SHERB - New Writing from Coventry: a LAUNCH EVENT on Tuesday December 5th

SHERB: new urban writing from Coventry

edited by Jonathan Morley and Anthony Owen, and including poems by Jane Commane, Colin Dick, Jane Holland, Barry Patterson, George Ttoouli, Claire King and Michael McKimm, with photographs of the River Sherbourne by Jane Commane and cover artwork by Paul Blakemore

The featured poets belong to a group which meets informally in the Tin Angel bar in Coventry city centre on the first Tuesday of every month. Since its inception by Heaventree in 2003 the event - 'Nightblue Fruit' - has become recognised in the West Midlands as a spawning ground for new ideas and poetic collaborations: anarchic, outspoken and rooted in a makeshift local literary tradition that can reconcile John Hewitt with the football stadium, Philip Larkin with the Gypsy song and the ghazal. Loosely plotted around Coventry's river, the Sherbourne or 'Bright Stream', now a polluted trickle flowing in culverts beneath the city, the collection illustrates how regional literatures find voice in response to a specific time and locale.

LAUNCH NIGHT: Tuesday 5th December, The Tin Angel bar, Spon Street, Coventry, 8:30pm

40pp chapbook. ISBN 978-1-906038-14-4. Price £3.99.

Four Continents Slam in Newcastle: Thursday 30th November

The Four Continents SLAM! reaches Newcastle on Thursday 30th November - you can find them at The Cluny, 36 Lime St - 0191 2331113.

Scroll down a few posts for the full details of this SLAM! tour.

Buzzwords in Cheltenham: THIS Sunday 4th December

This Sunday 3rd December: Upstairs at the Beehive, Montpellier, Cheltenham

BUZZWORDS - open mic poetry with Guest Poet Steve Rooney

7pm - Writing time: Workshop led by guest poet
8pm – Guest poet reading and open mic
Come at 7pm if you want to write, 8pm if you don’t.
There will be open mic spots available; first come, first served.

For December's open mic, it has been suggested that some may like to read their favourite poems by others.

*

"If you've never been before, the Buzzwords workshop & poetry reading experience in Cheltenham comes highly recommended: warm supportive atmosphere, appreciative audience, always a guest poet worth listening to, plus some interesting and talented regulars at the poetry open mic."

Jane Holland

Over the Edge in Galway: Thursday December 14th

Over The Edge in association with Poetry Ireland presents a reading by Medbh McGuckian

The final Over The Edge: Open Reading of 2006 takes place in Galway City Library, St. Augustine Street, Galway on Thursday, December 14th, 6.30-8pm. The Featured Readers are Cate Huguelet, Hugh Doyle & Medbh McGuckian.

As usual there will be an open-mic when the Featured Readers have finished. This is open to anyone who has a poem or story to share. New readers are especially welcome. The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details contact 087-6431748.

Over The Edge acknowledges the financial support of Galway City Council, Poetry Ireland and The Arts Council

http://overtheedgeliteraryevents.blogspot.com

Penned in the Margins @ EleFest: TOMORROW!

PENNED IN THE MARGINS @ ELEFEST

Friday 1 December, 8pm – midnight, £2 entry, at Steedman Street SE17 3AF (Elephant & Castle tube)

Featuring Tim Wells, Nathan Penlington, Aoife Mannix, Ventriloquist, Heather Taylor, Le Couteau Jaune, Tamsin Kendrick, Baden Prince Jr, Tom Chivers & more!

"You’ve heard stanzas in Shoreditch, rhymes under the arches in Herne Hill and haikus in Hampstead. Now PENNED IN THE MARGINS returns south of the river for a night of staggeringly good poetry in Elephant & Castle. We’ve brought together some of the finest poets on the London scene as part of Elefest 2006. And if you thought we’d gone all high-class in North London, you’ll be relieved to hear that our venue is a large empty retail unit. There’s no cloakroom, no staff, no bar. So bring your own booze … and a rug for the floor!

Steedman Street is off the Walworth Road, opposite Heygate Street. Spitting distance from Elephant & Castle tube (Northern Line). Follow the signs to the poetry! Check out the Multimap here!

More information from www.pennedinthemargins.co.uk and www.elefest.org.uk"

Tom Chivers

Carlton Poets in Weston: Thursday November 30th

Thursday November 30th.
Time: 7.30
Price: £ 1.00
Carlton Poets Poetry Night

at The Carlton Centre
Carlton Street
Weston-super-Mare.

Last Thursday of each month.
All poets and acoustic performers welcome.

To check that this regular South-West event is running as usual, email junebastable@tiscali.co.uk or tel. 07748 974 942

Annie Freud at St. Andrews: Wednesday November 29th

Annie Freud Poetry Reading

Part of the University of St Andrews English Seminar Programme. The event is free and wine will be served. All welcome. For more information please call the School of English on 01334 462666.

Wednesday November 29th at 5.15pm

Free

at Room 30, Castle House, University of St Andrews.

Open Mic Poetry in Croydon: Friday 1st December

Poets Anonymous

Poetry at the Dog and Bull, Surrey Street, Croydon, Surrey
From 8pm
Floor spots - bring your own poems and sign up to read

1st December

£2 waged, £1 unwaged.

Contact Peter for further details: peter@poetsanon.org.uk
020 8645 9956

Bristol Folk House Poetry: Saturday 16th December

Have a Singing Ringing Time @
A FOLK HOUSE BENEFIT NIGHT in Bristol
on Saturday 16th December
Doors 7.30pm

Bristol Folk House, 40a Park St. Bristol BS1
Poets - Nathan Filer, Lucy English, Mo The People's Nun
& music by More Silage and Cute Loony
Show 8.00
Tickets £5/ £3 @ Folk House or on door
ffi Rosemary 0777 154 6919

www.big-mouth-poetry.co.uk
www.rosemarydun.co.uk

Raworth & O'Sullivan at Kingston University: Friday 15th November

Advance Warning!

Two giants of modern poetry, Tom Raworth and Maggie O'Sullivan, will be reading at Kingston University on Friday 15 December from 7pm, followed by a question and answer session.

The reading will take place in TH4 (Town House) at the Penrhyn Road site, Kingston. Please see the link below for a map of the site showing where Town House is located.

Download Map (PDF)

For those coming from London, go by rail from Waterloo to Surbiton station and then take any bus going in the direction of Kingston. All buses stop outside the Penrhyn Rd campus.

UTTER! 11 in London: Wednesday 29th November

Utter Poetry! 11

Salisbury Hotel, 1 Grand Parade, Green Lanes, London N4 1JX
8pm start on Wednesday 29 November 2006

Featuring Vic Lambrusco, Anthony Howell, Viv Fogel, Wizard of Skill, plus open mic competition

For more details, contact richardtyronejones@hotmail.com

Utter! is presented by Word for Word Wood Green writing group and thanks Arts Council England for their support.

Tube: Turnpike Lane / Manor House.
Bus: 141, 29, 41, 67.

Website: www.myspace.com/utterpoetry
Cost: FREE!!

Back Room Poets Open Mic: TONIGHT in Oxford

Oxford's BACK ROOM POETS have their last open mic of 2006 TONIGHT (4th Monday of every month at Far from the Madding Crowd, a pub on Friars Entry in the city centre) so if you're in the vicinity, get down there for about 8pm and wow them with your material. And your poems.

