Thursday, July 30, 2009

LONDON: Hammer and Tongue

Friday, 7th August, 2009, 9pm-6am, advance £10, on the door £12, Guest List £6
Braindrop
Hidden
101 Tinworth St
SE11 5EQ
Nearest Tube: Vauxhall

Hammer and Tongue Open Poetry Slam @ Braindrop, featuring MC Angel

Hammer & Tongue's London arm is bringing the UK's top open slam event to London's very best drum'n'bass night, Braindrop, for the very first time.

We will be turning Hidden’s garden area into a literary battleground before the main arena kicks off and we are looking for eight poets to go head to head with each other in a battle of words and wit. Crowd reaction as ever will influences the final say of the five sets of judges, who again will be picked from our very discerning audience. We also have a headline feature set from the very excellent MC Angel, Hammer and Tongue's 2009 London slam champion who recently battled Keith Allen offstage at Latitude festival.

One slammer will win a slow at Hammer and Tongue's monthly London night, held on the first Monday of the month at Camden's Green Note Cafe at 106 Parkway.

If you are interested in slamming on the night, drop Michelle an email at madsen.michelle@gmail.com. Slammers get in for free and there's a clutch of half price guest list spots for friends of Hammer and Tongue - please contact Michelle again

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

BIRMINGHAM: 'Rhymes' @ The Custard Factory

Thursday, 30th July, 2009, 8pm, £5
The Custard Factory Theatre,
Gibb Street
Birmingham
B9 4AA

Jimmy Fantastik is alright. Last stop was Hull where the organisers of the Love Poetry Hate Racism gig said he was right and shook him by the hand. He's also been published by the great Wrote Under Publishing Co-Operative and is now in the National Academy of Writing.

Spoken word artist Adrian “Poetic” Mckenzie burst on to the scene with an exciting blend of poignant rhymes and smooth wordplay. His lyrical dexterity has captivated UK and overseas audiences, always one to watch.

George Too Quick aka 'PoshBoy' - has spent the last few years honing his poetic craft. He will be performing pieces from his new one-man show. How could tulips, bees and rap music inspire a person to give up their job and rely on poetry to provide a living? Join George for an evening of wit, wisdom and sharing guaranteed to have you leave with a smile on your face and maybe one or two new perspectives to play with.

MC Lorna Meehan
Plus, the Wordbag Challenge, live music and The Rhymes Raffle.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

LONDON: Ride The Word XII

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009, 7pm-9.15pm, FREE
The Cafe Yumchaa,
45 Berwick Street,
Soho,
London
W1

Reading are poets Luke Kennard, Cherry Smyth, Derek Adams, Aletta Lawson (for Catherine Eisner), Jay Merill, Mark Norfolk and Vincent De Souza

plus

guests Tears in the Fence, with editor David Caddy, Tom Chivers and Dzifa Benson

plus

limited open mic slots

Hosted by Jay Merill and Vincent De Souza

Monday, July 27, 2009

GALWAY: Mary Hanlon and Deirdre Kearney book launches

Thursday, August 6th, 2009, 6.30pm
Charlie Byrne's Bookshop,
Galway

Over The Edge presents the launch of two debut collections of poetry, Dear Beloved by Mary Hanlon, and Spiddal Pier by Deirdre Kearney, both published by the Belfast-based Lapwing Press.

The evening will also see the Galway launch of Chora: New & Selected Poems by visiting poet Nigel McLoughlin, which has just been published by Templar Poetry, and Transmorphosis & Other Short Stories by Boris Belony (aka Stephen Hughes), which was recently published by Stitchy Press. And there will be a short reading by David Starkey, the Poet Laureate of Santa Barbara, California, who is visiting Galway.

Everyone is welcome to attend. For further details, call 087-6431748.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

GLASGOW: Last Monday at Rio

Monday, July 27th, 2009, 8pm-10-ish, FREE
The Rio Cafe
27 Hyndland Street,
Glasgow
G11

Friends, it's the end of the month. Flashing the cash is for many of us but a distant memory, so please form yourselves into an orderly rammy and make your way to that haven of cheap dinners which is the Rio Cafe.

Top acts this month are Tim Turnbull, a poet who chooses from various of his lives for subject matter. Rural woodsman, Big Smoke lurker, Post-Punk decibel menace, Writer-in-Residence at Saughton prison, Tim may well have other incarnations I don't know about to draw on. Don't miss.

