Jo Clement Readings
‘As vivid as engravings, the poems in Jo Clement’s debut collection Outlandish braid together a richness of language and a precision of imagery to illuminate Traveller identity and Roma culture. These are poems of clarity and lyricism that sing of people, places, and the beauty of what is passed down.’ - Kris Johnson (Poetry Society Books of the Year 2022)
Jo Clement's Outlandish, a powerful debut collection exploring Gypsy, Roma and Traveller identity and culture, was published by Bloodaxe Books in May 2022. It is on the shortlist for the John Pollard Foundation International Poetry Prize 2023.
Jo launched Outlandish at a joint livestreamed event on hosted by Bloodaxe on 31 May 2022 - see video below - and online at the Cheltenham Poetry Festival. She will be reading at StAnza International Poetry Festival in St Andrews in March 2023.
Jo Clement was a guest on BBC Radio 4's Start the Week on Monday 13 June 2022. Jo features at 11:47 and again at 17:08. Listen here.
PAST EVENTS
JOINT LAUNCH EVENT ON 31 MAY 2022
Tuesday 31 May 2022, live-streamed launch reading by Jo Clement, Sarah Wimbush and Clare Shaw
Bloodaxe's joint launch reading by Jo Clement, Sarah Wimbush and Clare Shaw celebrating the publication of their new poetry collections was live-streamed on 31 May 2022, and is now on YouTube. They were reading from and discussing their new collections with the host, Bloodaxe editor Neil Astley, and with each other. All three poets have won Northern Writers' Awards for poems included in these collections.
Jo Clement read first in each set, followed by Sarah Wimbush. They were reading from their first full collections Outlandish and Shelling Peas with My Grandmother in the Gorgiolands. Clare Shaw was reading from their fourth collection, Towards a General Theory of Love. Passionate, mesmerising readings from all three poets, followed by a wonderful discussion during which they drew out the connections between their three books.
[24 May 2022]
