Elvis McGonagall (pic by Anna McCarthy)

The eighth person in our series of introductions to performers taking part in International Poetry ReIncarnation at the Roundhouse in Camden on 30th May 2015 is the astonishing Elvis McGonagall.

Stand-up poet, armchair revolutionary and recumbent rocker, Elvis McGonagall is the sole resident of The Graceland Caravan Park where he scribbles verse whilst drinking Scotch, listening to Johnny Cash and throwing heavy objects at his portable telly.

The second series of Elvis’ sitcom “Elvis McGonagall Takes A Look On The Bright Side” is scheduled to be broadcast in August 2015 on BBC Radio 4 where he appears regularly (“Saturday Live”, the “Today Programme”, “Arthur Smith’s Balham Bash” and many others, as well as writing and presenting documentaries).

He’s also appeared on BBC1’s “The One Show” (his jacket clashed with the lime green sofa), BBC2’s “The Culture Show” and their coverage of the World Snooker Championships’ final of 2008, Channel 4’s “Random Acts”, BBC Radio 2’s breakfast show and “It’s Grimm Up North” and on the World Service.

Elvis is the 2006 World Slam Champion, the compere of the Blue Suede Sporran Club and performs and comperes at literary and music festivals, comedy clubs and dodgy dives up and down the country and abroad.

A live recording of his show One Man And His Doggerel is available on Laughing Stock Records and a short collection of his work Mostly Dreich is published by Nasty Little Press.

“….righteous ire, directed at very deserving targets….McGonagall’s verses are shot through with a moral umbrage and rhetorical power” (**** Brian Logan, The Guardian) – full review here:

“….funny, angry and tightly written….McGonagall combines anger, polish and carefully crafted verse in a way which recalls John Cooper Clarke….If the word ‘poetry’ is putting you off, get over it” (**** Susan Mansfield, The Scotsman) – full review here:

“….pin-pointed satires, dynamic performances and meticulous impressions….electrifying….bitingly funny and politically astute” (Michael Horovitz)

Get your tickets for the evening’s star-laden performance here: The International Poetry ReIncarnation

Here’s a video of Elvis in full swing at Book Slam