The first ever Stoke Newington Literary Festival happens next weekend and it looks like a belter. They've secured appearances from AC Grayling, Toby Litt, Danny Kelly, Stewart Lee, Darcus Howe, Edwyn Collins, John Hegley, Jeremy Hardy, Iain Sinclair, Tony Benn, Shappi Korsandi and Phill Jupitus - and if you fancy looking into something less likely to be rammed we suggest you check out the Three Crowns at 9pm on Friday, with spoken word and poetry from Laura Dockrill, Tim Wells, Melissa Mann and Gavin James Bower (it actually follows on from a Pen Pusher event with Miguel Syjuco and Tash Aw).
Or how about a cookery demo using seasonal produce? A chat about guerilla gardening? Debating the legacy of feminism with Kat Banyard, Diane Abbott and Ellie Levenson? Perhaps you'd prefer to discuss what makes a good pub - with free beer. All of this and more is packed into three short days, across many of Stokey's finest venues. They've got a blog and a great Twitter account, but we think nothing will beat the experience of being there.
The Stoke Newington Literary Festival runs 4th-6th June in and around Stoke Newington. Tickets range in price from free to £8 - some of these events will sell out so you're well advised to book. They're also calling for volunteers to help out behind the scenes. Find out more from their website.
