Can't Beat a good weekend

I got involved in A Beat Weekend through the creator of the event, poet and writer Richard Deakin.

A few years ago I saw his play about Jack Kerouac and Neal Cassady called Angels Still Fall, which I really liked, so I've followed what he's up to since.

I'm not a beret-wearing beatnik, more of an old punk really, but I'm looking forward to performing here on Saturday. After that I'll definitely take a good look around, because a really good event has been put together.

As well as comedy you'll find poetry, music, song and film. Guests include Carolyn Cassady - widow of Neal - and David Amram, Kerouac's principal musical collaborator. He will be playing behind many of the poets who perform. I'm sure there is a word that sums this kind of thing up.

Continuity of history? Living history? Shake the hand that shook Cassady's hand? Anyway it's good to talk to people who have been around a long time. Better than talking to people who are young, and have good skin.

The weekend divides up with a big party on Friday night. Comedy, poetry and song on Saturday. Then film, music and poetry on Sunday afternoon - films include Pull My Daisy (narrated by Kerouac, scored by Amram).

Then on Sunday evening the main music. There are plenty of acts I haven't seen before such as Bob Holman, supposedly the best performance poet in the world, and the man who founded the Nuyorican poet's cafe in New York. But Larry Love and the Reverend D-Wayne Love from Alabama 3 will be the thing that attracts me.

I'm a big fan, and a big country music fan. I like punk, country, soul and reggae and Irish music, preferably on the one record.

But the point of A Beat Weekend is it maintains the beat tradition rather than taking a necrophiliac approach. So the weekend will be an education for me as well as an opportunity to drag my tired butt on stage one more time.

A Beat Weekend: Cabaret Party, Fri 26 Oct, Trafalgar Hotel, Spring Gardens, Trafalgar Square, W1 (020-7856 8370);
LIPS' Rebel Night, Sat 27 Oct, Hackney Empire, 117 Wilton Way, E8 (020-8985 2424);
LIPS' Beat Afternoon, Sun 28 Oct, Hackney Empire, 117 Wilton Way, E8 (020-8985 2424);
LIPS' Beat Night, Sun 28 Oct, Ocean, 270 Mare Street, E8 (020-7314 2800).

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