THE HEATH BOOKSHOP LITERATURE AND MUSIC FESTIVAL –

Lawrence is the greatest pop star you have never heard of, the Birmingham born leader of the bands Felt, Denim and Go-Kart Mozart, who dreamed of fame and instead ended up homeless, penniless, and alone. Will Hodgkinson followed him for a year as he tried to rebuild his life. The result is Street-Level Superstar, winner of the 2025 Penderyn Music Book Prize, book of the year for Rough Trade, Mojo magazine and Uncut magazine, and fame at last for Lawrence after four decades of broken dreams.  Will and Lawrence will be in conversation with Lyle Bignon.

Lawrence — like Madonna and Prince, has no surname — he is the greatest pop star you have never heard of. Through five decades of his bands Felt, Denim, Go-Kart Mozart and Mozart Estate, Lawrence’s dreams of glory have been thwarted by bad luck and self sabotage. At 61 he sets off on a new mission: to escape poverty, obscurity and the humiliation of kids at the bus stop laughing at him by writing a smash hit that will envelop him in a glorious bubble of money and fame. And as a sculptor called Corin Johnson works on a giant marble bust of him, Lawrence’s dream of artistic immortality is finally on the horizon. 

Will Hodgkinson is author of the music books Guitar Man, Song Man, The Ballad of Britain and In Perfect Harmony, and the childhood memoir The House is Full of Yogis. He has contributed to the Guardian, Mojo and Vogue and presented the Sky Arts television series  Songbook. Since 2010, he has been chief rock and pop critic for The Times. 

Lyle Bignon is a UK and Europe music and media consultant, and Night Time Economy Ambassador for Birmingham.

He has over 20 years experience writing, championing, lobbying, campaigning and broadcasting on behalf of music industries and NTE in his home city.

Driven by a strong belief in the power of music and the NTE to transform lives, effect societal change, create inspirational art, and bring communities together, Lyle has worked with major artists, national charities, leading venues, global brands, and emerging talent on hundreds of music, cultural, and night-time economy projects since 2005.

This event will be BSL interpreted.

This event is part of The Heath Bookshop Literature & Music Festival and is supported by National Lottery Grants Funding through Arts Council England.

Tickets for this event will be released in January 2026.