Saturday, June 30, 2007

Buzzwords Poetry Night in Cheltenham: Sunday 1st July

Buzzwords Poetry

Sunday 1st July
7.30pm onwards
Upstairs at the Beehive, Montpellier Villas, Cheltenham

7.30pm - workshop led by your host
8.30pm onwards - open mic and Guest poet Tony Walton

Please note - I have arranged to borrow an air cooler, so don't be put off by the discomfort we have suffered in the summer months up to now.
Angela France, Buzzwords organiser

Frome Festival Fizz Poetry: Monday July 9th

SLAM: Festival Fizz

Monday 9th July
7.30pm
At the Poetry Café in the Frome Festival

Special guest at this year’s popular ‘open mic’ event is peoples’ poet, political satirist, and all-round stand-up genius, Elvis McGonagall. Discover why his wicked wit and demon ditties won the 2007 World Slam Championship, and enjoy some of the best of the rest in the south-west as we search for the new Frome Festival Poet Laureate.

Will you be the Moêt Poêt? Bring your words and find out!
Names taken on the night - 7.30 Monday 9th July, early arrival advised.
Garden Café, Stony Street, FromeTickets £4 on the door.

If the weather is fine, it'll be held in the garden.
For further information, contact Crysse Morrison, at crysse@cryssemorrison.co.uk or via www.cryssemorrison.co.uk

The Big Word in Edinburgh: Thursday July 19th

THE BIG WORD - END OF SEASON


Thursday 19th July
@ The Jazz Bar, Chambers St, Edinburgh.
Doors 8.30 - show 9-11pm
£4/3 concs.

Featuring: Aisle 16-er ROSS SUTHERLAND, Slam winners Robin Cairns & Nic E Melville, GRAEME HAWLEY, newcomer Drew Taylor & music from HAZEL MORRISON
Hosted by Jenny Lindsay

The annual chaos and influx of 'artistes' and fashionable bohemians into the Scottish capital is nigh upon us! THE BIG WORD ends its season before it becomes impossible to rent a venue for less than ten million thousand pints of virgins blood...

Come celebrate the end of a great season, which has seen a truly brilliant change of venue, some of the best performance poets in Britain, a guarantee of funding for another season, and a heated Summer Slam! (The Big Word uses the word 'summer' ironically, and in denial of the fact that June is the wettest month on record. Every single year.)

ROSS SUTHERLAND, from 'poetry boyband' Aisle 16. Also featuring are NIC E MELVILLE & ROBIN CAIRNS, GRAEME HAWLEY, DREW TAYLOR, and HAZEL MORRISON!

Friday, June 29, 2007

Peter Abbs reads in London: TONIGHT, Friday 29th June

Peter Abbs reading

The Essex Unitarian Church, 112 Palace Gardens Terrace, London W8
7pm
Friday 29th June

Peter Abbs reads from his new collection The Flowering of the Flint (Salt Publishing), a selection from his work written over three decades and including a new sequence of poems.

£3 including wine

www.temenosacademy.org

Open Mic in Bristol: this Sunday, July 1st

Open Mike Night @ The Folk House

Sunday 1st July

Now that you've successfully hosed off the Glastonbury mud - you might be missing your fix of live music and spoken word. So why not get along to Bristol's friendliest open mike night, hosted by Rosemary Dun?

Doors 7pm Show 7.45pm (ish) Performers free, punters £3
Bristol Folk House, 40a Park Street, Bristol BS1 5JG Tel. 0117 9262987

SoundEye Festival in Cork: July 4th - 8th

SoundEye Festival
of the Arts of the Word

Cork, Ireland
July 4th - 8th

With:
Rae Armantrout
David Berridge
Mairead Byrne
Cai Tianxin
Jimmy Cummins
Kate Fagan
Fergal Gaynor
Anna Glazova
Giles Goodland
Robert Heffernan
Fanny Howe
Trevor Joyce
Jow Lindsay
Gerry Loose
Peter Manson
Billy Mills
Peter Minter
Maggie O'Sullivan
Nicole Panizza
Maurice Scully
Anamaría Crowe Serrano
Michael Smith
Geoffrey Squires
Jon Thomson
Keith Tuma
Catherine Walsh

. . . and others, including a promiscuous cabaret . . .

SoundEye Festival

Farrago Slam this Sunday, plus Radio 4 Slam Semis: this Sunday, July 1st

A Farrago One Hour SLAM! Followed by the Radio 4 UK Poetry Slam Semi Final
@ The Drill Hall, 16 Chenies St, WC1. Goodge St Tube.

Multi-Map


Sunday, 1st July, starting 4pm. (Slam sign up at 3:30).

Open to ANY poet SLAM! Any subject or style, read or perform. We will try and fit in as many poets as we can!

Emcee: John Paul O’Neill.

FREE TICKETS in advance from the Drill Hall box office: 020 73075060. box.office@drillhall.co.uk
Information: 07905078376. farragopoetry@yahoo.co.uk. www.myspace.com/farragopoetry

On Sunday Farrago will be supporting the BBC Radio 4 UK Poetry Slam semi final with a special One Hour SLAM! open to ANY poet, with the usual great prizes! Sign up is at 3:30, the show starts at 4pm. The event is taking place at The Drill Hall, 16, Chenies St, WC1, around the corner from our regular RADA venue.

The semi final which follows has some superb poets who've won their way through various regional heats, including Dizraeli, the 2006/07 UK Slam Champion, Keith Jarrett, the London Slam Champion and Michelle Hubbard winner of the London heat we ran. The whole thing is FREE, reserve up tickets through The Drill Hall box office on 020 73075060 or email box.office@drillhall.co.uk. Reserve them quickly though, half the 200 tickets have already gone!

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Shortfuse TONIGHT: Thursday 28th June


Shortfuse, featuring Liz Bentley

Thursday 28th June
8.30pm
The Camden Head, Camden Walk, Islington, London, N1

Full length Edinburgh preview from the poet and comedian, plus "sonic chaos" from Andrew Bailey and music from singer-songwriter Gavin Osborn.

Admission: £5 / £3 concessions. www.20six.co.uk/shortfuse

Poetry & Open Mic in Swansea: TONIGHT, Thursday 28th June

Ric Hool at the Dylan Thomas Centre

Thursday 28 June
7.30pm
The Dylan Thomas Centre, Somerset Place, Swansea SA1 1RR

Readings from Abergavenney's Ric Hool plus the usual open mic spot.

Tel. 01792 463980

London Literature Festival 2007


Southbank Centre launches
the first London Literature Festival

29 June – 12 July 2007, Southbank Centre

This summer Southbank Centre will host the first ever London Literature Festival, as part of the reopening celebrations of this historic festival site. The festival is a culmination of an unrivalled year-round programme at the UK’s foremost literature venue and will become an essential date in the cultural diary.

The London Literature Festival grows out of and mirrors the rich cultural and political mix of our capital city. Featuring international writers, prize winning authors, historians, poets, artists, musicians, specially commissioned work, debate and discussion, interactive and improvised writing and performance, as well as the largest bookcrossing event in the UK, the London Literature Festival will use all the venues and outdoor spaces across the 21-acre Southbank Centre site.

London Literature Festival highlights include:

• Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka delivering the inaugural Southbank Centre Lecture, on the theme ‘civilisation’

• The premiere of Roger McGough and Brian Patten’s touring event,40-Love presented by Southbank Centre on Tour

• A multi-media celebration of W.H. Auden to mark the centenary of his birth, with readings of his work by James Fenton, Simon Armitage and Kwame Kwei-Armah

• An evening with reggae poets including legend Linton Kwesi Johnson, Amina and Amiri Baraka, Jayne Cortez, Kendel Hippolyte and Lesego Rampolokeng

• Children’s events with Jacqueline Wilson, Michael Rosen and Lauren Child

• Pat Barker’s only London appearance to launch her new novel, Life Class

• The world premiere of Heiner Goebbels’ Songs of Wars I have Seen, bringing to life Gertrude Stein’s impressions of Paris during the second world war

• Other novelists, historians, comedians and poets appearing at the festival include: John Agard, Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, Kate Grenville, Xiaolu Guo, John Hegley, Tobias Hill, A.M. Homes, Armando Iannucci, Barbara Kingsolver, Hari Kunzru, Liz Lochhead, Blake Morrison, Helen Oyeyemi, Iain Sinclair, Mark Thomas.

Coinciding with the launch of this new literary festival is the 25th anniversary of the iconic London literary landmark, the Southbank Centre Book Market. Various festival participants will hold impromptu events at the stalls, reading aloud and quoting from the titles they find.

The UK’s largest book crossing event with 1,000 free books written by Londoners or about London, provided by Penguin, will be placed around the Southbank Centre site. A book crossing shed on Festival Square will contain a comfy sofa and shelves in which the public can read and leave books for others to share. Stamped with London Literature Festival, it is hoped that many of the books will travel across the UK and further afield.

The London Literature Festival will also celebrate the re-opening of the renowned Poetry Library, marked by an event on Wednesday, 4 July with Iain Sinclair, Tobias Hill and Sean Borodale. Recently featured on Radio Four as one of the world’s great libraries, the newly refurbished Poetry Library is one of the largest and most accessible resources of its kind in the world. Tours of the Poetry Library will be available during the festival, daily at 5.30pm.

• The London Literature Festival at Southbank Centre runs from 29 June – 12 July 2007. For further event details, please visit www.southbankcentre.co.uk/literaturefestival

To book tickets, please call 0870 160 2522 or go online at www.southankcentre.co.uk

***

The London Literature Festival 2007 – Poetry etc listings


Friday 29 June
Roger McGough and Brian Patten: 40- love
7.30pm Queen Elizabeth Hall, £9

Southbank Centre hosts the premiere of 40-Love, marking the 40th anniversary republication of The Mersey Sound anthology. One million copies later, two of the UK's best-loved poets regroup to read their 20 most requested poems.

Saturday 30 June
John Hegley, John Agard, Liz Lochhead & Matt Harvey
8.15 pm Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall £8.50

The Mersey Sound turned poetry on its head, ushering in a new wave of poets who danced to a different tune. Tonight we celebrate this extraordinary legacy with rhythms, rhymes and music.

