Tongue & Groove, Bristol Folk House: Saturday 2nd June

OUT NOW! Poet & Performer Shamshad Khan's debut collection: Megalomaniac

Shamshad Khan is a well-known UK poet and performer, so many of you may be interested to know that she has now committed her poems to print. Megalomaniac (Salt Publishing 2007) is her first solo poetry collection and is available to buy online or you can order it from bookshops.



You can find out more about Shamshad Khan - watch a podcast, hear her performing from Megalomaniac, download a PDF extract and check out her biog. and reviews - on her author page at Salt Publishing. For bookshop orders, the ISBN is 978-1-84471-312-7.


In this powerful debut collection, Shamshad Khan struts with attitude from the poetic to the polemic; side stepping from the satirical towards the spiritual. She has a keen awareness of rhythm and the spoken word. With wickedly simple language she explores themes of power, loss, identity and love.

"When i first saw Shamshad Khan read her poetry i was
so moved that i haven't stopped moving yet. I prayed
to the god of poetry that her work would be put into print.
Deliverance is sweet." Benjamin Zephaniah

Also, you can hear Shamshad on the radio this weekend:

Radio 4, Sunday 3rd June, 4.30pm on the Poetry Slot
The 'Poem of the Cloak' or Qasidah Burda is a devotional poem written by Egyptian poet Al-Busiri (between 1260-1268 CE). It is the inspiration for a new concert created and performed by women from Ulfah Arts and their director Naz Kosar. Radio 4 had been following the project over the last 9 months. The programme presented by Shamshad Khan brings the “Poem of the Cloak” to life as well as documenting the individual journeys of the Muslim women on the project. You can also hear it online for a week only on www.bbc.co.uk/radio4.

Spoken Word Evening with Apples & Snakes pioneering poets

Spoken Word with Apples & Snakes

Spoken word, performance poetry, live poetry: many terms all meaning one thing. It’s an artform that’s come a long way in the last ten years, and tonight we bring you four pioneering poets who have broken new ground in that time.
Patience Agbabi, tattooed poetry diva who’s been pushing back the boundaries since the early ‘90s
David J, man of a thousand voices and a thousand poems of socio-political intrigue
Suzanne Andrade, doyenne of Edwardian-Gothic grotesquerie
Polarbear, a 21st-century storytelling star.

When: Tuesday 5 June @ 7pm (doors open 6.30pm)
Where: Guardian Newsroom, 60 Farringdon Road, EC1R 3GA
Tickets: FREE
Advance Booking Essential: 07908 367 488 / info@poetinthecity.co.uk
Info: www.applesandsnakes.org / www.poetinthecity.co.uk

Buzzwords Poetry Night in Cheltenham: Sunday 3rd June

Next Sunday 3rd June: BUZZWORDS
Upstairs at the Beehive, Montpellier Villas, Cheltenham

7.30pm - workshop led by Maureen Almond
8.30 onwards - open mic session and Guest Poet Maureen Almond

FRESH at the Albany: Friday 1st June

Apples & Snakes: Fresh

Are you into poetry with a hip hop beat?

If so, then we’ve got another Fresh night at The Albany in Deptford. We present a showcase of poetry blended with rap and dance featuring the hip-hop move’n’grooves of Paradigmz and a 100mph verbal storm from MC Tempest.

Plus we’ve always got one eye on London’s poetic talent so come along early and sign up for one of our ever-popular open mic slots. Hosted by New York’s finest, Mr Kenny Baraka.

This event will be filmed by SkyCast.

When: Friday 1 June @ 8pm
Where: The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford SE8 4AG
Tickets: £6 / £5 (concs) / £4 (under 25s)
Booking: 020 8692 4446

Book this event online at the Albany

Hammer & Tongue and the BBC present the South East National Slam Qualifiers in Brighton: TODAY, Sunday 27th May

Hammer & Tongue in collaboration with the BBC present

BBC National Slam: South East Qualifier

Slam winners from across the region compete in a national competition, hosted by Steve Larkin and Sam Berkson.

Special guest Henry Bowers - 4 Continents Slam Champion!

@ The Udder BELLY part of the Brighton Festival

Sunday 27th May
1-4pm
Entrance £8/£6
Box office 01273 709709

Sunday XPress in Birmingham City Centre: TODAY, 27th May

Sunday XPress at the Market Tavern, Digbeth

"Come down to the Market Tavern this Sunday afternoon, 27th May, 3-7pmish, and see the most diverse range of performers since "Freaks" was outlawed!

We've got music, we've got poetry, we've got comedy, we've even got all three rolled into one person. All open mic in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere for shy beginners and cocky pro's alike.

AND free roast potatoes!!"

Poetry in Edinburgh: Sunday 27th May

Poetry in Edinburgh, featuring

Kate Clanchy
Andrew Philip
Rob Mackenzie

@ the Mai Thai Cafe Bar
The Tun, 111 Holyrood Road
Edinburgh EH8 8AE

(down the lane from the
Scottish Poetry Library)

From 7.45pm
Sunday 27th May

Admission £2 / concessions £1

Julie Boden in An Evening of Poetry & Music in Leamington Spa

Nightmare on Clarendon Street: AN EVENING OF POETRY AND MUSIC

Symphony Hall’s Poet-in-Residence, Julie Boden accompanied by Adrian Moore (organ)
Gabrielle Byam Grounds (flute and keyboard)
Steph West and Sam Fox (harps and voice)
Jazz musician Dutch Lewis (bass clarinet and sax)

WEDNESDAY 6 JUNE
Holy Trinity Church, Beauchamp Avenue, Leamington Spa
7.30pm

As the performance will be recorded live, it would be appreciated if you would please arrive promptly.

Tickets: £5 or £3 concessions can be reserved or bought in advance by emailing julie@julieboden.co.uk or by telephoning Rachel Middleton (01926 831581).
Tickets will also be available at the door from 7pm onwards. It is anticipated that the performance will finish at 9.15pm.

Parking available in Beauchamp Avenue and Holy Trinity Church car park off Trinity Street. This is a HT160 event – all profits will go towards the HolyTrinity PCC Ramp and Railings Fund. A temporary ramp will be in place on the evening to ensure access for all

Hegley Does Tewkesbury: TONIGHT Saturday 26th May

John Hegley in Uncut Confetti

Saturday 26th May
8pm
The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury

"Poet, singer and stand-up John Hegley has nine books to his name, two albums and one mug. He has performed on radio in five series of his own devising, is an Edinburgh Festival regular and has performed in Australia, Canada, Colombia, Zanzibar and Luton - the small town of his upbringing.

