It’s 20 years since the passing of northern poetry legend Richard Henry McFarlane aka Hovis Presley, who died of a heart attack aged 44.  A unique talent straddling the worlds of stand-up, alternative cabaret and spoken word, his influence has been acknowledged by the likes of Peter Kay and Johnny Vegas.  His deadpan delivery and subtle wordplay set him apart and reflected his own personality and preoccupations.

Hovis appeared regularly on television and had a sell-out show at the Edinburgh Fringe. The attention did not suit him and he withdrew to the Bolton and the Manchester club scene he was familiar and at home with.

To celebrate his work and legacy friends from that world are appearing in a tribute night at Bolton Socialist Club on Friday 11 July.  Organised by Dave Morgan of Live from Worktown the show will include local musicians, comedians and spoken word performers who worked with Hovis and were inspired by him, including Chris Kehoe, Kevin Bates and Lynn Collier Jelly.

Top of the bill is Manchester’s Thick Richard, who himself was mentored by Hovis as a young and inexperienced performer. The MC for the evening, which starts at 7.30pm, is Salford’s Tony Kinsella. Tickets are £5 on the door or reserved in advance from dave.morgan@livefromworktown.org.uk