An evening with Aft-Err

Inspired by our exhibition, SO THIS IS REAL LIFE: Punk post punk imagining 1975-1985, join us for an evening of conversation and performance

An introduction by Aft-Err:

Aft-Err are an outgrowth of the band Bones and the Aft, who are themselves the performance manifestation of the Liver & Lights Scriptorium, itself being the collective name given to the handmade publications made by John Bently over the last forty years.

All three manifestations chronicle and celebrate the lives of ordinary people and things: their stories, traditions and lives. They are observational, polemic, mythic, impassioned. commemorative, celebratory and humbly follow in the noble tradition of the Pamphleteer, the Ranter, and the Penny Balladeer. Bones and the Aft are these chronicles given musical form, turned into song.

Aft-Err is Bones and the Aft in stripped down form featuring John Bently on words and costumes and his son Arthur Bently on homemade sounds.

This evening will consist of an illustrated talk on the history of Liver and Lights in relation to the DIY culture from which it emerged. Introducing the work of the artist and musician Arthur Bently, in particular his recent involvement with performance collective Ashley’s Fit Up, an ever evolving musical-visual performance, initially created to fundraise money for Cressingham Gardens, a council housing estate like many others in London threatened by gentrification, bulldozing and eviction……

The evening culminating in a rare live performance by Aft-Err.

John Bently will be showing on 6 and 7 March alongside over 40 artist book makers at Into the Fold artists’ book and zine fair at Winchester School of Art. The University of Southampton Library’s Artists’ Book Collection, held at Winchester School of Art, holds the complete set of John’s Liver & Lights Scriptorium. If you would like to view any of the books in the collection, please contact wsaenqs@soton.ac.uk to make an appointment.