Now in its fourth year, ArchWay With Words has pretty quickly established itself as one of the more captivating London book-lovers’ events of the local calendar.
It always features an eclectic selection of speakers, and the line-ups so far have included such luminaries as Will Self, Stella Duffy and Ben Okri, scientists Simon Singh and Professor Steve Jones, and speakers such as Joan Bakewell, Phill Jupitus, Viv Albertine and Linton Kwesi Johnson.
Started by N19 local Stephanie Smith, who also founded the now-thriving Archway Market nine years ago, the festival continues to get backing from Islington Council and developers Essential Living and Bode, who are busy transforming Archway’s centre.
“ArchWay With Words 2016 is ten days of back-to-back interestingness,” says Smith, “with more than 40 events in fiction, science, history, memoir, spoken word, poetry, performance, comedy, sound and film. There’s music too, with a chance to dance to David Bowie on a fantastic sound system before the very varied fiction programme unfolds.”
A real coup for Smith this year is Suzi Quatro, with poems and reminiscences of her rock ‘n’ rollercoaster life. Joined by Laurie Bolger, Salena Godden and a rhythm and blues band till late, it should be a night to remember – and a snip at a tenner.
Other big names this year include hit playwright Jonathan Harvey, authors Jake Arnott and Louise Doughty, the Rev Richard Coles and Paul Morley.
And to celebrate, throughout this week we’ll chatting to some of them about what they’re speaking about at the festival – and also get their tips for wannabe writers. We’ll also find out what goes on behind the scenes at Owl, the neighbourhood’s favourite bookshop.