Four Continents Slam: Tour Dates 2006

ON TONIGHT IN LEICESTER! (Sunday 26th November) and elsewhere across the country for the next month

Poetry promoters Write Out Loud, and Oxford’s Hammer and Tongue - one of the most important international slam promoters - bring some of the world’s best spoken word artists – from Africa, North America, Europe and Australasia - for “The Four Continents Poetry Slam Tour” - high-octane, highly entertaining performance poetry competitions where audiences judge with an Olympic-style scoring system.

Performance poetry has launched the careers of artists such as Ani De Franco, Saul Williams, Phil Jupitus and Craig Charles. Since the first, in Chicago in 1984, they have spread worldwide. Every major US city has them, and thousands flock to the annual National Poetry Slam. They are growing in Australia, New Zealand and Africa, and some of the biggest are in central Europe and the UK, whose Elvis McGonagall took the current World Slam Champion title at the World Slampionships in Rotterdam this spring. Each country represented: USA, Canada, UK, Sweden, South Africa, Botswana, Australia and New Zealand, will bring a different culture; each performer a distinctive style.

Write Out Loud’s Julian Jordon explains: “This will be a night to remember, with a fascinating variety of styles from Canada’s John Akpata’s political hip hop with fast-paced intelligent lyrical sophistication, through Botswana’s Andreattah Chuma’s softer, more soulful vibe, to Elvis McGonagall’s hilarious, hard-hitting political satire and impressions.

TOUR DATES FOR 2006:
Leicester - Sunday 26th Nov - Firebug, 1 Millstone Lane - no phone contact available
Leeds - Monday 27th Nov - The Brudenell Social Club, 33 Queens Rd - 0113 2752411
Bolton - Tuesday 28th Nov - The Phoenix, Montgomery House, Bark Street - 01204 535861
Nottingham - Wed 29th Nov - Canal House, 48-52 Canal St - 0115 9555060
Newcastle - Thursday 30th Nov - The Cluny, 36 Lime St - 0191 2331113
Glasgow - Saturday 2nd Dec - The Hlat Bar, 160 Woodlands Rd - 0141 3529996
Edinburgh - Sunday 3rd Dec - Bongo Club, 37 Holyrood Rd - 0131 5587604
Brighton - Monday 4th Dec - Komedia, 44 Gardner St - 01273 647100
Oxford - Tuesday 5th Dec - Zodiac, 190 Cowley Rd - 01865 420042
Reading - Wednesday 6th Dec - South St Arts Centre, 21 South St - 0118 9015234
Bristol - Thursday 7th Dec - The Polish Club, 50 St Pauls Rd, Clifton - 07771 900583

Where possible, talented regulars at each venue will also perform.

Checkout http://www.writeoutloud.net//public/index.php

The Artists:
Europe:
Elvis McGonagall (Scotland) - The current world slam champion
Henry Bowers (Sweden) - World slampionships runner-up 2005
Africa:
Kojo Baffoe (South Africa) - Monstafunk productions supreme
Andreattah Chuma (Botswana) - Star of Exodus Live Poetry
North America:
John Akpata (Canada) - Capital Slam Champion 2005
Sonya Renee - 2004 US National Slam Champion
Australasia
Penny Ashton (New Zealand) - Critically acclaimed comedy poet
Thom the World Poet (Aus) – Legendary traveling street poet

Hosted by:
Julian Jordon - co-founder, Write Out Loud
Steve Larkin - Spoken Word Olympic International Champion

Poetry for Oxfam in London: Tuesday November 28th

Oxfam Winter Reading

at Oxfam Books & Music, 91 Marylebone High Street, W1

Ros Barber (new collection from Anvil due out 2007)
Katy Evans-Bush (widely-published poet featured in The Like Of It, Baring & Rogerson)
Ruth Fainlight (winner of the Hawthornden and Cholmondeley Awards; author of Moon Wheels, Bloodaxe, 2006)
Tobias Hill (novelist and poet, pictured below, author of The Cryptographer and Nocturne In Chrome & Sunset Yellow)



Michael Rosen (broadcaster and lecturer; Selected Poems is forthcoming from Penguin, February 2007)
Eva Salzman (author of Double Crossing: New & Selected Poems, Bloodaxe).

Hosted by Todd Swift, Oxfam Poet in Residence (and famous poetry blogger!)

Admission free, suggested donation £6
Please contact Martin Penny to reserve seats
Telephone: 020 7487 3570; email: oxfammarylebone@hotmail.com"

Drew Milne and Allen Fisher London reading: Tuesday 28th November

Parasol Unit Reading

Parasol Unit is located at 14 Wharf Road, London N1, near the Old Street and Angel tube stations. This event takes place on Tuesday, 28 November, at 6:30 pm, and features poets Allen Fisher & Drew Milne.

"Allen Fisher, poet, painter, publisher, editor and art historian, has produced over one hundred and thirty chapbooks and books of poetry, graphics, and art documentation. He is Professor of Poetry & Art and Head of Contemporary Arts at the Manchester Metropolitan University Cheshire, Alsager. His last three books were Place (Reality Street); Entanglement (The Gig), and Gravity (Salt Publications).

Drew Milne's books of poetry include Sheet Mettle (Alfred David Editions), Bench Marks (Alfred David Editions), The Damage: new and selected poems (Salt), Mars Disarmed (The Figures), and most recently Go Figure (Salt). His work is featured in numerous collections and anthologies, notably Conductors of Chaos, edited by Iain Sinclair (Picador) and Anthology of Twentieth-Century British and Irish Poetry, ed. Keith Tuma (Oxford University Press). He edits the occasional journal Parataxis: modernism and modern writing and the poetry imprint Parataxis Editions."

DON'T FEED THE POETS!: Sunday December 3rd, Leamington Spa

"After a great night last month with Julie Boden and Natasha Godfrey, PureandGoodandRight rolls on into a new month with another unmissable night of poetic entertainment, and this time it's the boys' turn!

DON'T FEED THE POETS are three lads from Brighton who will shake the cobwebs from the darkest recesses of your mind and tickle you in places you've never been tickled... simultaneously! There'll be open mic too - last week we had at least 5 Laureates, 3 slam finalists and a couple of virgins, something for everyone!"

Date: Sunday, December 3rd

Venue: "the fox", Clarendon Avenue Leamington Spa CV32 4ZR

Time: Open Mic bookings from 7.30pm (limited spaces, first come first served), performance starts 8pm prompt

Guests: Don't Feed the Poets: Jonny Fluffypunk, Justin Rhyme & Paul Stone

HOST: Sean Kelly, MC

Admission: £3 (Student & OAP £2)

John Hegley & Friends do Saturday Morning Elevenses at the PoCaff: TODAY!

John Hegley and friends are celebrating Elevenses this morning at 11am at the Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton St., Covent Garden, London.

Shades of Saturday morning at the pictures ... Hegley is offering Saturday morning poetry instead and the cafe will be serving breakfast - it's a great way to start the weekend!

Performing Arts Showcase planned for Birmingham 2007

deciBel: Performing Arts Showcase Birmingham 2007

The showcase will present some of the most dynamic and cutting edge performance artists of African, Asian and Caribbean descent, based in England.

