Inspired by Benjamin Myers: Turning Blue at the Portico ft. David McLean

Author Benjamin Myers won The Portico Prize for Literature and the Northern Writers’ Award last year for his fourth novel, Beastings. His work has been described as ‘rural noir’ and ‘depraved and decadent’: terms which aren’t usually associated with books set in the Yorkshire Dales. However, the compelling nature of his writing goes some way towards explaining why he’s such a cult figure and one of the UK’s leading lights in new fiction. His fan base includes actors, musicians and artists and, ahead of the release of his new book, The Gallows Pole, The Portico Library hosts a one-off, collaborative event taking in music, art and spoken word. Performances of Myers’ writing will be combined with an original live score composed and performed by David McLean and his Crime Scene ensemble. No stranger to collaborative practice, McLean took part in the Samarbeta residency at Islington Mill earlier this year alongside Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore and Lydia Lunch. There’s also an art element to Turning Blue as a new exhibition of work by Carolyn Curtis-Magri will be on display in this atmospheric space at the same time. Called Silenced Voices, the art exhibition explores a real-life unsolved murder case set in the same area of Yorkshire frequented by characters from Myers’ books through the artist’s intricate drawings. Curtis-Magri has worked extensively with ex-offenders and is a member of Salford’s acclaimed Suite group as well as artist-in-residence at Manchester charity, the Mustard Tree. The exhibition continues until Saturday 22 April.

Sat 25 Mar, The Portico, 57 Mosley Street, Manchester M2 3HY. Tel: 0161 236 6785, 7pm, from £5 (contact the library direct to avoid booking fees) www.eventbrite.co.uk.