A memorable evening - PJ Harvey reading the marvellous poems of her friend the late Captain Beefheart aka Don Van Vliet amidst a show of his extraordinary paintings from the 80’s and 90’s @michaelwernergallery - so rare that great musicians also make good art …

The magical PJ Harvey reading the poems of Don Van Vliet at Michael Werner Gallery. Not a movement from the audience could be heard or felt - ENTHRALLED

PJ Harvey was recently invited to read a selection of Don Van Vliet's poetry at Michael Werner Gallery in London, as part of an exhibition of his paintings, Don Van Vliet: Standing on One Hand, from the 1980s and 1990s. The exhibition runs until February 17th 2024. More info here https://www.michaelwerner.com/

The artist, also known by the stage name Captain Beefheart, has had a significant impact on PJ Harvey's own music and art.

Polly says, "Thank you to the Michael Werner Gallery for inviting me to read Don's poems. It was a privilege to be able to give life to his words whilst standing amongst his paintings. Thanks also to Jan Van Vliet who helped me prepare for the reading, and for sending me a poem Don had written for me in 2001, called 'Man Can't Anticipate Cat', which I read at the end of the night."