Welcome to Roaring 20s Radio: a brand new programme on Soho Radio created to amplify the best of art, culture, books, poetry and activism as we roar into the next decade. Roaring 20s Radio is presented by Salena Godden, Amah-Rose Abrams and Matt Abbott. Our first episode will be broadcast on Soho Radio on Saturday 16 November 2019 at 2pm, featuring special guest Rookes talking about her incredible new EP with a live interview in the studio. Following this first broadcast, we air at 2pm on the third Saturday of each month.
Our monthly residency will celebrate and champion the people that are roaring in the face of adversity. Each episode will feature exciting live studio guests, round-ups from our specialist fields and the Roaring ‘20s quiz. Plus we’ll play some of our favourite tunes and chat our way through the political turbulence that dominates the world. The Roaring ‘20s quiz involves sharing a series of extraordinary quotes, facts and news items from past and present and discussing and guessing who said it and which decade it was from: proving no matter how far back we go, there’s always been resistance in the shape of formidable literature, powerful art movements and people of courage fighting apathy and inspiring us all to ROAR more!
Salena Godden is one of Britain’s foremost writers and poets. Her latest poetry collection ‘Pessimism Is for Lightweights: 13 Pieces of Courage and Resistance’ was published by Rough Trade Books taking the poetry world by storm. Shortlisted for the Ted Hughes Prize, her latest ‘LIVEwire’ album was released on Nymphs & Thugs. It features two decades of live performances, session tracks and archive material on 2LP gatefold vinyl and CD. Her début novel ‘Mrs Death Misses Death’ will be published by Canongate Books in 2021. Salena will be selecting writers and brilliant books and other highlights from the literary scene.
Amah-Rose Abrams is a writer and has been an arts and culture journalist for the last ten years. She has written for The New York Times, The Art Newspaper, artnet News, ES Magazine, The i and Dazed & Confused. She has also dabbled in creative, writing, music and film. Amah-Rose will be giving us her freshest picks from the art world – home and abroad – and providing discussion on the many issues in the industry today.
Matt Abbott is a poet, educator and founding owner of indie spoken word record label Nymphs & Thugs. His début one-man show ‘Two Little Ducks’ earned rave reviews at Edinburgh Fringe in 2017, followed by a 22-date UK theatre tour last autumn. It also resulted in the publication of his début poetry collection of the same name. His début kids’ poetry collection ‘A Hurricane in my Head’ was published by Bloomsbury this summer. Matt also fronts indie act Skint & Demoralised, whose fourth album ‘We Are Humans’ was released by Fierce Panda on limited edition white vinyl and download this year. Matt will be giving us a round-up of the latest events, releases and content from the spoken word poetry scene.
You can follow Roaring 20s Radio on Twitter and Instagram and join the debate and ROAR with us using #Roaring20sRadio. The show will be available to stream via Mixcloud once it’s aired on Soho Radio.
Matt Abbott Poet 