And there's Andy Fleming, fresh from the Wickerman festival. Not sure what Andy's going to perform for us. Maybe dense gonzo free-beat associative loopings? Maybe he'll just play the Hallelujah chorus ... on the banjo!

Robin Cairns is your compere. One or two five-minute open mic spots are still to be claimed. Please claim them!

Friday, July 24, 2009

LONDON: wordPLAY

Tuesday, August 4th, 2009, 7pm-11.30pm, £4.50/£3.50 concessions
The Good Ship,
289 Kilburn High Rd,
London
NW6 7JR

Email: wordplaylondon@hotmail.co.uk

Kilburn's favourite spoken word night returns after a great July launch with a literary line-up beyond compere (see what we did there...):

Featured writers are:

Dockers MC aka Laura Dockrill is everywhere you look. From The Guardian to Company magazine, from Latitude to the Edinburgh Fringe, this girl's hot property and it isn't hard to see why, with her perfectly-pitched delivery and genius observational patter making her a must-see spoken word artiste. Author of Mistakes in the Background and Ugly Shy Girl, both published by Harper Collins.

Welsh-born Nathan Penlington has gained a reputation as an original and inventive performer across the UK by skilfully shattering the myths that surround poets and poetry. Seamlessly fusing comedy, storytelling, and award winning magic with writing that is intelligent, accessible and entertaining he creates a unique form of literary cabaret.

Guest stars:

Ash Sarkar may be young, but she sure ain't short of a cutting put-down in her own lyrically-accomplished poetical stylee...a new voice at Latitude Festival 2009, Ash isn't just 'one to watch', she's one that's compellingly impossible to miss!

Chrissy Williams treads a blurry line betwen onomatopaeia and picturesque tableau. Her poetry is refreshingly varied and often draws unexpected parallels.

A former bookseller and editor, Stuart Evers is now a writer and reviewer. He lives in London.

Tom Sears' prose often verges on the fantastical whilst maintaining a very grounded sense of irony. He works at the zoo.

LEAMINGTON SPA: PUREandGOODandRIGHT

Sunday, July 26th, 2009, 7.30pm prompt start, £3/£2
The Newbold Comyn Arms,
Newbold Terrace East
Leamington Spa
Warwickshire
CV32 4EU

PUREandGOODandRIGHT is an open mic poetry event, with great guest performance poets! Every event is an opportunity for YOU to come along and perform your poetry!! Please arrive in time to book a slot.

Our special guest this month is our very own, extremely talented and amazing George Hardwick. What do onions, woodlice and community empowerment have to do with poetry? How could tulips, bees and rap music inspire a person to give up their job and rely on poetry to provide a living? Since realising his passion for poetry and actually having some talent to back it up, George Hardwick - aka PoshBoy - has spent the last few years honing his poetic craft. This one man show is the culmination of his journey to date. It draws humour from the rants of his early angry phase, builds on the inspiration found in being a youthworker in the Midlands, and brings to public awareness for the first time the nation's original Hip Hop Woodlouse. Join George for an evening of wit, wisdom and sharing guaranteed to have you leave with a smile on your face and maybe one or two new perspectives to play with.

If you're planning to come along, or would like to know more about the night, please email pgrpoetryandpints@talktalk.net

Thursday, July 23, 2009

GLASGOW: Last Monday at Rio

Monday, July 27th, 2009, 8pm-10-ish, FREE
The Rio Cafe
27 Hyndland Street,
Glasgow
G11

Friends, it's the end of the month. Flashing the cash is for many of us but a distant memory, so please form yourselves into an orderly rammy and make your way to that haven of cheap dinners which is the Rio Cafe.

Top acts this month are Tim Turnbull, a poet who chooses from various of his lives for subject matter. Rural woodsman, Big Smoke lurker, Post-Punk decibel menace, Writer-in-Residence at Saughton prison, Tim may well have other incarnations I don't know about to draw on. Don't miss.

And there's Andy Fleming, fresh from the Wickerman festival. Not sure what Andy's going to perform for us. Maybe dense gonzo free-beat associative loopings? Maybe he'll just play the Hallelujah chorus ... on the banjo!

