Phearnone

Another day, another Writing on the Fall festival event. And it was another corker! Phearnone aka Shayshahn MacPherson is a superb hip-hop violinist (yes, indeed!) from Brooklyn. He raps, he rhymes, he rocks, he creates infectious beats and words to match them and he plays beautifully... "spinning, winning and violining" as he puts it. Add a social conscience and a smile as wide as the Mersey Tunnel and what's not to love?

He topped the bill tonight at the Word Up! event in which young poets/spoken word performers from Liverpool and Manchester wowed the crowd with their linguistic dexterity, political sophistication and ability to engage with a really diverse audience. They were all superb.

Tonight's event was also part of Liverpool's annual Light Night festivities, where museums, galleries, shops, bars, community centres, places of worship and all manner of venues stay open late and arty happenings take place all over town until the early hours. I love it!