Join Chinese Arts Now for a wonderful, one-off night featuring the talents of post-90s Chinese poet, Yu Yoyo and CAN Collective musicians, Cheng Yu, Wang Xiao, Charlie Cawood, DJ Question Mark and An-Ting Chang.

Coalesce promises to be a captivating celebration of all the senses, blending the compelling voices of Yu Yoyo and AK Blakemore with music that captures the spirit of both classical Chinese instruments and contemporary styles. As you listen, enjoy five carefully selected whiskies by Kavalan, an award winning distillery in Taiwan.

Tickets £20. Readings will be in both English and Chinese, with live music and whisky provided in ticket price.

Musicians: Cheng Yu – Pipa, Guqin; Charlie Cawood – Guitar, Zhongruan; An-Ting Chang – Keyboard; DJ QuestionMark – Turntables, Flute; Wang Xiao – Erhu

Born in 1990, Sichuanese poet Yu Yoyo had already begun to earn critical attention before she turned sixteen, publishing dozens of poems in Poetry, Poetry Monthly and other prestigious publications in China. She is seen as a representative voice among the post-90’s generation, especially known for her mature voice and subtle treatment of modern femininity. Her collection Seven Years was published in 2012, and she currently lives in Chengdu.

AK Blakemore is the author of two full-length collections: Humbert Summer (Eyewear, 2015) and Fondue (Offord Road Books, 2018). Her work has been appeared in magazines and journals including Poetry London, Ambit and Magma, and has been anthologised in Bloodaxe’s Voice Recognition: 21 Poets for the 21st Century, Stop/Sharpening/Your/Knives and The Best of British Poetry 2015. She was a winner of Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award 2007 and 2008. A K Blakemore lives and works in London.

Produced in partnership Chinese Arts Now and Kavalan Whisky.