Castleford poet Jacob Davies set for farewell UK headline show in Leeds
A Castleford-born poet will return to the stage in Leeds later this month for a headline performance that will be his final major UK show.
Jacob Davies has spent the past four years performing across the spoken word circuit but is set to move to Ireland in July.
A show later this month at The Attic will be his last for the forseeable future.
He says poetry has always been part of his life.
“I've been writing poetry as long as I've been able to write. My love for poetry and being a music fan kept it going. I've been told it's quite dark, reflective, and confessional. I think that I categorise it as truthful and real. It's not overly flowery, it's quite gritty,” he said.
His work is rooted in place and politics, shaped by growing up in Castleford and the wider climate in the UK.
“Being from Castleford has had a huge impact. Where you grow up is what you're made of, it's a really big part of you.
"A lot of my poems reference places in Castleford and Leeds. And what it is to be from England and the difficult position we're in with the rise of nationalism,” he said.
He also points to wider division in society as a creative influence.
He said: “The chaos in the country is a big factor. I've grown up around division, with Brexit being a huge talking point.”
But for Jacob, poetry is also a release from that backdrop.
“The importance of poetry is to escape that. To escape division and hatred and instead see the beauty and hope that remains. If I could read social media or poetry books all day I know which I'd choose.”
The night will also carry a personal note, with his dad set to briefly introduce the acts on stage. Support comes from Hull poet Jim Higo, who opens the evening.
The headline set will take place at The Attic on Saturday, June 27. Doors open at 6.30pm, with the support set beginning at 7pm.
More work by Jacob can be found at jdvswriter.com.