LONDON EXHIBITION
El Anatsui: Material Wonder
October Gallery
February 28-April 6

This exhibition by the celebrated artist El Anatsui features metal wall sculptures accompanied by a series of prints. El Anatsui employs an extraordinary range of media from cement, ceramics and tropical hardwoods to corrugated iron, cassava graters, milk-tin lids and he is best known for mesmerising works composed of many thousands of aluminium bottle tops laboriously sewn together. The metal wall sculptures on show are accompanied by a series of prints reflecting his fascination with the physical history of the materials he uses. Derived  from wooden worktops scarred by use, 3D scanning and plate-making technologies generate plates from which “fabric” prints are produced, encapsulating the hidden histories of the making of the metal works and their fabrication process.

octobergallery.co.uk

Pic: Peter Marshall

BIRMINGHAM POETRY
Proletarian Poetry Showcase
The Old Rep
February 17

A highlight of this year’s Verve Poetry Festival is a showcase from Proletarian Poetry, who over the last four years have promoted the work of some 150 poets through their website, with contributors addressing issues such as what it’s like living in today’s febrile political climate, football, capitalism, politics, refugees and war. The event is hosted by Peter Raynard, with Amir Darwish, Rishi Dastidar, Nadia Drews, Anna Robinson and Julia Webb showcasing their work. Pretty unmissable.
vervepoetryfestival.com

LONDON/TOURING MUSIC
Kathryn Tickell and The Darkening
King’s Place
March 17

Kathryn Tickell is the world’s foremost exponent of the Northumbrian pipes. Composer, performer, educator and recording artist, her work is deeply rooted in the landscape and people of Northumbria. With the musicians who make up The Darkening, she invokes the dark, powerful, sounds of ancient Northumbria, inspired by the wild, weather-bitten countryside along Hadrian’s Wall. They bring some of the oldest tunes and songs from the region throbbing to life, intermingling them with new material and binding it all together with contemporary resonance and attitude. Touring until April 6 after this London date.
kathryntickell.com

MANCHESTER MUSIC
Megson
Band On The Wall
February 21

Megson, aka Stu and Debbie Hanna, draw on their Teesside heritage to create a truly unique brand of folk music. The husband and wife duo bring an infectious mix of heavenly vocals, lush harmonies and driving rhythms to their work and they’ve gained fame and awards on the folk revival scene, not only for their arresting, intelligent songwriting — “one of the most original political folk sets of the year. Ewan MacColl would have been impressed,” according to one reviewer —  but for their exquisite musicianship and northern humour.
bandonthewall.org