POET Paul Sutherland has led a fascinating life from early years in Canada to settling in the UK, he’s been an agnostic, Christian and now Sufi Muslim – and he’ll be reading from his latest book at The Cellar Bards this month.

He is guest reader on Friday, April 27, at the Cellar Bar, Cardigan. Doors and the bar open at 7.45pm, the event starts at 8pm. Entry is £3 and open mic spots are available.

Paul Sutherland was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1947, and arrived in the UK in 1973. He is the founder of Dream Catcher, the international literary journal, and his own writing has appeared in countless anthologies, newspapers and periodicals. He became both a Sufi Muslim and a freelance writer in 2004.

Eleven collections of his poetry have been published, including Seven Earth Odes (Endpapers Press, 2004), Spires and Minarets (Sunk Island, 2010) and Journeying (Valley Press, 2012).

A New and Selected Poems, including highlights from 45 years of writing, plus previously unpublished works, was released nationally in November 2017, by Valley Press.

The book was listed by the Poetry Book Society for winter 2017 and selected as a choice for the Morning Star’s books of 2017.

It charts the poet’s life from his Canadian roots to immigration to the UK, from agnosticism to Christianity to Sufi Islam.

“The collection is in turn heartfelt, philosophical, and beautifully lyrical, as Sutherland lays bare for the reader his experiences and perspectives – at once particular and universal,” say the publishers.

Open mic spots are always available at The Cellar Bards for writers of poetry, short stories, micro-fiction and novels (max five minutes each).

People who want to read can put their names down at the door on the night. Or go along to listen to the fabulous words of Paul Sutherland, plus a great variety of spoken word performances from the talented regulars. The event is hosted by poet Dave Urwin.