Festivals
Fri 22nd June -8th July Ashbourne Festival
Sat 23rd June- 8th July Ludlow Festival
http://www.ludlowfestival.co.uk/
Fri 29thJune- 8th July Ledbury Poetry Festival
http://www.poetry-festival.com/
Thurs 5th-8th Southwell, Nottingham Poetry Festival
http://www3.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/learning/libraries/events/southwell-library-poetry-festival/
Lydney Festival , Gloucestershire 1/7 -15/7
http://www.lydney-online.co.uk/events/lydney-festival/
Thur 5th -15th July Lichfield Festival
Lichfield Festival
Sat 7th -25th July Buxton Festival
Home
Day by Day
Sun 1st July “We Are Poets” Film – The Drum, Aston, Birmingham, 1pm/6pm £3:This event was originally on Thu 31 May and has been re-scheduled for Tue 1 Jul.*
• Schools Matinee with Directors Q&A, 1pm.
• Evening Screening, 6.00pm
We Are Poets bravely flips the image of British youth on its head, as six remarkable teenage poets are chosen to represent the UK at Brave New Voices, America’s most prestigious slam poetry competition. From their inner city lives in Leeds, North England, to a stage in front of the White House in Washington D.C, the team must prepare for a transformational journey of a lifetime. Intimate, honest and imaginative, We Are Poets is a moving testament to the power of creativity, community and the dynamism of young people.
“Amazing…it’s poetry itself. Poetry is an art, filmmaking is an art, it takes great sensitivity to bring them together – this film shows us how it’s done!” – Benjamin Zephaniah
Run Time: 82 mins
Directors: Alex Ramseyer-Bache & Daniel Lucches
Cert: 12A
Sun 1st I-Slam Poetry Olypmic Special, the Hub,9a Stoney Lane, Birmingham: £5, 6-8pm,Hosted by Bohdan Piesecki,starring David J Pugilist,ZK The Poet, Slam Poetry with an Olympic Flavour, the day the torch passes the Hub. info@soulcityarts.com
Sun 1st ARTournament’s Sunday Chill,The New Inn in the centre of Gloucester (opp M&S) City Centre. 16 Northgate Street, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL2. UK.First Sunday, £5in, 3pm-9pm. poetry, Comedy and Music.
Stage One – Comedy and Poetry
We are moving all the comedy and spoken word performers upstairs into the Ballroom this month so we can fit you all in and we won’t have the normal noise problems from the bands.
2pm Get Yourselves settled with a drink and a comfortable seat and Dan will explain the day
2.15-2.30pm Walk in Open mIc
2.30-3.00pm JenJen is going to be starting the day for us all
3.00-3.15pm Andrew Owens-An Artournament regular and very popular poet.
3.15-3.30pm Citizen Smith-Poet Laureate Slot
3.30-3.45pm Alison Hustwitt and a couple of songs
3.45-4.00pm Guy Williams-a regular poet and fave. POet Laureate Slot.
4.00-4.15pm Luchador Poet-Poet Laureate Slot
INTERVAL
4.25-4,45pm Annaleise Mcmillan Gregg-Poetry and Poet Laureate Slot
4.45-5.00pm Lyn-The Ghost Lady and some ghostly
5.00-5.15pm Kate Walton treating us to some performance poetry
5.15-5.30pm Your compere-the incredibly witty and funny Demetris Deech.
5.30-5.45pm Joy Amy Wigman-Funny and Poet Laureate Slot
5.45-6.00pm Richard Wood-Great Stand Up
6.00-6.15pm Richard Hurley and his world of comedy
6.15-6.30pm Jan Watts-a poet laureate all the way from Brum.
6.30-6.45pm Amber Rose and a little bit of music
6,45-7.00pm Daniel Nicholas -comedy guru on his way to Edinburgh
6.55-7.10pm Will Hilbert-a funny funny stand up.
7.10-7.30pm Mark Hurman-a little comedy practise and on to Edinburgh
7.30-7.50pm Peter Wyton-a highly acclaimed and very funny poet.
7.50-8.05pm Keith Hyett and his wonderful music
8.05-8.20pm Mark Chatterley-a big comedy fave
8.30-8.45pm Dave Godden…funny funny funny
8.45-9.00pm Jimmy Berrigan J
Sun 1st Buzzwords, Exmouth Arms,Bath Road Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL53 7LX, 7pm Workshop, open mic plus Nick Alexander, Miki Burn
Mon 2nd Gorilla Slam,Dada Trippet Lane Sheffield S1 4EL:8pm,Invite everyone you know and come prepared to be entertained. 1Love Gorilla’s
Slam Rules:
•Each poem must be of the poet’s own construction.
•Each poet gets three minutes (plus a ten-second grace period) to read one poem. If the poet goes over the time, points will be deducted from the total score. ( ½ point for every 10 Seconds)
• Five judges will score the poet and the points will be added up. The best scoring will go through to the next round. The scores are between 0.0 to 10.9.
•Judges cannot be related in any way to the poet.
•If you feel the judges were wrong in there scoring you can make them aware by booing the scores. If you agree with the judges, cheer them loudly and give them some jazz hands.
•No Costumes or Props
The Winner Gets a Prize and the ‘’Gorilla Poetry Slam Trophy’’ and a half Hour slot at next poetry event. The Winner will have to come back to the next slam to defend the trophy and there right as the slam champion. At the end of the year the best eight scoring poets will enter the slam final and the winner be called the ‘’The Grand Bard Of Sheffield’’
Tues 3rd Word ,Y Theatre, East Street, Leicester LE1 6EY, just opposite Leicester Train Station7pm performers, 8pm, Audience, Open mic plus headliner. £6in
WORD! is the longest running poetry and spoken word night in Leicester. Based at The Y Theatre, Leicester, it takes place on the first Tuesday of every month, between 8.00 and 10.30pm. The evening is composed of an open mic, followed by a booked act. With Oneness Sankara
Tues 3rd Night Blue Fruit, Taylors Vaults, Canal basin, Coventry, 8pm start, free in:”I had the pleasure of meeting Dele Kogbe recently at the Positive Images Festival. He is a promising new voice in British poetry and I am proud to introduce him as our July guest poet at Nightblue Fruit. I recommend you to come and watch him.”
