Event type: Talk

WoWFEST: A Reason to Sing – The Popular Song Movement of 70s Chile

Join internationally acclaimed artist Francisco Carrasco for a powerful and deeply personal exploration of Nueva Canción Chilena, Chile’s revolutionary popular song movement of the 1960s and 70s. 

Blending traditional folk forms with urgent, socially conscious lyrics, Nueva Canción became the soundtrack of resistance. Artists including Violeta Parra, Víctor Jara, Inti-Illimani and Quilapayún gave voice to workers, challenged injustice and helped shape the cultural spirit of Salvador Allende’s Popular Unity government. 

After the 1973 military coup, many musicians were silenced, imprisoned or forced into exile — transforming the movement into a global symbol of resistance and solidarity. 

Arriving in the UK as a child refugee in 1975, Francisco Carrasco brings this history vividly to life through storytelling, live music and archival material. He reflects on how these songs sustained displaced communities including his own family who performed at solidarity events across Britain. 

Part cultural history, part lived testimony, this event is an invitation to explore exile, identity and the enduring power of music in times of struggle. 

Francisco Carrasco MA FRSA is a Chilean-born international artist, storyteller, world musician and cultural activist. Exiled to the UK in 1975, he has dedicated his life to using art as a platform for dialogue and social change. 

Based in Liverpool since 1983, he is the founder and Creative Director of LUMA CREATIONS and has led major cultural initiatives including LA FERIA International Festival of Latin American Arts & Culture and the Merseyside International Street Festival. 

In 2025, he received the LCR Award for International Reach. His forthcoming poetry collection, Oceans of Exile, continues his exploration of displacement, resilience and belonging. 

Date: Tuesday 19th MayTime: 6.30pmVenue: Victoria Gallery and Museum: Ashton Street, Liverpool, L69 3DRTickets: £5

WoWFEST: Juno Dawson: Survival Show

 

Join #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Juno Dawson for a special online event celebrating the release of her explosive new YA novel, Survival Show.

Set inside the world’s most-watched – and most sinister – reality TV competition, Survival Show follows a teenage contestant who risks everything to expose the brutal regime behind the spectacle. In this live conversation, Juno will explore the themes driving the novel: fame and exploitation, poverty and power, media manipulation and the cost of visibility in a culture obsessed with performance.

Blending high-stakes dystopian drama with razor-sharp social commentary, the book reflects on a world where young women’s lives become content and entertainment masks control. Juno will discuss why dystopia feels so close to home, how reality TV mirrors political reality, and what it means to write boldly for young readers at a time of growing censorship and backlash.

As the author of global bestsellers including This Book Is Gay and Clean – works that have been both widely celebrated and repeatedly targeted in waves of LGBTQ+ book bans – Juno is able to bring insight and urgency to conversations about storytelling, representation and resistance.

Expect an incisive, politically charged discussion about culture, control and the power of fiction to challenge the systems shaping our lives.

Juno Dawson is a #1 Sunday Times bestselling novelist, screenwriter, journalist and columnist for Attitude magazine. Her books include the global bestsellers This Book Is Gay and Clean. She also writes for television and has multiple shows in development in both the UK and US.

Juno grew up in West Yorkshire, writing imaginary episodes of Doctor Who, before turning her talent to journalism, interviewing pop luminaries such as Steps and Atomic Kitten and writing a weekly serial in a Brighton newspaper. Her writing has appeared in Glamour, The Pool, Dazed and The Guardian, and she has appeared on Pointless Celebrities, BBC Woman’s Hour, ITV News, Channel 5 News, This Morning and Newsnight.

She lives in Brighton and is part of the queer cabaret collective Club Silencio. In 2014, she became a School & College Role Model for the charity Stonewall.

Date: Wednesday 20th MayTime: 7pmOnline eventTickets: £5

 

WoWFEST: Rebecca Solnit – The Beginning Comes After the End

Join internationally acclaimed writer, historian and activist Rebecca Solnit for a special online event exploring her powerful new book- The Beginning Comes After the End: Notes on a World of Change. 

In this urgent and illuminating work, Solnit argues that while climate breakdown, democratic erosion and the rise of authoritarian politics dominate the headlines, they do not tell the whole story. Beneath the turbulence, she traces what she calls a “slow revolution”: the patient, persistent work of movements and communities reshaping the world in ways reactionary forces cannot tolerate. 

With clarity and moral force, Solnit explores how change often begins quietly before it becomes visible; how despair narrows our political imagination; and how the myth of inevitability serves those invested in the status quo. Drawing on decades of activism and feminist and climate justice thought, she reframes hope not as naïve optimism, but as a disciplined commitment to possibility. 

In this online conversation, Solnit will reflect on contested futures, collective action and why new worlds are already emerging – even in moments of backlash. 

A timely and galvanising event with one of the most influential public thinkers of our time. 