In a marriage of poetry, tale-telling and songs from his new book John takes us along on a quest to rediscover his continental roots. Prepare yourself for a visit to the ancient carnival in Nice, where he puts on a mask and conjures the spirit of his French folie bergère-dancing Grandma. Then he lets loose in the streets for a knees-up. A stanza bonanza, where family meditations breathe alongside other new poems, prose and pictures in a mixture of moods - reflective, detective, sweet and sour."

Tickets usually £13 but if you ring The Roses Box Office on 01684-295074 and quote ‘Buzzwords’ you can get tickets for just £7. NB. This may no longer apply as it's so close to the event. Check availability before travelling specially.

Poetry Symposium at Newbury: TODAY Saturday 26th May

Newbury Spring Festival Poetry Symposium

Newbury Library, The Wharf, Newbury
Saturday 26 May
2pm (finishes approx 3.30pm)

Featuring poets Melanie Challenger, Eva Salzman, Roddy Lumsden and Chris McCabe

"The Festival's Poet in Residence Melanie Challenger will
introduce several of her friends and colleagues from London
to discuss poetry and read from their works.

Chris McCabe, Roddy Lumsden and Eva Salzman are all young poets, whose early successes and passion for writing should serve as a powerful reminder that poetry is very much alive in the UK."

Free but advance booking advised

Supported by by Arts Council England, South East
and Greenham Common Trust

Gen Txt TWO FOR ONE ticket offer at the Oxford Playhouse: TONIGHT, Friday 25th May

Generation Txt: TWO for ONE ... TICKET OFFER

FRIDAY 25th MAY 2007
5pm
The Oxford Playhouse

Generation Txt: a live literature event featuring some of the UK’s most gifted young poets. Responding to a world of text speak and dumbed-down media, the writers speak out. This is a must see event for those interested in the future of poetry.



£6.50 for 2 adults tickets, please quote "2 for 1" deal.
Box Office - 01865 305305
www.oxfordplayhouse.com

Tongues & Grooves, Poetry in Hampshire: Sunday 27th May

Tongues & Grooves: Poetry in Southsea

The Florence Arms, 18-20 Florence Road, Southsea, Hampshire
Sunday 27th May
8pm.

Southsea’s most regular monthly poetry event this month has AF HARROLD as their special guest. You can check out the pub venue here.

Wendy Cope reading at the Arena Theatre, Wolverhampton: Saturday June 2nd

"Wendy Cope will be appearing at the Arena Theatre on Saturday 2nd June, at 4pm. Tickets are £10 /£8 so please dig deep and support what should be a memorable afternoon event."
Simon Fletcher
Literature Development Officer

Wolverhampton Central Library
Snow Hill
Wolverhampton
WV1 3AX
Tel:01902 552061
Fax:01902 552024

Broadcast at the Poetry Cafe: Thursday 24th May

Broadcast at the Poetry Society

Please note this regular event is being held in the Studio, not the Poetry Cafe basement.
Thursday 24th May
8pm
Entrance £5/4

This month's Broadcast features poets Tim Turnbull, Chris McCabe, Emily Berry and Kate Potts.


Tim Turnbull's Stranded in Sub-Atomica from Donut Press.

The Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street, Covent Garden, London
Covent Garden tube

FRESH street to stage poetry from A&S: Friday June 1st

Apples & Snakes present: "Fresh"

Poetry coming up from the streets and onto the stage. With you in the spotlight! Apples & Snakes who have previously worked with Jonzi D and Benji Reid, now presents a showcase of poetry blended with rap and dance. Tonight we feature the hip-hop move’n’grooves of Paradigmz and a 100mph verbal storm from MC Tempest. Plus we’ve always got one eye on London’s poetic talent so come along early and sign up foe one of our ever-popular open mic slots. Hosted by New York’s finest, Mr Kenny Baraka

When: Friday 1 June @ 8pm
Where: The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford SE8 4AG
Tickets: £6 / £5 (concs) / £4 (under 25s)
Booking: 020 8692 4446 / www.thealbany.org.uk

Hammer & Tongue poetry cabaret at The Magic Cafe: Tuesday 5th June

Hammer & Tongue Newsflash!

There are still tickets available for the summer cabaret extravaganza at The Magic Cafe on Tuesday 5th of June. Please email as soon as possible with reservations for tickets. This event is likely to sell out. A reminder of the splendifferous line up:

THE PERFORMERS:
Luke Wright- (would-be poet laureate)
"Luke Wright should be seen and heard by everyone" Critics' Choice, TimeOut
RC Weslowski- amazing national slam champion/nonsense poet from Vancouver, Canada
Rhyme and Reason- aka Alan Buckley and George Roberts who rhyme reasonably and reason in rhyme... sometimes
The Naked Mystic- your resident Hammer & Tongue DJ as you've never seen him before
Music from Susanna Starling- uberskilled singer and single bassist
Food from Hell's Kitchen - 2 course North African feast

THE FACTS:
All this for £12/£10. Bring your own booze. June 5th at The Magic Cafe - food served from 6:30 show 7:30 - 10:30. Limited places please book in advance by email. NB This is likely to sell out so don't delay. Booking closes 30th May, if not before. Email: events@hammerandtongue.co.uk

BBC Slam Qualifier, South East Region

BBC Slam Qualifier, UdderBELLY Tent, Brighton Festival.
Sunday 27th May
1-4pm.
Entrance: £8/£6.

"This is the South-East qualifier slam for the BBC National Slam, all other rounds of which (the semi-finals and final, at least) will be on the wireless (BBC Radio 4, nonetheless). It’s open to winners of Slams in the area over the last few years, so the quality of entrants should be pretty jaw-dropping (says AF Harrold, who's one of 'em - Ed.). Featuring a set from 2006’s 4 Continents Slam winner, hairy Swede Henry Bowers."

To book tickets go to Brighton Festival site.
To learn about Henry, try www.henrybowers.com.

La Langoustine Est Morte: Saturday June 2nd

La Langoustine Est Morte

A prime night in London dedicated to international, experimental and innovative poetry, fiction and performance. Hosted by: Sascha Akhtar and Anthony Joseph. Expect an amalgam of forms and energies.
Saturday June 2nd
@ The Poetry Cafe, Covent Garden, 22 Betterton St., London
7:30 p.m.