Antony Owen
Poet Bio
Dele Kogbe is studying MA. Diplomacy, Law and Global Change at International Studies and Social Sciences Department, Coventry University. He is the founder of Global Student Writers’ Society, the first literary society in the Coventry University. He is a member of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA). His published works are widely used in teaching literature in English in primary and secondary schools in Nigeria. Dele’s published works include Songs of a Wounded Dove (Poetry, 2007), Child of Destiny (2009), and The Young Farmer (2009). His new story The Gods Had Gone to Sleep (2012), published by AuthorHouse, UK, will be released to the public in a couple of weeks.
Dele Kogbe received the 2010 Merit Award of the Association of Nigerian Authors/Oyo State Agency for Youth Development and 2010 Best MDGs Volunteer Advocate Award of NYSC Zamfara State, Nigeria among other awards and recognitions for his selfless service in community developments
He is a dramatic poet on stage.
Tues 3rd Yard of Tales,Joules Yard, rear of 53-55 High Street, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 7AF.
Joules Yard is a unique venue with a licensed bar after 7pm, also serving tea and coffee. If you would like to order a vegetarian meal for the evening, provided by ‘The Green House’ please telephone 01858 463250. Market Harborough, Leicestershire,Meets first Thursday in the month.
Wed 4th Speak Up. Hare and Hounds PH, Kings Heath:7.30pm,The next Speak Up will take place on 4th July and it is set to be very magical indeed.
We have Kim Trusty performing for the last time at Speak Up as she is going back to Canada – she is a massive inspiration of mine and although it’s going to be the most sad seeing her go I am so glad that people are going to see her perform, she’s incredible.
We have also got Zia Ahmed from the Elephant Collective and Roundhouse Slam Winner 2011.
Zia performing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wuKABbx2xI
And! Sean Mahoney from the Rubix Collective who is just wicked.
Sean performing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbvxoqTbTkI
We have cake and beanbags and babes and poetry and open mic and fairy lights and other lovely things for five tiny pounds.
You should come, it’s better than all other things that happen on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays.
It starts at 7.30pm and we have open mics!
Wed 4th Jan Watts & Rafeef Ziadah, Library Theatre Birmingham, 7pm:On 4 July, we are delighted to be hosting a special event with internationally renowned poet, Rafeef and Jan Watts, Birmingham Poet Laureate 2011/2012 on Wed 4 July (7pm, Birmingham Library Theatre).
This event is part of the national Poetry Parnassus tour, which has been organised by London’s Southbank Centre and Speaking Volumes. Poetry Parnassus led by poet Simon Armitage sees the gathering of poets from each of the 204 nations competing in the London 2012 Olympics.
Jan saw Rafeef at a recent performance and was totally blown away by her and is delighted to be sharing a stage with Rafeef. The event is open to all, so do come along to hear poetry and personal stories from two very talented poets.
To book your seats, please contact: nikki.bi@birmingham.gov.uk or call 0121 303 2895
Wed 4th Spire Writes , Havana Whites, Corporation St Chestefield,7.45, Free in:In July, Spire Writes brings you two more legendary poets, with Liz Berry and Faye Lipson.. Please come and join us, and perform at the open mic too if it takes your fancy.
Thurs 5th The Shakespeare Centre, Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon, CV37 6QW, 7.30pm:£9in,The Southbank Centre’s Poetry Parnassus, a great meeting of poetic minds from every Olympic nation, brings some of the most exciting writers from across the globe to stages across Britain. For Writing West Midlands and the Stratford Poetry Festival, Poetry Parnassus is delighted to introduce T.J. Dema from Botswana, a poet, editor and events manager, and Kosal Khiev from Cambodia, a poet and exile from the USA.
Join them for readings, discussion and personal stories.
T.J. Dema is a Botswana poet and chairperson of The Writers Association of Botswana. She has performed in France, Denmark, India, South Africa, Malawi and Zimbabwe and is part of the multi-country poetry and music ensemble Sonic Slam Chorus.
Kosal Khiev is a poet, teaching artist and survivor of the US prison system, deported in 2011 to Cambodia. Since then he has used poetry to uplift his situation with compelling performances at TedX Phnom Penh, universities and pubic stages.
Poetry Parnassus on Tour is a Southbank Centre production in association with Speaking Volumes Live Literature Productions. In partnership with the Stratford Poetry Festival.
How to book:
To book your place, please visit the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust’s website or click here.
Thurs 5th Ian Mcmillan, Southwell Library,The Bramley Centre,King St,Southwell,Nottinghamshire,NG250EH 7pm
Thurs 5th Parole Parlate, The summer spoken Word Special, Little venice, st Nicholas st , Worcester, 730 pm, £3 in:
“Parole Parlate : The Spoken Word” is back for a summer special after a very successful Worcestershire Literary Festival on Thursday 5th July 2012 and is a dedicated spoken word and “music that tells a story” platform. If you would like the chance to read your short stories, poems, prose, try out your performance poetry or music that tells a story, this evening is for you!
Hosted by Little Venice in Worcester, there will be a full bar service, cakes/snacks and you can of course take advantage of their full menu and enjoy their delicious pizzas, pastas or salads. Try out their £7.95 menu which includes a main course and a drink.