Sunday 1 July
Michael Rosen
2.00 pm Purcell Room, Adults £7, Children £4.50

Michael Rosen performs his one-man show of poems, songs, jokes and stories. Author of such fantastic titles as Centrally Heated Knickers, A Spider Bought a Bicycle and Something's Drastic, Michael Rosen gives a performance that will have you falling off your seat with laughter.

Tuesday 3 July
W H Auden
7.30 pm Queen Elizabeth Hall, £9

Marking the centenary of WH Auden' birth, tenor John Mark Ainsley, actor Kwame Kwei-Armah, pianist Roger Vignoles and poets Simon Armitage, James Fenton and Jo Shapcott, celebrate his life and work in a special evening of oratorio, songs, poems, film and images.

Wednesday 4 July
Sean Borodale, Tobias Hill & Iain Sinclair
7.00 pm Level 5 Function Room, Royal Festival Hall £7

Celebrating the reopening of the Poetry Library, three poets pay tribute to London as muse. Sean Borodale's topographical poem Notes for an Atlas 'rings with sadness, haphazardness and utterly modern beauty' (Robert MacFarlane). Tobias Hill's Nocturne in Chrome & Sunset Yellow is an acutely observed hymn to the city. Iain Sinclair, one of London's great writers, reads poems on the city from his recent collection The Firewall. This event coincides with the Saison Poetry Library exhibition of books on the theme of London.

Thursday 5 July
London SLAM Champions
6.30 pm Front Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall Admission Free

In this showcase of the Rise Slam Champions, MC Joelle Taylor introduces you to some of the most innovative rhyming and rapping young stars of London's spoken-word scene.

Thursday 5 July
Linton Kwesi Johnson and Friends
7.30 pm Queen Elizabeth Hall, £9

For one night only renowned reggae poet Linton Kwesi Johnson has invited an all-star line-up of some of most musical and socially conscious poets from across the globe: Amina Baraka and Amira Baraka (US), founders of the Black Arts Movement in Harlem; Jayne Cortez (US); Kendel Hippolyte (St Lucia) and Lesego Rampolokeng (South Africa).

Saturday 7 July
Plant a Poem with Malika Booker
11.00 am Level 5 Function Room, Royal Festival Hall
Suitable for children ages seven and over £4 Children, Accompanying adults free

Plant a poem as part of the Sheds, Beds and Breads installation in Southbank Centre Square. Poet and performer Malika Booker reads her garden poems, and leads a poetry writing workshop before leading everyone out to plant flower seeds and mark them with their specially crafted poem.

Sunday 8 July
Nii Ayikwei Parkes
12.30 pm Level 5 Function Room, Royal Festival Hall £6 Adults, £4 Children

Part human, part spider, combining wisdom with cunning, Ananse the Spider Trickster is one of the most important figures in West African storytelling. These classic moral tales and proverbs are retold with flair and imagination by Nii Ayikwei Parkes.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Starbucks Poetry, Birmingham: Wednesday 4th July

Rendezvous of Poetry

Wednesday 4th July
7.00 – 9.00
Starbucks, Martineau Place, Birmingham

Back for the Summer and Autumn season, Starbucks Poet in residence Roy McFarlane and Phil Simpson would like you to join us for a night of poetry, spoken word, rhythm and rhyme in a cosy front room setting of Starbucks, with plenty coffee.

Guests on the night:
Crossroad Collision
Evoke and Dan
Prudencia
Plus open mic


1 Band
2 Hours of Poetry
3 minutes of interview
4 Guest Poets
5 minutes and more of Open Mic Poetry
Coffee and cakes
& lots more
At the Rendezvous of Poetry,
Starbucks the place to be for live poetry

For further information contact
Roy Mcfarlane
07974 012265

Windrush Songs at the Poetry Café: Thursday June 28th

WINDRUSH SONGS

Celebrating the Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act
Thursday June 28th
The Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2H 9BX
£5/£3 concs

This events launches a major new collection by one of the UK’s best-respected poets. In Windrush Songs, James Berry remembers the first wave of Caribbean emigrants who sailed to Britain in 1940s. Berry explores the resonances between these voyages and the journeys of slave ships bringing ancestors from Africa to the New World, and in doing so gives voice to people of several generations.

Hosted by Nii Ayikwei Parkes and featuring guest-slots by Yemisi Blake and Saran Green and [verb]swish.

A partnership between Apples & Snakes, Spread the Word and the Poetry Society

Booking: 020 7735 3111 / www.spreadtheword.org.uk

Mario Petrucci at the MAC, Birmingham: Thursday 5th July

Poetry Bites at Birmingham's MAC, hosted by Jacqui Rowe, offers floor spots where you can share your own poetry with an appreciative audience together with readings by leading poets.

July’s Poetry Bites guest is Mario Petrucci, who has been called “as close as we have to a 21st century renaissance man.” A major exponent of public art, authentic performance and hybrid forms, particularly science in poetry, Mario was the first poet in residence at the Imperial War Museum and with BBC Radio 3. Heavy Water, his award-winning poem about Chernobyl, was made into a film by Seventh Art. His new collection, Flowers of Sulphur, is published in July by Enitharmon.

If you would like to read or perform your own work, please arrive early to book a floor spot. See www.macarts.co.uk for more details.

Poetry Bites with Mario Petrucci @ Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham
Guest poet & open mic
Thursday 5th July
7.30pm

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

London Literature Festival 2007: What's On This Weekend

London Literature Festival 2007

This coming weekend, Friday 29th June through to Sunday July 1st
All tickets can be booked online at the Southbank Centre website: www.southbankcentre.co.uk/literaturefestival
or via the box office: 0871 663 2500. Open 9am - 8pm daily.

Friday 29 June
Roger McGough and Brian Patten: 40- love
7.30pm Queen Elizabeth Hall, £9
Southbank Centre hosts the premiere of 40-Love, marking the 40th anniversary republication of The Mersey Sound anthology. One million copies later, two of the UK's best-loved poets regroup to read their 20 most requested poems.


Saturday 30 June
John Hegley, John Agard, Liz Lochhead & Matt Harvey
8.15 pm Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall £8.50
The Mersey Sound turned poetry on its head, ushering in a new wave of poets who danced to a different tune. Tonight we celebrate this extraordinary legacy with rhythms, rhymes and music.


Sunday 1 July
Michael Rosen
2.00 pm Purcell Room, Adults £7, Children £4.50
Michael Rosen performs his one-man show of poems, songs, jokes and stories. Author of such fantastic titles as Centrally Heated Knickers, A Spider Bought a Bicycle and Something's Drastic, Michael Rosen gives a performance that will have you falling off your seat with laughter.

Monday, June 25, 2007

The Write Room & Open Mic, County Durham: Tuesday 26th June

The Write Room


Wellington Inn, Wolviston, County Durham
Tuesday 26th Jun 2007
7.45pm

"Featuring Paul Southerland, who is travelling up from Lincoln to perform alongside some of the best local poets on Teesside, who include Brian Morton and Alan Watkis from Redcar Writers, Dominic Windram and Bridget Watson from Hartlepool, Geoff Pattison from Stockton and a first-time appearance from Nicholas Hill.

Supported by Peter Nolan and Robert Lonsdale, who perform under the name of Voice Box, plus an open mic spot at the end of the evening."

Admission: £3

The Write Room
Wellington Inn
31-33 High Street
Wolviston
Billingham
County Durham
TS22 5JX

Open Mic in Stanley, County Durham: TONIGHT, Monday 25th June

Open Mic at the Lamplight Arts Centre, Stanley

Monday 25th June 2007
7.30pm

"These increasingly popular Monday night events are now being held monthly (with a break in the summer). Open to writers and poets in any style, and other performers who want to share their work with others in an informal friendly setting.

Singers and acoustic players are also welcome (original material preferred). You don’t need to be an experienced writer or performer to take part; people just starting out are positively welcomed. Friends and family who just want to watch and listen are also welcome.

Registration from 7pm. Entry £1.

For more information contact the Lamplight at the address below."
Lamplight Arts Centre
Front Street
Stanley
County Durham
DH9 0NA
Tel: 01207 218899

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.



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

Big Mouth Poetry Tent at the Ashton Court Festival: Weekend 14th - 15th July

Big Mouth Poetry Tent @ Ashton Court Festival
Saturday 14th and Sun 15th July

Featuring BIG poets and showcasing new local talent too. Plus top music acts! More next newsletter.

www.ashtoncourtfestival.com

John Hegley in Edinburgh: Wednesday June 27th

John Hegley in Edinburgh

Wednesday 27 June, 7.30pm

The wildly popular poet returns to the SPL. Catch a sneak preview of his Festival show, plus bonus poems written in response to some of those on the Scottish Poetry Library’s shelves.

Advance booking essential – please book at Scottish Poetry Library reception, reception@spl.org.uk, call 0131 557 2876

£6 (£4 concessions and SPL Friends).
Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, Edinburgh

Book now to be sure of your place!

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Freedom Showcase, Leicester: Thursday 19th July



Please click to enlarge

Ledbury Festival 2007: Friday 29th June

Ledbury Poetry Festival 2007

Opening events on Friday 29th June
See www.poetry-festival.com for venue map, booking information & more events

James Fenton on The New Faber Book of Love Poems
The Community Hall 5.30pm - 6.30pm £8
An evening of love poetry as James Fenton reads from and talks about The New Faber Book of Love Poems, which he edited. One of the great poets of our time, James Fenton is truly a renaissance man: political journalist, drama critic, book reviewer, war correspondent, foreign correspondent and columnist. Come and hear the classics and favourites, alongside blues lyrics, American folk poetry, Elizabethan lyrics and Broadway songs. A charismatic performer, James Fenton will entrance you with some of the most engaging and emotive lyric poems ever written.