1. Fresh off his U.S. Tour,the fantastic Dr. Keston Sutherland editor of the poetics and critical theory journal QUID and co-editor (with Andrea Brady) of Barque Press.
2. Joining us from Cambridge by way of Toronto,the talented poetess Ms. Marianne Morris
3. Adding some vibe and soul to the evening will be Ms.Olumide Popoola by way of Nigeria By way of Germany. Her deliverance draws heavily on forms of expression such as Hip Hop, Jazz Poetry and African story telling traditions.
4. And joining us from South Africa the poet Mr. Gerard Rudolf

North Beach Slam in Galway: Thursday 24th May

North Beach Poetry Nights

BK's Winebar, North Beach, Spanish Parade, Galway
Thursday May 24th at 9pm

Special Guest: BRUCE BARNES: Visiting UK Poet from Bradford

Micéal Kearney (Cúirt Grand Slam Winner '07)
Gary King & Katie Lawless (Joint Second Place at Cúirt Grand Slam 07)
Plus an Open Mic

Next month's guests are: Michael O'Loughlin, Galway Writer in Residence and Galway's singer-songwriter, folk-poet: Johnny Duhan

overtheedgeliteraryevents.blogspot.com

New Season of Slams from FARRAGO: beginning Thursday May 24th

The Farrago May SLAM!

Thursday, 24th May, 7:30pm
@ RADA Foyer Bar, Malet St WC1. Goodge St Tube.
www.multimap.com

Features: Keith Jarrett, The London SLAM! Champion, Dean Atta, Honest, Idil Sukan & from the US Tara Betts + another special guest from New York, (London transportation system willing!) + music.

Information: 07905078376. farragopoetry@yahoo.co.uk. http://London.e-poets.net www.myspace.com/farragopoetry

Generation Txt nationwide tour dates

Generation Txt National Tour

"Get ready to experience literature from the frontline in a whirlwind journey from scars to scrap-bins; from tea smuggling to suicide.

Following the success of acclaimed new poetry anthology Generation Txt, penned in the margins is taking the six gifted young poets featured in the book on a national tour to fourteen venues.



Hand-picked from a nationwide search for writing talent, the poets include former Northern Young Writer of the Year Emma McGordon and celebrated performance poet Inua Ellams, as well as Joe Dunthorne, whose debut novel Submarine has just been snapped up by Hamish Hamilton. Natural Sciences graduate Laura Forman, Midlands-born creative writing student Abigail Oborne and experimental poet and text artist James Wilkes complete the bill.

Hailed by distinguished poet and critic Roddy Lumsden as 'a vital cross-section of the poetry that will progress and flourish' and by the TES as 'a creative ideas manual', the Generation Txt tour will be a must-see event for anyone interested in the future of literature."

Supported by Arts Council England
www.myspace.com/generationtxt
www.pennedinthemargins.co.uk

Tour dates

May 22 – London Bloomsbury Theatre
May 24 – Maidenhead Norden Farm Centre for the Arts
May 25 – Oxford Oxford Playhouse
May 26 – Manchester Contact Theatre
May 28 – Liverpool The Pilgrim
May 29 – Durham Gala Theatre
May 30 – Newcastle The Lit & Phil
June 1 – Birmingham MAC
June 2 – Norwich Norwich Arts Centre
June 3 – Cambridge JE Wilson Drama Studio
June 5 – Brighton Earth & Stars

Open Mic in Cambridge: Tuesday 22nd May

Open Mic at CB1 Cafe, Mill Road, Cambridge

Tuesday 22 May, 8pm

"Come along and sign up to read on arrival. Bring 2-3 poems (no epics
please!) in case we have time for more than one each. There will be a
prize for the poem/poet voted 'best on the night'!

Whether you are an experienced reader or have never read a poem in
public before, please do support these Open Mic evenings. They are
intriguing, unpredictable and an opportunity for anyone to read in front
of a supportive and welcoming audience. Over the last ten years CB1
Open Mics have provided the initial platform from which many talented
writers and poets have progressed to 10-15 minute slots supporting our
visiting/guest poets - and from there on to publication and wider
recognition. Helen Mort is just one recent example. You never know -
you may find yourself listening to other stars of the future!"

£3/£2 concessions

POETRY IDOL at Shortfuse: TONIGHT, Thursday 17th May

Thursday 17th May

SHORTFUSE POETRY IDOL 10

Tonight at Shortfuse, six poets perform for 10 minutes each to be awarded the Poetry Idol 10 crown, and to win a full length set in the new SHORTFUSE season.

SHORTFUSE, The Camden Head, 2 Camden Walk, Islington, London, N1.

PUREandGOODandRIGHT in Leamington Spa this Sunday, May 20th

Pure and Good and Right takes place at the Fox, Clarendon Avenue, Leamington Spa on Sunday 20th May. Special guest performer for this month is Luke Wright, well-known on the performance circuit for his comic and anarchic work, and a self-styled Poet Laureate.

Sunday 20th May
The Fox, Leamington Spa
7pm
Entrance: £3 for open mic performers, £4 for others (I think)

PLEASE NOTE: If you want to perform in the open mic, get there early!

Bristol Poetry Scene: this week

Wednesday 16th May: One Last Job

Circles Book Shop, North Street, Bristol BS3
8 pm
"Featuring poets Rosemary Dun, Tom Phillips, Helen Sheppard, and others plus music from The Great Admirers."

Thursday 17th May - South Bank Cabaret

The Comedy Box, Hen & Chicken Pub, North Street, Bristol, BS3
8 pm
"Featuring music, comedy, poetry and other shenanigans, plus Big Mouth's Rosemary Dun and Tom Phillips."

Apples & Snakes Open Mic at the Whitechapel Gallery this Thursday: to be filmed by SkyCast

Apples & Snakes Open Mic

Are you the next big thing on the performance-poetry scene?

If so, here’s a chance to dazzle the audience with the dexterity of your rhythms and the sheer verve of your verse. Your host for the evening will be the lovely Deryl Walsh and there’ll be a very special guest slot from The Speechpainter. Or if you don’t fancy performing, just come along and soak up the poetical atmosphere in The Whitechapel’s friendly café-bar.

Arrive early to sign up for an open mic slot
This event will be filmed by SkyCast

When: Thursday 17 May 2007 @ 7pm
Where: Whitechapel Gallery, 80-82 Whitechapel High Street, E1 7QX
Tickets: FREE
Interested acts: 020 7801 9026
Info: www.applesandsnakes.org / www.whitechapel.org

Climate Change Performance Poetry: Tuesday 15th May

Words and World: Climate Change Performance Poetry

Vaults and Garden, University Church, High St., Oxford
Tuesday, 15 May 2007
8pm
£3 admission

Calling all activists, poets, performers or anyone else who would like their
voice to be heard on climate change! All are welcome to perform or just listen
to verse focusing on this urgent issue. Poets wishing to perform may sign up at
the door the night of the event.

With our host Steve Larkin, the night is sure to both entertain and stimulate thought. Admission will benefit Christian Aid's Climate Changed campaign.