Organisers are keen to hear from professional musicians, dancers, live arts or theatre practitioners, street artists, carnivalists or spoken word artists who wish to showcase professional quality tour-ready or work-in-process pieces.

There will also be opportunities to pitch conceptual ideas to showcase delegates.
The audiences for the showcase are influential national and international producers, programmers, promoters, venue managers, artistic directors and agents.

For further information and showcase queries visit www.decibelpas07.co.uk or contact Fierce Earth – tel. 0121 244 8083 or e-mail; decibel@fierceearth.com. For all other enquiries contact Arts Council England, 0845 300 6200 or e-mail decibel@artscouncil.org.uk.

Closing date for submission of all applications: 4th December
The showcase will take place 3-7 September 2007

Bring Yr Own Plonk & Poetry: Friday 1st December in London

Bring your own booze poetry larks in the Elephant on Friday 1st December @ Steedman Street, London, SE17:

"Forward Prize nominee and all-round poetry geezer Tim Wells is joined by the very funny Ventriloquist and the wondrous Aoife Mannix at this special spoken word event as part of this year's Elefest.

Also on the bill: Nathan Penlington, Heather Taylor, Le Couteau Jaune, Baden Prince Jr, Tamsin Kendrick and Tom Chivers.

The venue is an empty retail unit in Steedman Street, five minutes walk from Elephant & Castle tube. Map here. There's no bar so bring your own booze. Doors are at 8pm and we go on til late. Two pounds entry.

On another note, we're back at The Spitz on Wednesday 6 December with Catherine Anne Davies, Nigel Burch & The Fleapit Orchestra, Inua Ellams & Jamie Woon, Generation Txt. Tickets fiver here."

Urdu-Welsh Poetry Night: Friday 24th November

Friday 24/11/06

Bazm-e-Adab: Urdu-Welsh Poetry Night

With guest reader T. James Jones, this two tongue poetry event takes place at 8.00 pm on Friday 24th November, at the Unity Centre, 50-52 Loudon Square, Cardiff Bay.

Full event details from Mr Majeed, 029 2059 4857. Supported by Academi (contact 029 2047 2266 for information on funding for events).

Generation Txt Tour: Coming in 2007

GENERATION TXT, touring the UK in May/June 2007

Featuring: Joe Dunthorne, Inua Ellams, Laura Forman, Emma McGordon, Abigail Oborne, James Wilkes.

In a world of Blogs, iPods and txtspk, six of the UK’s most talented young writers speak out. Poems and lyrics about life, love and jellyfish in watercoolers, tea smuggling, urban regeneration and skinny-fit jeans. Internationally acclaimed poet Roddy Lumsden says ‘Generation Txt looks at all points of poetry’s star … which makes this selection of young writers more vital and a truer cross-section of the poetry that will progress and flourish’.

To accompany the brilliant new anthology Generation Txt, all six writers will be visiting the four corners of the UK in a specially produced live literature show that will appeal particularly to young people, budding scribblers and literary fanatics.

Contact Tom Chivers on info@pennedinthemargins.co.uk for bookings and further information.

POEJAZZI in London: Tuesday December 5th

POEJAZZI

Tuesday December 5th, 8pm doors for a 9pm start
Volupte Bar, No 9 Norwich street, off Furnival Street, EC4A 1EJ
(Close to Chancery lane Station, after MacDonalds)
£8 Reservations, £10 at the door.
Email: Lordgokal@hotmail.com
Myspace: www.myspace.com/poejazzi

"Once again, we're making the Cabaret Saloon Area (downstairs in the Volupte Bar) our base. A perfect blend of Jazz, Poetry and Acoustics will be on play throughout the night. Here is the line-up: Polar Bear, Scroobius PIP, Ayana Witter-Johnson, (Acoustics), Paul Sebastian (Jazz), plus Darth Ugandan (AKA MUSA) MC, and Ghetto Santa (AKA Josh) MC.

Seats will be available downstairs, with food, drink and cocktails. There will also be a drinks bar and smoking area upstairs. So come on down, alone or with friends. Relax yourself, and enjoy. Price: eight pounds entry fee if you reserve via telephone 0207-8311677 or 02078311622 And ten pounds on the door.

Very limited spaces available so book early!"

Catweazle Club: live poetry every Thursday in Oxford!

The Catweazle Club: EVERY THURSDAY, 8pm, at the East Oxford Community Centre, corner of Cowley Road & Princes' Street, Oxford.

Oxford's legendary performing arts club

An intimate and magical space for musicians, singers, poets, storytellers and performance artists of every imaginable hue, who grace the stage every Thursday night. A chance to sit, to listen, to connect, to inspire and to be inspired …

Website: Catweazle Club

Ruth Padel reads Hopkins at the LRB: Thursday 23rd November

Ruth Padel: "Under the influence of Gerard Manley Hopkins"

Thursday 23rd November at 7pm

At the London Review Bookshop, 14 Bury Place, London WC1A 2JL

Tickets: £10 (£5 LRB subscribers, Poetry Society members and concs).
Bookings: 020 7420 9895

Four Continents Slam in Bolton: Tuesday 28th November

Worldwide poetry slam – in Bolton!

Event: The Four Continents Slam - UK Tour
Date: Tuesday 28th November, 2006
Venue: Phoenix Youth Theatre, Bark Street, Bolton

Poetry promoters Write Out Loud, and Oxford’s Hammer and Tongue - one of the most important international slam promoters - bring some of the world’s best spoken word artists – from Africa, North America, Europe and Australasia - for “The Four Continents Poetry Slam Tour” - high-octane, highly entertaining performance poetry competitions where audiences judge with an Olympic-style scoring system.

Performance poetry has launched the careers of artists such as Ani De Franco, Saul Williams, Phil Jupitus and Craig Charles. Since the first, in Chicago in 1984, they have spread worldwide. Every major US city has them, and thousands flock to the annual National Poetry Slam. They are growing in Australia, New Zealand and Africa, and some of the biggest are in central Europe and the UK, whose Elvis McGonagall took the current World Slam Champion title at the World Slampionships in Rotterdam this spring. Each country represented: USA, Canada, UK, Sweden, South Africa, Botswana, Australia and New Zealand, will bring a different culture; each performer a distinctive style.

Write Out Loud’s Julian Jordon explains: “This will be a night to remember, with a fascinating variety of styles from Canada’s John Akpata’s political hip hop with fast-paced intelligent lyrical sophistication, through Botswana’s Andreattah Chuma’s softer, more soulful vibe, to Elvis McGonagall’s hilarious, hard-hitting political satire and impressions.

Also performing will be talented regulars at Write Out Loud’s Bolton poetry events.

Checkout http://www.writeoutloud.net//public/index.php

The Artists:
Europe:
Elvis McGonagall (Scotland) - The current world slam champion
Henry Bowers (Sweden) - World slampionships runner-up 2005
Africa:
Kojo Baffoe (South Africa) - Monstafunk productions supreme
Andreattah Chuma (Botswana) - Star of Exodus Live Poetry
North America:
John Akpata (Canada) - Capital Slam Champion 2005
Sonya Renee - 2004 US National Slam Champion
Australasia
Penny Ashton (New Zealand) - Critically acclaimed comedy poet
Thom the World Poet (Aus) – Legendary traveling street poet

Hosted by:
Julian Jordon - co-founder, Write Out Loud
Steve Larkin - Spoken Word Olympic International Champion

Francois & Harrold have a Verbal Showdown in Uxbridge: Friday November 24th

Verbal Showdown: A Night of Performance Poetry

This takes place at Uxbridge Central Library, High Street, Uxbridge UB8 1HD, on Friday 24th November, starring renowned poets Kat Francois and AF Harrold. Open Mic also available! So bring your latest poems.

