THE ‘Bard of Salford’ and original punk poet John Cooper Clarke will be bringing his unique, intelligent and hilarious performance to Bentham Town Hall on July 24.

Britain’s best loved and most important performance poet, John is as vital now as he was in the 70s.

His biting, satirical, political and very funny verse, delivered in a unique rapid-fire performance style, resonated with the punk movement.

JCC toured with all the seminal bands; The Sex Pistols, The Clash & Buzzcocks, and in the USA with Elvis Costello.

In 1978 JCC signed a major album deal with CBS Records. His records with the Invisible Girls, produced by Martin Hannett, are acknowledged as masterpieces.

A figurehead for the movement and all that it encompassed, he found himself as one of the leading voices of punk and youth culture of the late 70s.

Crowds gathered with open eyes and ears gazing up at his distinctive, and now iconic, visual appearance (tall and thin with a mess of black hair, black sunglasses, drainpipe trousers and Cuban-heeled boots) transfixed as he worked through a catalogue of work taken from his four studio albums and numerous singles.

Continuing to write new work from his Essex home, he has a plethora of new poems and monologues which he performs solo.

The event is being held as a fundraiser for Carnival Bentham in 2016 – to book tickets visit carnivalbentham.co.uk.