Salford Lads Club is thrilled to announce a one-off evening with the legendary Dr John Cooper Clarke on Wednesday, 11th June.
The iconic poet, author, and cultural icon will take centre stage for an intimate in-conversation event with respected BBC broadcaster, Nihal Arthanayake, sharing stories from his extraordinary career which has spanned over five decades.
This special fundraising event will support Salford Lads Club, helping to maintain its historic building and fund vital projects for young members. John’s last visit to the club was two years ago when he was made Honorary Freeman of the City by Salford City Council. His return to Salford, from his home in Essex, always marks a true homecoming and it follows his record-breaking performance at Co-op Live on March 29th, where he performed to the largest-ever audience for a poet in the UK.
It’s fitting for John to be interviewed by Nihal Arthanayake on stage at Salford Lads Club, as Nihal has interviewed John as part of his award-winning BBC Headliners podcast series and has established a reputation for his insightful interviews.
Laura Slingsby CEO of Salford Lads Club said: “We are incredibly excited to welcome John back to his hometown for this unique evening. His connection to Salford is legendary, and this event promises to be a truly special occasion for fans old and new. Nihal is the perfect choice to interview John and we look forward to showing him around our wonderful venue.”
In the second half of the evening, Nihal and will be also chatting to John’s long-time friend and manager, Phil Jones, who has been a music promoter for 47 years and has known John for 45 of those years! John and Phil will be recounting some never-heard-before stories which will be followed by a Q&A where John will be answering selected questions submitted by the audience.
Visitors to Salford Lads Club on the night will have the opportunity to explore its rich history, including its renowned Wall of Names and the famous Smiths Room, now featuring three digital panels to showcase the ever-growing collection of fan photos and messages.
Official Salford Lads Club merchandise will be available to purchase throughout the night, as well as signed copies of John Cooper Clarke’s best-selling books Ten Years in an Open Necked Shirt, I Wanna Be Yours and The Luckiest Guy Alive.
John Cooper Clarke’s distinctive voice and unique delivery have cemented his place as Britain’s most loved poet and national treasure ~ this is a rare opportunity to hear him speak in the intimate setting of Salford Lads Club.
Tickets are £30 and will go on sale here on Friday 16th May at 10am.
