gordon zola

Allan Gray (aka Gordon Zola) is a popular performance poet, comedian, author and song writer. During the last 25 years he has performed at venues all over Great Britain but he’s never forgotten his Salford roots.

Gordon became interested in poetry, not by traditional means, but by reading the album sleeve lyrics of singer songwriters, such as; Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, and Joni Mitchell - and many bands of the late 1960’s & 1970’s. An influence that is evident today in his rhythmic poetry.

    From 1995, using his experience as a counsellor, he believes that if one person is capable of achieving something, then, given time, support and the right circumstances, anyone is.

   Enthused by Liverpool wordsmith, Roger McGough and fellow Salford, punk poet, John Cooper Clarke, he cut his teeth on the open mics of the late 1990’s. Then, in the early years of the new Millennium, spurred on by his friend and mentor, Josh Christopher, Gordon recorded a musically accompanied CD, ‘No Strings’, with Josh’s band, Snap2Zero. One of the tracks from this, ‘Sweet Rapper’, was played on Key 103 (now Hits Radio Manchester).

   Gordon has published a poetry anthology, ‘The Wheelie Bin Years,’ (which some say wasn’t rubbish) and has had work featured in all three editions of the ‘Best of Manchester Poets’ and numerous other anthologies and magazines. In addition, he has performed at a plethora of festivals including; Wigan Diggers, Strummer Camp and other live events in Belfast, Dublin and Bordeaux.  In 2021 he went on to form the unique comedy, performance poetry duo, (who are getting rave reviews), ‘Chalk and Cheeze’, with Brummie bard and partner, Eve Nortley.

   Gordon also compered an alternative cabaret night; ‘Cuckoo Calling’, at the Cuckoo - a wine bar in Prestwich, Manchester. It ran for over 6 years until it was abruptly ended by the 2020 National Lockdown. He now hosts ‘Anything Goes,’ (a live night of music, comedy and spoken word) in Bolton at Headspace (a unique creative Mental Health Charity).

   Currently, while continuing to perform poetry, Gordon is writing a series of short stories. ‘Enlightenment is a Cup of Herbal Tea’, is his first novella and his loyal fans eagerly anticipate that the sequel, ‘Mirth, Myth & Mayhem’ will follow soon.

   In his private life, Gordon shares a house with two cats, Plato and Schrodinger (‘Ding’ for short – who loves boxes) . He has a half share of Lil, Eve’s cuddly Sharpe recue dog who showers him with love every time she sees him.