Robin Cairns is your compere. One or two five-minute open mic spots are still to be claimed. Please claim them!

LONDON: 14 Hour presents Donut Press

Thursday, 23rd July, 2009, 7pm-10pm, FREE
The Whitechapel Gallery,
77-82 Whitechapel High Street,
London
E1 7QX

Nearest tube: Aldgate East

Featuring:

JOHN HEGLEY: Born in Newington Green, London, in 1953. His father was born in Paris. His mother was born in Ramsgate. His dog was born in Wales. She ran away in 1985.

TIM WELLS: Forward Prize nominee and long-time editor of Rising, he, like any other right-thinking person, has misgivings about Peaches Geldof.

WAYNE SMITH: Co-editor of underground magazine Lick Clean the Food Bowl, and one of the hosts of the regular poetry event New Blood, Wayne Smith's work has been published in The Wolf, Rising and nth position.

ANNIE FREUD: Great-grand-daughter of Sigmund, daughter of Lucien, Annie's first full-length collection, The Best Man Who Ever Was, was a Poetry Book Society Recommendation in 2007.

Donut Press editor-in-chief ANDY CHING will also be speaking and answering questions.

JOHN CITIZEN is guest compere. Plus 14 Hour DJs.

LONDON: On A Trip To Cirrus Minor - New poems inspired by the music of Pink Floyd

Thursday, 23rd July, 2009, 7pm, £3
The Duchess,
Battersea Park Road,
London
SW8 4DS

Featuring Simon Barraclough, Julia Bird, Jude Cowan, Claire Crowther, Isobel Dixon, Katy Evans Bush, Dean Farrow, Luke Heeley, Patrick Brandon, Amy Key, Roddy Lumsden, Lorraine Marriner, Chris McCabe, Jon Morrison, Helen Mort, Dave Palmer, Heather Phillipson, and George Ttoouli.

LONDON: Camden Poetry Series

Friday, 24th July, 2009, 7pm (doors open 6.30pm), £4/£3, wine
Trinity United Reform Church,
1 Buck Street,
Camden Town,
London
(2 minutes from Camden Town tube)

Ruth O'Callaghan presents Chimera and Ninth Arrondissement poets Derek Adams, Ken Champion, Olivia McCannon and Philip Wilson.

Poets from the floor very welcome. Cinnamon Press is our new sponsor. Please bring a copy of the poem if you wish to be considered for the new anthology.

Proceeds to the Cold Weather Shelter for the Homeless

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

BIRMINGHAM: Poetry Bites, with Luke Kennard

Tuesday, 21st July, 2009, 7.30pm, (food available from 6.30pm), £5/£4
Kitchen Garden Café,
17 York Road,
Kings Heath,
Birmingham
B14 7SA

To reserve a place email jacquirowe@hotmail.co.uk or pay at the door

Jacqui Rowe presents Poetry Bites, with Luke Kennard

Luke Kennard lectures at the University of Birmingham. His second poetry collection, The Harbour Beyond the Movie, was shortlisted for the Forward Prize in 2007, making him the youngest writer ever to be nominated. His fiction and criticism has been published all over the English-speaking world. His third collection, Migraine Hotel, is out in April 2009. The Guardian, The Times, The Telegraph and The Independent have all described him as “brilliant.”

Poetry Bites also includes floor spots where you can share your own poetry with an appreciative audience. Please arrive early to book a spot.

GALWAY: Westside Library Writers & Over The Edge Summer Open-Mic

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009, 6.30pm
Westside Library,
Seamus Quirke Road,
Galway

Over The Edge in association with Westside Arts Festival presents a reading by the Westside Writers and the 2009 Over The Edge Summer Open Mic

The Westside Library Writers, who recently participated in a series of workshops facilitated by Kevin Higgins at Westside Library, will read their work. Afterwards the annual Over The Edge Summer Open Mic will take place. Everyone who has a poem or story to share is most welcome to take part.

The MCs for the evening will be Kevin Higgins and Susan Millar DuMars. All are welcome to attend.