For more information, please contact organizer
Shannon Brescher at: shannon.brescher@linacre.ox.ac.uk.

Forthcoming 'Tall Lighthouse' Poetry Events

Tuesday 15th May 6.30pm
Foyles Bookshop, Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0EB
The launch of two exciting books under our new Pilot Project
with Abi Curtis & Adam O'Riordan ('Queen of the Cotton Cities')
Free entry


Thursday 17th May 8pm
Dulwich Festival 2007, Crown & Greyhound
T.S Eliot prize winning poet Hugo Williams reads, plus support from Jacob Sam-Le Rose, Helen Mort, Nancy Mattson and Jeremy Page
visit www.dulwichfestival.co.uk or contact us for details info@tall-lighthouse.co.uk


Poetry Café, London Wednesday 30th May 8pm
Poetry Café, Betterton Street, Covent Garden
a fantastic line-up, with Jacob Polley & John Citizen
plus OPEN MIC
for more details contact lastwednesday@tall-lighthouse.co.uk
admission £4/£3


Earth and Stars, Brighton, Tuesday 5th June 7.30 - 8.45
poetry at the earth & stars , windsor street, brighton
generationtext a superb taster from this exciting new young poets imprint
featuring Joe Dunthorne, Laura Forman & Abigail Oborne
plus OPEN MIC
for info please contact us brighton@tall-lighthouse.co.uk
entry by voluntary contributions £3/£2

Information on all these events and on Tall Lighthouse itself can be found by following this link to their site at: www.tall-lighthouse.co.uk

Poetry with Julie Boden: Wednesday 6th June, Leamington Spa

Holy Trinity 160 Years: An Evening of Poetry

Holy Trinity Church, Beauchamp Avenue, Leamington Spa, celebrates its 160th anniversary with a series of musical concerts and on Wednesday 6th June welcomes you to an evening of poetry and music with Julie Boden.

An Evening of Poetry by Julie Boden, music by Adrian Moore (organ), Gabrielle Byam Grounds (Flute and Keyboard) and surprise guests!

Julie is looking forward to this event as it will enable her to give a world premiere of her new Leamington poem which has been musically arranged by Gabrielle Byam Grounds. Gabrielle, who is the director of English Serenata will transport us on her flute and conjure new creations on her keyboard. The Amorous Organ, a piece commissioned during Julie’s residency at Symphony Hall, Birmingham will be performed by Julie with Adrian Moore on the Holy Trinity Organ.

Tickets are available from 01926 831581. Tickets are £5 or £3 concessions and whilst some tickets may be available at the door on the night the organisers would appreciate it, wherever possible, if people would book in advance.

Poetry in Paris: TONIGHT, Monday May 14th

Le Grandiloquent Moustache Poésie Club

14 May 2007, 20:30
158 RUE OBERKAMPF, PARIS, Ile-de-France 75011
Cost : 5€

Definitely out of the United Kingdom, but looking like a very lively and informal French poetry event run by three Parisian poets, LE GRANDILOQUENT MOUSTACHE POESIE CLUB may be for you if you're in the area, and some of our browsers actually are!

C'est tout mignon!


ALSO, English-speaking poets reading in Paris TONIGHT & TOMORROW:

14 MAY, MONDAY – SHAKESPEARE & CO. BOOKSHOP
Reading 7PM
Eva Salzman, Gerald Mangan & Eddie Linden
Shakespeare & Co.
37 rue de la Bucherie
75005 Paris.
Contact: Sylvie Whitman sylvia@shakespeareco.org
Tel: 01 43 25 40 93
www.shakespeareco.org
M°s: Odéon, St Michel, Cité ou Cluny la Sorbonne - all equally close.


15 MAY, TUESDAY – LIVE POETS
Reading 8PM
Eva Salzman, Gerald Mangan, & Eddie Linden
@ The Highlander
8 rue de Nevers
75006 Paris.
Donation: 5 E
Tel: 01 43 26 54 20
www.the-highlander.fr
M°s: Odéon, St Michel or Mabillon.

Poets' Cafe in Reading: Friday May 18th

Poets’ Café, Reading
South Street Arts Centre, South Street, Reading.
Friday 18th May
8pm doors.

£6/£4.

This month in addition to the usual Open Mic there will be a full set from Poets’ Café regular and widely published poet Gill Learner.

Hegley Does Tewkesbury: Saturday 26th May

John Hegley in Uncut Confetti

Saturday 26th May
8pm
The Roses Theatre, Sun Street, Tewkesbury

"Poet, singer and stand-up John Hegley has nine books to his name, two albums and one mug. He has performed on radio in five series of his own devising, is an Edinburgh Festival regular and has performed in Australia, Canada, Colombia, Zanzibar and Luton - the small town of his upbringing.

In a marriage of poetry, tale-telling and songs from his new book John takes us along on a quest to rediscover his continental roots. Prepare yourself for a visit to the ancient carnival in Nice, where he puts on a mask and conjures the spirit of his French folie bergère-dancing Grandma. Then he lets loose in the streets for a knees-up. A stanza bonanza, where family meditations breathe alongside other new poems, prose and pictures in a mixture of moods - reflective, detective, sweet and sour."

Tickets usually £13 but if you ring The Roses Box Office on 01684-295074 and quote ‘Buzzwords’ you can get tickets for just £7.

Swindon Slam! TODAY Saturday 12th May

Swindon Slam! - part of the Swindon Festival 2007

The Arts Centre, Devizes Road
Tel 01793 614837
7.30pm
Saturday 12 May
£6 (£5)

SWINDON SLAM! - hosted with charm and good cheer
by MARCUS MOORE and SARA-JANE ARBURY
and played, applauded, and enjoyed by YOU!

Welcome to the eleventh Swindon Slam! There will be poems to please and prizes aplenty. Entries for the Slam needed to be in before this late date but more audience members are always in demand, to provide whistles and applause.

Latitude Festival 2007: 12th - 15th July

Latitude Festival 2007: Stand Up Poetry Arena

Showcasing the very best in contemporary performance poets, The Poetry Arena was hugely popular last year, changing many people's perceptions as to how poetry readings could be. Comedy sketches alongside Hip Hop, slam poets, raconteurs, spoken word, lyricism, storytelling, rappers and much much more made this tent a roaring success for punters and performers alike. So much so that some of the funniest, satirical, hard-hitting, absurd, bizarre, and witty poets are returning for this year's event.

