Words at the ready: J.M. Donellan prepares for NOTED

Pantera Press author J. M Donellan flew into Canberra this morning keen to soak up the atmosphere of Canberra’s first ever experimental writers’ festival. The NOTED festival offers a different type of festival – one that could have been custom made for Donellan as it highlights his many word-linked skills: author, playright, slam poet, musican, DJ…

‘You know what I’m going to hate about this event?” asked Donellan when asked about Lit Hop, where he is scheduled to step in at stage two this evening, ‘NOTHING.’

Like a bar hop, but better, Lit Hop was created to showcase notable writers and performers using storytelling, games and rowdy trivia in three separate venues, with pop-up pit-stops along the way. Stage two of the Lit Hop, ‘Stuck In The Middle’, kicks off at 7.30pm at Lonsdale Street Roasters and promises a fast-paced, literary quiz that will see Donellan joined by Jordan Morris, Tasnim Hossain, Yen Eriksen and Rosanna Stevens.

‘I think the festival organisers may have telepathically reached into my brain and specifically organised an event around all my two favourite things (bars and books). The only thing that would make it more perfect would be if Fiona Apple was there. Hopefully someone’s remembered to invite her.’

As the NOTED festival draws to a close on Sunday evening, Donellan again gets a chance to layer two of his other favourite things – words with music – at Speakerbox. Speakerbox, the festival’s final event, presents a series of collaborative works: sound stories, song poems and new word/noise fusions. ‘I’ve had the opportunity to mix words with soundscapes with several very talented composers both locally and overseas in the last couple of years,’ he commented.’My band Poetry is Dead has a spoken word track remixed by a DJ from Portugal coming out an Italian label in the next couple of months, but I’m particularly excited to work with Chloe Hobbs from the ANU Experimental Music Studio.’

Other performers matched for Speakerbox include Jessica Stone + Alphamale (Hannah de Feytner) and Cathy Petocz + Ollie Bown. Donellan and Hobbs are performing a piece called the Artist’s Prayer at the Street Theatre from 5pm tomorrow night.

‘It is like the Lord’s Prayer but with more references to poverty and student loans,’ said Donellan.

 

Throughout NOTED, Josh will be appearing at:

Lit Hop Saturday 21 March 20156.30pm-9.30pm

Speakerbox Sunday 22 March 2015 5.00pm-6.30pm