Friday, July 17, 2009

MILTON KEYNES: Tongue In Chic

Sunday, July 19th, 2009, 7.30pm, £6/£4
Madcap Performing Arts Centre,
Creed Street,
Wolverton,
Milton Keynes

Tongue In Chic, with John Hegley

The list of guest poets for Tongue in Chic’s first season is impressive, especially as the mighty John Hegley adds his name to the role call. The “scandously talented” Mr Hegley (according to the Sunday Times) brings his particular mix of comedy, music and poetry to the MADCAP stage.

He will be ably supported by Richard Tyrone Jones, who is putting the final polish to his material ahead of a busy Edinburgh Festival.

Flying the flag as the Milton Keynes poet this time will be Ian Barker, a stalwart of the local scene whose work is by turns challenging and moving.

And you could be sharing a stage with these talented people! A draw will be made for the open mic this time. The first ten people out of the hat will be able to have their three minutes of fame in the first half of the show.

Tickets available from Mark Niel 01908 691755 or markniel@gmail.com

BUXTON: Mark Gwynne Jones

Saturday, 18th July, 2009, 8pm, £8
Railway Hotel,
Bridge Street,
Buxton

Winners at last year's Festival, Mark Gwynne Jones and the Psychicbread return to the Buxton Fringe for one night only.

Tickets from Opera House Box Office, tewl: 0845 127 2190
http://www.buxtonfringe.org.uk/descriptions2009.html#top

Thursday, July 16, 2009

BIRMINGHAM: 'Rhymes' @ The Custard Factory

Thursday, 30th July, 2009, 8pm, £5
The Custard Factory Theatre,
Gibb Street
Birmingham
B9 4AA

Jimmy Fantastik is alright. Last stop was Hull where the organisers of the Love Poetry Hate Racism gig said he was right and shook him by the hand. He's also been published by the great Wrote Under Publishing Co-Operative and is now in the National Academy of Writing.

Spoken word artist Adrian “Poetic” Mckenzie burst on to the scene with an exciting blend of poignant rhymes and smooth wordplay. His lyrical dexterity has captivated UK and overseas audiences, always one to watch.

George Too Quick aka 'PoshBoy' - has spent the last few years honing his poetic craft. He will be performing pieces from his new one-man show. How could tulips, bees and rap music inspire a person to give up their job and rely on poetry to provide a living? Join George for an evening of wit, wisdom and sharing guaranteed to have you leave with a smile on your face and maybe one or two new perspectives to play with.

MC Lorna Meehan
Plus, the Wordbag Challenge, live music and The Rhymes Raffle.

RICHMOND: Jam @ The Box

Friday, July 17th, 2009, 7.30pm, FREE
The Tea Box
7 Paradise Road,
Richmond,
Surrey
TW9 1RX

Come one and come all, The Tea Box hosts another evening of verse, poetry and spoken-word-ness.

Newcomers and veterans, experienced and innocent, published or non-published, all are welcome to perform in this open mic night like no other. Anyone can sign up for a slot, either by phone or e-mail, or just turn up and stick up your hand.

The Tea Box offers a lovely friendly atmosphere and a full range of booze, teas and food to grease the cogs of creativity.

Hosted by resident poet Anonymous Webster and with several professional and published poets already signed up, this should be a poetry jam filled with fun and frolics (but no dancing, we're not licensed for dancing).

To sign up for a slot contact James on 020 8940 3521 or info@theteabox.co.uk

Tel: 0208 940 3521
E-mail: info@theteabox.co.uk

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

LONDON: 14 Hour presents Donut Press

Thursday, 23rd July, 2009, 7pm-10pm, FREE
The Whitechapel Gallery,
77-82 Whitechapel High Street,
London
E1 7QX

Nearest tube: Aldgate East

Featuring:

JOHN HEGLEY: Born in Newington Green, London, in 1953. His father was born in Paris. His mother was born in Ramsgate. His dog was born in Wales. She ran away in 1985.

TIM WELLS: Forward Prize nominee and long-time editor of Rising, he, like any other right-thinking person, has misgivings about Peaches Geldof.

WAYNE SMITH: Co-editor of underground magazine Lick Clean the Food Bowl, and one of the hosts of the regular poetry event New Blood, Wayne Smith's work has been published in The Wolf, Rising and nth position.

ANNIE FREUD: Great-grand-daughter of Sigmund, daughter of Lucien, Annie's first full-length collection, The Best Man Who Ever Was, was a Poetry Book Society Recommendation in 2007.