Rebecca Solnit is the author of more than twenty-five books, including Orwell’s Roses, which was shortlisted for the 2022 Orwell Prize for political writing, Recollections of My Non-Existence, which was longlisted for the 2021 Orwell Prize for Political Writing and shortlisted for the 2021 James Tait Black Award, The Faraway Nearby, Wanderlust, A Field Guide to Getting Lost, A Paradise Built in Hell and Hope in the Dark. She is also the author of Men Explain Things to Me and many essays on feminism, activism, social change, hope, and the climate crisis, and writes regularly for the Guardian. 

A longtime climate and human rights activist, she serves on the boards of Oil Change International and Third Act. Her newsletter of essays and analyses can be found at meditationsinanemergency.com 

 

 

“Hidden”: Book presentation and in conversation with Charles Fox and Tadhg Devlin

Photographer Charles Fox and  Open Eye Gallery’s Head of social practice Tadhg Devlin discuss the themes of Fox’s recent collaborative book, “Hidden”. 

The book is a result of a long-term dialog between Fox and Prum Sisaphantha (Pantha) and the journey she made through the Khmer Rouge (1975–1979) landscape carrying over 90 family photographs.

The work attempts to articulate both the journey and the narrative, but also as an artifact which has been part prompt in the dialog, and a continued site of production and representation of the journey. When displayed the book unfolds along a line which was created by a GPS recording of the recreation of the journey. During this recreation Pantha wrote of her experience during the Khmer Rouge. The writing in Khmer has been translated into English. As the photographs were hidden during the Khmer Rouge, the book also conceals elements of the photographs in response to the absence of photography through shifting political complications.

The book will also be on display. Guests will have a chance for informal discussions with both Fox and Devlin.

Prum Sisaphantha was a dancer in western ballet. She has taught both Russian and English language, and specialises in teaching Khmer language for foreigners. 

Charles Fox engages with photography from a cross-disciplinary background in journalism, participatory and collaborative practices, and academic research, with nearly 20 years of experience working  internationally and in the UK.

 

WoWFEST: Book Launch: Rhythms by Tony Wailey

Liverpool’s a laugh – but not always a happy place. Rhythms: Volume Three of the Diary of the Smyth Wailey’s brings that contradiction vividly to life, tracing a city shaped by movement, memory and the restless pull of the waterfront. Spanning generations, this powerful work weaves together intimate family stories with the wider social history of Liverpool, from the turmoil of the 1911 Transport Strike to the shifting tides of the twentieth century.

At its heart are lives marked by longing, loss and resilience: Nelly Flanagan’s desperate hope for a child amid war and hardship; decades later, her grandson John Paul confronting a very different dilemma in a changing world. These personal journeys echo the rhythms of a port city where global currents meet local lives, where dockers, seafarers and families navigate both solidarity and struggle.

Blending history, culture and lived experience, the book captures a Liverpool where art, music and rebellion are inseparable from everyday life. This launch event invites you to explore a city of contradictions—where sorrow and joy sit side by side, and where the past continues to pulse through the present.

Tony Wailey was born in Liverpool in 1947 and worked as a seafarer and construction worker before studying modern history, writing his thesis on Liverpool seamen. He later spent over 25 years advising mature students in universities and adult education before becoming a freelance writer.

He is the author of eight books, including novels and three poetry collections. His work explores the cosmopolitan nature of Liverpool as a maritime city, often focusing on migration, memory and family history. His recent books, Diary of the Smyth Waileys and Lights Bearing West examine the narratives of place and heritage, from the Liverpool waterfront to global settings shaped by the city’s seafaring connections.

Date: Tuesday 12th MayTime: 7pmVenue: Quaker Meeting House Liverpool, 22 School Lane, Liverpool, L1 3BT

Shane Embury of Napalm Death in Conversation

Napalm Death’s longest standing member, Shane Embury, comes to Future Yard off the back of the release of his book release ‘Life?… and Napalm Death’. The bassist has been a major figure in the grindcore music scene for more than four decades, Life?… And Napalm Death takes readers on a front seat journey of his story and the history of the scene. This is not just his story, but a history of Napalm Death and grindcore’s development from the beginning to the present. 

Napalm Death’s Shane Embury reflects on 40 years of noise terrorism in conversation with journalist Joel McIver, sharing stories from his unique life in and out of the band, reflecting on the community that has grown up around them and the political values that are central to their music. Shane will be signing copies of his illustrated memoir ‘Life? And Napalm Death’, published by Rocket 88 after the show.

There will be a chance to ask your own questions.

This show will feature an in conversation with Shane Embury about the book with a signing afterwards.

Breaking the Class Ceiling – A Live Exploration of Working Class Artistry (Plus Scratch Open Mic)

Join us for an unflinching, live panel discussion that bridges the gap between Unity’s 1930s ‘Workers’ Theatre’ roots and Liverpool’s contemporary creative scene.

In an era where the ‘class ceiling’ remains a challenging barrier in the arts, how do creatives and radical makers keep momentum? We bring together five Liverpool working-class artists to discuss the politics of the stage, the power of heritage, and the future of working-class storytelling.

Following our headline panel discussion, we’re offering a space for working-class creatives to test new ideas, political rants, or works in progress.

Followed by Radical Scratch Open Mic 5-6.30pm Part of Unity’s Heritage Lottery Funded project.  