The Worcestershire Literary Festival team have so far confirmed the following performers:
Nathan Williams
Nick Munro Turner
Polly Robinson
Geoff Robinson
Damon Lord
Ian Ward
Sammy Joe
Math Jones
Plus a headline performance to be confirmed.
Fri 6th Andrew Mulletproof Graves Southwell Library,The Bramley Centre,King St,Southwell,Nottinghamshire,NG250EH 5pm
http://www3.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/learning/libraries/events/southwell-library-poetry-festival/
Sat 7th Crystal Clear Creators Pamphelt launch with Maria Taylor,Southwell Library,The Bramley Centre,King St,Southwell,Nottinghamshire,NG250EH
http://www3.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/learning/libraries/events/southwell-library-poetry-festival/
Sat 7th The Saturday Plinth,Worcester City Museum Foregate St, Worcester 10am – 1pm, Free:As part of Worcester City Museum & Art Gallery’s 4th Plinth project, this is a Saturday morning spoken word event in the space vacated by the departing library.
Come to perform, or come to watch – either way, this won’t be your ordinary Worcester Saturday!
Performance slots will be 10-15mins. Poetry, prose, drama, or any combination thereof! But no swearing or nudity (we get enough of that during the week).
Sat 7th Blues at the Fold, Worcester. Starring Poets Amy Rainbow, Gary Longden and Theo Theobald, music includes Big Man Clayton
Sun 8th Hamlet, Station Pub, Kings Heath 3pm; £5 in Worcester Melting Pot Theatre Co
Sun 8th Wendy Cope,Southwell Library,The Bramley Centre,King St,Southwell,Nottinghamshire,NG250EH 4pm
http://www3.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/learning/libraries/events/southwell-library-poetry-festival/
Sun 8th Crystal Clear Creators Pamphelt launch with Maria Taylor, Ledbury Festival, 12.15pm
http://www.poetry-festival.com/live-readings.html
Mon 9th Nasty Little night, john osbourne, Luke Wright.King St Bristol Old Vic: 8pm, £6in,Crack out your ear trumpet and practice your happy face as Word of Mouth brings you a triple treat of lexical lushness.
I’m your host, Byron Vincent. I own a thirty-year-old dictionary, the legs of a consumptive emu and a neurotic disposition. I’m very much looking forward to meeting you.
Nasty Little Press publishes books from the UK’s best-loved live poets; and like Maverick and Iceman off of Top Gun, these two are the best of the best. Only instead of oiling up and playing aggressive beach volleyball, they read really good poems instead.
If I were to list their collective achievements this piece of writing would make Anna Karenina look like a work of flash fiction. Sold out national tours, five star reviews, innumerable TV and radio appearances. Expect funny, tender, poignant insights from two of the nation’s most gifted verse-slingers.
Tickets £6.00
Box Office 0117 987 7877
http://www.bristololdvic.org.uk/1904.html
Mon 9th Pure and Good and right with Fran Hill, Sozzled sausage, Leamingtaon Spa, CV 32 4NX; 7.30pm: £3 in,Fran Hill is a comic performance poet, freelance writer and English teacher, who loves to make people laugh. In addition to poetry, she writes humorous articles, and is published regularly in the Times Educational Supplement magazine. Her book ‘Being Miss’ is for sale on Amazon Kindle and her blog’Being me’ is faithfully followed by 280 people with time on their hands and a liking for trivialities.
DEFINITELY AN EVENING NOT TO BE MISSED!
Admission £3 (£2 Student/OAP)
From time to time we are located upstairs, so please let us know if you require disabled access before the event.
If you would like to know more about the night email: pgrpoetry@gmail.com
Mon 9th Pub Poetry Nottingham The Canal house, 48-52 Canal Street, Nottingham, NG1 7EH,8pm, 2nd monday : Free in, Open micContact Nick on pubpoetry@nottscomedyfestival.co.uk
Mon 9th Speech Bubble Cognito, Students’ Union, Loughborough University 7pm Second Mondays monthlyin term time, check for details: http://www.arts.lboro.ac.uk/
Tues 10th City Voices City Bar King Street, Wolverhampton WV 1ST Second Tuesday 19:30, booked poets simon.fletcher@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Tues 10th “Poetry Alight at the Spark Cafe Bar, 19 Tamworth St, Lichfield WA13 6JP
Arrive early , 7.30pm prompt start -10pm
“A terrific evening of poetry” – Mal Dewhirst
Lichfield Poets proudly present the third in this quarterly series of poetry evenings, hosted by Gary Longden in the week of the Lichfield Festival.
It comprises four visiting guest poets and an open mic section. Great pride is taken in introducing new poets to the audience, and new audiences to poets. Open mic spots, at 3mins each, may be booked in advance, a very few may be made available on the night, e-mail: Lichfield.Poets@hotmail.co.uk
Please note that our advance slots are always oversubscribed, all requests may not be successful.
The Cafe, as well as offering coffee, teas and light refreshments is also licensed to sell alcohol and offers a range of hot food, I can personally vouch for their Cumberland sausage sandwich! The audience is encouraged to arrive early, and the Spark is ideal to enjoy a supper with friends before proceedings. The Cafe is open all day.
This month we have four distinguished published guest poets, two from Leicestershire based Crystal Clear Creators, and two from Black Country Based Offa’s Press. Both publications regularly invite submissions.
From Crystal Clear Creators
Dr Jonathan Taylor is a Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at De Montfort University. His specialisms include prose fiction and non-fiction, memoir-writing, radio writing, poetry and literature of the ‘long’ nineteenth-century. He is also co-founder and co-director of Crystal Clear Creators (www.crystalclearcreators.org.uk), which records, publishes, produces and promotes new writing, particularly for radio, and publishes the Poetry magazine Hearing Voices. Jonathan is widely published, his work is very accessible, with a sense of fun, listen out for Mozart’s Clarinet Sextet.
