Category Archives: Behind the Arras Reviews

The last in this year’s series of Spoken Worlds went out on a high tonight with a guest poet, a luxury not normally indulged in, Ash Dickinson playing to a full house. It was a fitting climax to a year … Continue reading →

Another full house turned out to see a contrasting headlining duo tonight. Joseph Horgan hails from Cork now, but grew up in Bordesley, whilst Bobby Parker is a veteran of the mean streets of Kidderminster. A failing voice meant that … Continue reading →

This was the last event in the 2011 season for Fizz, and featured the second live performance of the Cork Poets on tour with a radio appearance still to come. The move from the Refectory to the Tithe Barn was … Continue reading →

A strengthening artistic bond between Coventry and Cork was reinforced tonight with the latest exchange visit between the two cities, which this time brought Colm Scully, Jennifer Mathews and Afric McGlinchey across the water. An unexpected bonus of the evening … Continue reading →

Organiser Bohdan Piesecki is a glutton for punishment. Not content with organising a seven nation dice slam a couple of weeks ago, he still found time to put on the regular monthly Hit the Ode. As usual, it did not … Continue reading →

This was the last Shindig of 2011,and served as a launch for Hearing Voices Vol 4 ,the house magazine of co-promoters Crystal Clear Creators. I have had the pleasure of attending each event this year and it goes from strength … Continue reading →

It was fitting that Behind the Arras should make the effort to attend this Slam as the Youth Centre has closure hanging over it, to be determined on the 24th November, further evidence of the corrosive effect these harsh economic … Continue reading →

The upstairs function room at The Station has recently been refurbished with the stage extended, a lighting rig installed, and the sound system upgraded. As a consequence the calibre of production possible at the venue has improved and is able … Continue reading →

Spoken Worlds is normally the domain of Gary Carr as master of ceremonies, but this month Gary was indisposed , leaving Mal Dewhirst of Polesworth Poets to step into the breach to keep the wheels turning, and a fine job … Continue reading →

Bohdan Piesecki has been personally responsible for shifting the profile of Birmingham’s poetry scene up several gears with his monthly “Hit the Ode” series at the Victoria Public house in the past year. Tonight, he went still further , assembling … Continue reading →