Black Huts backwith top line-up

The festival, which runs from October 28 - November 1, has evolved into one of the most cutting-edge in the south east with a line-up that would be the envy of many London events.

This years festival has been expanded to five days and takes place at The Beacon, on the West Hill, and the Electric Palace cinema in the Old Town.

The festival will see Pete Brown giving a poetry reading. Pete was the lyricist for 60’s supergroup Cream and wrote many of their hits, including Sunshine of Your Love.

It also sees a return to Hastings of traditional folk icon Shirley Collins. Shirley, who was born in Hastings and has many memories of the town, helped to preserve and enshrine may traditional Sussex songs that were part of an oral tradition in danger of dying out.

Now in her 80’s she is enjoying a revival, appearing in a double page spread of music magazine Mojo last month, while being the subject of anew film which is being made about her life and music.

Also appearing this year will be Hastings and Hackney writer Iain Sinclair.

Another writer appearing at the Black Huts is Govan born James Kelman, whose book How Late It Was, How Late, written in the Glasgow dialect, was awarded the Booker Prize.

Film makers Bob Bentley and Tony Grisoni /Brian Catling create an All Hallows Eve. There will be rare readings by Carlyle Reedy, John Healy and a homage to poet Lynette Roberts, Gods With Stainless Ears.

Catalan poet Jessica Pujol, James Kelman, Jonathan Coe will be making the journey to Hastings, and David Quantick, Ian Kearey and David Tibet are also contributing to the festival.

The festival sees a screening of Andrew Kotting’s By Our Selves, which follows in the footsteps of the peasant poet John Clare, in a walk from an Essex asylum to his native fenland.

A benefit performance for the festival takes place at the Electric Palace on Wednesday October 7, with a unique evening featuring film, readings and performance by Nichola Bruce, Oudolin, Pete Brown, Roland Jarvis, Ben Rivers, Andrew Kotting and friends.

For the full programme and booking details visit www.e-truscan.co.uk.