Maria Taylor is a poet and reviewer . She has had poetry published in a variety of magazines including The North, Staple, The Guardian and Iota. She has also reviewed for The TLS and Sphinx, as well as co-editing the magazine Hearing Voices. She teaches Creative Writing at De Montfort University and has also tutored young people and children. Her debut collection, Melanchrini, is available from Nine Arches Press in July 2012. I suspect that we can persuade her to read from it.
This is how I described the first time I saw her perform, over a year ago:” Her trademark is short, concise neat poetry which bustles with joie de vivre. Soap Sud Island visited her erstwhile home district of Acton in London, and its status as launderette to the more upmarket Chelsea and Kensington. Getting Rid told of the disposal of a troublesome bee in her bedroom. She entertained and engaged with a magnetic economy of expression.”
( As Jonathan and Maria are husband and wife, I should stress that the above biographies appear in alphabetical order!)
From Offa’s Press
Jane Seabourne: is a published writer and poet whose credits include The Guardian and Mslexia. She has lived on both sides of Offa’s Dyke, having grown up in South Wales, and currently works part-time in education. She lives in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton.Bright Morning, her first collection of poetry was published by Offa’s Press in May 2010 and is a delight for anyone who enjoys well-crafted and witty contemporary poetry.
Jayne says: ” My poems are inspired by mysteries, oddities, unusual details and scraps of memory. I like to observe, record and imagine the goings-on behind the curtains of people’s lives.”
Nick Pearson is a Forward Prize nominated poet. His poems have inhabited many places, including anthologies, magazines, websites, CDs, live performances and the works of artists. He lives in Shropshire, his Offa’s Press collection is entitled “Made in Captivity.” This collection draws together a range of work written over the last ten years. Urban, sharply observed, often humorous and with elements of atmospheric staging ,these poems catch some of the voices of contemporary disconnection and the search for certainty
Reviews of past Poetry Alights are available here:
THE SPARK THAT BECOMES A FLAME.
IT TAKES JUST A SPARK TO SET POETRY ALIGHT!
Tues 10th Scribal Gathering The Crown Stony Stratford:7.30pm,Get ready for another fantastic feast of musical mastercraft and poetical proficiency, bringing together lachrymatorially lyrical local live talent and perfervid performers from perfurther afield. We have headline performances from special guests Dan Plews and Alan Wolfson, as well as the open-minded open mic, welcoming all to muse upon their views, share their wares, show their stuff, shine before their peers and shout what it’s all about, to a tolerant and very forgiving audience. Join us, and invoke the spirit of gathering…
When: Tuesday 10th July 2012. Doors open at 7.30 for a prompt 8.00 start.
Where: The Crown, Market Square, Stony Stratford MK11 1BE.
How: Free entry. Sign up for open mic on the night. Arrive early to avoid disapproval.
Dan Plews is Co-ordinator of Aortas Education Ltd. Find out more here: http://www.aortas.org.uk/AORTAS/Staff/Entries/2012/1/15_Co-ordinator.html
Alan Wolfson is organisor and MC at Words and Music in the Woods, and can be seen here: http://www.alanwolfson.co.uk/ and here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rhx_2WTKwhE&feature=related
Tues 10th Mouth & Music 6,Boars Head Gallery, Kidderminster 8pm, £3 in:The 6th in our monthly series of totally & utterly acoustic spoken word & music nights! Bobby parker and Dan Whitehouse. Open mic sign-up from 7.30 5 minutes / 2 songs each, Diamond Jubilee themed work will be especially appropriate though anything goes!Admission £3 (free to performers) Presented by Heather Wastie & Sarah Tamar for kaf creatives
Tues 10th Tales at the Edge, White Lion Inn, Bridgnorth, Shropshire,Tales at the Edge is one of the country’s oldest and most established storytelling clubs, meeting in Bridgenorth on the 2nd Tuesday of every month (except August) at 8 pm.
Wed 11th Midsummer Madness Smart Poets, Veggd Out, Fletchers walk, Paradise Circus, Birmingham. Open Mic 7.30pm: There will be summertime frolics a-plenty at the SMART open mic, featuring St.Martins’ poet in residence Penny Hewlett, the queeen of the fairies herself, Sammy Joe and the very talented Shaun Rolls and Shabz Ahmed.
There are plenty of open mic spots for writers new and old- e-mail samywroteunder@googlemail.com if you fancy showcasing your work in a friendly, supportive and somewhat sultry summer evening, all in the name of poetry, of course!
£3in. 7pm start.
Wed 11th Flying Donkeys, Voicebox, Forman St Derby:8pm:Giles Abbot, “Patched and Mended” Giles brings a magical re-working of Pygmalion and the Welsh tale of Pryderi, interwoven with Giles’ own story of how he became partially blind and then took to storytelling.
Tickets on the door or phone Sophie on 01332 840007 or email robandsophie@hotmail.com..
Wed 11 th The Quad Derby QUAD, Market Place, Cathedral Quarter, Derby, DE1 3AS Second Wednesday 19.30 Free in, A monthly night of performed poetry for everyone, new performers always welcome or just come and listen, More details from QUAD or contact Les on T: 01332 206 734, http://www.derbyquad.co.uk
Thurs 12th Shipping Forecast The Rude Shipyard, 89 Abbeydale Road, S7 1FE Sheffield,7.45pm An open mic night of poetry, prose, music, performance, raffles and fun.
This is a very informal cosy monthly night of joy in the snug environs of the marvellous Rude Shipyard in Sheffield (UK). The night provides a platform for established and first-time performers to play to a warm and appreciative audience.
Always a surprise, always a treat, grab yourselves a cuppa, some tasty homemade cake and join the fun.moi miss piggy or stan skinny host.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/169584853087066/
Thurs 12th Coffeehouse Poetry Open Mic, Shrewsbury Coffee House , Castle Gate, Shrewsbury with Liz lefroy, 7.30pm, free in. (Note this is a chnage from the usual Tuesday).