Tickets: £3/£2. Book: 020 7924 3410. Info: www.applesandsnakes.org

"Performance poetry comes in many guises. And tonight two of its prime practitioners - Kat Francois and AF Harrold - ride into town and unleash a volley of words for your delectation and delight. There'll also be music from Boston songwriter Adam Paulleach and cellist Sian Hender, plus an open mic section for any poets who fancy bringing their own raps, rhythms and rhymes. So be our guest - take that mic. This show comes to you courtesy of Apples & Snakes in partnership with Literature Lounge and Hillingdon Libraries."

Comperes: Anjan Saha & Russell Thompson.

Poetry in Galway: Thursday November 23rd

NORTH BEACH POETRY NIGHTS is pleased to present Chloe Poems as SPECIAL GUEST POET on Thursday November 23rd, at 9pm at BK's Winebar, Spanish Parade, Galway.

Chloe Poems is one of the most radical forces on the British performance poetry scene and one of the most prodigiously gifted and accessible poets alive today. Chloe Poems has been described as ‘an extraordinary mixture of Shirley Temple and pornography.’

‘A compelling advocate, slamming out a verbal rhythm with the pugnacity of a bare-knuckle fighter’ The Independent

‘A massive rising star of enormous talent has emerged’ Gay Times

The Poetry Slam follows the usual format and welcomes newcomers. Please bring along two 3 minute pieces.

Admission 4 Euro. Info: John Walsh 091-5932390

NBN gratefully acknowledges the support of Galway City Council.

Morden Tower Poetry: Wednesday 22nd November

ATTILA THE STOCKBROKER at The Morden Tower, Newcastle Upon Tyne, on Wednesday 22nd November.

Taking inspiration from the D.I.Y ethos of punk rock, Attila the Stockbroker has performed over 2500 times since 1980. Featured by John Peel, a cover star of Melody Maker and one of the most sought after acts on the poetry and festival circuit, Attila is an impassioned and energetic performer often accompanying his poetic outbursts with mandola, violin and bass guitar. Having released 17 LPs and CDs and four volumes of poetry, he is a seasoned, spectacular and highly political rebel not afraid to say it how it is. Attila appears for a very special night at Morden Tower in conjunction with Newcastle's Northern Lights Film Festival as part of their punk retrospective.

Price £7/£6 advance only from NLFF Box Office (Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle.)

"The Morden Tower is located in an alley at the back of Stowell Street, Chinatown, Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Which is why you can't find it on your SatNav. The alley entrance is next to Rosie's bar, opposite the Chinese Arch. Beware of the cobbles."

Find the above gem, a map and plenty more information about performances in the famous Morden Tower poetry venue at the Morden Tower website. Splendid!

Matthew Hollis reading in Glasgow: Thursday 23rd November

On Thursday November 23rd at 7pm, St Mungo's Mirrorball present Matthew Hollis. Matthew Hollis is an editor at Faber and Faber and will read poems including poems from his first full-length collection Ground Water which was shortlisted for the Whitbread Prize for Poetry, and the Forward prize for best first collection Free

This event takes place in Glasgow, at The Poetry Club, The Glasgow School of Art, 167 Renfrew Street.

The Exmen with Karine Betou: Music & Spoken Word in Glasgow, Wednesday November 22nd

The Ex-men (spoken word/electronica) avec special guest Karine Betou @ The Underworld (95 Union St, Glasgow)

Wednesday November 22nd at 8:30pm
www.myspace.com/theexmen

"The inspiration of Europe’s top two shopping capitals, The Ex-men are what happens when ten years of pop talent welcomes the occupant of a Montmartre attic back from self-imposed exile and takes him on a stroll down Sauchiehall Street. Matt Green and Jack Sims met in a previous incarnation in Stoke-on-Trent but are now a Glasgow outfit. Matt supplies the elecro ambience, bleepy drum and bass, funky guitar riffs and chemicals house, and Jack the cross-the channel, best-of-worlds/worst-of-worlds lyrics.

Playing both music and poetry venues over the last few months, The Ex-men have performed in Paris (giving an airing to some of their French language numbers such as C’est pas grave (see the myspace site), London (Shortfuse), Birmingham (ArtsFest), Edinburgh (busking @ the festival) and Glasgow (Localism, Pivo Pivo, Tchai Ovna…).
Next week they are in Glasgow @ The Underworld and the week after in Edinburgh @ The Beat Café Drop night (Nov 29, 8pm, The Queen Charlotte Rooms, 56a Queen Charlotte St, Leith)."

Touch Me, I'm Sick: Tuesday November 21st

Touch Me, I'm Sick!

"The next Touch Me I'm Sick is being held on Tuesday November 21st upstairs at The Old Crown on the corner of New Oxford Street and Museum Street WC1 (020 7836 9121). The Old Crown is 5 minutes walk from Holborn and 10 minutes walk from Covent Garden and Tottenham Court Road (you can get dinner there too).

This November 'Touch me I'm sick' will feature Former Glastonbury Slam winner and Edinburgh Festival regular Rachel Pantechnicon and Stalwart of British Rock and Roll Gerry Champion.

Five minute floor spots will be available on the night first come first served. Come and have a moan if you think your pain means enough.

The evening kicks off at 20.00ish and will cost you nothing—the bar is open till late."

Kevin Reinhardt
Mobile: 07749 637 022

P.S. Just in case you don't know who's who....

"Rachel Pantechnicon has been reading her poems in
public places for a long time, but prior to 1999 it
was chiefly in the London Borough of Merton, which
doesn't really count. She now specialises in
motivational poems for people and for cats. She has
recently returned from presenting her one-woman show
"Rachel Lets Her Emotions Run Away With Her" at the
Edinburgh Fringe, which saw her finally stepping out
from the shadow of ukulele-player Liz Bentley and just
being herself."

"Technicolour sunurban entertainment" - John Hegley

"I was weeing myself" - Sue Perkins

***** - Three Weeks, Edinburgh

Gerry Champion is a poet based in Essex, who has in his past worked for the legendary Joe Meek and been a member of the Monster Raving Looney Party.

Steve Tasane in 'Klepto': TONIGHT at the Barbican Library

Klepto: One Man's Journey Through Retail Hell

Barbican Library, Barbican Centre, London. Poet & performer Steve Tasane in a cabaret-style show fuses confessional comedy and performance poetry, on 17th November 2006 at 8pm.

www.barbican.org.uk
Tel: 0845 120 7500 - Tickets £10/£8

"An upbeat and deeply funny show on shop-lifting. Mixing stand-up, poetry and large trolleyfuls of fiction with true confessions of a former shop-lifter, acclaimed performer Steve Tasane shares a therapy trip he seldom had to pay for.

