🎶❤️ 🌟 Katy Carr performs William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and of Experience at the Rainham Poetry Festival 2025 🎤✨
My lovely Friend,
I am overjoyed to invite you to the Rainham Poetry Festival on Saturday, 12th April 2025 🎉. This inspiring event will take place at the historic St Margaret’s Church ⛪, located on High St, Rainham, Kent, ME8 8AN—a venue steeped in history, nestled along the ancient Watling Street, which has connected communities for centuries 🌍. The festival runs from 2:00 pm to 6:30 pm ⏰ and promises to be a celebration of creativity, poetry, and music 🎶✨.
This year’s festival is hosted by Goat Star Books 📚, a UK-based publisher with a mission to bridge cultures and illuminate diverse voices through the translation of poetry. Inspired by Percy Bysshe Shelley’s words, “poets are the unrecognized legislators of the world,” Goat Star Books invites you to celebrate the transformative power of words that transcend borders ✨🌍.
I’m thrilled to be performing alongside an incredible lineup of poets 📖, including: 🌟 Simon Armitage, Poet Laureate, celebrated for his evocative depictions of northern England; 🌟 Patience Agbabi, renowned for her electrifying storytelling; and 🌟 Sam Riviere, whose thought-provoking work explores themes of human connection in the modern world.
I will take to the stage 🎤 from 4:00 pm to 4:22 pm to perform a selection of my musical interpretations of William Blake’s Songs of Innocence and of Experience, created in collaboration with The Blake Society. These heartfelt renditions are my tribute to Blake’s visionary poetry, blending his timeless words with my original melodies 🎵✨.
🎼 The songs I’ll be singing include: Songs of Innocence: 🎶 Introduction (Piping) 🎶 The Lamb 🎶 The Chimney Sweeper 🎶 Holy Thursday
Songs of Experience: 🎶 Introduction (Voice of the Bard) 🎶 Earth’s Answer 🎶 The Tyger 🎶 The Chimney Sweeper 🎶 Holy Thursday 🎶 London
This project is particularly close to my heart 💖 as I’m currently working on a double album of Blake’s Songs of Innocence and of Experience, set to be released in 2027. This album will commemorate 200 years since Blake’s passing, celebrating his extraordinary legacy through a fusion of poetry and music 🎤📖.
For those who may not know me, I’m a British singer-songwriter and musician passionate about storytelling and history 🎶✨. Though I was born in England, my early childhood in Poland 🇵🇱 has greatly influenced my artistic journey. My album Paszport, a tribute to the bravery of those who fought during World War II, earned Best Concept Album 🏆 at the Independent Music Awards in 2014, and I was honoured to receive Poland’s Pro Patria Medal 🎖️ in 2016. Across six albums, I’ve explored untold stories through music and performed for audiences in the UK, US, and Europe 🌍🎵.
The Rainham Poetry Festival offers a wonderful opportunity to immerse yourself in the magic of words and music 🎶✨, connect with an inspiring community, and celebrate the enduring power of creativity 🌟. I feel so fortunate to be part of this remarkable event and to share the stage with such talented poets ✨📖.
🗓️ Mark your diaries for 12th April 2025—I can’t wait to see you there for a truly unforgettable celebration of poetry, history, and song!
Warmest wishes, Katy Carr 🌸🎤
✨ WE REMEMBER
🕊️✨ Honouring Pan Janusz Gołuchowski
RIP (03/03/1928 – 20/03/2025)
Devastated to hear of the passing of Pan Janusz Gołuchowski 🥲✨✝️. May he rest in peace.
Pan Janusz was a true child of God and a proud son of Poland 🇵🇱, embodying the noble values of BÓG, HONOR, OJCZYZNA ✝️🇵🇱. His unwavering dedication to preserving the legacy of the 1st Polish Armoured Division 💂♂️ and his enduring love for Poland have left an indelible mark on all who knew him.
Rest in peace, dear Pan Janusz—a cherished friend, a guiding inspiration, and a beacon of courage ✨🙏. I will forever treasure the great honour of being made an honorary member of the 1st Polish Armoured Division.
R.I.P., Pan Janusz. ✝️🇵🇱✨
🌟 Remembering the Cursed Soldiers
(Narodowy Dzień Pamięci „Żołnierzy Wyklętych”)
Each year on the 1st of March, we honour the courage and sacrifices of the Cursed Soldiers—the brave men and women who fought for Poland’s freedom against the totalitarian communist regime after World War II ✝️🇵🇱. Despite relentless persecution, imprisonment, and execution, their unwavering determination embodies the spirit of resistance and the fight for independence.
Among the many heroes, we remember Witold Pilecki, the cavalry officer who infiltrated Auschwitz and documented its atrocities 💂♂️✍️. His bravery remains a symbol of sacrifice and truth.
Their legacy reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit and the fight for justice 🕊️✨. Their sacrifices will never be forgotten.
BÓG, HONOR, OJCZYZNA ✝️🇵🇱 #CursedSoldiers #PolishHistory #NeverForget
🌹✨ In Loving Memory of My Mamusia ✝️
RIP (12/12/1947 – 12/03/2018)
Remembering my beautiful Polish mother, her boundless love, kindness ❤️✨, and the radiant light she brought into my life 🌸🌟. Though she is no longer here with me, her spirit lives on in my heart 💕 and in the countless ways she shaped the person I am today.
I hold her memory close, cherishing the precious moments we shared and the lessons she taught me. Her love continues to guide and inspire me every single day ✨, and I am forever grateful for the time we had together and the incredible gift she gave me—Poland 🇵🇱💕.
Mama, you are missed beyond words, but your love, strength, and kindness remain a lasting legacy in my heart ✝️✨.
#RememberingMum #Mamusia #PolishHeritage #CherishedMemories 💕