Thursday 12th. SLAM POETRY COMPETITION The Annexe Venue Lydney 8pm Lydney V Rainbow Poets with MC Brenda Read Brown. Free Entry Sponsored by Francis Law of Lydney
Fri 13th Wednsesbury Art Gallery, Open mic, 7.30pm: Free in
Sat 14th Catalyst Culture Open Mic, Cathedral Sq, Colmore Row, Birmingham 4-7pm, free:Youth event for poets, musicians and comics. contact;craig@anglican.irmingham.com
Sat 14th Notes From the Underground, Hollybush PH, Newtown lane, Cradley Heath, 8pm Start, Free in, Poetry and music Open Mic with Jack Edwards
Sat 14th Lichfield Festival Double Bill
Jo Shapcot, Lady Chapel, Lichfield Cathedral, 10.15, £8: Jo Shapcott’s award-winning first three collections, gathered in Her Book: Poems 1988-1998, revealed her to be a writer of ingenuous, politically acute and provocative poetry, and rightly earned her a reputation as one of the most original and daring voices of her generation.
In Of Mutability, Shapcott is found writing at her most memorable and bold. In a series of poems that explore the nature of change – in the body and the natural world, and in the shifting relationships between people – these poems look freshly but squarely at mortality. Jo will read from this and her other works.
Jackie Kay, Lady Chapel, Lichfield Cathedral, 10.15, £8: Hot on the heels of Fiere and Red Dust Road, Jackie Kay’s newest and most luminous of collections is full of compassion, generosity, sorrow and joy. In fifteen extraordinary stories, she celebrates the richness and power of dream-life to inspire, to repair, and to make real.
The women of Reality, Reality are mesmerizing, whether in love or in solitude. Grace and Rose, glowing with pride, are the first to marry on Shetland; Hadassah, named for the Morning Star, burns as brightly.Margaret, alone in her care home, places her hope in a cherry red cardigan; Elina Makropulos is desperate to be allowed to grow old.
Jackie Kay is a wonderful and engaging speaker and is delighting audiences around the country with her readings.
Sat 14thOld Post office MoseleyMoseley Festival: Cannon Poets evening of poetry July 14th .7.30pm,£2 in
Everyone is welcome to come to enjoy the evening and support our members – and hear new poets from Nine Arches Press.
There will be a charge of £2.00 at the door which will include refreshments in the interval.
Our readers are (alphabetically): Connie Bott; Chris Duggan; Doreen Gray; Dorrie Johnson; Val Just; John Mason; Barbara Peterson; Marg Roberts; Shaun Rolls; Janet Smith; Ian Todd; Martin Underwood.
Nine Arches Press will be presenting three poets: Matt Merritt; Angela France; Daniel Sluman
Publications.
Both Nine Arches Press publications and our own will be on sale. If you have published a collection and have copies to sell please bring some along.
The evening will start promptly at 7.30 and is due to finish at about 9.30
Sun 15th Hamlet, Station Pub, Kings Heath 3pm ; £5 in Worcester Melting Pot Theatre Co
Mon 16th Shindig, Western PH, Leicester:7.30pm, free in:Crystal Clear Creators and Nine Arches Press present Shindig! Open-Mic Poetry Evening: Free and Open to All.
Featured poets are: Maria Taylor, Alan Baker, Kim Moore and Robin Vaughan Williams.
Sign up for open-mic slots on the door.
Email Jonathan Taylor (crystalclearjt@hotmail.co.uk) for further details.
Wed 16th-18th Mix;merging into media conference, Corsham Court, Bath Spa University:For three days in July an international gathering of academics, artists, film makers and writers will meet in the stunning location of Corsham Court to discuss the current developments in digital writing.
The conference will take place at Bath Spa University’s postgraduate centre at Corsham Court from 16th-18th July 2012. Its aim is to bring together practitioners and theorists working with writing in digital media. The purpose is to create a core of research knowledge both practical and theoretical. The conference will present academic papers as well as presentations and workshops by current digital practitioners. There will also be a public exhibition of digital work created for this conference through an open call for artists/writers: http://www.mix-bathspa.org/liberated-words/liberated-words-call-for-video-narratives-at-mix-conference
The questions we will be addressing are: How can new media be used for serious artistic purposes and how can we create a suitable critical vocabulary for this? What is the relationship between digital writers and the commercial world of ‘gaming’. Who are the audiences for digital writing and how can they be accessed? There will be submissions from those who work in digital media, concrete poetry, text art, poetry and performance, poetry and film, film poems, digital poetics, poetry and art, poetry and music, digital narratives, game writing, intermedia poetry, transmedia writing, language art, visual writing and installations.
The conference will produce a networked book of critical essays, examples of work and also an online forum where the debate can be continued.
Confirmed Key Speakers are:
Mark Amerika: Internationally renowned ‘re-mix’ artist and pioneer of internet art, digital video and experimental literature. Professor of Art and Art History at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Kate Pullinger: Acclaimed writer for both print and digital platforms. Reader at De Montfort University and founder of the Transliteracy Research Group.
Tom Konyves: Video poem creator and multi-media writer. Lecturer in screen writing in British Columbia.
Dr. Maria Mencia: Leader of practice led research in language driven new media/art/literature. Senior Lecturer at Kingston Universtity.
There will be an international line up of presenters from the U.S, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy and the UK.
http://www.mix-bathspa.org/
Tues 17th Buxton Fringe, Word Wizzards Slam,”For All That Clap” Grove Hotel Buxton, 7.30pm: £3in Rob Stevens hosts.