Simon Armitage on Gawain
The Community Hall 7.15pm - 8.15pm £8
Six hundred years after the first edition of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a second northern poet, Simon Armitage, sets out on the same journey, telling the story of this dramatic and mysterious quest. Best-selling poet and novelist, Simon Armitage will also read from his T S Eliot shortlisted Tyrannosaurus Rex versus the Corduroy Kid, "his wittiest most alertly combative and impassioned collection to date".
If you are interested in this, how about trying this : Sir Gawain and the Green Knight as told by Bernard O'Donoghue on Sunday 1st July.
Sponsored by Simon and Margaret Payton

Murray Lachlan Young's Cautionary Tales for Adults
Market Theatre 8.30pm - 10.30pm £6 Bar available
Poet, satirist, raconteur Murray Lachlan Young rocketed to fame in 1997 after signing a million pound deal with EMI records. A decade later he is back, older and possibly wiser, wowing audiences with his improvisational prowess on Saturday Live for Radio 4. Murray Lachlan Young is a brilliantly unique performer who combines the predatory humour of the Victorian cautionary tale and the pointed whimsy of Noel Coward with a B-movie sensibility.
Sponsored by Orme Dykes & Yates

New Poetry in Cambridge at CB1: Tuesday 26th June

CB1 Poetry

Tuesday 26th June
Alan Murray and Andrea Porter
CB1 Cafe, Mill Road, 8pm
£4 / £3 concessions

A serendipity of plans going awry is the opportunity to invite the
intriguingly philosphical Alan Murray, and Andrea Porter, also
famously part of the performance group, Joy of Six, to share our last
session of the summer term on Tuesday June 26th.

Exiled Writers Ink at the Poetry Cafe, London: Monday 2nd July

Exiled Writers Ink - Bells of Speech

Monday 2nd July
7.30pm
Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street, Covent Garden, London
Nazand Begikhani , Moniza Ali, Richard McKan and Tara Jaff Kurdish harpist and singer.
CHAIR: Fathieh

Entrance £4/2

Birmingham Poetry Scene Hots Up for the Summer

Lizzie Smith from Birmingham poetry scene sends this message to West Midlanders:

"Wrote Under's got a mammoth week of gigs coming up - hope you can make it
to one or two:

THIS SUNDAY - and every last Sunday of the month, the Sunday Xpress at the
Market Tavern, Digbeth - all open mic, anything goes, free roast potatoes
and free entry. 2pm-6pm.

NEXT MONDAY 25th JUNE - as part of Moseley Festival, we're running another
open mic at the Patrick Kavanagh pub, Woodbridge Road in Moseley. 8pm
start, all welcome as ever.

SATURDAY / SUNDAY 30th June / 1st July - we'll have a stall at Moseley
Festival's Music in the Park event, with a performance space attached where
we'll be doing spoken word stuff and whatever else we feel like in between
bands. If there's enough time we'll be happy for anyone else who turns up
to have a go too.

Finally, our night at the Rainbow has moved yet again - from July onwards
we'll be doing our usual open mic anything goes stuff EVERY THIRD THURSDAY
of the month, 8pm onwards.

And just to give you a bit of warning - we're about to publish our first
book, featuring Wrote Under regulars Big Bren, Jimmy Fantastik and Paul
Rafferty - news of launch party to follow so start digging out your
gladrags!"

Friday, June 22, 2007

Ledbury Festival 2007 Reminder

This just in from the Poetry Society: Ledbury Poetry Festival 2007 (29 June-8 July) is running plenty of events, workshops and activities that you can get involved in. There are slams, open mikes, opportunities to learn about reading and writing poetry, performing poetry and much, much more. On Saturday 30 June the festival takes to the streets and there will surprises and treats for all the family. There are poets coming from all over the world, talks, theatre events, comic and deadly serious events, films and a pop concert. All inspired by the rich and wonderful world of poetry.

Don't miss the Poetry Society's event on Friday 6 July hosted by Poetry Review Editor, Fiona Sampson, welcoming leading writers who will feature in the Summer issue of this prestigious magazine: National Poetry Competition winner and former Ledbury Poetry Competition winner, Mike Barlow, Forward Prize winner, David Harsent, author of A Bird's Idea of Flight and Legion. Fiona Sampson's new book from Carcanet is Common Prayer.

The event will be held in the Burgage Hall, 12.45-1.45pm. Tickets £6, free for Poetry Society Members.

Box office 0845 4581743 www.poetry-festival.com

Ex-Men in Glasgow: Saturday 23rd June



Check out the Ex-Men at the Art School in Glasgow this Saturday 23rd June, doors opening at 7.30pm, entry fee £3.

Thursday, June 21, 2007

Irish Poets Celebrate the Summer Solstice: Hammersmith, Friday 22nd June

Irish Cultural Centre Poetry Night

The Hammersmith Irish Cultural Centre, Blacks Road, Hammersmith, London W6 9DT
Friday 22nd June
7.15pm

Poets and Bards gathering led by The Centre's resident poet, Niall McDevitt, to mark the Summer Solstice.

Entry £4.
www.lbhf.gov.uk/irishcentre
Tel +44 (0)20 85638232

SHORTFUSE 'Bards in Their Eyes': TONIGHT in Islington, Thursday 21st June


Shortfuse: Bards in Their Eyes

The Camden Head, Camden Walk, Islington, London, N1
8.30pm

Poets Heather Taylor, Guy Jackson, Martin White, John Citizen and Shortfuse host Nathan Penlington enter through the magical smokey doors only to return as a dead famous poet.

Thursday 21st June 2007.

Admission: £5 / £3 concessions.
www.20six.co.uk/shortfuse

New Opportunity for younger performers and poets in Northamptonshire

"Would you like to get together with other like minded poets or lyrists who have an interest in stand up poetry, who would like to perform, bring poetry to life and give it a new and dynamic existence beyond the page?
If you are interested in this great new opportunity to bring performance poetry to Northamptonshire please get in contact below."

Based within the Lumbertubs community.
Two groups: 13-17 and 18-26.


Opportunities to...
Network -- Make new friends -- Social Events -- Group feedback -- Performance nights

Contact: Janine Thomas
Email: rhyme_flow@msn.com

Hammer & Tongue Summer Cabaret: Tuesday 3rd July

Hammer & Tongue Summer Cabaret

@ The Vaults and Garden, Oxford (I think this may be a pub on Cornmarket Street? best google first if you don't know the address)
Tuesday 3rd of July 2007
6:30 - 10:30

"Top performance and top nosh in a venue that's posh with
The Bold 'n' Spiky Poetry Show
a sneak preview of Rob Gee and Steve Larkin's new show before it returns to Canada where it received critical acclaim last year: plus music from Spiderwoods, bewitching Oxford folk goths

+
Chantelle Pike
Playmusic Magazine Unsigned Acoustic Act Award Winner 2007
+ madness from The Mighty Zork
Wild poetic compositions and classical kazoo montages!
Hosted by Sophia Blackwell
First class literature - live

+
Organic and Fair Trade food
tickets £12/£10 conc. to reserve call 01865 200 550 or email events@hammerandtongue.co.uk food served from 6:30, show 8 - 10:30

Versing the Damage: Poets Against Climate Change

VERSING THE DAMAGE

Thursday 28th June
@ Cirocomedia, Portland Square, St Paul’s, Bristol.
7.30pm.
Entry £3/£2

"After a very successful first event in Oxford more artists have expressed a desire to be involved in a growing grass roots movement reacting to climate change.

Thus we go to Bristol for an event that will see a mixture of South West and Oxfordshire artists performing.

A whole host of poets and storytellers from Oxford and Bristol including David Johnson, Danny Chivers, John Hoggett, Jane Flood , Helen Moore and Steve Larkin."

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

North Beach Poetry Nights: Thursday 21st June

North Beach Poetry Nights

BK’s Winebar, Spanish Parade,
Thursday 21 June at 9pm

North Beach Poetry Nights presents
Poet Michael O'Loughlin, Galway City Writer in Residence
and Singer-songwriter, Folk-poet Johnny Duhan
plus an Open Mic, for all of YOU who wish to read your own poem.

Admission 5 Euro

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Slam at Leominster: Friday 15th June

Poetry Slam at Leominster Library

On Friday 15th June at 8pm Leominster Library will be having its first ever Poetry Slam- a fast-paced, fun-filled performance poetry competition.

Leading UK slampresarios Marcus Moore and Sara-Jane Arbury host proceedings as a dozen diverse versifiers vie for the slam champ accolade. Random judges mark the quality of the writing, quality of performance and warmth of applaudience. Three three-minute rounds narrow the field and heighten the tempo. More tense than Tennyson, keener than Keats, huger than Hughes and, yes, poetry in Motion!

It will be an exhilarating exciting evening and will even appeal to teenagers and adults who think poetry isn't for them. Tickets are only £3 and include wine and soft drinks. For more info call Anne-Marie Dossett 01432 260646 or email amdossett@herefordshire.gov.uk

See more at: www.libraries.herefordshire.gov.uk

Apples & Snakes performance poetry at the BAC: Friday 29th June

Lucy's Midsummer Mixer

On the 29th June, Apples & Snakes present Lucy’s Midsummer Mixer, in which Lucy English presents a lucky dip of observational and witty poets: Jenny Lindsay, Mr Gee and Steve Larkin. There’ll also be a special set from Lucy’s Creative Studies from Bath Spa University; once again, we’re feverishly seeking out the next generation of talent – so Jenny, Gee and Steve had better watch their backs. Come along for an evening of straight-to-the-point poetry.

When: Friday 29 June @ 9pm
Where: BAC, Lavender Hill, Battersea, SW11 5TN
Tickets: £4.75 / £3.50
Booking: 020 7223 2223 / www.bac.org.uk

The Evil Presleys debut in a London loft: Sunday 1st July

EVIL PRESLEYS - SPOKEN WORD - ZOUNDS

A short burst of unwarranted creative activity will see Steve taking to the stage in 3 guises in the near future. His current partners in musical crime, noisy, primal rockers. THE EVIL PRESLEYS play their debut gig at a psychedelic loft in the satellites of London.

