New Northern Poets Take Wing

Part of Leeds Lit Fest 2026. See the full programme at https://www.leedslitfest.co.uk/

What happens when poets take wing? They create songs! Curated by Hannah Stone (poet, musician and experienced maker of work with composers) this event engages two recent New Northern Poets, Rachel Curzon and Laura Strickland, in discussion about words and music. They'll chat about their involvement with the Leeds Song Book project, part of the international Leeds Song festival, and explore how writing for this type of collaboration is different to writing in response to other briefs, what prompted them to choose their Leeds subject for the song, and what other projects they are involved in.

Rachel Curzon is based in North Yorkshire. She is the recipient of an Eric Gregory Award, and her pamphlet is Faber New Poets 16. More recent work has appeared in Poetry Review, The Rialto, The London Magazine, and elsewhere. She was the winner of the 2025 Poetry London Competition, and was a New Northern Poet for 2025.

Laura Strickland was a New Northern Poet in 2025. Her poetry has been much published, including in The North, Northern Gravy, Strix, The High Window, Propel, Atrium and Butcher's Dog. She is a member of Dream Catcher's editorial board and was longlisted in the National Poetry Competition 2023 and shortlisted for the Bridport Prize 2025.

Hannah Stone has published numerous pamphlets/collections of poetry, some in conjunction with other poets. She edited Dream Catcher journal for six years, and curates the poets/composers forum for Leeds Song festival, and collaborates with composers. Highlights have been winning the David Oluwale Memorial Prize and featuring as Guardian Poet of the week in 2024.