Poets: Maggie Harris, Barry Fentiman-Hall, and Jess Mookherjee/ Music: Catenary Wires
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HMV Poetry and Music Event
Poets: Maggie Harris, Barry Fentiman-Hall, and Jess Mookherjee.
Music: Catenary Wires
Host: Christopher Horton
Date: 22nd August, 2026
Time: 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Admission: FREE
The three feature poets are some of Kent’s most vital literary voices: Maggie Harris, Barry Fentiman-Hall, and Jess Mookherjee.
Maggie Harris is a Commonwealth Prize-winning Guyanese-British author and winner of the Wales Poetry Award. Known for her powerful, musical performances, Harris will be reading from her body of work including her evocative collections reflecting on migration, belonging, and nature. She is the 2026 winner of the Jhalak Poetry Prize Winner for her collection I Sing to the Greenhearts.
Joining her is Jess Mookherjee, a Bengali-heritage poet shortlisted for the prestigious Ledbury Munthe Prize for Second Collections. The author of Tigress and Notes from a Shipwreck, Mookherjee’s deeply lyrical work masterfully navigates the intersections of heritage, survival, and myth.
Completing the poetry line-up is Barry Fentiman-Hall, a well-known Medway-based poet, performer, and editor of Confluence Magazine. Fentiman-Hall’s evocative, socially conscious writing captures the grit and beauty of the modern landscape, bolstering his reputation as a cornerstone of the Kent creative writing scene.
The second half of the performance will feature a set from Catenary Wires.
Formed by songwriters Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey, The Catenary Wires have released three albums and recorded a live session for Marc Riley and Gideon Coe. Their third album Birling Gap was highly praised by critics. In 2025, the band collaborated with poet Brian Bilston to create an innovative album called Sounds Made By Humans, which was followed by a UK tour.
Rob and Amelia also play in Swansea Sound (with two acclaimed albums, many gigs in the UK and the US, several radio sessions) and in cult indie band Heavenly. Heavenly was Rob and Amelia’s original group. Re-releases of original albums from the 1990s led to a number of sell-out Heavenly gigs in the UK, Europe and the US.
Video: Face On The Rail Line:
Some reviews of Birling Gap
An utterly fabulous album - Louder Than War
Its optimism shimmers like a supernova - The Quietus
One of the albums of the year - Under The Radar
I can't recommend it highly enough - Pete Paphides
Poets: Maggie Harris, Barry Fentiman-Hall, and Jess Mookherjee.
Music: Catenary Wires
Host: Christopher Horton
Date: 22nd August, 2026
Time: 2:30pm – 4:30pm
Admission: FREE
The three feature poets are some of Kent’s most vital literary voices: Maggie Harris, Barry Fentiman-Hall, and Jess Mookherjee.
Maggie Harris is a Commonwealth Prize-winning Guyanese-British author and winner of the Wales Poetry Award. Known for her powerful, musical performances, Harris will be reading from her body of work including her evocative collections reflecting on migration, belonging, and nature. She is the 2026 winner of the Jhalak Poetry Prize Winner for her collection I Sing to the Greenhearts.
Joining her is Jess Mookherjee, a Bengali-heritage poet shortlisted for the prestigious Ledbury Munthe Prize for Second Collections. The author of Tigress and Notes from a Shipwreck, Mookherjee’s deeply lyrical work masterfully navigates the intersections of heritage, survival, and myth.
Completing the poetry line-up is Barry Fentiman-Hall, a well-known Medway-based poet, performer, and editor of Confluence Magazine. Fentiman-Hall’s evocative, socially conscious writing captures the grit and beauty of the modern landscape, bolstering his reputation as a cornerstone of the Kent creative writing scene.
The second half of the performance will feature a set from Catenary Wires.
Formed by songwriters Amelia Fletcher and Rob Pursey, The Catenary Wires have released three albums and recorded a live session for Marc Riley and Gideon Coe. Their third album Birling Gap was highly praised by critics. In 2025, the band collaborated with poet Brian Bilston to create an innovative album called Sounds Made By Humans, which was followed by a UK tour.
Rob and Amelia also play in Swansea Sound (with two acclaimed albums, many gigs in the UK and the US, several radio sessions) and in cult indie band Heavenly. Heavenly was Rob and Amelia’s original group. Re-releases of original albums from the 1990s led to a number of sell-out Heavenly gigs in the UK, Europe and the US.
Video: Face On The Rail Line:
Some reviews of Birling Gap
An utterly fabulous album - Louder Than War
Its optimism shimmers like a supernova - The Quietus
One of the albums of the year - Under The Radar
I can't recommend it highly enough - Pete Paphides
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Where is it happening?
hmv (Canterbury), 23 St Margarets Street, Canterbury, CT1 2, United Kingdom
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherChristopher Horton
