Pair put poetry in motion

TASMANIAN writer Pete Hay and guitarist and composer Paul Gerard are joining forces for an evening of music and poetry celebrating Andalusia and Andalusian poet Federico Garcia Lorca.

Hay pays homage to Lorca and the haunted landscape of Andalusia, with poetry enmeshed in a web of music by Hobart-based composer and guitarist Paul Gerard at An Evening In Andalusia.

The concert explores Pete Hay’s book, Girl Reading Lorca, and Paul Gerard’s new CD, An Evening In Andalusia.

Lorca was executed in 1936 in the first weeks of the Spanish Civil War.

His poetry was banned for 20 years after his death, but he is now regarded as a great Spanish poet. Lorca’s many books of poetry, plays and theatre works have been performed around the world.

Pieces include Song for Dali, which looks into Lorca’s great friendship and love of the Surrealist painter Salvador Dali, and Lorca’s Dream, which looks at Lorca’s agonising choices over the final weeks of his life.

Paul Gerard and Pete Hay launch An Evening in Andalusia CD with a performance at the Peacock Theatre (Salamanca Arts Centre) from 7pm next Thursday (August 3). Tickets are $30, $25 concession, phone 6234 5998 or go to www.centertainment.com.au for bookings.

The pair will then tour their concert around the state over the next few months, including shows at the Burnie Arts Gallery on August 20, the Queenstown Paragon Theatre on September 30, and the Koonya Hall on October 22.