Date: Sunday 1st July 2007

Venue details:
Club 85
74-75 Whinbush Rd
Hitchin SG5 1PZ
01462 432767

Doors: 8pm

With Mark Astronaut's Restricted Hours + support. Also see MySpace

Poejazzi in London: Tuesday July 3rd

POEJAZZI

Tuesday July 3rd
6.30pm doors open, start 8pm prompt
Volupte Bar, No 9 Norwich Street, off Furnival Street, EC4A 1EJ
(Close to Chancery Lane tube , after McDonalds)

£10 ticket reservations: please call 0207 8311622
or email lordgokal@hotmail.com, leaving name, mobile number and number of seats you'd like

Spoken word and music night with a killer line-up that will see queues of cool peeps right down the street... (TimeOut No.1 Critic's Choice, January 2007 AND Listed among 101 Things To Do In London 2007!)

Peter Wyton performs at Ledbury: Monday July 2nd

Peter Wyton at the LEDBURY POETRY FESTIVAL

‘A BRIEF & POETICAL HISTORY OF ENGLAND’
Monday July 2nd
8pm to 10pm
Ther Market Theatre, Ledbury
(Event 24)

"18 historically based poems composed by Peter Wyton will be presented, linked by sketches devised by John Burns, the Festival’s founder. In the hands of these two alone, the programme might be expected to descend into unseemly farce, but this fate has been deftly avoided by the inclusion of locally based Lucy Chalkley, a consummately skilled actress whose professionalism adds more than a touch of class to the proceedings. Notwithstanding her gallant efforts, amongst the delights on offer along the via from Roman occupation to the present day, the audience will encounter Boadicea’s estranged husband going on about her driving, King Ethelred will be revealed as more Unsteady than Unready, chastity belts will be plugged as the new must-have fashion accessory, Oliver Cromwell squares up to a Health & Safety inspector and Beatrix Potter is introduced to rap culture. There will be an Olde English Grammar lesson, a revealing kiss-and-tell episode involving Flora Macdonald & Bonnie Prince Charlie, Elizabeth Tudor appears on ‘Blind Date’ and Disraeli and Gladstone go head to head with Queen Vic as referee.

Not everybody and everything gets sent up. Hereward the Wake, Scott of the Antarctic, the bandmaster of the Titanic and the Old Contemptibles are all examples of persons who will be treated with due respect."

Tickets are available from the Festival Box Office, 0845 4581743

Slam Report from Welsh Heats of the Radio 4 Slam: plus July 'Slam' dates for your diary

Slam Report from the Academi newsletter (Wales):

On 17 May 2007 The Dylan Thomas Centre in Swansea played host to the Welsh heat of the Radio 4 National Poetry Slam competition. Tension mounted as each talented poet took to the microphone and with only 2 minutes 15 seconds to prove that they were Wales’ top slammer the pressure was on.

After much deliberation and disagreement judges Jasmine Donahaye, Ifor Thomas and Dave Woolley finally made the all important decision and voted poet Clare Potter winner of the Welsh heat of the Radio 4 Slam. Mab Jones came in second with Emily Hinshelwood in third place.

Clare and Mab will now go on to compete in the semi-finals against winners from eight other regional heats which took place around the UK. The first semi-final, (which our Welsh poets are competing in), will be broadcast on Thursday 30 August at 11.00 pm and the second will be Thursday 6 September at 11.00 pm. The final will be broadcast on Thursday 13 September also at 11.00pm.

If you would like to be part of the audience at the recording of either the semi-finals or final the details are as follows:

Semi-final 1: Sunday 1 July. At The Drill Hall, 16 Chenies St, London WC1E 7EX, 4.00pm
Tickets available through Drill hall box office 020 73075060 / box.office@drillhall.co.uk

Semi-final 2: Friday 13 July. At the Greenroom, 54 - 56 Whitworth St West, Manchester M1 5WW, 7.00pm.
Tickets available through Greenroom box office: 0161 6150500 / info@greenroomarts.org

Final: Saturday 8 September. At Arnolfini, Narrow Quay, Bristol BS2 4QU
Tickets will be available nearer the time through Arnolfini Box office 0117 9172300/01

*

Find out more about poetry in Wales and other Welsh writing events at the ACADEMI website. Events and articles available in both Welsh and English.

Lyrical Voices at the Birmingham Rep: June 19th - 23rd

Inner City Life: at the Birmingham Rep

19 to 23 June

Part of the BASS Music Festival. New lyrical theatre with an urban flavour. New sights and sound-bites in development made by the freshest theatre-makers and lyrical voices crossing grime and hip-hop beats to more poetic rhymes...

Most Inner City Life events are £3/2 and some are FREE



Tue 19 June
David J hosts Polarbear and Maxwell Golden

Wed 20 June
Charlie Dark hosts Decypher Collective and Maxwell Golden

Thu 21 June
Lecture Demo by Jorge Popmaster Fabel
plus
Jorge Popmaster Fabel hosts Martin Visceral, Yusra Warsama and Decypher Collective

Fri 22 June
Breakers Anonymous and Decypher Collective, plus Decypher Closing Party hosted by Blak Twang

Sat 23 June
BBoys 4 Life Conference

All events at Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Centenary Square, Broad Street, Birmingham. For more info call 0121 236 4455.

Monday, June 18, 2007

Ambit & Salt at the Bountiful Cow, Holborn: Tuesday June 19th

AMBIT AND SALT PUBLISHING AT THE BOUNTIFUL COW

Tuesday the 19th of June
7 for 7.30pm
Sue Hubbard, Valeria Melchioretto, Jay Merill and John Saul

The Ambit Writers season of readings at Roxy Beaujolais' The Bountiful Cow pub in Holborn continues with a special one-off joint event to celebrate writers that Ambit and Salt Publishing have in common.


Sue Hubbard and Valeria Melchioretto will read poetry, and Jay Merill and John Saul will read fiction, introduced by Ambit editor Dr Martin Bax and Salt director Jen Hamilton-Emery.

Sue Hubbard is a freelance art critic, novelist and poet. Twice winner of the London Writers competition she was the Poetry Society’s first Public Art Poet. Her first collection Everything Begins with the Skin was published in 1994 by Enitharmon and Ghost Station was published by Salt in 2004. A number of her poems appeared in Oxford Poets 2000 published by Carcanet, and she first appeared in Ambit 131, nearly 15 years ago. Depth of Field, her first novel, was published by Dewi Lewis in 2000. John Berger called it a “remarkable first novel.” She writes a regular column in The Independent.

Valeria Melchioretto is Italian and was born in the German part of Switzerland. She moved to the UK in the early 90s and holds a degree in Modern Drama and an MA in Fine Art. Valeria has appeared in prestigious periodicals including Ambit and has been widely anthologised. In 2005 she won the first New Writing Ventures. Her debut collection, The End of Limbo (Salt 2007) was sponsored by the Arts Council of England and will be published in October 2007.

Jay Merill was born in Warwickshire and now lives in London. She attended the University of London and works as a free lance editor. She has one daughter. Jay is published in a wide number of literary magazines and her short fiction is also gaining popularity in the USA. Jay has read her work at past Ambit events and her first collection of short stories, Astral Bodies, is published by Salt in June 2007.

John Saul was born in Liverpool. For most of the year he lives in Germany, where he works as a translator. He has also lived in France, Canada and Ecuador, where he began writing fiction. He is the author of two novels, Heron and Quin and Finistère. His short stories have appeared in Ambit over the years, and his collection of short stories, Call It Tender, is published by Salt in June 2007.

VENUE: The Bountiful Cow pub, 51 Eagle Street, London WC1R [Map]
NEAREST TUBE: Holborn
DOORS: 7pm for START 7.30pm
ENTRANCE: £5 or £4 concs.
FOOD AND DRINK: full bar upstairs & excellent food available (not just steak!)
Readers from the floor welcome to read a poem after the interval.

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Polarbear at the Birmingham Rep: Tuesday 19th June

"Steven 'Polarbear' Camden will be presenting his scratch work: 'If I Cover My Nose You Can't See Me' at The Birmingham Rep ( The door) studio next Tuesday 19th June at 7.45pm. Tickets are £3 - £2 concessions. London is already raving about it and this is work in progress. It's all good. To book tickets or read more just follow the link below."

Natasha Godfrey, Apples & Snakes Regional Coordinator in the West Midlands

www.birmingham-rep.co.uk

'Windrush Songs' from James Berry, a London Launch: Thursday 28th June

WINDRUSH SONGS

Celebrating the Bicentenary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act
Thursday June 28th
The Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street, London WC2H 9BX
£5/£3 concs

This events launches a major new collection by one of the UK’s best-respected poets. In Windrush Songs, James Berry remembers the first wave of Caribbean emigrants who sailed to Britain in 1940s. Berry explores the resonances between these voyages and the journeys of slave ships bringing ancestors from Africa to the New World, and in doing so gives voice to people of several generations.

Hosted by Nii Ayikwei Parkes and featuring guest-slots by Yemisi Blake and Saran Green and [verb]swish.

A partnership between Apples & Snakes, Spread the Word and the Poetry Society

Booking: 020 7735 3111 / www.spreadtheword.org.uk

Farrago Summer Solstice Slam!: Thursday 21st June

The Farrago Summer Solstice SLAM!

Thursday, 21st June at 7:30pm
RADA Foyer Bar, Malet St, WC1. Goodge St Tube.
Find it on multi-map

Open to ANY poet SLAM! any subject or style, performed or read. Every poet wins a prize!

Special features include: Fran Landesman, legendary jazz lyricist & poet, with Miles & band, Segun Akinlolu/Beautiful Nubia, Million record selling Nigerian musician and poet, Saran Green, International SLAM! Champion, Gina Pisapia, former Love SLAM! Champion & Niall Spooner-Harvey, Kalashnikov Poet & 2005 UK & London SLAM! Champion.