Confirmed Acts:
ROGER McGOUGH - FRIDAY
JOHN HEGLEY - THURSDAY
SIMON ARMITAGE - SUNDAY
MURRAY LACHLAN YOUNG - FRI/SAT
LUKE WRIGHT - TH/FR/SA/SUN
CRISIS
POLAR BEAR
AISLE 16
FRANCESCA BEARD
JOHN BERKAVITCH
INUA ELLAMS
CLARE POLLARD
NIALL O SULLIVAN
JOHN OSBORNE
YANNY MAC & PIKEY PADDY
JOE DUNTHORNE
TIM CLARE
STEVE LARKIN
BYRON VINCENT
SCROOBIUS PIP
LEMN SISSAY
DAVID J
TIM WELLS
RACHEL PANTECHNICON
THICK RICHARD
SOPHIE WOOLLEY
SALENA GODDEN
ANDY CRAVEN-GRIFFITHS
LIZ BENTLEY
CHRIS HICKS
JOEL STICKLEY
KIM TRUSTY
JENNY LYNDSAY
BEN MELLOR
ROSS SUTHERLAND
KAT FRANCOIS

Visit the Latitude Festival site for more details

African Writers' Evening at the Poetry Cafe, London: Friday May 18th

AFRICAN WRITERS' EVENING

Friday 18 May 2007, 7.30pm (doors)
Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street, London (Covent Garden tube)
4.00 / 3.00 (conc)

In May we feature two female writers - one with South African roots, the other with East African roots. Both women represent part of the story of Africa that other people always try to tell, label, or construct, but nobody will ever tell the way we will hear it on the night. Join us as we experience the fantastic, insightful prose of Zoë Wicomb and the sharp contemporary vision of emerging writer Sharmila Chauhan. As always there will be African Writers from all over the continent reading on the open mike.

The event will be hosted by Ghanaian writer, Nii Ayikwei Parkes. Writers featured at this event: Zoë Wicomb and Sharmila Chauhan. Plus an Open Mic session for African writers.

FURTHER INFORMATION:
www.x-bout.com/awe
To reserve a place, send an e-mail to events [at] x-bout [dot] com. We may not reply to all reservations but they are ALL registered.

Slounge with Mark Gwynne Jones: Thursday May 17th

OCM in collaboration with Hammer & Tongue present Slounge with Mark Gwynne Jones @ The Jam Factory, Oxford
Thursday May 17th
5:30pm
Meet the artists, listen to the DJ, eat wonderful foodstuff.
7pm
See the acts.

Slounge is the Brain Child of OCM (Oxford Contemporary Music) who have collaborated with Hammer & Tongue, OVADA and the Jam Factory to bring you events that give you the chance to get right up close to see and hear some of the freshest and most engaging music, film, poetry, live and visual art from a host of top talents from Oxford, the UK and abroad in the relaxed setting of the Jam Factory café and gallery.

Thur May 17th sees Music: Cathode:: Poetry: Mark Gwynne Jones:: Live Art: Brian Catling :: + DJ Cathode's rhythm-driven glitched-up melodic electronica will have you thinking as much as you dance, and dancing as much as you think.

'Mark Gwynne Jones is to poetry what The League of Gentlemen is to television.' Independent. Working with film and music, he's a powerful act capable of transforming the mundane into magical landscapes.

Brian Catling is a poet, sculptor, performance artist and professor of fine art at the Ruskin School of Drawing & Fine Art. He's made installations and performed across the world from Greenland to Australia.

More poetry action can be found at Slounge on June the 11th when the fantastic Byron Vincent takes the stage.

Poetry in the Crypt (homelessness project): Saturday 12th May

Poetry in the Crypt

Neighbourhood Centre next door to St Mary's Church, Upper Street, Islington, London N1
Saturday 12th May 2007
7.30 pm

Poets reading: Martha Kapos and Kathryn Maris

"Tube: Angel or Highbury/Islington. 7.30 pm. £3 (£2 conc). Proceeds to St Mary's homelessness project. Floor spots welcome. Info 020 7354 0433."

Giles Goodland & Jeff Hilson at the Lamb: Friday 11th May

BLUE BUS POETRY SERIES

Giles Goodland and Jeff Hilson will be reading their poetry in the upstairs room at The Lamb, 94 Lamb's Conduit Street, London WC1, from 7.30 on Friday 11th May.

This is the first in THE BLUE BUS series. Giles Goodland will be launching his new book from Salt Publishing, entitled Capital.

Admissions: £5 / £3 (concessions).
Nearest tubes: Russell Square; Holborn.

Please note: David Miller, who was to have read at this event, is indisposed and has been replaced by Jeff Hilson.

Four Fresh Salmon in Galway: Friday May 11th

Over The Edge in association with Poetry Ireland

Presents a reading by four poets published, or soon to be published, by Salmon: Mark Granier, Lorna Shaughnessy, Dave Lordan & Susan Millar DuMars
Sheridan’s Wine Bar, 14-16 Church Yard Street, Galway
Friday, May 11th
8pm.


There will also be a special guest appearance by Miceál Kearney, winner of the 2007 Cuirt Poetry Grand Slam.

There is no entrance fee. All welcome. For further information contact 087-6431748.
Over The Edge acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council, Poetry Ireland and Galway City Council.

www.overtheedgeliteraryevents.blogspot.com

Shortfuse in Islington: Thursday 10th May

SHORTFUSE

The Camden Head, Camden Walk, Islington, London, N1
Thursday 10th May

"A feature length set from acclaimed comedian Lucy Porter previewing her
new work in progress from her forthcoming Edinburgh Fringe show. Plus the feisty poetry of Dorna Aslanzadeh, and the spokenword of Paul Lyalls.

And a date for the diary for those forward thinkers:
Thursday 21st June: BARDS IN THEIR EYES
Oh, yes, the second Bards in Their Eyes event. Last year saw some fine
performances including Niall O'Sullivan, Rhian Edwards and John
Hegley...we will release the names for this year's show in a month or two
but we are open for ticket reservations NOW!

Hosted by: NATHAN PENLINGTON

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

SOME SHOWS DO SELL OUT - so, if there is a show you really don't want to
miss our advice is to reserve tickets with us in advance. Just email your
full name, the number of tickets you require, and a contact telephone
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.
THERE WILL ALSO BE A LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS AVAILABLE ON THE DOOR

Are you part of the myspace.com revolution? If so, come and make friends:
www.myspace.co,/shortfuselondon"

Apples & Snakes Open Mic at the Whitechapel Gallery, London: Thursday 17th May

Apples Open Mic

Whitechapel Gallery, 80-82 Whitechapel Art Gallery, London E1 7QX
Thursday 17 May @ 7pm

"Are you the next big thing on the performance-poetry scene? If so, here’s a chance to dazzle the audience with the dexterity of your rhythms and the sheer verve of your verse. Arrive early to sign up for an open mic slot. Your host for the evening will be the lovely Deryl Walsh and there’ll be a very special guest slot from The Speech Painter. And if you don’t fancy performing, just come along and soak up the poetical atmosphere in The Whitechapel’s friendly café-bar."

