Skip to main content
Jarvis Cocker, at his home in the Peak District, UK. June 17, 2020. ..Tom Jamieson for The New York Times

An Evening with Rough Trade Books

The counter-cultural publishing house presents an evening of eclectic authors, artists and musicians, including Jarvis Cocker, Sheena Patel and Musa Okwonga.

This event has passed

Bringing together some of the most exciting talent in literature, music and art, this evening of culture curated by Rough Trade Books is a rare occasion to witness a multi-format celebration of independent writing and music.

The event features brand new animation work from Marcel Dzama, accompanied by live music and dance from dancer Francesca Thakorlal, as well as exciting new poetry from Sharan Hunjan, one of the 4 BROWN GIRLS WHO WRITE collective who shares work from her debut collection, Open Mouths.

Award-winning authors including Musa Okwonga and Salena Godden read from
their Rough Trade Books published works, before the all-conquering Sheena Patel gives a reading from I’m A Fan alongside a new visual and sonic artwork composed by Mark Leckey.

Jarvis Cocker talks us through the music that fed into his brilliant book Good Pop, Bad Pop while Richard Phoenix discusses his non-fiction debut Do Your Own Thing before introducing the band Electric Fire.

Craig Oldham’s In Loving Memory of Work is also presented with a miners’ strike film narrated by Maxine Peake and a musical score by Keeley Forsyth, accompanied by a live vocal performance from Gwenno and Women Against Pit Closures singers.

Expect surprises and entertainment throughout this evening to remember hosted by Lily Blacksell.

Need to know

Age guidance
For ages 16+

For your visit

This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre

The Queen Elizabeth Hall is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.