BIRKENHEAD'S Future Yard will combine the worlds of literature and music under one roof this weekend with a special event. 

Author Professor Alex Coles, from Ellesmere Port, will be talking about his new book Tainted Love: From Nina Simone to Kendrick Lamar which is the first book-length inquiry into the subject of the twisted romantic ballad, giving a sense of both its history and contemporary currency.

Throughout the evening of Saturday, September 9 Alex will sit down for an in-conversation, followed by songs from the book and a Q+A in Future Yard's live room, with the evening closing with a book signing and a DJ set in the bar themed around the musical history covered in the book.

Wirral Globe:

Speaking about his new book, Alex, who is a professor in the School of Arts and Humanities at the University of Huddersfield, said: "Sometimes extreme, this twist to the conventional romantic ballad spans across gender and generational boundaries to subvert our understanding of both the genre’s function and its behaviour.

"Each chapter of Tainted Love takes a deep dive into a single twisted ballad, examining both its inner workings—lyrics, melody, and vocal approach—and its broader cultural resonance.

"Featuring an analysis of songs by Kendrick Lamar, Nina Simone, Roxy Music, Joni Mitchell, The Velvet Underground, Frank Sinatra, Soft Cell, Paul McCartney, Charlotte and Serge Gainsbourg, PJ Harvey and Nick Cave and Little Simz, this book turns on the question: What compels songwriters to compose — and us to listen to — these warped songs?"

Two types of ticket available: A free ticket grants you entry to the in-conversation + Q+A with Wirral Globe editor Jamie Bowman, and with a paid ticket you can get signed book to take home too.

Future Yard presents
Tainted Love: From Nina Simone to Kendrick Lamar
In Conversation with author Alex Coles, Q+A and book signing
7.30pm doors. Tickets from: futureyard.org