“The lost city. I never knew another person had seen it. The black towers. The flames in the windows. I never knew how to get there. But it has to be through another city, like this one. Do you think we could find it together?”
From the short story "Echoland" © Joel Lane
Passing between different worlds is a recurring theme in the work of the late Birmingham based author Joel Lane. Life and death, dreams and reality, cruelty and compassion – all are fluid in his dark and disturbing universe. References to veils lifting and doorways opening appear frequently in his tales of misfits and outsiders desperate to transcend their surroundings.
Digbeth often features as a location in his writing. Lane was fascinated by its liminal qualities and labyrinthine nature. "It was a district in transition between the city centre and the suburbs. Nothing old there had remained intact, but nothing had been removed either." (from Common Land © Joel Lane)
Canals also feature prominently; in particular the Grand Union Canal which passes through Digbeth. In Lane's world, the canals are places of transgression, excitement and danger but also a connection point to an ever-present industrial past.
"What are the canals, do you think? A bit of random heritage, a scar tissue under the roads? I can tell you it’s more than that. It’s a palimpsest. A map of industry… and beneath that, the key to another world…"
From the short story "Ashes in the Water" © Joel Lane and Mat Joiner
Whether you're a diehard Joel Lane fan or if you've never heard of him, this twilight walk around the backstreets and towpaths of Digbeth will connect you to another world. A world of artist communes, ghost barges and strange rituals.
This walk is part of The Witnesses Are Here: a weekend celebration of the life and work of Joel Lane hosted by Voce Books and Influx Press, 11-12 November. Tickets are £8 for the walk or £20 for the entire weekend.
The Witnesses Walk starts and finishes at Voce Books, 54-57 Allison Street on November 12th. Arrive at 3:45pm for a prompt 4pm departure. We aim to finish by 5:30pm with the option of going to a pub for a post-walk pint.
This is a walk event taking place at twilight & taking in a series of urban terrains, including canal towpaths. Please dress accordingly for the time of year & we advise wearing suitable footwear.