Tues 17th Bobby Parker/ Meredith Andrea, Kitchen Garden Cafe,York Rd, Kings Heath,7.30pm (Doors 7pm)
Two new poetry books from Knives Forks and Spoons Press. Bobby Parker reads from ’Comberton’, his bravura prose-poem sequence “a collection of poems whose narrative outstrips most novels for depth, mystery and staying power (Luke Kennard). Plus Meredith Andrea, reading from ‘Organon’.
Tickets: Free Event – all welcome
Wed 18th Templar Poetry, Lamb & Flag, The Tything, Worcester, 8pm; Open mic, third Wednesday, Alex officiates contact:Alex McMillen, Alex McMillen,Templar Poetry, PO BOX 7082, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 9AF,Tel: 01629 582500, Mobile: 07918166975
info@templarpoetry.co.uk
Wed 18th , Storytelling Cafe Kitchen Garden Cafe,York Rd, Kings Heath, 7.30pm (Doors 6.30pm)
Summer is in the air and we dream of lands far away. Take a journey into your imaginations with the Storytelling cafe Team Graham Langley, Ana-Maria Lines, Dawn Powell and Kit Bathgate. Enjoy a relaxed and compelling summer’s night of storytelling with a glass of wine and a relaxed sociable atmosphere. Food Served from 6.30, Stories start at 7.30.
Tickets: £7
Tickets available from the Cafe or http://www.wegottickets.com
Fri 20th Spoken Worlds 19:30 The Old Cottage Tavern , Byrkley St,eet, Burton-upon-Trent DE14 2JJ Open mic gajwriter@btinternet.com
Sun 22nd Sunday Xpress Fourth Sunday Doors 1500, Start 16:30 Adam & Eve Bradford Street, Birmingham B12 0JD Open mic
jameskennedycentral@yahoo.co.uk
Sun 22nd Hamlet, Dirty Duck, Stratford upon Avon,4pm:Melting Pot has decided to let you lovely people have another bite at our gorgeous Hamlet! This time in the heart of Stratford, on the garden terrace of the Dirty Duck, on Sunday 22nd July. It starts at 4pm,giving you time to have wander around Stratford, have a spot of lunch and round off a great day with the best play in the English language. Arent we kind? and only for a fiver…
Sun 22nd Rhyme and Tells at the Six Bells in Bishops Castle, Shropshire,Meets every 4th Sunday of the month (except for public holidays) at 8 pm – 10.30 pm. It is free admission and an open session for poetry, prose and storytelling.
For further details please contact Mike on 01588 680685.
Tue 24th , Poetry Bites with Nick Pearson & Jane Seabourne,Kitchen Garden Cafe,York Rd, Kings Heath
7.30pm (Doors 6.30pm)
“One of the top 10 venues for poetry in the UK” (Susan Richardson, Radio 4). Poetry Bites also includes floor spots – arrive early to book a spot. Tickets on door or by email from jacquirowe@hotmail.co.uk (07971 018 825). Food Served from 6.30, Readings start at 7.30.
Tickets: £5 (£4 Conc.) on Door
Food served from 6:30pm, Readings start at 7:30pm
Tuesday 24th Fizz ,Polesworth Abbey, Poleworth, Open Mic and Guest Terri Jolland.7.30pm, Free in with Mal Dewhirst
Tues 24th The Telling Space, Mythstories, *NEW VENUE* (relocated from Wem) Mythstories,The Shrewsbury Coffeehouse,5 Castle Gates, SY1 2AE,Wem, Shropshire,The club meets on the 4th Tuesday of every month unless otherwise stated. Please check the website under ‘opening hours and events’ http://www.mythstories.com or contact Dez or Ali on 01939 235500 for further information.
Meet at 7 pm for refreshments (bring food to share) or at 7.30 pm for stories. A chance to listen or an opportunity to tell. Admission is free.
Wed 25th “42″ Open Mic Night (Gothic, Horror, Sci-Fi & Fantasy) Lunar Bar, New St Worcester, 7.30, Free in:last wed monthly E-mail: 42openmicnight@42genrearts.co.uk
Thur 26th Bilston Voices Cafe Metro 46 Church Street, Bilston WV14 0AH Fourth Thursday 19:00 Only booked poets perform: emmaasif@hotmail.com
Fri 27th A SAFETY PIN STUCK IN THE HEART – punk poetry and spiky stand-up! Frog & Fiddle PH, High St Cheltenham:8pm,A celebration of punk poetry with Iconic punk-poet and urban folksinger Patrik Fitzgerald
and
Adrenaline fuelled stand-up poet Trevor Meaney
(‘One of the funniest acts I have ever seen’. Cheltenham Poetry Festival.)
‘There’s no better example of the Punk DIY attitude than the lone, slight figure of Patrik Fitzgerald making it happen and expressing himself on stage. Singing songs of alienation, observation and imagined situations. Those early songs like ‘Safety Pin In My Heart’ and ‘All Sewn Up’ have amazingly stood the test of time and sound as relevant today as then. Patrik Fitzgerald was the ‘Punk Poet.’
Punk77 Magazine.
The Frog and Fiddle
Cheltenham
8pm.
Tickets £7 or £5 in advance from Badlands
DON’T MISS THIS CHANCE TO SEE A PUNK LEGEND, HERE IN CHELTENHAM.
August Gloucester Poetry and Spoken Word festival
Sat 28th Patrick Fitzgerald and Bobby Parker Boars Head, Kidderminster 8pm: Poetry reading from Kiddi’s hippest poets.