"a metaphoric masterpiece of hope, helplessness, ambition and desire." Cheltenham Festival Daily Review

In the guise of a reformed kleptomaniac, Tasane explores the phenomenon of shop-lifting, combining real life experience with close-ups at celebrity shop-lifters and notorious cheats including Richard Madeley and Major Charles Ingram. The show takes us to the heart of Steve's childhood, reared by a single mum on a Yorkshire council estate, to present-day obsessions with retail therapy and bling.

Steve Tasane is a writer and performer who has appeared all over the country, from Glastonbury Festival to The Barbican, and has been featured on Channel 4, BBC1, Radio 4 and Radio 1. His previous one-man show, 'The Loneliness of The Long Distance Runner', has been acclaimed by the Edinburgh Fringe and Time Out. He is a former founder of Atomic Lip, 'poetry's first pop group' (The Independent) as featured on Channel 4's LitPop. He is author of the collection Bleeding Heart and his poetry is featured in Oral with Jarvis Cocker and Benjamin Zephaniah.

Klepto was originally developed as a work-in-progress for Survivors Poetry, Cheltenham Literature Festival and Soho Theatre, after which Tasane received funding from Arts Council England to develop it into a one-person show, with artistic direction by Melanie Abrahams and production by renaissance one.

Landfill Poets Launch: Friday 17th November

Landfill Press Launch Readings in Cambridge

Lloyd Room, Christ's College, Cambridge. Free admission. This reading takes place at 7.30 pm on Friday 17th November and features R.F. Langley, Richard Price, Peter Riley and Graeme Richardson. In association with Shearsman.

Landfill Press is pleased to announce the publication of
RICHARD PRICE: Earliest Spring Yet
ANDREW ZURCHER: coming home
GRAEME RICHARDSON: Hang Time

All books cost £3 each, or you can buy all 3 for £8 (+ p&p)
Check out the books here: www.landfillpress.co.uk

Open Mic with Julie Boden and Natasha Godfrey: TONIGHT!

Just as a reminder, the next "PUREandGOODandRIGHT" Open Mic poetry evening in the Leamington Spa area is coming up TONIGHT, with details as follows:

Date: Thursday, November 16th

Venue: The Fox, Clarendon Avenue, Leamington Spa, CV32 4ZR

Time: Open Mic bookings from 7.30pm (first come first served), performance starts 8pm prompt (food is served from 6-9pm and the menu's great!)

Guests: Julie Boden and Natasha Godfrey

Host: Sean Kelly

Admission: NO CHARGE! (We do pass round a hat so that you can show appreciation of our guest poets.) Please feel free to bring friends or extend this invitation to anyone who might be interested.

Speakeasy in Nottingham: TONIGHT!

Complex Trout Productions and The Alley Cafe present

'Speakeasy 55, performance poetry and spoken word'

@ The Alley Cafe, 1a Cannon Court, Nottingham (opposite Angel Row Library)
Wednesday 15th November, 2006
8pm onwards
FREE
Floor spots available

with special guest the inimitable John Berkavitch, and host Steve Carroll. The four continents slam is at Firebug in Leicester on Sunday 26th November. More details of that to follow.

Avocado Magazine launch with readings by McGuckian & Morley: Saturday 18th November

AVOCADO MAGAZINE – THE RELAUNCH

Saturday 18th November 2006, 5pm.

Lecture Theatre H051, Humanities Building, Library Road, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL

with MEDBH McGUCKIAN & DAVID MORLEY.

Refreshments provided.

This reading is free, though guests are encouraged to buy a copy of Avocado magazine, which also features work by the noted poets Robin Robertson, Robert Minhinnick, Michael Gardiner and others. The event has been programmed as the conclusion to a Humanities Research Centre doctoral conference on the intersections between Scottish, Welsh and Irish literatures and Postcolonial Theory, organised at the University of Warwick by award-winning PhD researchers Zoe Brigley and Jonathan Morley. See www2.warwick.ac.uk for more information on the conference and how to book.

Folkestone Literary Festival: ALL THIS WEEK

FOLKESTONE LITERARY FESTIVAL 2006

All this week there will be literary events - including poetry - happening at the Folkestone Literary Festival 2006. I would have liked to get there myself, having folks living in the vicinity, but alas, it was not to be. However, I can thoroughly recommend a glance at their programme which looks extremely varied and entertaining!

www.folkestonelitfest.co.uk.

WEDNESDAY POETRY EVENT with Open Mic

On Wednesday November 15th, at 8pm, you can enjoy 'The Living Room: Fringe Poetry Evening' at The Chambers, Folkestone. See website for more details of location. Entrance to this event is absolutely free!

"Anarchic, poignant, subversive and witty, the contributors to The Living Room continue Folkestone’s long tradition of vibrant live performance. New performers welcome. Strong language very possible!"

THURSDAY POETRY & PERFORMANCE EVENT

Showcasing some of the most exciting talent from the spoken word & performance poetry scene, this event features some poets who have appeared frequently on this blog, Aoife Mannix, Jacob Sam-La Rose, Niall O'Sullivan & Nii Ayikwei Parkes. It takes place on Thursday, November 16th at 8pm, at the Leas Club, The Leas, Folkestone CT20 2DP.

This event costs £4/3(conc.)

FARRAGO SLAM, LONDON: Thursday 16th November

Farrago Festival of Spoken Word 2006

The Farrago London SLAM! Championship Finals are on Thursday, 16th November at 7:30pm. Where? At the RADA Foyer Bar, Malet St, WC1. Nearest tube: Goodge St.

How to find it!

Europe’s longest running poetry SLAM!

Open to ANY London based poet qualifying round followed by the finals! Sign up at 7pm. More info for poets interested in the slam: HERE. Features including: Fran Landesman, jazz and spoken word diva, Helen Gregory, Bristol doctor of SLAM!, Rachel Pentechnicon, Motivational poetry for people and for cats. Queen of misplaced invective. Understands sprung rhythm like nobody since Gerard Manley Hopkin, Poppy Seed & Niall Spooner-Harvey, former London & UK SLAM! Champion.

Events emcee: John Paul O’Neill. Tickets: £6/£5.

Events supported by Forward Press. www.forwardpress.co.uk - Info: farragopoetry@yahoo.co.uk. Telephone: 07905078376. http://London.e-poets.net or find Farrago on
MySpace.

'Heartbeat's Poetry' in Liverpool: Thursday November 16th

Heartbeats Poetry

View Two Gallery on Matthew Street, Liverpool, at 8pm on Thursday November 16th, a poetry & music event featuring Sophie Hannah, Jo Colley, Angel Readman and Kate Fox.

Free entry

PLUS playing live: Jewel Thief (scratch'n'roll-blues-punk-dandies from Liverpool!)

www.myspace.com/heartbeatspoetry

Poetry in Leamington Spa: Thursday 16th November

PUREandGOODandRIGHT

Event: Open Mic Poetry Night with Special Guest Poets

Date: Thursday, November 16th

Venue: "The Fox", Clarendon Avenue, Leamington Spa CV32 4ZR

Time: Open Mic bookings from 7.30pm (first come first served), performance starts 8pm prompt (food is served from 6-9pm and the menu's great!)

