THE SPACE – INTERVIEWS WITH MICHAEL ROSEN & MARK BEDFORD (AND AUDIENCE Q&As)
Doors 19:00, starts at 19:40 (times may change slightly) // Latest MusicBar // www.thespace.uk.com

MICHAEL ROSEN
Michael Rosen is a highly respected writer, poet, lecturer and broadcaster. He was the Children’s Laureate between 2007 and 2009 and played a significant part in opening up children’s access to poetry, particularly in schools. Michael’s first children’s book was 1974’s Mind Your Own Business, illustrated by Quentin Blake. He has written over 100 books, including the 1989 classic, We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, and the award-winning Michael Rosen’s Sad Book, published in 2004, which covers his grief after the loss of his son Eddie. In 2020, Michael became very ill after contracting COVID-19 and later shared his experiences with it and his care under the NHS. While working at the BBC in the early seventies, he worked on the children’s programme Play School, including as a director. Michael is an active campaigner, certainly including for education.

MARK BEDFORD
Mark Bedford has been a member of the band Madness since the late seventies, as its bass guitarist. Among other songs, he co-wrote One Better Day and Return of the Los Palmas 7. As a musician, he also contributed to music by artists such as Morrissey and Voice of the Beehive. Mark played double bass on Robert Wyatt’s song Shipbuilding. Since 2011, he has been part of the Lee Thompson Ska Orchestra, with Madness saxophonist Lee Thompson. Madness were one of the most popular and successful British bands of the late seventies and early eighties. They had over 30 hit singles, including House of Fun, Baggy Trousers, It Must Be Love, Michael Caine and Our House. Acts they influenced include No Doubt, who were fronted by Gwen Stefani.