Armitage’s rock fantasy (From York Press)

Armitage’s rock fantasy

8:50am Saturday 16th January 2010 in

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YORKSHIRE poet and playwright Simon Armitage will be in York next Wednesday to read from his latest book, which charts his failed dream to be a rock star.

Gig: The Life & Times Of A Rock Star Fantasist tells the story of a young man obsessed with music, whose dream of a career as a musician comes to nothing.

Reviewers raved about it. “It moved me to tears, to shouts of laughter, and made me look at even the most mundane things in a different way,” wrote the man from the Sunday Times. “Probably the greatest joy I’ll find on a page all year...” added the Herald.

The Press’s own arts writer, Charles Hutchinson, described Armitage last year, during an event at Easingwold, as “wise, anarchic and yet still wide-eyed”.

The Huddersfield poet will be reading from his book in the Bowland Lecture Theatre in the University of York’s new Berrick Saul Building next to the Central Hall from 6pm on Wednesday, as part of the university’s Writers At York series.

The event is open to everyone in York, and entrance is free. It should be quite an evening – a great chance to see an iconic new building, as well as meet one of our finest and funniest poets and writers.