Guests: Former Birmingham Poet Laureate Julie Boden and the new Apples & Snakes Co-ordinator for the West Midlands, Natasha Godfrey

Admission: NO CHARGE! (We do pass round a hat so that you can show appreciation of our guest poets)

Aisle16 in Whitechapel: Thursday 16th November

Stand Up Poetry - Aisle16 Scratch Night

Whitechapel, 80-82 Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX; 7pm on Thursday 16th November 2006. Tube: Aldgate East

www.whitechapel.org

Tel 020 7522 7888

The publicity material for this event says: "The boys present new work, derived from their seven-day tour of the UK's Motorway service stations. Free."

Worth a look, especially if you've never experienced Aisle16 before!

Poetry Shack with Roger Robinson: Tuesday 14th November

Poetry Shack in London with Open Mic: Roger Robinson

The Old Crown, 33 New Oxford Street, London; 7.30pm for 8pm on Tuesday 14th November 2006.

www.thepoetryshack.com.

brettvt@btinternet.com - Info: 020 8882 7891 / 020 7254 8220


£5 admission


Contact the organisers in advance for a floor spot!

Beckett & Gallagher reading in London: Tuesday 14th November

Chris Beckett and Katherine Gallagher

Crockatt & Powell bookshop, Lower Marsh, London SE1
7pm
Chris Beckett and Katherine Gallagher
14 November 2006

www.crockattpowell.com.

Penned in the Margins: Thursday 16th November

PENNED IN THE MARGINS presents MICHAEL HOROVITZ & MOAZZAM BEGG

Thursday 16 November, at the Everyman Cinema Club, 5 Holly Bush Vale, Hampstead NW3 6TX.

Tickets £11 (£9 concs) Box office 0870 066 4777

Readings and Q&A 8.30 – 11pm. www.pennedinthemargins.co.uk

MICHAEL HOROVITZ
The legendary beat poet, musician, artist and visionary returns to the place of his upbringing. An early champion of oral and jazz poetry whom Ginsberg called ‘a Cockney, Albionic, New Jerusalem, Jazz Generation, Sensitive Bard’, Michael Horovitz has battled for almost half a century to promote poetry, music and literature. Author of over thirty collections of poetry, Horovitz will read from his latest offering A New Waste Land: Timeship Earth at Nillennium, a verse and prose deconstruction of contemporary political, moral and ecological degeneration.

‘a dreamer, a maverick … transmedial crusader’ Martin Amis

MOAZZAM BEGG
From February 2002 to January 2005 Birmingham-born Moazzam Begg was imprisoned without charge or trial by the US government at Guantanemo Bay detainment camp, Cuba. In this exclusive appearance, Begg will read his own poems and extracts from Enemy Combatant, his shocking account of three years spent in captivity.

‘The guards on both sides held me up for a few steps, and I noticed the ground under my feet was very different from anything I'd seen in Afghanistan. There were small light-brown sun-baked rocks, it seemed a lot drier, hotter...and I could smell the sea. It was distinctly different to the smell of the sea in Britain. But I could definitely smell the sea.’ Enemy Combatant

Contact Tom Chivers on 020 7375 0258 or info@pennedinthemargins.co.uk for more information

Three Poets for the Price of One: Saturday 18th November

Performing at the Dukes Theatre, Lancaster, as part of LitFest 06, 15 - 19th November, are Jacob Polley, Sean O'Brien & Don Paterson.

7.45pm
Saturday 18th November

Box Office Number: 0845 344 0642

Poets' Letter Night at the PoCaff: Monday 13th November

This is a message from
Munayem Mayenin
Editor
Poet's Letter Magazine
London
www.poetsletter.com

"Just to say that Poet's Letter Poetry Performance and Live Music at the Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street, Covent Garden is taking place on Monday, 13th of Nov, at 7 pm.

The tickets are normally £6/£4 Cons but we are making this one a FREE Entry event for all who either subscribe to the Magazine (£33 for a year for 12 issues of at leat 52 pages and for Students its HALF PRICE £16.50 a year but they will have to subscribe for a year) or buy the October Issue of the Magazine. Magazine sells at £2.75 for 52 Pages, full colour and gloss.

People who subscribe to become One of 2000 subscribers of Poet's Letter Magazine (this is the campaign we are now running) would always pay HALF Price at all Poet's Letter Events.

As most of our Team Members would know that we are making this as an event where all our Team members (who can come along) join in, meet other colleauges and get to know them. So if you are in Poet's Letter Team or would like to be in it do come along. This invite is open to everyone who applied to join our Team and for some reasons or other we never managed to have effective communication (as in we called you were not available, you called we were unable to talk etc). Do join us on Monday evening.

There is Open Mic as usual and our Legendary Johnny Vallon's music.

We have now seen the DVD of second London Poetry Festival 2006. Absolutely brilliant recording! Thanks to Karl Troica the Cameraman and Recording Artist. Karl is now engaged in editing and putting this DVD together which would be on sale soon. People who would like to buy a copy of the DVD can do so on Monday. It would be £10.99 with FREE Postage and Packaging.

Poet's Reading: Munayem Mayenin, Philip Ruthen, Maggie Sullivan, Rebecca Atherton, Sharon Harriott, Francesca Preece and more. A lot of new voices.

Please note that the Editor's mobile has gone through a "massive technological shift" and ended up now as: 07809 682 065. Anyone wanting to talk to the Editor this is the number from where he cannot escape!"

FROM: Munayem Mayenin

Verbal Showdown from Apples & Snakes: Friday 24th November

24 November’s Verbal Showdown – we really take it to the limit: the limit of London. Uxbridge!

We’re rolling into town with poets Kat Francois and A F Harrold and putting on a joint show with a whole host of local talent. Go west!

Verbal Showdown
Uxbridge Central Library, High Street, UB8 1HD
Friday 24 November @ 7pn
Tickets: £3 / £2
Book: 020 7924 3410

Christmas Special Poetry: Thursday 21st November

Touch Me I'm Sick — Christmas Special

now at the special price of free! Ten floor spots up for grabs.

21 November 2006 at 20.00 (sign up for floor spots at 19.30)

Upstairs at the Old Crown Pub 33 New Oxford Street (On the corner of New Oxford Street and Museum Street) London WC1A 1BH. TEL: 020 7836 9121. Nearest tube stations Tottenham Court Road or Holborn

Two features, two halves, two Emcees, twelve poets. Get it off your chest and share the misery. The wonderful Rachel Pantechnicon will be as unsettling as only she can, and Kevin and James will be as childish as only they must. Relax in the plush interior of the Old Crown and abuse the late licence and easy access to late tubes and night buses. As it's Christmas we will be having a bit of a different format for the floor spots.

5 mins per slot, but this time you need to bring 2 poems.

One poem you get to read, the other poem you put in a lucky dip. The poem you put in the lucky dip is anonymous so should not have your name on it. So when you go up to do your bit for Christmas and Country, you'll be reading one of your poems and one from the lucky dip (Don't worry, we will be doing the draw from the dip ahead before we start the evening so you have some time to read it first).

Contact Telephone Number:

James Ó Nuanáin 07763 632 369

Galway, Over the Edge: Thursday 23rd November

Over The Edge: Open Reading for November

takes place in Galway City Library, St. Augustine Street, Galway on Thursday, November 23th, 6.30-8pm. The Featured Readers are Adrian White, Joan McBreen & Fiona Claire.

As usual there will be an open mic when the Featured Readers have finished. This is open to anyone who has a poem or story to share. New readers are especially welcome. The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details contact 087-6431748.

