Babak Ganjei, Jeff Young & Roy

Babak Ganjei & Jeff Young Discuss Babak’s new novel ‘On The Bus Without A Phone’
With a reading by PJ Smith aka Roy
Bluecoat Arts Centre, Liverpool / 23 . 4 . 26
Doors at 6, event begins 6.30pm

Taking place over the course of a bus journey en route to a first date, Babak Ganjei’s debut novel charts the seemingly infinite disappointments, misunderstandings and humiliations that have piled up over the course of narrator Bob Green’s life to date. Bob’s immediate circumstances, and the cast of characters with which he shares them, provide the imaginative jumping off point for digressions on teenage love, suburban ennui, pornography, race and identity, mobile phones, Converse, adult love, fatherhood, fast food, MF DOOM, the etiquette of bus seating and, perhaps most importantly of all, The Remains of the Day.

On the Bus Without A Phone is a dazzlingly intelligent, unashamedly comedic and ultimately moving work from a hugely original new writer. With his surrealist flair, world-weary melancholy and self-effacing humour, Ganjei is a Brautigan for the digital age.

We are delighted to be hosting an event to celebrate the launch of this delightful, winsome book which features author Babak Ganjei alongside Rough Trade Books stablemates and local legends Jeff Young (Ghost Town, Wild Twin, Deliria) and Roy aka PJ Smith (Algorithm Party).

Babak and Jeff will discuss Babak's book and their shared role as artists-who-write-books, supported with a reading from the incredible Roy (aka PJ Smith), known for his poetry and stories that share gritty, engaging stories of Liverpool life.

Babak Ganjei is an artist, musician, writer, NTS radio host and eBay twig salesman; recently he has written and performed in the short films Waiting for Potato and Freelancer (Blink Productions). His work is self-deprecating and witty, exploring issues around personal history, imposter syndrome, and the awkwardness of contemporary life. In 2024 he had his first major solo exhibition at The Bluecoat in Liverpool, called Thanks For Having Me. 

Jeff Young is a Liverpool author and visual artist whose practice is deeply rooted in autobiography, memory, and place. His recent books Ghost Town & Wild Twin draw heavily on his own life and personal history, blending autobiography with reflections on trauma, Jungian ideas and psychogeography. Unflinching and reflective though laced with mordant wit, his writing explores how environment, violence, and identity shape a life over time.

Roy, also known as PJ Smith, is a poet, writer and North Liverpool native whose work carries the city’s grit, humour, and unmistakable edge.  From struggling parents to small-time criminals, pent-up white collar workers to drinkers long lost to the ale; Roy’s observational eye carries on the great tradition of English realism. Shaped by everyday life and real voices, his work is grounded, raw, and honest, blending sharp observation with warmth and heart to capture both personal moments and the wider pulse of Liverpool.