Entrance: FREE
Interested acts: 020 7802 9026
Info: www.applesandsnakes.org

Utter 16 in London: Wednesday May 30th

UTTER!#16: FREE with Stewart Home, Tim Wells, Jonny Fluffypunk, Penny
Solomons, ajar mic contest!

Date and time: 8pm, Wednesday May 30th, 2007, and the last Weds of every month
Address: Salisbury Hotel, 1 Grand Parade, Green Lanes, London N4 1JX.
Tube: Inbetween Turnpike Lane (nearest) & Manor House.
Bus: 141, 29, 41, N41, 67. Overland: Harringey Green Lanes.
Cost: FREE ENTRY!!
Phone: 07711 483 819

STEWART HOME

JONNY FLUFFYPUNK

TIM WELLS

PENNY SOLOMONS

Hosted by flame-haired Dudley poet RICHARD TYRONE JONES.

PLUS the world-famous AJAR MIC COMPETITION – You, the audience, vote
to give either GERMANDER SPEEDWELL, ALISON BRUMFITT, JULIA BIRD or
SARAH VERRINDER a FEATURE LENGTH SLOT next month. Email
richardtyronejones@gmail.com or call 07711 483 819 for info/press…

Richard Tyrone Jones
Poet, host and Co-organiser of:
'Utter!' - Last Wed of the month, 8pm, Salisbury Pub N4, Free
Poetry@TheRoom, First Weds of the month, 7.30pm, 33 Holcombe Road N17
9AS with free wine
www.myspace.com/richardtyronejones
07711 483819

Warwick Words Festival: 4-7 October

Warwick Words - Festival of Literature and Spoken Word

"Warwick Words is taking place in various venues around the historic
town between 4 - 7 October 2007 and promises to be a lively and
entertaining weekend with something for everyone.

During the weekend there will be lots of performances, talks and
workshops to choose from including; a Literary Lunch, Poetry & Pints,
Philip Larkin Walk, Warwick SLAM, creative writing workshops,
Afternoon Teas, Children's Book Fair and activities, Poetry Cafe and
much more!

Special Guests to date include: Roy Hattersley, Sophie Hannah,
Michael Wood, Pauline Prior-Pitt, Will Hutton, Harry Mount, Zoe
Brigley, David Morley and many more.

Full Festival details will be released in July.

Warwick Poet Laureate 2007/2008 competition details have just been
released on the web site, so if you would like to enter the
competition please down load the application form.
http://www.warwickwords.co.uk.

We look forward to welcoming you to Warwick Words in October. If you love words you will love Warwick Words!"

www.warwickwords.co.uk
Email: admin@warwickwords.co.uk
01926 427056

Poetry Bites at the MAC, Birmingham: Thursday 10th May

Poetry Bites at the Mac, with Meredith Andrea & Jacqui Rowe

"This month's Poetry Bites showcases two Birmingham poets. The poems in Meredith Andrea’s collection, Grasshopper Instructions, are marked by a moody, questioning voice and often dreamlike quality that moves them beyond the realities in which they have their origins. Jacqui Rowe’s work has been described as “witty and anarchic”. She steps out of her role as host to read from her new collection, Blue, which explores chance events, the sounds of overheard words, and the distances between people, objects and places.

Poetry Bites also includes floor spots where you can share your own poetry with an appreciative audience. If you would like to read your own work, please arrive early to book a floor spot."

Poetry Bites, 7.30, Thursday, 10th May, MAC
See www.macarts.co.uk for more information on venue & tickets.

Jane Holland reading at CB1 Cafe, Cambridge: Tuesday 8th May

CB1 Poetry & Music

Tuesday 8th May
8pm start
CB1 Cafe (Mill Road, Cambridge)

Guest poet - this site's editor, Jane Holland, reading from her new poetry collection, BOUDICCA & CO, published by Salt.

Plus supporting sets by local poet Nick Jones and musician Patrick Shiel.

Big Word is BACK in Edinburgh, with Jem Rolls, Luke Wright, Tim Turnbull etc: Thursday May 17th

THE BIG WORD, Edinburgh

Thursday May 17th
@ THE JAZZ BAR, 1a CHAMBERS ST, EDINBURGH
DOORS 8.30PM, SHOW 9-11.30 P.M.

Feat: Tim Turnbull, JEM ROLLS, Tribal Tongues, LUKE WRIGHT & music from JED MILROY.... £4/3 CONCS

Hosted by Jenny Lindsay (jennylindsay@gmail.com 07989 508 436)

The Big Word is back, with one of its finest line-ups this season:
We see the return of Big Word founder and "godfather of Scottish performance poetry" (The Scotsman) JEM ROLLS, fresh from a year away touring Canada and India.

TIM TURNBULL - Winner of the inaugural £10,000 Arts Foundation Award for Performance Poetry (yes, they give awards for it now :) and generally regarded as one of Britain's top spoken word artists.

Fringe Festival favourite LUKE WRIGHT also features, showcasing work from his new one-man show (the debut of which can be caught at the 2007 Fringe) "Poet & Man" ... Founding member of 'poetry boyband' Aisle 16, Luke has toured extensively and does other very fun things for a living, like coordinating the Poetry tent at the Latitude Festival and co-writing a soon-to-be-published book with JOEL STICKLEY entitled "Who Writes This Shit?" A must-see (before he gets too expensive to book!!)

TRIBAL TONGUES - Dundee's fast and furious double-act lay into Tony Blair, Basil Brush and shellsuit-stereotypes with vim and verve....

PLUS music from JED MILROY.

Hosted by Jenny Lindsay "Leading Scottish performance poet - sings beautiful ripostes to the flotsam and jetsam."

Langoustine: Experimental Poetry & Fiction etc. at the Poetry Cafe: TONIGHT, Saturday 5th May

La Langoustine Est Morte VII

Saturday 5 May 2007
7.30pm

@ The Poetry Café, 22 Betterton St, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9BX
Adm. £5/4 cons.

The only night in London dedicated to experimental and innovative poetry, fiction and performance with an international scope.



with Amy Prior – fiction/performance
Musadiq Sanwal - spirit songs
Steve Willey - poetry
Percephone Petticoat – poetry/performance

Get there early, guaranteed to sell out swiftly!