Over The Edge acknowledges the financial support of Galway City Council and The Arts Council. See overtheedgeliteraryevents.blogspot.com.

'Chroma' Magazine Events in London: 19th & 23rd November

Prizegiving and Launch of Issue 5, 19 November
"The judges have decided and the winners have been announced, so please join us for the prizegiving on Sunday, 19th November. The awards ceremony is also the launch of our fifth Issue, which includes all the winning stories and poems alongside some great new writing and artwork.

The event will take place at The Pool, 104 Curtain Road, Shoreditch, London EC2, from 5pm. There'll be free pool (it is the Competition Issue, after all), some free subscriptions to give away, and 5 pairs of tickets to the Hockney exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery."


In the absence of 'pool playing' art, here's an old one of me playing snooker instead to accompany this Chroma event at The Pool. [Ed.]

Chroma Reading at Waterstone's, 23 November
"If you can't make it to the launch, or you're just hungry to hear more Chroma writers read, and you want to chill out with a glass of wine and a mince pie before the shopping really gets frantic, Chroma contributors will be reading from their work on Thurs, 23 November at Waterstone's, 311 Oxford Street, London W1. 7pm start."

Guest Poets & Open Mic in Whitechapel: Thursday 16th November

Into Words, Stand Up Poetry in Whitechapel

On Thursday 16th November, from 7pm, at the Whitechapel Art Gallery, you can enjoy 'Into Words: Stand Up Poetry'.

Tim Clare performs filthy satirical verse about middle class girls, kebab alley bunk-ups and style consultants to the wicked. Nathan Filer makes waves in spoken word. Plus open mic.

Organised by Luke Wright. Absolutely Free, no booking necessary!

Poetry Launch at Salisbury House: Saturday 11th November

Poetry at Salisbury House: Launch of Perdika Press

Salisbury House, Bury Street West, Enfield, Middlesex N9 9LA
7.30pm
Saturday 11th November

Mario Petrucci, Peter Brennan, Christine North, Nicholas Potamitis, Adam Simmonds

Telephone: 020 8887 9500. Entrance: £3.50 / £2.50

Poetry in the Crypt: Thursday 8th November

Poetry in the Crypt: Nancy Mattson and Rhona McAdam

St Mary's Church, Upper Street, Islington, London N1

7.30pm
Thursday 9th November

Two Canadian poets, Nancy Mattson and Rhona McAdam, will be reading at this event, which costs £3 (£2 conc), with proceeds going to St Mary's homelessness project.

Info 020 7354 0433

Poetry Launch in Galway: Thursday 16th November

Tornadoes for the Weathergirl is a chapbook of poems by Celeste Augé, published by The INVINCIBLE Poetry Pamphlet Press. It will be launched by poet Mary O'Malley at Sheridans on the Docks, Galway, on Thursday 16th November, 6.30pm.

All welcome!

Supported by Galway County Council. See overtheedgeliteraryevents.blogspot.com for more details.

Apples & Snakes present FRESH at the Albany, Deptford: Friday 19th November

Friday 10th November sees Apples & Snakes at the Albany in Deptford, presenting Fresh – a fast-moving hip-hop night in which beats and lyrics will collide before your eyes. The Slambassadors, Chanje Kunda, John Berkavitch and Robyn Johnson do the honours. And there’ll even be some open mic slots.

Fresh
The Albany, Deptford, SE8 5AG
Friday 10 November @ 8pm
Tickets: £7 / £5
Book: 020 8692 4446

Susan Utting at the Poets' Cafe in Reading: Friday November 17th

Poets’ Café in Reading

"This occurs on the third Friday of every month at South Street Arts Centre on South Street in Reading. It costs £6/£4 to get in and the doors open at 8pm for an 8.30pm start to the poetry. Every month there is open mic space available for both the experienced and the new to the scene (we’re nice, so no one need fear) to share some of their own work as well as a longer reading by a specially invited guest poet. This format rarely changes."

Friday November 17th at the Poets' Cafe will feature guest poet Susan Utting.



Click here to see some of Susan Utting's work
*

Poetry for Charity in London: Wednesday 8th November

Poets Hugo Williams, Ali Smith, Owen Sheers and more

will be reading at the North London Tavern, 375 Kilburn High Road, London NW6 7QB, at 7.30pm on Wednesday 8th November. Poets reading that evening will include Hugo Williams, Ali Smith, Owen Sheers, Clare Pollard, Adam O'Riordan, Tobias Hill and Annie Freud, with music by Steven Hinds and Amy Botfield.


Tobias Hill. PHOTOGRAPH: Foley, John/Opale.

Limited tickets available (£5). Please book on 020 7221 9347 or publicity@saqibooks.com. All proceeds will go to children's charities in Lebanon.

'World-class Originals' at the Aldeburgh Festival: TODAY!

VICKI FEAVER
DURS GRÜNBEIN
and PETER LEVINE'S poems will be read by SHARON OLDS

2.30 - 4.15pm • Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh Poetry Festival • PF33 • £12


DURS GRÜNBEIN

World-class originals. Writing at the height of her powers, Vicki Feaver achieves a fierceness and a fearlessness that gladden the heart. Durs Grünbein – the most highly acclaimed German poet of his generation – uses his formidable intelligence and acute moral discrimination to dissect and connect. He reads with his translator Michael Hofmann. A giant of American poetry, Philip Levine honours the extraordinary lives of ‘ordinary’ people with exemplary passion and love.


Sharon Olds

FIND THE ALDEBUGH POETRY FESTIVAL ONLINE AT: www.thepoetrytrust.org

Joy of Six: Aldeburgh Poetry Festival TODAY!

Joy of Six

1.00 - 1.30pm • James Cable Room • PF32 • £5
Part of the Aldeburgh Poetry Festival

The poetry world’s version of a jazz combo, this ensemble brings a seamlessly dynamic play of voices and styles, with poems and jokes passed between performers like melodies, riffs and improvisations.

Joy of Six is a group of five prizewinning poets – Anne Berkeley, Martin Figura, Peter Howard, André Mangeot and Andrea Porter – who have been performing together since 2000. Their unusual integrated sets blend their very different voices and styles into a seamless unpredictable whole. Their poems are widely published in the best magazines and anthologies and they have seven collections between them.

Jane Holland at Cheltenham: Sunday November 5th

BUZZWORDS

Upstairs at the Beehive, Montpellier, Cheltenham

with Guest Poet - Jane Holland!

7pm - Writing time: Workshop led by Jane Holland
8pm – Poetry reading and open mic
Come at 7pm if you want to write, 8pm if you don’t.

There will be open mic spots available. First come, first served.

Jane Holland's latest collection of poetry, Boudicca & Co., is out now from Salt Publishing.



Entrance: £3
Enquiries: 07855 308122
E-mail: cheltpoetry@yahoo.co.uk

POEJAZZI in London: Tuesday November 7th

POEJAZZI

Tuesday November 7th, 8pm doors for a 9pm start
Volupte Bar, No 9 Norwich street, off Furnival Street, EC4A 1EJ
(Close to Chancery Lane Station, after Mcdonalds)
£8 Reservations, £10 at the door.

PoeJazzi:
"The newest and most most exquisite poetry and Jazz event in London returns for another tuesday night, bringing the best young talent around the capital into one cozy cabaret joint for your entertainment. Last month's premiere was sold out two weeks in advance, so we must be doing something right!