Emcee: John Paul O’Neill.
Tickets: £6/£5.
Information: 07905078376. farragopoetry@yahoo.co.uk. http://London.e-poets.net.
MySpace Farrago Poetry

Saturday, June 16, 2007

PUREandGOODandRIGHT in Leamington Spa this Sunday 17th June


Click to enlarge image

Jude Simpson is the Guest Poet at PUREandGOODandRIGHT this coming Sunday night, June 17th, at the Fox, Clarendon Avenue, Leamington Spa. The event is an open mic and you'll need to arrive by 7pm if you want to read your own work, or even earlier. It's about £3 entrance, and will be hosted this month by the witty Dani Carbery, in Sean Kelly's absence.

Poetry at the Wales Millennium Centre: Tuesday 19th June

Margaret Lloyd and Nigel Jenkins


Tuesday 19th June
7.30 pm
Glanfa, Wales Millennium Centre
America-based Welsh poet Margaret Lloyd will be reading alongside fellow Welsh poet Nigel Jenkins. Margaret will be reading from her latest collection of poetry A Moment in the Field: Voices from Arthurian Legend (Plinth Books) while Nigel will read from his latest haiku collection, O For a Gun, and from Hotel Gwales (Gomer, 2006).

Glanfa, Wales Millennium Centre
Free Entry to all Events

For more information on this event in Glanfa call 029 2047 2266 or email post@academi.org.

Open Mic for Stories, Music & Poems in Bath, Somerset: June 18th

Bath Storytelling Circle


Monday 18th June (3rd Mon. of the month)
Upstairs at The Raven, Queen St (off Milsom St/Quiet St)
7.30pm for 8pm start
Free.

Real ales, friendly staff, non-smoking and cosy. Stories, songs & poetry welcome of 10 min max (performed from memory, not read – support the oral tradition).
Arrive early for a slot or simply sit back with a drink, listen & enjoy!

Story Circle Info: 01225 334204

Bristol's 'Big Mouth' Poetry Tent at the Ashton Court Festival: 14th & 15th July

Big Mouth Poetry Tent @ Ashton Court Festival

Sat 14th and Sun 15th July

Featuring BIG poets and showcasing new local talent too from the Bristol area. Plus top music acts!

www.ashtoncourtfestival.com

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.
www.warwickwords.co.uk


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

Helen Meeke, Festival Organiser

Friday, June 15, 2007

Poetry & Jazz at the Spitz: Thursday 21st June

Jane Holland at the Poets' Cafe in Reading: TONIGHT, Friday June 15th!

Poets’ Café, Reading


South Street Arts Centre, South Street, Reading.
June 15th
8pm doors, 8.30pm poetry.
£6/£4

Open mic with a full set from special guest poet Jane Holland, reading from her latest collection Boudicca & Co (Salt Publishing). The evening is hosted by poet, compere and self-confessed English eccentric A.F. Harrold.

Be there and buy my book!

Anthony Joseph at the Spitz: Thursday 21st June


DAZZLING SPOKEN WORD AND 'WILD ISLAND JAZZ' FOR MIDSUMMER NIGHT AT THE SPITZ

Thursday 21st June @ The Spitz
109 Commercial Street, London E1 6BG
020 7392 9032 – www.spitz.co.uk - £8 – 7pm

Anthony Joseph & The Spasm Band
+ Shabaka Hutchings & SPLAY
+ DJ Zak Akhimien (Amplified)


‘Pure African spiritual Jazz brilliance!’ Fly.co.uk

‘The spoken word revelation of the year’ Vibrations Magazine

Fans of Mos Def, Fela Kuti, Gil Scott-Heron and Saul Williams listen up –
Anthony Joseph & The Spasm Band have landed. Mark Midsummer Night with
voodoo lore, intoxicating calypso and naked island funk. To celebrate the
launch of his new album Leggo de Lion (Kindred Spirits), acclaimed poet and
performer Anthony Joseph brings his five-piece band to London for a night of
‘Wild Island Jazz’. The Spasm Band create a sound infused with Trinidadian
Spiritual Baptist rhythms, deep, hypnotic basslines, jagged sax and heavy
hand percussion – this is music made to cause possession spasms…

In support: acclaimed young saxophonist/clarinetist Shabaka Hutchings and
his band Splay. Shabaka is a protégé of Soweto Kinch and Dune Records and
plays regularly with Tomorrow’s Warriors and Abram Wilson. Plus offbeat
jazz, funk and hip-hop from multitalented DJ Zak Akhimien.

Dubbed ‘the leader of the Black British avant-garde’, Anthony Joseph is
author of The African Origins of UFOs (Salt), whose fans include Kamau
Brathwaite and Linton Kwesi Johnson. His unique brand of ‘liquid textology’
fuses myth, metafiction and Afrofuturism. Joseph has appeared on BBC Radio
3, Radio 4 and toured extensively in the UK, US and Europe.

www.anthonyjoseph.co.uk
www.myspace.com/adjoseph

Press enquiries to Tom Chivers on info@pennedinthemargins.co.uk
or 07729 887 236

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Herbert Williams Wrestles in Mud: Cardiff, Thursday 14th June

Herbert Williams book launch: Wrestling in Mud

The Glanfa, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff
7.30pm
Thursday 14th June

Join Herbert Williams and Cinnamon Press, supported by Academi, for the Cardiff launch of Wrestling in Mud: New & Selected Poems.

Free entry. www.academic.org

Wrestling in Mud is Herbert's long overdue collection spanning five decades of excellent poetry writing. 'There's a sense of history here,' comments Ruth Bidgood, 'but also poems that do indeed sing a greeting to the future.' The new poems display a poet who, as Ifor Thomas says, is, 'at the peak of his powers, a wise, reflective, mature poet who at the same time delights in being as scurrilous and acerbic as a thwarted teenager.'

ED: I salute any poet who can call their New & Selected Poems 'Wrestling in Mud'. Can't wait to see the cover image ...

Into the Further Reaches: Thursday 14th June

Into the Further Reaches
Lauderdale House, Highgate Hill, Waterloo Park, London N6 5HG
8pm
Thursday June 14th

Readings on the spiritual journey by contemporary poets including Shanta Acharya, Anne Cluysenaar, Aiden Andrew Dun, Nora Leonard, Kevan Manwaring, Anne Brayton Meek, Jehane Mehta, Fiona Owen, Will Parfitt, Mario Petrucci, Angela Rawlinson, Jay Ramsay, Sally Thompson and Philip Wells among others. Thursday 14th June.

tickets £5 / £3 pounds concessions.

Tel. 020 8348 8716

www.lauderdalehouse.co.uk

Malika's Kitchen anthology Launch: London, Thursday 14th June

Malika's Kitchen anthology launch

Foyles Book Shop, The Gallery, 113-119 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H OEB
6.30pm
Thursday 14th June

Readings from contributors to the first anthology from urban poetry collective Malika's Kitchen. To attend launch contact poetry.kitchen@gmail.com

www.myspace.com/malikaskitchen
www.foyles.co.uk/foyles/events.asp

Poetry Launch in Swansea: Thursday 14th June

Nigel Jenkins launches his new collection: O for a Gun
The Dylan Thomas Centre, Somerset Place, Swansea SA1 1RR
7pm
Thursday 14th June

The launch of Swansea poet Nigel Jenkins' second collection of haiku, "O for a Gun."

Free entry and wine (how can anyone resist?!)

Tel. 01792 463980

Nagra & Wright in Durham: Friday 15th June

Daljit Nagra and Luke Wright

Alington House, Durham
Organiser: Colpitts Poetry
8pm
Friday 15th June

Daljit Nagra’s parents came to England from the Punjab in the 1950s and he grew up in West London and Sheffield. Look we have coming to Dover! won the Forward Prize for best individual poem in 2004, and his poetry collection of the same name is his much-awaited début volume from Faber. Taking in its sights Matthew Arnold’s ‘land of dreams’, it explores the ideals and realities of a multicultural Britain with wit, intelligence and no small sense of mischief, conjuring a jazzed hybrid language to tell stories of aspiration, assimilation, alienation and love.

Luke Wright is one of the UK’s top stand-up poets. He is the founder member of poetry collective Aisle16 and curator and host of the Stand Up Poetry Tent at The Latitude Festival. His début one-man show Luke Wright, Poet Laureate was a big hit at the 2006 Edinburgh Festival, and has toured to over 20 venues this year. He is currently working on the follow-up, Luke Wright, Poet & Man. His first book, co-written with Joel Stickley, is entitled Who Writes This Crap? and is forthcoming from Hamish Hamilton/Penguin in November 2007.

Admission: £3/£2

Alington House
4 North Bailey
Durham
DH1 3ET

Northern Lines in Newcastle: Thursday 14th June

Northern Lines at the Lit & Phil

6:30pm
Thursday 14th June
www.litandphil.org.uk

Become a Northern Liner and join us for an eclectic mix of poetry, prose, script, live music and an open mic spot. If you don't write, please come along, listen and help us to celebrate summer early.

Anthologies available for only £1, wine in the interval.

The Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne
23 Westgate Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 1SE
Tel: 0191 232 0192
Email: library@litandphil.org.uk

Perciphone Petticoat at Ó Bhéal, Cork: Monday 18th June

Perciphone at Ó Bhéal, with Open-Mic


Monday 18th of June
8.30pm

From the United Kingdom, Perciphone Petticoat, poetry performer, writer, singer songwriter, musician and producer, is a fresh and entertaining face in the world of performance poetry. She has been writing and singing since early childhood and collaborates with other musicians to make ambient and peace enhancing sounds. Perciphone uses enchanting lines, beguiling and pallatable; weaving their way in and out of the cold hard truths often being projected.

From surreality to social dysfuntion - sexuality to empathy, fairytales to self harm, Perciphone Petticoat often flirts on a rather risque edge. However, pertinent subjects delivered graphically, are often skillfully tempered according to musicality and backing sounds: allowing ideas that would otherwise be unpallatable - to be considered. For more visit: http://www.myspace.com/perciphone

Guest poets read from 8.30/9.00pm. Entrance is free. Readings will last between 30-60 minutes after which there will be the usual open-mic session. Be sure to come early to get good seats.

