Punk poet and musician, Attila the Stockbroker, is set to perform in Sudbury next month, bringing more than four decades of politically charged poetry, music and satire to one of Suffolk’s most striking cultural venues.
Attila, whose real name is John Baine, will appear at Sudbury Arts Centre on 5 June, alongside local poet and performer James Domestic.
First emerging during the early 1980s punk scene, Attila became widely known through performances on John Peel’s BBC Radio 1 show and a front-cover appearance in Melody Maker. Since then, he has built a long career blending poetry, folk, punk and political commentary, performing thousands of gigs across Britain and internationally.
Over the years, he has shared the stage with bands including The Jam, The Alarm, and New Model Army, while also touring with fellow poet and musician, John Otway, in the 1990s. His work has ranged from sharply political verse to surreal comedy and singalong performances.
The University of Kent now holds an archive dedicated to Attila’s career as part of the British Stand-Up Comedy Archive.
A long tradition of political performance
Attila’s work emerged from a wider tradition of punk-inspired performance poetry which flourished in Britain during the Thatcher years. Alongside figures such as Phill Jupitus (then performing as Porky the Poet) and the late Steven Wells, he helped popularise a style of spoken word that mixed humour, anger and social commentary.
Unlike more traditional poetry circuits, these performances often took place in music venues, student unions and political events, helping spoken word reach audiences outside conventional literary spaces.
That influence can still be seen in today’s thriving spoken word and performance poetry scene, particularly among younger artists blending politics, comedy and live music.
Promoters say audiences at Sudbury can expect “wise words, topical, satirical verse and songs” alongside “a lot of laughs” and “quite probably, a singalong or two as well”.
Medieval church turned community arts venue
The performance will take place at Sudbury Arts Centre, based inside a converted medieval church in the centre of the town. The building has undergone accessibility improvements, including the addition of toilets, a café and wheelchair access, while retaining much of its historic character.
In recent years, the venue has become an increasingly important community and cultural hub for Sudbury and the surrounding area. It is run by Alli Burke and a small team of staff and volunteers who organise regular arts and community events throughout the year.
Alongside concerts and exhibitions, the centre offers a range of local support groups and workshops, including a Dementia Support Café, youth music sessions and community advice services for younger people.
Sudbury support act promises hometown send-off
Opening the evening will be Sudbury poet, James Domestic, whose performances have developed a strong following across the East Anglian spoken word scene.
Describing his work as “poetry for people who think they don’t like poetry”, Domestic combines humour, storytelling and sharp observational writing. He says the event will “almost certainly” be his last hometown performance of 2026 due to an increasingly busy touring schedule.
The event continues a growing trend of smaller regional venues attracting nationally recognised spoken word and alternative performance acts outside major cities.
Tickets and further information are available through Sudbury Arts Centre.
This article is based on a press release, compiled with assistance from AI tools and edited by East Anglia Bylines.
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