Andy N
(real name - Andrew Nicholson)
Location: Manchester
E- mail: andrewnicholsonuk@yahoo.co.uk
Summary Statement
Experienced writer, experimental musician and poet within the Manchester area of England and have been performing / published on a regular basis since 2006. Particularly interested in new opportunities for music and writing and general creative projects.
Key Skills / Experiences
· Helped co-run performance group and discussion Haulgh Writers (Later 24 Hour Arty People) from 2005 to 2008 during which period I helped co-run writing workshops and helped run two performances at Bolton Library in 2006 and two performances at the first Turton Towers festival in 2007.
· From 2007 onwards, I have been a regular member of Poetica, a poetry discussion group that meets regularly in Manchester City Library, chairing the group and offering help / assistance with the construction of new and existing pieces.
· From 2008 to 2010, I co-run Trio Writers, a writing performance and discussion group in Bolton with the emphasis on Poetry, Prose and Performance.
· From 2008 to 2010, I co-ran ‘Poets and..’, a bi-monthly open mike night at Bolton Rugby Club in Bolton – helping to organize, run and publicate the night.
· From 2010 onwards, I have helped co-run and organize ‘Jamming with Jeffarama’ and later on ‘Guitar and Verse’ a monthly night firstly in Bolton and later Salford with additional dates in Birmingham, Hepden Bridge and Leeds to name but a few.
· From 2011 onwards, I have helped co-run ‘Writers of the third kind’ a new creative writing / discussion group in Bolton with an emphasis on trying to help new and existing writers try out different kinds of writing.
Music History
· From 1999 onwards, I am involved with Hicc.Org (http://www.archive.org/details/hicc-records) an independent experimental free internet label which was responsible for the elease and distrubition of 35 albums and EP’s.
· From 2006 onwards, I run ‘Setting Sun’ (http://www.archive.org/details/setting-sun) a spoken word internet label and am responsible for the relase and distrubition for 82 albums and EPs.
· From 1999 to 2009, I was involved in a host of experimental studio only projects such as DIH, M.A.N., Distance and Grey Ear / White Noise to name but a few releasing numerous albums and EP’s (More details on http://www.andyn.org.uk/index.php?p=1_6_Musical-Projects).
· In 2009 and 2010, I toured regularly with Words and Music (later Wordmusic) playing over 40 concerts in England and Ireland and released one EP (More details can be found here - http://wordmusic.yolasite.com/
· From 2010, Have played with ‘A Means to an End’ and currently have played 25 Concerts.
· I have recently formed a new project with Amanda Silbernagel simply called Amanda Silbernagel and Andy. We have worked on several tracks so far which can be downloaded here - http://amandasilbernagelandandyn.yolasite.com/
Publishing History
· Have been published in a variety of online and paper magazines such as Other Voices Poetry, Kritya, Thanalonline, Taj Mahal Review, Remark, Unquietdesperation, Spleen, Undone since 2006.
· I have been published in several analogities ‘Emergency Verse’, ‘Spleen’ and, ‘Best of Manchester Poets Volume 1’ to name but three.
· I brought out my first book ‘Return to Kemptown’ through N Press in 2010 (which has recently gone into it’s second print and has been printed with 18 pages of extras). N Press have brought out two low key books of older material in 201 called ‘Love Songs for Cathy’ and ‘Love Songs for Cathy II’. It has just published my second official book also, a split book with Jeff Dawson called ‘A Means to an End’.
Career Highlights:
2006
- Co-wrote and performed at two plays with 24 Hour Arty People at Bolton
Library ‘Toni’ AND ‘Winter Wit’.
2007
- Performed at the first Turton Towers festival near Blackburn in 2007.
- Performed at Words Festival nr Wigan.
- Became a regular on the poetry internet radio station ‘Lit Media Reviews’
(until 2010).
2008
- Performed at the first Not part of Festival at the Manchester
Dancehouse Theatre.
- Performed at How many Poets does it take to put a light bulb fund raiser.
- Performed at the first ongoing ‘The Cabaret formerly known as Bucket’ night
- Performed at Chorlton Arts Festival from 2008 onwards.
- Co-ran and organised the ‘Poets and…’ nights @ Bolton Rugby Club
from 2008 to 2010.
2009
- Performed at Chorlton Arts Festival.
- Did a my first tour in Ireland (Bantry).
- Helped run and performed at a amnesty international at the
Chapel in Fallowfield.
- Headline slot at Do it for the Love show 6 and made three appearances
at Unsung Magazine launches as special guest.
- Performed at the first Temporary Arts Association Festival (T.A.A.)
In Manchester.
2010
- Co-ran and performed at ‘Desperately seeking Alex’, a charity fund raiser
for the missing poet, Alex Humphrey in 2010.
- Launched my first book ‘Return to Kemptown’ at Write Out Loud,
Sale @ Waterside Centre.
- Performed at Chorlton Arts Festival.
- Did my second tour in Ireland (Cork and Bantry and outskirts).
- Helped arrange and organize ‘Jamming with Jeffarama’ tour at Leeds,
Salford and Bolton dates.
- Began to help co-organise and perform at ‘Guitars and Verse’,
a monthly night @ Butterflies Bar, Bolton (Now Salford’s The Crescent)
from 2010 onwards with Jeffarama (aka Jeff Dawson).
2011
- Co-ran and performed ‘Unique, Driven, Determined’ a charity
night for local charities (Mind, The Villa and Tameside Blind Association)
in Audenshaw (2011).
- Performed at Chorlton Arts Festival.
- Performed and co-run a show at Tyldesley Arts Festival.
- Performed and co-run a show at Didsbury Arts Festival.
- Launched second book ‘A Means to an End’ at Chorlton Book Festival
with Jeff Dawson and a short tour afterwards which took in dates at
Middleton, Bolton and Centre of Manchester.
- Poem 'Percy was featured in Poppy Drift (Remberence Exhibition
in Hull, November 2011).
- Headline shows at Paradox, Light in the Dark.. and Open Mind.
2012
- Poem ‘From a midnight train’ (Bolton) was featured in Best of Bolton @ Octagon Theatre on 11th Feb 2012.
