the fab Henry Normal, then Belfast & Dublin for two solo shows. Tickets here: brianbilston.com/events/