Tues 31st Word Wizards Buckingham Hotel Buxton 19.30. Open mic three minute slam format More info Poetryslamuk@aol.com
Tues 31stFlarestack Poets Launch,Ikon Gallery, 1 Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham, B1 2HS, 6.30-9pm
Award-winning Birmingham Poetry press Flarestack Poets launches 3 new pamphlets, with readings from the winners of their 2012 Pamphlet Competition, David Clarke and Nichola Deane, as well as from some of the poets represented in the competition anthology, including Oliver Comins, Michael Conley, Claire Dyer, Jacci Garside, Roy Marshall, Janet Smith, Michael W. Thomas, Charles Wilkinson and Madeleine Wurzburger.
How to book: Attendance is free but please book to reserve your place. Call the Ikon Gallery on 0121 248 0708.
This event is organised in partnership with Ikon, Writing West Midlands and Flarestack Poets.
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Coming Later in the Year
Mon 30th July-11th August “A furlong of happiness” Exhibition, The Dome, University of Derby, Buxton campus Community Writing Group Word Wizards have set themselves the unbelievable task of bringing together 200 brand new limericks in celebration of the bi-centennial of famous poet Sir Edward Lear. Their Furlong of Funniness is now on display in a merry ring inside The Dome, University of Derby, Buxton campus where it will remain on free display until 11th August.
There is still time for local writers to achieve their moment of fame as visitors not only get the chance to vote on their personal favourites but can also compose their own ditty for inclusion in the exhibition.
If you can – come to Buxton and see `em
It’s a limerick led coliseum
Though it has to be said
That after they’re read
It’s more madhouse than culture museum
– – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Here is an alphabetical list of all those limerick writers whose masterpieces are now on display in this fantastic setting – currently alongside, around, and above the winners of the Buxton International Poetry Competition.
Thanks to
Alex Annesty Anne Carrol A. Trucker A. Writer
Brenda Tolchard Christine Fennell Craig Hopper David Barrow
David Siddon Dee Costello Gary Carr Gary Longden
Gay Horton Ivy Moore Jean Graves Jean Wright
Julie Elliot Kaye Booth Linda Goulden Margaret Tarbatt
Martin Thorne Peter Carrol Peter Grey Principal Skinner
Ray Jolland Rebel Rob Stevens Ron Wild
Steven Zarel Susie Watkinson Terri Jolland Tom Wyre
Tony Keaton Valerie Hughes
With a supporting poster and leaflet campaign – press and radio coverage – and the fact that Buxton is currently full of people for the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival, it is hoped that the exhibition will attract a lot of interest.
Sat 4th AugustFuture Poets Festival,mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH Noon- 6pm
If you are a young poet and would like to experience Installation Poetry, Digital Poetry, Poetweets, Film-Poetry, Slam Poetry, Spoken Word, Written and Performance Poetry, to hear from industry experts and professional poets then this is for you.
The Festival offers a programme of workshops, exhibitions, installations, screenings, games, an open mic and performances from some of the best performance poets in the UK.
Headliners include Polar Bear, John Berkavitch, Jodi Ann Bickley, Al Hutchins, Musa Okwonga, Bohdan Piasecki, Kim Trusty and many more…
And best of all it’s completely free.
Future Poets’ Festival is curated by a group of young poets but all ages will be welcome at performances during the festival.
For more information, please visit http://www.futurepoetsfestival.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FuturePoetsFestival
Twitter: @FuturePoetsFest / #futurepoetsfest
August Gloucester Arts Fest
Tue 7thWord Y Theatre Leicester 8pm
Come to the August WORD! at The Y when we’ve got performance poet SPIKE PIKE!
Spike Pike was born near Glasgow. His experiences include serving five years in the Army (First Battalion Scots Guards). He now lives in Corby, where he has established himself as a writer and performance poet.
Spike Pike has published two books of poetry, become involved in theatre companies and performs poetry regularly at the Core theatre in Corby, and at various other nights and venues.
His work ranges from political satire and polemic to real wit and humour. He is now working on his third book, ‘Even Further Down the Line’, so called because this has been, so far, an amazing journey…
If you would like to perform or read, sign up with compere Pam Thomposn from 7pm.
£4/£3 concessions
Mon 13th Pure and Good and Right, Summer Slam, Sozzled sausage, Leamingtaon Spa, CV 32 4NX; 7.30pm: £3Thanks to the devoted and supportive atmosphere of the PGR crowd, this is one of the most enjoyable slams you’ll ever encounter!
There will of course be the usual open mic slots…but the fact that there will be actual prize money and the chance to win a feature slot at a future PGR event is surely enough to tempt even performance newbies to come and join the fun.
Here’s how it will work…
● The slam will take place over 3 rounds.
● Each poem must be no longer than 3 minutes (or less if you want!)
● Each poet will be appreciated according to their content, delivery and audience response.
● The highest scoring four poets from the first round will go through to the semi finals.
● The winners of the two semi finals will compete in the grand finale.
● The victor and the runner up will share the door takings in some fitting
proportion. The winner will also be offered the chance to be feature poet in a future PGR event. An evening not to be missed!
If you have any further questions or wish to register, contact pgrpoetry@gmail.com
Tues 14th City Voices, Wolverhampton, 7.30pm. Bob Hale
Tues 14th Purple Penumbra Open Mic, barlow Theatre, Oldbury:7.30pm
Not to be eclipsed by the Olympic hoo-haa somewhere in the London Jungle, Purple Penumbra persists for a second event on Tuesday the 14th of August (two days after the sporty types conclude their athleticisms).
Bring your poetry and your pals to this open mic event, or just come and be entertained.
Those with a musical bent who can fill in a gap or two with something melodic and acoustic are particularly welcome.
Enliven, enrich and enhance the experience of the famous Barlow Theatre bar with your presence, why not?
Bus services:
126 from Birmingham to Wolverhampton, ten minutes from the Navigation bus stop, and
120, Birmingham to Dudley just two minutes from Rhodia Works bus stop, Station Road, Langley.
Train services:
10 minute walk from Langley Green railway station.
