Hold on to your pens as I tell you that in the run up to this year’s event, we’re looking to commission four spoken word artists interested in creating and performing new work for our latest Phrased & Confused outing - the Phrased & Confused Tent at the Summer Sundae Weekender, a cracking festival which takes place in Leicester 8-10 August.

Each commission is worth £1000 and in addition you’ll receive a weekend pass for you and a guest, camping space in the artist field and travel expenses to and from the festival. Artists we commission will be asked to create at least 15 minutes of new material, and to perform it at least once at the festival.

The deadline for applications is the 11th June and to find out more you can either check out the commissions page, or download a copy of the commissions brief here as a pdf or rtf. Good luck!

Readers, writers, musicians and monstrosities, we are pleased to announce the return of Phrased & Confused. Yes, we’re back once more to explore the creative common ground between music and the lyrics. This year however, things are going to be slightly different. We’re not talking one off gigs, we’re not taking tours, we are however talking a stonking great festival tent. Well, ok, a really exciting, boutique festival tent.

That’s right, this summer we’ve been invited to take over a stage at the award winning Summer Sundae Weekender festival, which for three days (8th – 10th August 2008) takes over De Montfort Hall and Gardens in Leicester.

So far, we’ve got confirmations from Fife based electronic/acoustic folk demon Kenny Anderson (King Creosote) and Emma Pollock (founder member of the Delgados) who will be performing a very special joint set. We’ve also got the Leaf Label’s latest (and greatest) signing, Essie Jain, from the UK via NYC with her serenely beautiful vocals and charming melodies. Not to mention the univocalists themselves, the Oulipo Poets, featuring lyrical pioneers Ross Sutherland, Joe Dunthorne and Tim Clare.

But for something really new and exciting, you’re going to have to wait. Only until Monday, 19th May but it’ll be worth it. So for a one off opportunity for poets, musicians and everyone in between, I urge you to return to this site first thing next week. Really wish we could say more.

Welcome to our new Phrased & Confused website. We’re currently carrying out important site updates and making preparations for the Phrased & Confused Festival 2008. To view our old site and get information on past events, please click here. For now that’s it, but there are some exciting things coming your way. Let’s just say that if you are a poet, musician or both, check this space week beginning 19th May 2008.

Until then, carry on enjoying the hot weather.

P & C