Paul Casey
Ó Bhéal MC
Tigh Filí Literature Officer

085 712 6299
visit: www.obheal.ie
blog; www.obheal.ie/blog
map: www.obheal.ie/map
Ireland Poetry Festival calendar: www.obheal.ie/Ireland Poetry Festival Calendar

Ó Bhéal is held at the Tigh Filí gallery in the Cork Arts Theatre, Carroll's Quay.

Free Soup & Poetry, London: Monday 18th June

Monday 18th June – Jorge at the George Tavern, 373 Commercial Road, London E1 0LA.
8pm.
Free entry.

AF HARROLD SAYS: "The only night in the world that offers your four bands, three poets and free soup. Also on the bill with me are included Annie Brechin, Jeremy Challender, Heroes Of Switzerland, I Am Error and Screamer On The Hill. Their flyer doesn’t say what flavour soup will be available."

MAC: call for artists

mac - Call for Artists: THE FANTASTICAL GARDEN OF EXTRAORDINARY DELIGHTS

"mac (the Midlands Arts Centre in Birmingham) will be undergoing major redevelopment in 2008/9 after which we will have a much improved building and a brand new gallery. Whilst the building is closed we plan to run a celebratory, offsite, outdoor programme within the same geographical area, focusing on the park where we reside. We would like to develop a number of site-responsive commissions and events based on the concept of the ‘Victorian Sideshow’ to take place in Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, between May and October 2008.

Expressions of interest are particularly sought from individuals working in installation, sound, light, automata, performance, craft, design and architecture.

Information packs will be sent out from 15th June 2007 to interested parties. If you would like to receive an information pack please write to Alex Boyd at mac.
alex.boyd@macarts.co.uk

mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham, B12 9QH.
The deadline for proposals is 10th August 2007

Don't Shush Me from Apples & Snakes: London's Bishopsgate, Tuesday 19th June

DON’T SHUSH ME!
Performance Poets in the Library

Libraries and poets go together. Cementing that bond, Bishopsgate Institute in conjunction with Apples & Snakes present a line-up of well-known names from the effervescent world of performance poetry. Don’t miss this chance to see some of London’s top talkers in the intimate setting of the East End’s finest historic library, just two minutes from Liverpool Street station.

Francesca Beard – the “queen of performance poetry” (Metro)
Ebele - East London Nigerian with bundles of stage-presence
Niall Spooner-Harvey - observational tragicomedian
Keith Jarrett - a hot new name on the poetry circuit
Compered by Baden Prince Jr (if anyone does any shushing, it’ll be him)

When: Tuesday 19 June 2007 @ 7.30 – 9pm
Bishopsgate Institute Library, 230 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 4QH
Tickets: £6 (£5 concs)
ADVANCE BOOKING RECOMMENDED: 020 7392 9220
Info: Apples & Snakes
www.bishopsgate.org.uk

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

London Literature Festival 2007

London Literature Festival 2007 – Poetry Events

All tickets can be booked online at the Southbank Centre website: www.southbankcentre.co.uk/literaturefestival or via the box office: 0871 663 2500.
Open 9am - 8pm daily


Friday 29 June
Roger McGough and Brian Patten: 40- love
7.30pm
Queen Elizabeth Hall, £9
Southbank Centre hosts the premiere of 40-Love, marking the 40th anniversary republication of The Mersey Sound anthology. One million copies later, two of the UK's best-loved poets regroup to read their 20 most requested poems.


Saturday 30 June
John Hegley, John Agard, Liz Lochhead & Matt Harvey
8.15pm
Purcell Room, Royal Festival Hall £8.50
The Mersey Sound turned poetry on its head, ushering in a new wave of poets who danced to a different tune. Tonight we celebrate this extraordinary legacy with rhythms, rhymes and music.


Sunday 1 July
Michael Rosen
2pm
Purcell Room, Adults £7, Children £4.50
The Children’s Laureate, Michael Rosen performs his one-man show of poems, songs, jokes and stories. Author of such fantastic titles as Centrally Heated Knickers, A Spider Bought a Bicycle and Something's Drastic, Michael Rosen gives a performance that will have you falling off your seat with laughter.


Tuesday 3 July
W H Auden
7.30pm
Queen Elizabeth Hall, £9
Marking the centenary of WH Auden' birth, tenor John Mark Ainsley, actor Kwame Kwei-Armah, pianist Roger Vignoles and poets Simon Armitage, James Fenton and Jo Shapcott celebrate his life and work in a special evening of oratorio, songs, poems, film and images.


Wednesday 4 July
Sean Borodale, Tobias Hill & Iain Sinclair
7pm
Level 5 Function Room, Royal Festival Hall £7


Celebrating the reopening of the Poetry Library, three poets pay tribute to London as muse. Sean Borodale's topographical poem 'Notes for an Atlas' 'rings with sadness, haphazardness and utterly modern beauty' (Robert MacFarlane). Tobias Hill's 'Nocturne in Chrome & Sunset Yellow' (Salt Publishing) is an acutely observed hymn to the city. Iain Sinclair, one of London's great writers, reads poems on the city from his recent collection 'The Firewall'. This event coincides with the Saison Poetry Library exhibition of books on the theme of London.



Thursday 5 July
London SLAM Champions
6.30pm
Front Room, Queen Elizabeth Hall Admission Free
In this showcase of the Rise Slam Champions, MC Joelle Taylor introduces you to some of the most innovative rhyming and rapping young stars of London's spoken-word scene.


Thursday 5 July
Linton Kwesi Johnson and Friends
7.30pm
Queen Elizabeth Hall, £9
For one night only renowned reggae poet Linton Kwesi Johnson has invited an all-star line-up of some of most musical and socially conscious poets from across the globe: Amina Baraka and Amiri Baraka (US), founders of the Black Arts Movement in Harlem; Jayne Cortez (US); Kendel Hippolyte (St Lucia) and Lesego Rampolokeng (South Africa).


Saturday 7 July
Plant a Poem with Malika Booker
11am
Level 5 Function Room, Royal Festival Hall
Suitable for children ages seven and over £4 Children, Accompanying adults free.
Plant a poem as part of the Sheds, Beds and Breads installation in Southbank Centre Square. Poet and performer Malika Booker reads her garden poems, and leads a poetry writing workshop before leading everyone out to plant flower seeds and mark them with their specially crafted poem.


Sunday 8 July
Nii Ayikwei Parkes
12.30pm
Level 5 Function Room, Royal Festival Hall £6 Adults, £4 Children
Part human, part spider, combining wisdom with cunning, Ananse the Spider Trickster is one of the most important figures in West African storytelling. These classic moral tales and proverbs are retold with flair and imagination by Nii Ayikwei Parkes.

Slam at Leominster: Friday 15th June

Poetry Slam at Leominster Library

On Friday 15th June at 8pm Leominster Library will be having it's first ever Poetry Slam- a fast-paced, fun-filled performance poetry competition.

Leading UK slampresarios Marcus Moore and Sara-Jane Arbury host proceedings as a dozen diverse versifiers vie for the slam champ accolade. Random judges mark the quality of the writing, quality of performance and warmth of applaudience. Three three-minute rounds narrow the field and heighten the tempo. More tense than Tennyson, keener than Keats, huger than Hughes and, yes, poetry in Motion!

It will be an exhilarating exciting evening and will even appeal to teenagers and adults who think poetry isn't for them. Tickets are only £3 and include wine and soft drinks. For more info call Anne-Marie Dossett 01432 260646 or email amdossett@herefordshire.gov.uk

See more at: http://www.libraries.herefordshire.gov.uk/"

Monday, June 11, 2007

PUREandGOODandRIGHT in Leamington Spa this Sunday June 17th



Click to enlarge image (so you can actually read the blinkin' thing).

Jude Simpson is the Guest Poet at PUREandGOODandRIGHT this coming Sunday night, June 17th, at the Fox, Clarendon Avenue, Leamington Spa in the Midlands. The event is an open mic and you'll need to arrive by 7pm if you want to read your own work, or even earlier. It's about £3 entrance, I think, and will be hosted this month by the witty Dani Carbery, in Sean Kelly's absence.

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Broadcast Special at the Poetry Café: Saturday 23rd June

Broadcast Special (not to be confused with a Blue Plate Special)

Saturday 23rd June
7.30pm - 9pm (note early start - readings begin at 7.30 sharp)
Poetry Café, 22 Betterton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2

A BroadCast Special event: poems about popular music with poets
reading their own and favourite poems about pop, rock, soul, reggae and jazz, featuring:

Julia Bird / Patrick Brandon / Judy Brown / Matthew Caley / Catherine Carter / Annie Freud / Roddy Lumsden / Amy Key / Imogen Robertson / Wayne Smith / Camellia Stafford / Ahren Warner / Tim Wells / Dean Wilson

Poetry at CB1 Cambridge: Tuesday 12th June

CB1 Cafe, Cambridge

32 Mill Road, Cambridge, CB1 2AD, 01223 576 306
Tuesday 12th June
8pm
£4 / £3 concessions

KATHRYN SIMMONDS was born in Hertfordshire in 1972 and now lives in
north London where she works as an editor. She won the 2006 Poetry
London competition, her pamphlet Snug came out recently from Smith
Doorstop, and her first collection will be published next year.

HUW JONES was born in Birmingham in 1973 to Welsh parents. He moved
first to Manchester, then to Cambridge in 1997. His poetry has been
published in Coffee House Poetry, Anon, and more recently in Poetry
Wales. A selection of his work appeared in Seren Selections, published
by Seren in 2006.

DEBBIE (KEARAN) WILLIAMS was born in Flintshire, North Wales in 1960.
She now lives in Cottenham, and works in Cambridge as a librarian. Under
the name Kearan Williams, her poems have appeared in Poetry Wales, The
Rialto and Critical Quarterly, and she has been a Bridport prizewinner.

