HI~Arts Writing Development Project, in association with goNORTH!, is very proud to present a unique interview and music writers workshop with Colin Larkin.

Colin Larkin is the founder, editor and very much the writer of the greatest reference work on popular music ever to be completed, The Encyclopedia of Popular Music – described by Jools Holland as 'without question the most useful reference work on popular music'; by The Times as ' this is the standard against which all others must be judged', and by the highly influential Rolling Stone magazine as 'musical history in the making'.

Colin Larkin started writing about music in 1967. In the 1970s he wrote for the fanzine Dark Star and in 1990 he formed Square One Books to publish music-related books and to create his dream of a multi-volume encyclopedia of popular music. Colin Larkin sold his company to Muze in 1997, and remains the full-time Editor in Chief of EPM.

Now in its 4th edition, having started in 1989, and now published by Oxford University Press, the EPM is a 10 volume work of unequalled depth and variety that has generated 56 spin-off publications including the best-sellers - All Time Top 1000 Albums; Timeless Flight: The Definitive Story of the Byrds; and Bob Dylan’s Unreleased Recordings.

During goNORTH! Colin Larkin will discuss his life, work and the EPM, how he came to write about music, gather a record collection in the 10'000s and meet some of the greatest names in popular music history. Colin will also give his insights into what makes great writing on music and will discuss the development of their work with music writers and journalists.

The event kicks off at 1pm on Thursday 7th June 2007 at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Inverness and is free! To book a 1-2-1 discussion on developing your writing on music call Peter Urpeth on 01463 717091 or e-mail: peter@hi-arts.co.uk  

On Colin Larkin and EPM:

'ranks as the single best non-classical reference work in existence' Boston Sunday Herald

'the longest love letter to music' Tony Parsons

'a body of work that remains the last word in rock reference books – very possibly the best rock reference book ever*****' Q Magazine


Colin Larkin is available for press & media preview interviews via telephone.

Recent Interviews:

USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/music/2006-10-17-epm-online_x.htm  

BBC The World: http://www.muze.com/html/products/music/epm/colin_audio.htm