For November the 7th, PoeJazzi features some of the best female talent touring the United Kingdom and beyond: Suzanne Andrade: Cabaret Poet Act, Brilliant Performer. Surreal as they can get; we're talking Twilight Zone: Live and in Colour. Anne Brechin: Deep, dark and sensual, delving into the muck of modern day life and relationship with fresh eyes and a barbed tonque. Warning: Could be racy... Teresa Gabriel: Imagine Alanis Morisette minus the ego, bad subsequent albums, exhibitionist tendencies and times ten talent. Honest and amazing voice and lyrics; you'll be humming her lyrics on mainstream radio next year, Justice in the world willing... Joshua Idehen: MC. Nigerian. Not Female. In Drag. Lost a bet. Expects Audience to Understand. Kat Francois: MC. Female. BBC3 Slam Champion and all round supersexy host of the Word4Word and WordUp Slam in Stratford theatre. Will Definitely not be dressed in drag. Musa Okwonga: MC. Ugandan. Dressed as a Pimp. Won A Bet. Expects Audience to kiss his ring.

And Jazz from the ever reliable Shabaka Trio.

Seats will be available downstairs, with food, drink and cocktails served.
There will also be a drinks bar and smoking area upstairs. So come on down, alone or with friends. Relax yourself, and enjoy. Price: eight pounds entry fee if you reserve via tel 0207-8311677, or 02078311622, and ten pounds on the door. Very limited spaces available so book early!"

Mark Gwynne Jones & Psychicbread: Brighton & Oxford tour dates this week

Mark Gwynne Jones and the Psychicbread will be performing musical poems from their excellent new album of voice, rhythm, music and vivid poetry entitled In the Light of This at

Brighton, The Komedia - Monday 6th November (01865 200550)
Oxford, The Zodiac - Tuesday 7th November (01865 200550)

These are both Hammer & Tongue-related poetry events: www.hammerandtongue.org

To read more about Mark Gwynne Jones & the Psychicbread, there's an interview with him right here on POETS ON FIRE.

Constantine & Lumsden at the Bolton Octagon: Monday 6th November

Poets David Constantine & Roddy Lumsden

will be reading at the Octagon Theatre, Howell Croft South, Bolton BL1 1SB, at 7.30pm, on Monday 6th November 2006.

Ticket prices: £4 (£2 concessions). Ticket office: 01204 520 661

Website: www.octagonbolton.co.uk

Bristol Open Mic Fireworks & Halloween Special: Sunday 5th November

REMEMBER, REMEMBER, THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER!

Folk House Open Mic Night

Bristol Folk House, 40a Park Street, Bristol BS1

Sunday 5th November
Doors 7pm

"Special pyrotechnic scintillating poetics syncopating performers. Yes, it's the Folk House Open Mike Night Fireworks and Halloween Special. Poets and Musicians free. Ghouls, ghosties, girlies and guys £3. Prize for best fancy dress!"

Your special (g)host for the evening will be Bristol's flammable floozy of fripperies and fantasmagoria, ROSEMARY DUN
*

Poetry Launch in Edinburgh: Saturday November 4th

Saturday November 4th
3 for 3.30pm

Happenstance Launch: Patricia Ace, Tom Duddy and James Wood

New chapbooks by Patricia Ace, Tom Duddy and James Wood. Share a glass of wine, meet the poets, get your copies signed. More information about the poets at www.happenstancepress.com.

RSVP nell@happenstancepress.com 01592 772279

Free EVENT at:
Scottish Poetry Library,
5 Crichton's Close,
Canongate
Edinburgh
*

Poets Anonymous in Croydon: Friday 3rd November

Poets Anonymous
Poetry at The Dog and Bull, Surrey Street, Croydon, Surrey
From 8pm, Friday 3rd November

Special Guest, Les Merton 'a unique voice from Cornwall' -- the man behind Poetry Cornwall comes to Croydon!

£2 waged, £1 unwaged.
Contact Peter for further details; peter@poetsanon.org.uk, 020 8645 9956

Launch of 'Mr Cassini' by Lloyd Jones: Wednesday 15th November

Mr Cassini
Lloyd Jones

Wednesday 15th November 2006

Please Note: This event was wrongly posted before for Sunday 5th November, but actually takes place on Wednesday 15th.


Seren invites you to the launch reading of Mr Cassini by Lloyd Jones, at 7.00pm, The Beach Pavilion Café, The Promenade, Llanfairfechan, Conwy, LL33 0BU.

For further details contact Seren Books on 01656 663018 or email events@seren-books.com or visit the website:
www.seren-books.com.

Open Mic Poetry in Whitechapel: TONIGHT

Stand Up Poetry:

Whitechapel, 80-82 Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7Q
Tim Clare and Nathan Filer

2nd November 2006
No time given

Tube: Aldgate East. Find more details on www.whitechapel.org. Tel 020 7522 7888

"Tim Clare performs filthy satirical verse Nathan Filer makes waves in spoken word. Plus open mic. Free."

Can't say fairer than that ...

Word at Bambu, Leicester: TONIGHT!

Jane Holland reading at Buzzwords, Cheltenham: Sunday 5th November

BUZZWORDS

Upstairs at the Beehive, Montpellier, Cheltenham

Guest Poet - Jane Holland!
(yep, that's me)

7pm - Writing time: Workshop led by Jane Holland
8pm – Poetry reading and open mic
Come at 7pm if you want to write, 8pm if you don’t.

There will be open mic spots available; first come, first served.


My latest collection of poetry, Boudicca & Co., is out now from Salt Publishing.



*

Entrance: £3
Enquiries: 07855 308122
E-mail: cheltpoetry@yahoo.co.uk
*

Poetry Idol in Islington: Thursday November 2nd

SHORTFUSE POETRY IDOL 9

This Thursday 2nd November at London's ONLY weekly fusion of stand-up poetry, performance comedy and spokenword we present the lastest of our world renowned Poetry Idol contests...

POETRY IDOL 9...

The featured poets and performers are:

Niall Spooner-Harvey

Tim Clare

Jack Sims

Paolo Ferrari

Inua Ellam

Scroobius Pip


How does it work?

Six performers new to SHORTFUSE will perform for 10 minutes each, and then
YOU the audience will vote for their favourite acts. The winning two acts
will both be given a full length paid set later in the year. Previous
winners have gone on to secure regular full length sets at various other
spokenword events accross the country including Express Excess, Apples &
Snakes, 5 star Edinburgh Fringe shows, and BBC radio appearances. See
www.20six.co.uk/poetryidol for more information.

The quality is once again of another high standard, and this promises to
be yet another fantastic Poetry Idol night. So, as always, it is best to
book your tickets now...

PLEASE NOTE: Due to high demand for tickets we recommend booking in
advance. Please email required number of tickets, name and contact number
to tickets@shortfuse.co.uk We will hold them for you on the date of the
show, they will be available for collection upon payment at the door
between 8pm and 8.30pm.

With Resident Host: NATHAN PENLINGTON- 'A natural performer, witty, inventive, stylish and original' - Rob Newman

Every Thursday @ The Camden Head, Camden Walk, Islington, London, N1. Tube: Angel.
Doors: 8.30pm. Admission: £5 waged / £3 concessions.