The poet, dramatist and publisher Peter Thabit Jones is coming to Cardigan to read from his latest work, ‘The Boy Who Drew John Lennon’.

He will appear at the next Cardigan’s Cellar Bards, which takes place on Friday, 13 November, at the Cellar on Quay Street. Doors open at 7.30pm.

Partly supported by Literature Wales’ Inspiring Communities Fund, the event will also include Cellar Bards regulars and open mic slots for anyone who wants to share their spoken words with the audience. It will be hosted by Aberaeron poet and MC Karen Gemma Brewer.

Peter Thabit Jones has authored almost 20 books and his latest volume draws on his childhood in the shadow of Kilvey Hill in Eastside Swansea, where he was raised by his Welsh grandparents, and the 15 years from 2010 to 2025 that he spent as an annual writer-in-residence in Big Sur, California.

Recently published by Seventh Quarry Press, ‘The Boy Who Drew John Lennon’ also includes poems about poets, such as Elizabeth Daryush, Ivor Gurney, Federico Garcia Lorca, R. S. Thomas, and Welsh language poet Alan Llwyd, artist Stanley Spencer, the jazz and swing music singer Billie Holiday, Elvis, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, war, a refugee mother, a victim of domestic abuse, homelessness, widowed women, and the 1926 General Strike in Wales.

Peter Thabit Jones’ poem Kilvey Hill is incorporated into a stained-glass window by the artist Catrin Jones at Saint Thomas School, Swansea, his many awards include the Eric Gregory Award for Poetry from The Society of Authors, London and the Homer: European Medal of Poetry and Art. His books include the Dylan Thomas Walking Tour of Greenwich Village New York with Aeronwy Thomas. He and Aeronwy Thomas did a six week poetry reading tour across the USA in 2008 and he has also participated in festivals and conferences in the USA and Europe.

In addition to his poetry, Thabit Jones has had three dramas for the stage premiered in the USA and Wales. His opera libretti for Luxembourg composer Albena Petrovic Vratchanska have premiered at the Philarmonie Luxembourg, the National Opera House Stara Zagora,

Bulgaria, Theatre National Du Luxembourg, and the Sofia Opera and Ballet Theatre, Bulgaria.

“Peter is also the founder and editor of The Seventh Quarry poetry magazine, published in Swansea with an international perspective, so I’m sure he’ll have an eye, and ear, on our open mic-ers,” said host Karen Gemma Brewer.

“New and experienced performers are equally welcome, just sign up at the door for a four-minute spot, whether you want to read your own work or that of a favourite poet. We welcome all forms of spoken word including poetry, rap, flash fiction, story-telling, episodes of longer fiction and non-fiction and even the occasional original song.”

Cellar Bards is held on the second Friday of the month, always has open mic spots available and often features a guest poet. There is a charge of £5 for entry, which includes a raffle, with book prizes donated by Cardigan based publisher Parthian.