[Tom Petty if he was a pirate]: Now I’m keel… I’m keel-haulin’
Richard O'Brien
@notrockyhorror.bsky.social
1.8K followers 2.8K following 499 posts
Assistant Professor in Creative Writing at Northumbria University and lapsed early modernist. Working on poetry, novels, & a music memoir/podcast about the Mountain Goats: thirtyyearslater.substack.com. I make music as Groundbird, groundbird.bandcamp.com.
![Submission
Please send an overview of what you would like to talk about (this could take the form of a standard 300-word abstract [.docx/.pdf] or a more informal approach via email) along with a short biography of about 100 words. If you are including a performance, please make this clear. We will put together a range of panels and informal roundtable discussions based on the nature of the submissions we receive. Please note that in aiming to create a relaxed and productive environment of knowledge exchange, spaces will be very limited. Participants will be selected both on the strength of their submission and with an aim of assembling a varied programme.
A limited number of travel bursaries are available — please let us know in your application if you would like to be considered for one of these, along with where you will be travelling from. Priority will be given to postgraduate students, early-career scholars and contributors without institutional funding. There will be no registration fee. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
Submit your proposals together to Richard (r.obrien@northumbria.ac.uk) and Anika (anika.babel@northumbria.ac.uk) with the subject heading ‘STAVE/OFF’ by 19 June 2026. Results: 26 June 2026.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:wbfymn5ze5xolapr62qvdq6a/bafkreifidygbswyj6truj4l474h5r2jwww6vf76g5li7miqojst7tcgghi)
![Church dismantles a huge pipe organ and finds an older history [screenshot of BBC article]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:wbfymn5ze5xolapr62qvdq6a/bafkreidera3374toffozlik36u7cfx6kltlbo4ggbntsyf72ss47mlbupy)