WoWFEST: Comma Press presents The Monster, Capital

 

Comma Press presents The Monster, Capital with Ian Carrington, Kiare Ladner and Sarah Schofield chaired by Ra Page, a bold new anthology from the acclaimed Theory Horror series, edited by David Sue and Ra Page.

Inspired by the writings of philosopher Mark Fisher and his concept of Capitalist Realism, this collection imagines capitalism as something monstrous — an abstract parasite, a zombie-maker, a force that consumes, reshapes and haunts our lives. Drawing on folk horror, body horror and the surreal, thirteen writers explore algorithmic obsession, parasocial addiction, vanishing communities and the eerie logic of the market.

A gothic reckoning with late capitalism — unsettling, urgent and darkly imaginative.

Ian Carrington is a Manchester writer who, as ‘Fat Roland’, has enjoyed a long performance career. He co-compered live literature night Bad Language, twice voted the UK’s best regular spoken word event. He has written features and columns for Electronic Sound magazine and fiction for Comma Press.

Kiare Ladner is the author of Nightshift, a novel about obsession and nocturnal lives (Picador 2021; HarperCollins 2022). Her short fiction has been anthologised, commissioned for radio and shortlisted in competitions, including the BBC National Short Story Award. She teaches and mentors writers in London. She grew up in South Africa and now lives in London. www.kiareladner.com

Sarah Schofield is an award-winning writer of short fiction. Her stories have appeared in several Comma Press anthologies, Best British Short Stories 2020 (Salt), Synaesthesia Magazine,  Morning Star, Woman’s Weekly, Hinterland and many others.  Sarah is a Creative Writing lecturer at Edge Hill University.Her debut collection Safely Gathered In was published by Comma Press in November 2021

Date: Wednesday 6th MayTime: 7pmVenue:  The Black-E, 1 Great George Street, Liverpool, L1 5EW,Tickets: £5

 

WoWFEST 2026: Desert Island Dissent with Linton Kwesi Johnson

 

Join legendary poet and activist Linton Kwesi Johnson for Desert Island Dissent — a powerful in-conversation event exploring art as a force for resistance.

In this special event, Johnson will consider the music, poetry and political works that have most profoundly shaped his life and activism. Drawing on his experiences of 1970s Britain, the rise of the National Front and the cultural resistance that followed, he will reflect on the moments that forged his voice and defined decades of struggle.

From dub poetry to political literature, the evening will explore the enduring power of creative expression to confront injustice, challenge dominant narratives and inspire collective action. At a time when old ideologies are resurfacing and reactionary politics are gaining ground, Johnson’s perspective offers a vital reminder that culture can provoke change — and that resistance has its own soundtrack.

An evening of reflection, performance and urgent conversation with one of the most influential political voices of our time.

Linton Kwesi Johnson

The award-winning reggae poet and political activist was born in Jamaican 1952 before moving to London in 1963. He studied at Goldsmiths College, was a member of the Black Panthers and was poetry editor of Race Today, introducing new voices to the British public, including Michael Smith and Oku Onuora. In 1974, the Race Today Collective published Linton’s first poetry book, Voices of the Living and the Dead.  

In 2002 he became only the second living poet and the first black poet to have his work included in Penguin’s Modern Classics series, under the title Mi Revalueshanary Fren. Penguin continue to publish him, now in their Selected Poems series.  

Linton’s first album Dread Beat An Blood was released in 1978. Since then, he has released fourteen albums made with long-time collaborator and producer, Dennis Bovell, and has been running his own record label, LKJ Records, since 1981. He is also a Trustee of the George Padmore Institute and Chair of 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning.

Venue: The British Music Experience, British Music Experience, Cunard Building, Pier Head, Liverpool, L3 1DS 

Photo Credit: Danny Da Costa

WoWFEST 2026: An Evening with Colm Tóibín

 

Don’t miss this special opportunity to hear from one of the most celebrated writers of our time, Colm Tóibín, in conversation with Professor Frank Shovlin.

Tóibín will discuss his striking new short story collection, The News from Dublin — a profound and deeply moving sequence of stories that span continents and generations, from wartime Ireland to Barcelona, Argentina and beyond. Moving between lives marked by exile, secrecy and loss, these luminous narratives explore family ties, displacement, and the enduring pull of home and memory.

Born in Enniscorthy in 1955, Tóibín is the author of acclaimed novels and short story collections including The Empty Family, Brooklyn, The Master, The Magician and Long Island. A three-time Booker Prize finalist, he has also received the David Cohen Prize for Literature, served as Laureate for Irish Fiction (2022–2024), and was Chancellor of the University of Liverpool until 2017.

He will be joined by Frank Shovlin, Professor of Irish Literature at the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Irish Studies, and an acclaimed critic and editor, known for his work on Joyce and John McGahern, including The Letters of John McGahern (Faber & Faber) and the forthcoming biography John McGahern: A Writing Life.

Venue:  The Black-E, 1 Great George Street, Liverpool, L1 5EW

Tickets: Book and ticket bundle: £28, ticket only: £12/£10 concessions