Category Archives: Behind the Arras Reviews

Poetry readings abound in the Midlands at the moment. Men and women are seen entering a rich variety of bars, pubs, meeting rooms and libraries clutching notepads and books. Tonight they converged on Bloxwich, an ideal venue with sound system … Continue reading →

Organised by host Gary Carr, this monthly spoken word event continues to provide a solid platform for experienced, and less experienced ,writers alike to trial their work in a supportive atmosphere. Trusty troubadours arrive from as far away as Buxton, … Continue reading →

Erdington Library has been hosting a week long series of poetry workshops curated by Jan Watts, Birmingham Poet Laureate. This night was a showcase for those who had worked for four days to develop, and hone, their poetic skills. Reprising … Continue reading →

When Cheltenham Poetry Festival launched in 2011 it was described as ‘a triumph’ by poet Alison Brackenbury, now in its second year ,it has returned bigger and better with 95 performers over 5 days, overseen by Chief Executive Director Anna … Continue reading →

The Boars Head is a proper old fashioned pub, full of doors and nooks and crannies. It has also become a cultural hub in Kidderminster. When it first opened in 1888, Oscar Wilde, W.B. Yeats and Tennyson were alive and … Continue reading →

Poetry Bites has a deserved reputation for delivering high quality conventional poetry. It is to organiser Jacqui Rowe’s considerable credit that this time around she was prepared to take a chance with a more left-field choice of guest poet, which … Continue reading →

Regular poetry events are not easy to sustain. I organised my first event a few weeks ago and was educated in exactly how much hard work goes into making them happen. Those who organise them regularly are heroes, and that … Continue reading →

A heavyweight bill ,with four out of the five readers published poets, brought out another strong attendance, such that the start had to be delayed, a measure both of the success of the event, and the pulling power of poetry … Continue reading →

Fresh from a hugely successful States of Independence publishing fayre event at De Montfort University , held annually, at the weekend, Shindig made its bi monthly appearance at the Western Public House. Another healthy audience comprised those for whom Saturday … Continue reading →

Held as part of the St Patricks festival celebrations, this was a night of poetry spoken word and song in a pub that has seen more St Patricks day celebrations than most. The Old Crown reputedly can trace its history … Continue reading →