Live Poetry in Plymouth: TONIGHT, Saturday May 5th

The Language Club

@ Plymouth Arts Centre
Saturday 5th May
7.30pm

The Club's guest poet this time is Kelvin Corcoran. There is also an Open Mic.
£5.00 and £3.00
Bar available

Enquiries to Tim 01752 661339 or Steve 01752 703617

Plymouth Arts Centre, 38 Looe St., Plymouth, PL4 0EB. Located between the City Centre and the Barbican; close to Bretonside Bus Station.
Box Office: 01752 206114
E-mail: arts@plymouthac.org.uk

Buzzwords in Cheltenham: TOMORROW, Sunday May 6th

Buzzwords in Cheltenham

Sunday 6th May
7.30pm (later start time than usual for workshop)
Upstairs at the Beehive, Montpellier Villas, Cheltenham.

This is a regular workshop and open mic with Guest Poet event in Cheltenham.
7.30pm - workshop led by Charles Bennett
8.30 onwards - Open Mic and Guest poet (Charles Bennett)

For more information, visit: Buzzwords.

Four-Pack: a new Apples & Snakes project at the BAC: Thursday May 10th

Apples & Snakes: Four-Pack

BAC, Lavender Hill, London SW11 5TN
Thursday 10 May @ 9 pm

"Apples & Snakes presents excerpts from four new spoken word shows. Featuring some of the stars of the London scene, this poetic quadruple-bill ponders the questions: what if there was a Gardeners’ Question Time for council gardeners? What if all the voices in your head were Welsh? What exactly are the Thirteen Fairy Negro Tales? And wasn’t Wandsworth great in the 1980s?

Join Joseph Coelho, Rhian Edwards, Inua ‘Phaze’ Ellams and Niall O’Sullivan in a scratch performance of their latest work, and stick around afterwards afterwards for a no-holds-barred Q&A session with them. Go, poets."

Commissioned by BAC.

Tickets: £5 / £3 (concs)
Book: 020 7223 2223 / www.bac.org.uk
Info: www.applesandsnakes.org

Five London Poets: TONIGHT, Friday May 4th

The Clare Hall Literary Society presents:

Five London Poets

Friday May 4th, 7.30 for 8.00pm (bar open at 7.30) Anthony Low Building, Clare Hall Collections & pamphlets will be on sale at the reading.

Simon Barraclough: from Yorkshire, a London Writer's Competition winner, published in such magazines as Poetry Review, The Manhattan Review, Time Out and the anthologies Graphic Poetry and In The Criminal's Cabinet. Debut collection forthcoming from Salt.

Isobel Dixon: South African poet, living in Cambridge and working in London as a literary agent. Winner of the Olive Schreiner Prize (SA) for her collection Weather Eye and with a new collection 'A Fold in the Map', forthcoming from Salt this autumn. Also featured on Clive James' website and Poetry International.

Luke Heeley: from Lincolnshire, now London-based. Eric Gregory Award winner, published in the TLS, The Wolf and The Red Wheelbarrow, and the anthologies Reactions 4 (pen&inc press) and Phoenix New Writing (Heaventree Press).

Liane Strauss: prize-winning American poet, now teaching Poetry and Literature at Birkbeck, University of London and City Lit. Nominated for a Pushcart Prize and the 2007 Best New Poets Anthology (US), commended in the National Poetry Competition (UK) and published in Poetry Review, Hudson Review and Iowa Review.

Roisin Tierney: a Dubliner now living in Spain. Won a Bridport Prize in 2002 and was shortlisted for the Strokestown Prize in 2006. Published widely including The Virago Book of Christmas and Poems for a Better Future (Oxfam).

Poets Galore in Farringon, London: Friday May 11th

Donut Press, Rising and Roddy Lumsden's Vegas Years present the following poets:

Annie Freud, Hugo Williams, Megan Thompson,
Tim Wells, Annie Brechin, Jo Asser,
Imogen Robertson, Bro's Grim, Heather Taylor,
Ahren Warner, Malgorzata Kitowski, Tom Chivers
with John Citizen easing your passage

Friday, May 11th
The Castle
34-35 Cowcross Street, Farringon, EC1M 6DB
7pm, no door pressure, lucky pants please

Pure and Good and Right in Leamington Spa: Sunday 20th May

Pure and Good and Right takes place at the Fox, Clarendon Avenue, Leamington Spa on Sunday 20th May. Special guest performer for this month is Luke Wright, well-known on the performance circuit for his comic and anarchic work, and a self-styled Poet Laureate.

Sunday 20th May
The Fox, Leamington Spa
7pm
Entrance: £3 for open mic performers, £4 for others (I think)

PLEASE NOTE: If you want to perform in the open mic, get there early!

Coventry Festival of Literature & Liberty 2007: ON NOW!

The brand-new Coventry Festival of Literature and Liberty is launching now, with events over this weekend and into next week.

For the latest information on events and booking, visit Coventry's Heaventree Press.

Wychwood Festival Pre-Publicity

Wychwood Festival

"Poetry has exploded into this year’s Wychwood Festival. We will be bringing you a luscious line-up of lithe linguistic luvvies. Drop down to the Oak (Muse) tent to have your ears massaged and your neurons fired by our ensemble of wordsmiths. These poetic masters (and mistresses) will be ably herded your way by experienced poets Nick Owen (who’s really a druid) and Helen Gregory, who will be joining in the action throughout the weekend, performing their own poetry and teaching you the secrets of their craft.

During the daytime we are running a series of family focused workshops, facilitated by Gill Owen, Mike Jubb, Nick Owen and Althea Hayton. Nick will also be running several ‘Poetry and Pictures’ workshops and performances. So be prepared for an inside-outside upside-downside re-envisioning of your world. We think this is going to sweep the Myspace world as a new “folk art” everyone can dig into or blow out with.

Wander past the tent in the evening and you will be inexorably drawn into a world where the witty, thought-provoking and downright bizarre reign supreme, as over twenty top performance poets regale you with their words. Where else will you see: Matt Harvey, Kat Francois, Elvis McGonagall, Steve Tasane, Pete Hunter, Julian Ramsay-Wade, Nathan Filer, R C Weslowski, Rachel Pantechnicon, Andrew Woodward, Kate Underwood, Alvin Calzar, Mark Hewitt, David Bridger, Dorian Rex, Ines Langs, Miles Chambers, Peter Wyton, Ian Sills and Ian Horn in one place this summer?

So what are you waiting for? Book that ticket now!"

Helen Gregory

Ffi:
http://www.wychwoodfestival.com/
http://www.trans-itions.co.uk/7.html

Contact:
Nick nick@trans-itions.co.uk
Helen helen_gregory@hotmail.com

Jane Holland reads at London's Salt in the Margins: TONIGHT, Thursday 3rd May

Salt Margins @ The Whitechapel Gallery

The Whitechapel Gallery, 80-82 Whitechapel Road, London E1 7QX
First Thursday of every month, 7pm start, Free entry

CAMBRIDGE, UK (Salt Publishing) The UK’s most exciting live literature promoters, Penned in the Margins, are joining forces with creative publishing house, Salt Publishing, for a series of free events at East London’s Whitechapel Gallery.

