LOVERS of poetry and music are in for a rare treat at the Phoenix Theatre next month.

As part of Swindon Festival of Poetry, American poet Don Share, editor of Poetry Magazine and the Poetry Foundation in Chicago, will join former XTC keyboardist and Shriekback frontman Barry Andrews for an improvised evening of poetry and music.

Squandermania, which is at the Phoenix Theatre at New College at 8pm on Friday, October 3, also features musicians Jon Buckett, Brendan Hamley and Catherine Shrubshall.

Award-winning poet Don said: “I’ve been to the UK many times over the years, but in truth the one place I’ve always wanted to visit is Swindon. All my life I’ve been interested in such things as canals and railways, living as I do in America’s industrial Midwest. And as everyone who knows me will attest, I’ve adored the music of Swindon’s own XTC and Barry Andrews’ Shriekback since I was old enough to go dancing.”

Barry, who is working on Shriekback’s 13th album, said he was looking forward to the event, which will the first time he and Don have met.

He said: “It seems like we have an opportunity to make something literally unique happen – intertwined around/inspired by Don’s poetry. He gets off the plane, steps on stage and then what happens, happens. And it will never exist in that way again.”

The four-day festival also sees a number of other big names from the poetry world coming to town, including Maurice Riordan, current editor of Poetry Review, Jacquelyn Pope, Robert Peake, David Morley and Martin Malone. Events include films, live poetry readings, events for children, workshops and dance.

The event runs from Thursday, October 2, to Sunday, October 5.

Tickets for Squandermania are £8 (students free). Passes are available from £35 to £80, or pay individually for each event. For full details and to book tickets, visit swindonfestivalofpoetry.co.uk.