Poetry Shack, London: Tuesday 12th June

Poetry Shack, London

The Old Crown, 33 New Oxford Street, London WC1
Tuesday June 12th 2007
7.30pm
£5

Poetry Shack celebrate their third birthday with a line up featuring Phil Jupitus, Disparate Housewives, Liz Hayward and Carol Moskoron.
Hosted by Brett Van Toen and Jack Shamash. Floor spots are especially welcome on the subjects of birthdays and anniversaries. Contact the organisers first:

brettvt@btinternet.com
www.thepoetryshack.com

Poetry in Newcastle at the Lit & Phil: Wednesday 13th June

Poetry at the Lit & Phil, Newcastle

Venue: The Literary and Philosophical Society of Newcastle upon Tyne, 23 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 1SE
Start 7pm
Wednesday 13th June 2007

A reading of poems by members of the seminar group run by the Poetry School and led by Sean O'Brien. Readers include Tara Bergin, Stevie Ronnie, Lindsay Balderson, Lizzie Whyman and Joyce Hodgson.

Admission free.

Tel: 0191 232 0192
Email: library@litandphil.org.uk
WWW.LITERATURENORTHEAST.CO.UK

Slounge at the Jam Factory, Oxford: Monday June 11th

Slounge at The Jam Factory

This Monday June 11th you will be presented with three diverse performances from the worlds of visual art, music, and spoken word. The spoken word element is provided by Hammer & Tongue and this event sees a performer whom I consider to be the most exciting new artist that this country has produced for many many years in the form of Byron Vincent. Byron is an extremely intelligent and hugely amusing wordsmith. See him now whilst you can still afford to!

There will be music from Colleen, who uses viola da gamba, clarinet, music boxes & chimes to create minimalist and melodic pieces.

Composer and film-maker Nicholas Brown presents "An Audience with the Trees", an installation that turns Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons' into birdsong, and "The Rainbow Book", a film about colour with live musical accompaniment

All this takes place in the relaxing atmosphere of The Jam Factory on Park End Street, Oxford, which opened up recently as a cafe/gallery/bar.

There is a 'meet the artist session' from 5pm and performances start at 7pm.
£4 door charge
Booking 01865 305305
ocmevents.org

Poets' Cafe in Reading: Friday June 15th & other dates

Poets’ Café

South Street Arts Centre, South Street, Reading.
8pm doors, 8.30pm poetry.
£6/£4

Monthly open mic in Reading with a full set from special guests, hosted by A.F. Harrold.

June 15th – Jane Holland (that's me, folks!)
July 20th – Aoife Mannix
August 17th – Open Mic special
September 21st – Neil Rollinson

Poetry & Spoken Word in Oxford: Summer 2007

Hammer and Tongue Oxford: Open poetry slam with guest performers on the first Tuesday of every month. July 3rd Oxford Hammer & Tongue Summer Cabaret with The Bold and Spiky Poetry Show, Magic Cafe, Magdalen Road

*

The Catweazle Club: Oxford’s weekly performance space for music, poetry, story, song and All Manner of Acoustic Artistry, since 1994.
Tuesdays, 8pm, Risinghhurst Community Centre, Kiln Lane, FREE
Thursdays, 8pm, East Oxford Social Club, Princes Street
£5/£4 Performers FREE (sign up before 8.30)
http://www.catweazleclub.org
Please note: there will be no Catweazle Club in August.

*

Hear the Word: Bi-monthly evening of poetry and storytelling with musical interludes, organised by Ruth Williams. At the Gardeners Arms, Plantation Road, Oxford. 21st May 8pm onwards, music by Zoe Bicat.

*

Back Room Poets: Monthly open mic poetry evening held on the third Monday of each month 8pm onwards. Far From the Madding Crowd, Friars Entry, Oxford.

*

Sparky's Flying Circus
Every Thursday evening at Joe Ryan's Half Moon
Poetry and Music from 9pm onwards at this fine pub
St Clements, Oxford

*

Anything Goes at Mangos: Every other Tuesday Evening at Mangos
Poetry and Music from 9pm onwards
Mangos Cowley Road, Oxford

*

Do remember that with regular live poetry events, it's important to contact orgnaisers beforehand if making a special trip, especially over the summer months or public holidays when events may be taking a break. Most of these events will have websites that can be tracked down via Google if no contact details are given here.

Saturday, June 09, 2007

Big Word Summer Slam: Thursday 21st June in Edinburgh

THE BIG WORD SUMMER SLAM

Thursday 21st June
@ THE JAZZ BAR, CHAMBERS ST, EDINBURGH.
DOORS 7.30, SLAM 8 - 11PM.
£5/4 concs.

Hosted by Jenny Lindsay, with special guests WILLIAM DOUGLAS & MILTON BALGONI

25 poets battle it out through heats, semi's and the final to be crowned The Big Word Slam Champ! Highly competitive, wildly diverse, the Big Word slams "are such an intense experience they should feature on everyone's 'things to do before I die' list," (The Scotsman.)

The Scottish slam poetry scene is one of the healthiest in Britain. The Big Word is largely responsible for this, and continues to promote the best performance poets and spoken word artists both here and on the national stage. The Big Word slam team took back all the honours at the Three Nations Slam in September 2006, and The Big Word organiser and host Jenny Lindsay recently won the Scottish heats for the BBC Radio 4 slam and will take part in the semi-finals in London on the 1st of July.

Come to the Jazz Bar and see both veteran slammers and the new generation! To sign up, or for more info contact jennylindsay@gmail.com Rules can be found at www.myspace.com/jennylindsay

An Afternoon of Poetry & Music in Maida Vale: Sunday June 10th

Poetry & Music at the Amadeus Centre

This poetry reading is in conjunction with a music event called 60x60, and the whole thing kicks off at 3pm. It'll be an hour of poetry and an hour of music.

The readers are:
Barbara Marsh
Liane Strauss
Anne Cammon
and Katy Evans-Bush*

The details:
Place: The Amadeus Centre, 50 Shirland Rd, London W9
Time: Sunday June 10, 3pm
Admission: free (probably)

* Check out Katy Evans-Bush online at Baroque in Hackney www.baroqueinhackney.blogspot.com

Thursday, June 07, 2007

Poetry in Cork: Monday 11th June

The Revival ‘Trio’ Series at Ó Bhéal

Monday 11th June
8.30pm

Paul Casey is the Ó Bhéal MC
Tigh Filí Literature Officer

085 712 6299
www.obheal.ie
BLOG: www.obheal.ie/blog
map: www.obheal.ie/map

Ó Bhéal is held at the Tigh Filí gallery in the Cork Arts Theatre, Carroll's Quay, Cork, Ireland. Poets Noel Harrington, Edward O Dwyer and Gerard Sheehy will read from their new collection.

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Shortfuse: Edinbugh Fringe work-in-progress shows

Over the next few weeks at SHORTFUSE - London's only weekly fusion of
stand-up poetry, performance comedy, and spokenword - we bring you a fine
crop of Edinburgh Fringe Festival work-in-progress shows, featuring some
of the top names in comedy and performance as they gear up for the biggest
arts festival in the world. This is your chance to catch some fantastic
performances in an intimate setting...

Thursday 7th June
Scott Capurro
A feature length set and Edinburgh Fringe warm up show from the infamous
stand-up ...
"He's evil and should be forced to leave the country." The Daily Mirror

Ali Cook
Star of Channel 5's 'Monkey Magic', Channel 4's 'Dirty Tricks', and Sky
One's 'The secret world of magic'.
"Fast gaining a reputation as Britain's coolest illusionist" - Daily Express.

Angela Cleland
Subtle and honest performance poetry from one of London's up and coming
performers.

Thursday 14th June
A feature length set from star of 'Fist of Fun' and 'This morning with
Richard not Judy' Richard Herring. Expect stand-up and bit from his
forthcoming Edinburgh Fringe show.
Plus poetry from Canadian Poet Randy Jacobs, and Newcastle's own queen of
stand-up poetry Kate Fox.

Thursday 21st June
Oh, yes, the second Bards in Their Eyes event. After the success of last
year's event once again poets will enter through the magical smoky doors
only to return as...a dead famous poet. Come and join the excitement as
Heather Taylor, Guy Jackson, Martin White, John Citizen and your host
Nathan Penlington get transformed in front of your very eyes...

Thursday 28th June
A feature length Edinburgh Preview from comedian and poet Liz Bentley.
Plus the sonic chaos of Andrew Bailey, and the brilliant singer song
writer Gavin Osborn.

Thursday 5th July
A feature length performance from the forthcoming Edinburgh Fringe show by
acclaimed stand-up Tony Law. Plus the people's favorite poet and
children's author Rachel Pantechnikon, and Poetry Idol 10 winner Alison
Brumfitt.

Thursday 12th July
A feature length show from Amused Moose Comedy Hot Starlets - as we lend
our stage to welcome the latest generation of stand-ups.

Thursday 19th July
OUR LAST SHOW OF THE SEASON
Nathan Penlington hosts a feature length performance from the forthcoming
Edinburgh Fringe show by the other star of 'Fist of Fun' and 'This morning
with Richard not Judy' Stewart Lee. Plus American poet Jamie Kilstein, and
the fantastic troubadour poet and comedian A.F. Harrold.

After tonight SHORTFUSE returns
on 13th September 2007.

With Resident Host:
NATHAN PENLINGTON-
'A natural performer, witty, inventive, stylish and original' - Rob Newman
'The best qualified performance poet in the country' - BBC Radio 3, The Verb

Every Thursday @ The Camden Head, Camden Walk, Islington, London, N1
Tube: Angel.

Doors: 8.30pm. Admission: £5 waged / £3 concessions.
www.myspace.com/shortfuselondon

Poetry in Galway: Friday June 15th

Los Angeles Poet Joins Galway Writers at Sheridan's Wine Bar

Over The Edge presents a reading by John Menaghan, Mary Madec, Gary King & Mags Treanor at Sheridan’s Wine Bar, 14-16 Church Yard Street, Galway on Friday, June 15th, 8pm.

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

John Hegley in Edinburgh: Wednesday June 27th

John Hegley at the Scottish Poetry Library

Wednesday 27 June, 7.30pm
The wildly popular poet returns to the SPL. Catch a sneak preview of his Festival show, plus bonus poems written in response to some of those on the Scottish Poetry Library’s shelves.