Heavily seasoned with poetry, storytelling, comedy, live drawing and music, the eclectic Salt Margins line-up is carefully blended to provide one of London’s most innovative performance nights, all in the comfort of The Whitechapel’s chic bar space.



Thursday 3rd May, 7pm, Free
In May, poet and former professional snooker player Jane Holland reads from Boudicca & Co (Salt) and Stuart Taylor premieres his poetic exploration of the city, Metropol. Cult author Amy Prior fuses words and visuals with her latest book I Can’t Believe How Great I Feel, featuring live drawing from Sarah Doyle. Plus, bright young thing Joe Dunthorne reads a selection of poems and stories.

Poetry from Newcastle University: Thursday May 3rd

First Thursdays at Newcastle University: Joanna Boulter and Valerie Laws
Venue: Newcastle University
Organiser: Newcastle University, School of English
Start time: 13:15
Thursday 3rd May
Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/elll

Lunchtime readings by authors either attached to or visiting the university take place on the first Thursday of every month.

Joanna Boulter is a graduate from our MA in Writing Poetry who has published three pamphlets and the collection The Hallucinogenic Effects of Breathing. She is a founder member of the Darlington women's writing co-operative Vane Women. Joanna will be reading from her latest collection 24 Preludes and Fugues on Dmitri Shostakovich (Arrowhead).

Valerie Laws' latest poetry collection is Quantum Sheep (Peterloo Poets), published November 2006. She is currently writer in residence at Gordon Museum of Pathology, Guy's Hospital, London, working with a visual artist and a sculptor.

This event is free and all are welcome.

For further information email Melanie Birch or tel 0191 222 7619.
Rita Hayworth Room
2nd Floor
Percy Building
School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics
University of Newcastle upon Tyne (map)
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 7RU

Shangwe Poetry Night at the Poetry Cafe: Thursday May 3rd

Shangwe Poetry Night

The Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2H 9BX
Tel: 020 7420 9887/8
8.00pm to 10.00pm

Janet Plummer aka Melted Demerara, Open mic poets welcome

Thursday, 3rd May 2007

"A monthly event hosted by Nicole Moore
Admission: £5(£3 Concessions)
(Open mics 7.30pm, Showcase: 8.00pm)

Janett plummer aka Melted Demerara is an evocative, playful skilled writer who is also an accomplished performer and multi slam winner. Let her rich chocolate tones wash over you and seduce your senses as you enter her world. She is featured in many anthologies and will be in the forthcoming Storm between fingers book which is to be launched in June. Her own poetry collection will be published later in the year. An active member of Malikas kitchen - and a super dupa woman in the making, she has performed at The Tate, Barbican, Poetry Cafe, Paradiso (Amsterdam), Recreation Rooms (Chicago) She is also the founder of Inspired Word a women?s writing collective.

Achilles is a North Londoner who, along with his alter ego Alien, composes poetry on life as they see it. Initially Achilles wrote poetry as a form of expression and release for himself until a few friends talked him into performing at a poetry night and as a result of further encouragement from the promoters, he hasn't looked back since. Achilles has performed at Poetry in Motion and has also taken part in poetry slams at Farrago poetry. He is currently working on producing a CD and hopes to have his work published."

Generation Txt nationwide tour dates: appearing at the Birmingham MAC on June 1st

Generation Txt

Birmingham MAC
Friday 1 June

MAC, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham B12 9QH
Tickets £5/£4 – available from www.macarts.co.uk and 0121 440 3838

"Get ready to experience literature from the frontline in a whirlwind journey from scars to scrap-bins; from tea smuggling to suicide.

Following the success of acclaimed new poetry anthology Generation Txt, penned in the margins is taking the six gifted young poets featured in the book on a national tour to fourteen venues.

Hand-picked from a nationwide search for writing talent, the poets include former Northern Young Writer of the Year Emma McGordon and celebrated performance poet Inua Ellams, as well as Joe Dunthorne, whose debut novel Submarine has just been snapped up by Hamish Hamilton. Natural Sciences graduate Laura Forman, Midlands-born creative writing student Abigail Oborne and experimental poet and text artist James Wilkes complete the bill.

Hailed by distinguished poet and critic Roddy Lumsden as 'a vital cross-section of the poetry that will progress and flourish' and by the TES as 'a creative ideas manual', the Generation Txt tour will be a must-see event for anyone interested in the future of literature."

Supported by Arts Council England
www.myspace.com/generationtxt
www.pennedinthemargins.co.uk


Tour dates
May 17 – Great Torrington Plough Arts Centre
May 18 – Swindon Festival of Literature
May 19 – Stroud ArtSpace
May 22 – London Bloomsbury Theatre
May 24 – Maidenhead Norden Farm Centre for the Arts
May 25 – Oxford Oxford Playhouse
May 26 – Manchester Contact Theatre
May 28 – Liverpool The Pilgrim
May 29 – Durham Gala Theatre
May 30 – Newcastle The Lit & Phil
June 1 – Birmingham MAC
June 2 – Norwich Norwich Arts Centre
June 3 – Cambridge JE Wilson Drama Studio
June 5 – Brighton Earth & Stars

Comedy & Poetry courtesy of Apples & Snakes: Wednesday May 9th, London

Apples & Snakes in Soho

Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London W1D 3NE
Wednesday 9 May @ 8pm

"Comedy. Poetry. Can the two words really co-exist in the same sentence? We say yes, absolutely, no doubt about it. And we’re going to prove it with this array of stand-up rhythm-wranglers (or funny poets – call them what you will).

Rosie Lugosi – vampire queen of gothic cabaret scene
Ross Sutherland – unashamedly weird poetical waif
Cynthia Hamilton – relentless one-liner machine
Julian Daniel – saucy Northerner who takes no prisoners
Mistress of Ceremonies - the lovely Yvo Luna"

Tickets: £8 / £6
Book: 0870 429 6883 / www.sohotheatre.com
Info: www.applesandsnakes.org

Buzzwords Poetry Night in Cheltenham: Sunday 6th May

Buzzwords in Cheltenham

Sunday 6th May
7.30pm (later start time than usual for workshop)
Upstairs at the Beehive, Montpellier Villas, Cheltenham.

This is a regular workshop and open mic with Guest Poet event in Cheltenham.
7.30pm - workshop led by Charles Bennett
8.30 onwards - open mic and Guest poet (Charles Bennett)

For more information, visit: Buzzwords.