THEY’RE the duo avoided by Scrooge for being far too gloomy, but now The Very Grimm Brothers have a New Year date in Malvern, in the hope that a local audience will cheer them up, for once.

They’re not actually brothers, you know? The Very Grimm Brothers comprise of Adrian Mealing and John Denton, and they’re promising to behave for an evening in their enchanted forest, with reference to direct action, that side gate, that sharp exit, the poetry of platforms, families, friends, seasonal adjustments, gingerbread, undimmed love and the spinning of gold from straw.

Somebody once called it “middle-class rap”.

In fact, Adrian is a Malvern Poetry Slam champ and also sings à cappella with Men In General, A Fistful of Spookies and The Spooky Men’s Chorale.

John wears several musical hats including his John Denton’s Midnight Blues Band hat, and he probably wears ordinary hats as well, if the weather’s nippy and a hat is required.

“It’s a very chatty, tangential gig. And Grimm John just bought a Martin D28 Re-imagined acoustic gtr. I don’t know where he finds the money,” complains Grimm Adrian.

There have been almost unexplained, eerie sightings alongside the Peatbog Faeries, Attila, John Hegley, Elvis McGonagall, Johnny Fluffypunk and Roger McGough, Swindon Poetry Festival, Stratford upon Avon Litfest, Worcs Literary Festival, Wolds Words, Mouth & Music, Speakeasy, the legendary Blue Suede Sporran Club and now in the gloriously acoustic and welcoming St Peter’s Church, Cowleigh Bank, Malvern, on Saturday January 26, at 7.30pm.

The Very Grimm Brothers will appear alongside “the amazing SassCappella, a three piece à cappella band”.

Tickets: 01684 893858