Car:
Put B69 4SP in your satnav, or…
From the M5, Junction 2,
at the big island take the 4th exit onto the A4034 (Churchbridge)
take the first right at the traffic light (slip road) B4170, Park Street/Park Lane towards Langley
at the Langley Green island, keep left on B4182, Park Lane
take the first right into Whyley Walk
The free car park is 60 metres on your left.
The Barlow Theatre, (or Oldbury Rep) is in front of you.
Sat 18th/Sun 19th ARTournament & Cafe Rennes 12:00pm until 11:00pm.Greyfriars, outside Cafe Renes. Gloucester City Centre.
This August weekend is the Grand Finale to ARTournament but please don’t be sad cause we have already been planning a new and exciting adventure……..watch this space Gloucester!!
We have spent twelve months checking out all the talented Comedy Gurus, Bands, Musicians, Performance Poets, Story Tellers, Writers, Dancers, and Theatre Groups at the ARTournament Sunday Chills.
The audience voted and we are delighted to bring you a FREE day of the best bands, musicians and a couple of surprises.
There are also three stages of the best Comedy, Performance Poets and Gothic Theatre Group performing all day at Blackfriars on Saturday 18th.
More info and a list of performers are detailed in this event listing…
https://www.facebook.com/events/420023918037826/
We have the incredible Cafe Renes collaborating with us to bring you all a day of laughter, singing, dancing, mask making, fancy dress, story tellers, drinking and feasting. We are aiming to have a little something to entertain everyone and we all really hope you will join us.
We would also like to thank Paul James who is head of the City Council and Mark Hawthorne who is head of the County Council for all their help and support with this project. The council have donated both Greyfriars and Blackfriars for these events and we all hope you enjoy yourselves.
We have an incredible line up of performers and will have full details of the line up and slot times before the end of July….please watch this space.
ARTournament have only gone and booked a legendary singer for their free stage on Sunday 19th August. Get on!
Top five hit in Italy Jamie Irie is Gloucester’s very own secret super-star legend.
You will not believe how good and well respected Mr Irie is in Jamaica and New York. Worked with everyone from Sly Dunbar and Shaggy to Tenorfly and The Mighty Diamonds. Impossibly brilliant voice and swagger! Ma-hoo-sive!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don’t believe us read what one of the top music mags have to say……
http://www.reggaeville.com/nc/artist-details/artist/jamie-irie/ac/biography.html
Sat 18th/ Sun 19th Stony Paint Jam, Bull Hotel 64 High St Stony Sratford;12 noon-8pm,A whole weekend of visual and live art from the Jam Free crew will be taking over Stony Stratford for a weekend with poetry and music
Thurs 23rd Aug Bilston Voices, Bilston, 7.30pm: Bob Hale
Sat 1st Sept Buddy Wakefield, MAC Birmingham, 7.30pm £5in
The two-time Individual World Poetry Slam Champion visits Birmingham with his raw, rounded performance style. This is a unique chance to catch Buddy Wakefield on one of his very rare European tours and witness see one of the top spoken word artists in the world live and unpluggedin an intimate venue. Buddy will be supported supported by up-and-coming West Midlands poets Mstr Morrison, Jodi Ann Bickley, and Rehema Njambi.
Where: mac Birmingham, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH
Tickets: £5
Info: macarts.co.uk/event/apples-and-snakes-buddy-wakefield
Booking: macarts.co.uk / 0121 446 3232
Sun 2nd Sept Buzzwords, Exmouth Arms,Bath Road Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL53 7LX, 7pm Workshop, open mic plus Michael Thomas
Sun 23rd Sept Powwow, Prince of Wales Lit Fest, Alcester Rd, Moseley,http://thespidermonkey.co.uk/litfest2012/
It’s great value for a line up which includes R J Ellory (million selling crime writer), S F Said (Award winning children’s author), Luke Brown (Tindal Street Press), Charlie Brotherstone (A M Heath Literary Agency), Tim Broughton (Harper Collins) and William Gallagher (freelance script writer – credits include Doctor Who audio dramas for Big Finish).
Tuesday 25th Polesworth Abbey, Poleworth, Open Mic and Guest Gary Carr.7.30pm, Free in
30th Sept “Written on water” Aylestone Meadows, Leicester :Written on Water is a community event where writers, artists and the local community will come together to create words and pictures celebrating Leicester’s largest nature reserve. The event is planned for 30 September 2012 and all are welcome.
On 30th September participants will be encouraged to share their Meadows’ memories, words and stories with a team of volunteer Word Rangers. The Meadows is for everyone and everyone’s words will go towards a new Written on Water website and anthology. Artists and photographers will also paint, sketch or photograph this diverse environment in the heart of Leicester.
Written on Water is part of the Everybody’s Reading community festival, to do whatever it takes to get every child in Leicester reading. Written on Water is also supported by Leicester City Council, Aylestone Meadows Appreciation Society and Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust.
Sun 7th Oct Buzzwords, Exmouth Arms,Bath Road Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL53 7LX, 7pm Workshop, open mic plus Daniel Sluman
Wed 10th October at the Guildhall Theatre, Derby – Katy Cawkwell and Sarah Llewellyn Jones with “The Kingdom of the Heart” Book in advance and quote “Flying Donkeys” to get a special discount that brings it down to our normal Flying Donkeys ticket prices. (Book direct with Derby Live!)
Wed 10th oct Funny Women, Streetly Library, Blackwood Rd Streetly, 10.30-11.30 free in with Emma Purshouse and Win Saha
Sun 4th Nov Buzzwords, Exmouth Arms,Bath Road Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL53 7LX, 7pm Workshop, open mic plus Jo Bell
Sun 2nd Dec Buzzwords, Exmouth Arms,Bath Road Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL53 7LX, 7pm Workshop, open mic plus Kate North
Garyswordz 