Advance booking essential – please book at Scottish Poetry Library reception, reception@spl.org.uk, call 0131 557 2876
£6 (£4 concessions and SPL Friends)

Scottish Poetry Library, 5 Crichton’s Close, Canongate, Edinburgh

Book now to be sure of your place!

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Poetry Festival in Leeds: Wednesday June 6th

Barefoot in the Park: POETRY FESTIVAL

on Wednesday June 6th 2007 at 2.00pm
in Leeds
at Hyde Park (Woodhouse Moor)
Entry: £5 (£4 with NUS card)

11.45am - Doors open
12.30pm - tbc
1.00pm - tbc
1.45pm - 1st Open Mic Session
2.30pm - Poetry Recording of Langston Hughes
3.00pm - Story teller Matthew Bellwood enchants us with modern tales
3.40pm - Video recording of Benjamin Zephaniah
4.15pm - James Place acoustic set
4.40pm - tbc
5.20pm - David Ward Maclean acoustic set
6pm - open Slam battle
7.30pm - Local poet Fiona Durance performs
8.10pm - Leeds student Chris Kreinczes lulls us with an acoustic set
8.40pm - Manchester poet Tony Walsh performs http://www.applesandsnakes.org/artists.php?contact_ref=37408
9.20pm - 2nd Open Mic session
10pm - Acoustic band + drumming tbc
11pm - End of festival.

Add on to all of this:
some cooling and scrumptious refreshments
cushions and rugs and throws and all manner of comfy seating... (as well as chairs for the less rough and ready!)- all interspersed with DJ sets...

PLEASE contact Vicky Ellis (evickyellis @ hotmail.co.uk) if you want to get involved, musically, poetically, or both, PARTICULARLY IN THE SLAM BATTLE, or want more information!

Monday, June 04, 2007

Julie Boden & an Evening of Poetry and 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

Leith Festival: A Plethora of Details from Craig Duffy

Leith Festival is now well underway and we're right in the thick of it at the Queen Charlotte Rooms. If you haven't already picked up a programme for all the Festival info, we've have some, and you can book tickets and pick up a programme at the Vegas Trailer on the Shore or at the Festival office on Duke Street.

Here's a taster of things on at the Charlotte Rooms and some associated events;
• Monday 4th of June: Drop - The Festival Beat Cafe. Come and celebrate this unique event with the very best that the country has to offer in Poetry, Music and Spoken Word. 8pm £4/£3conc.
• Monday 4th to Wednesday 6th of June: 'Best of the Fest' Gallery. Come see a collection of the exhibitions taking place all over Leith in one Place! Open From 12pm all days. Best of the Fest ticket £5 which allows entry ALL Three days and gives concession price ticket on all the other events shown with a concession price.
• Tuesday 5th of June: 'Best of the Fest' Singers and Songwriters. The pick of Leith and Edinburgh Singers and Songwriters. A fantastic evening of music from the very best artists performing throughout Leith Festival. With Poetry from the extremely talented and wonderful Robin Cairns. 8pm. Best of the Fest ticket £5 which allows entry ALL Three days and gives concession price ticket on all the other events shown with a concession price.
• Wednesday 6th of June: 'Best of the Fest' Bands. The Cream of the Crop of the bands performing all over Leith and Edinburgh, a very special event with the wonderful Greame Mearns Band (Head-lining), if you haven't heard these guys, then get out of the cave and come join us! Plus special guests. 8pm. Best of the Fest ticket £5 which allows entry ALL Three days and gives concession price ticket on all the other events shown with a concession price.
• Thursday 7th of June: Nueue Liebe Cabaret - "It's the new Love!" The tremendous cabaret club returns for it's second outing at the Queen Charlotte Rooms. With a classy and politically sophisticated concoction of Poets, Singers, Clowns, Burlesque Dancers, Musicians and MORE! The evening is guaranteed to intrigue, titillate and unhinge rusty cabinets in the mind and Pandora's boxes of the heart. £6/£5conc. 8pm.
• Thursday 7th of June: AMMENDMENT TO FESTIVAL PROGRAMME: RAB HOWITT AND THE SUNSHINE BAND, CHANGE OF DATE AND VENUE: NOW THURSDAY 7TH OF JUNE @ LEITH DOCKERS CLUB (Venue 15, Academy Street, Leith). The Edinburgh Legend Lives on with this special Leith Festival Gig, Rab and The Sunshine band are here to rock your socks off! A favourite of many Edinburgh fans, here to bring Sunshine to Leith. 8pm. £8.
• Friday 8th of June: The Magical Mystery Tour. Be amazed, amused and bewildered on this fantastic Mystery tour raising funds for the Childrens' Hospice Association Scotland and Leith Festival. Meeting at the Port 'O' Leith Bar, Constitution Street (Venue 47) at 7pm. Taking in a Leith Festival Event, Then being whisked to the middle of nowhere for a musical interlude from the wonderful Sabai, drink (provided in ticket) and party-game, then back on the bus to the mystery venue where you'll be wowed by the fantastically talented Ex-Men in their inimitable Electronica/Spoken-Word Styling, DJ Paris entertains all, Raffle and a buffet to fill your boots! Back to Leith for 12:30 and a very special after-party! Ticket price £10.

Tickets available at the Queen Charlotte Rooms and reservations can be made by telephone: Craig Duffy : 07916 184 792.

Wishing you all a wonderful Leith Festival 2007, and don't forget... Leith Festival Pageant and Gala Day celebrates it's 100th Anniversary, Saturday 9th of June. Leith Links from 11am, with the Parade 'Walking the Walk' from Pilrig Street to the Links at 12:30pm. Come and join the fun!

Saturday, June 02, 2007

New Poetry at the Troubadour: this Monday, June 4th

New Collections at the Troubadour

Monday 4th June 2007
Readings 8-10pm
£6 / £5 concs

Brand-new poetry collections from well-known poets Chris Emery, Maggie Butt, Elizabeth Cook, Daljit Nagra, Jane Routh, and Maurice Riordan.

The Troubadour
263-7 Old Brompton Road
London
SW5 9JA

Tel. 020 7370 1434
Fax. 020 7341 6329

Poets' Cafe in Reading

Poets’ Café


South Street Arts Centre, South Street, Reading.
8pm doors, 8.30pm poetry.
£6/£4

Open mic with a full set from special guests, hosted by A.F. Harrold.

June 15th – Jane Holland.
July 20th – Aoife Mannix.
August 17th – Open Mic special.
September 21st – Neil Rollinson.

Poetry in Leicester this Summer

SLAM SEASON PREVIEW

Leicester Libraries live literature programme continues through summer with SLAM, a season of spoken word events. Heading the programme is the Freedom Showcase, marking the abolition of slavery in the words of nine of the regions most talented spoken word artists. Top quality storytelling features in Twisting Field, stopping in Leicester as part of its national tour. The Brighterside presents Leicester’s first ever Slam competition to find the city’s best poet and Mehfil-E-Shayeri celebrates its first year with multilingual poetry and singing. Plus WORD presents Giovanni ‘ Spoz’ Esposito, the Birmimingham poet laureate. For a full listing of the SLAM season see: www.leicesterliterature.wordpress.com


WORD WANTS FRIENDS!

WORD, Leicester’s premiere spoken word open mic. and showcase has gone rocketing into the twenty first century with its very own MySpace page. This is the first of many developments with WORD that will be taking place over the next six months. To keep up to date with the latest WORD news then become a friend of WORD by requesting to be linked to the new MySpace page. You will then receive updates on future events, guest artists and opportunities.
www.myspace.com/wordleicester

Poejazzi in London: Tuesday June 5th

POEJAZZI

Tuesday June 5th
6.30pm doors open, start 8pm prompt
Volupte Bar, No 9 Norwich Street, off Furnival Street, EC4A 1EJ
(Close to Chancery Lane tube , after McDonalds)

£10 ticket reservations: please call 0207 8311622
or email lordgokal@hotmail.com leaving name, mobile number and number of seats you'd like

PoeJazzi will be having it's finest night ever on Tues, 5 June. An untouchable line up of Spoken Word and Acoustics: Haley Glennie-Smith, Ventriloquist, Yamit Mamo and Kate Tempest. Check out myspace to listen to the acts.

There will also be a drinks bar and smoking area upstairs; so come on down, alone or with friends. Relax yourself, and enjoy.

Very limited spaces available so please book early!

Makar Press Poetry Picnic: Sunday 3rd June

Makar Press Poetry Picnic

Sunday 3 June, 12pm – 2pm
Building on the success of their Poetry Picnic at Culzean, the Makar Press poets (Rowena M Love, Jim Hughes, Sheila Templeton and Michael Malone) are now bringing the format to Arran. They provide the poetry and you bring along your own picnic, tartan rug etc. There is to be a marquee laid on should a wet weather alternative prove necessary. For more information about the Makars, their books and other events see their website: www.makarpress.co.uk.

Free (but subject to usual NTS entry charges)
Brodick
Brodick Castle Gardens, Isle of Arran KA27 8HY

Friday, June 01, 2007

Drop Festival Fundraiser, Edinburgh: 3rd - 4th June

Drop Presents the Best of the Fest, Edinburgh

The Queen Charlotte Rooms, Leith

Sunday 3 June, 4pm-10pm
Monday 4 June, 7pm-midnight

"Over two days and over all 3 floors of the Queen Charlotte Rooms there will be all the very best poets, writers, plays, an exclusive art gallery and every single tremendous musician that Drop and Leith Festival have to offer.

So why not come along and bring all your friends? This is to be a fundraising event for Leith Festival and two very important children's organisations, so not only do you get two great days, you can rest in the knowledge that your entire ticket price is going to a good cause."

£3.50 concs/£5 for a one day ticket
£7 concs/£10 for a two day ticket

Over the Edge Poetry Reading in Galway: Friday June 15th

Poetry Reading at Sheridan’s Wine Bar, Galway
(opposite St. Nicholas’s Church)
FRIDAY, JUNE 15th, 8pm

with Los Angeles poet, John Menaghan,
& Galway writers, Mary Madec, Gary King & Mags Treanor