Donut Press editor-in-chief ANDY CHING will also be speaking and answering questions.

JOHN CITIZEN is guest compere. Plus 14 Hour DJs.

LONDON: On A Trip To Cirrus Minor - New poems inspired by the music of Pink Floyd

Thursday, 23rd July, 2009, 7pm, £3
The Duchess,
Battersea Park Road,
London
SW8 4DS

Featuring Simon Barraclough, Julia Bird, Jude Cowan, Claire Crowther, Isobel Dixon, Katy Evans Bush, Dean Farrow, Luke Heeley, Patrick Brandon, Amy Key, Roddy Lumsden, Lorraine Marriner, Chris McCabe, Jon Morrison, Helen Mort, Dave Palmer, Heather Phillipson, and George Ttoouli.

SHEFFIELD: Mark Gwynne Jones

Thursday, 16th July, 2009, 8pm, £8/£6.50
Lantern Theatre,
Kenwood Park Road,
Netheredge,
Sheffield

Mark Gwynne Jones and the Psychicbread play the bizarre but beautiful Lantern Theatre. A Victorian relic, a bijou music-hall-style theatre built in the 1890s.

To reserve tickets call 0795 0000 761 or email: busyplanet@mailcity.com

SHEFFIELD: Oxfam Poetry Night

Wednesday, 15th July, 2009, 6.30pm-9pm, £2.50 donation on the door and free poetry CD
Oxfam Bookshop
West St / Glossop Rd
Sheffield

Oxfam Poetry Night, featuring four Sheffield poets: Frances Leviston, Chris Jones, Helen Mort, and Ben Wilkinson.

Frances Leviston was born in Edinburgh in 1982 and later moved to Sheffield. She read English at St Hilda's College, Oxford, and has an MA in Writing from Sheffield Hallam University. A pamphlet of her work, Lighter, was published in 2004 by Mews Press, and became the PBS Bulletin's Pamphlet Choice for Spring 2005. Her poems have appeared in various magazines and anthologies including New Writing 14, Poetry Review, Poetry London, Ten Hallam Poets and the TLS. She received an Eric Gregory Award in 2006, and her first collection, Public Dream, was published by Picador in 2007. It was shortlisted for both the Forward Prize for Best First Collection and the T.S. Eliot Prize.

Chris Jones was awarded an Eric Gregory Award in 1996. From 1997 to 1999 he worked as the writer in residence at Nottingham Prison. A pamphlet collection entitled Hard on the Knuckle was published by Smith/Doorstop in 1993. He has recently put together a sequence of poems (At the End of the Road, a River) that explores the trajectory of the River Don as it curves through Sheffield. A full-length collection, The Safe House, was published by Shoestring Press in 2007. He lives in Sheffield, working as a freelance writer, teacher and arts administrator.

Helen Mort was born in Sheffield and lives in Cambridge. Her pamphlet, The Shape of Every Box, was published by Tall-Lighthouse in 2007, the same year she received an Eric Gregory Award. A winner of the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award on five occasions between 1997 and 2004, Helen has published work in Poetry London, The Rialto, Dreamcatcher and the Times Educational Supplement. She was winner of the Manchester Poetry Prize in 2008 and is currently working on a new pamphlet and accompanying poetry show, A Pint for the Ghost.

Ben Wilkinson was born in Stafford in 1985 and now lives in Sheffield. His poems have appeared in publications including Poetry Review, Poetry London, Magma, Stand and the Times Literary Supplement. He also regularly reviews poetry for many of these publications and writes critical perspectives of poets for the British Council's Contemporary Writers database. He recently read his work at this year's StAnza, Scotland's international poetry festival, and his first pamphlet of poems, The Sparks, was published last year as part of Tall-Lighthouse's Pilot series, showcasing the best poets under 30 yet to publish a collection.

Monday, July 13, 2009

MILTON KEYNES: Tongue In Chic

Sunday, July 19th, 2009, 7.30pm, £6/£4
Madcap Performing Arts Centre,
Creed Street,
Wolverton,
Milton Keynes

Tongue In Chic, with John Hegley

The list of guest poets for Tongue in Chic’s first season is impressive, especially as the mighty John Hegley adds his name to the role call. The “scandously talented” Mr Hegley (according to the Sunday Times) brings his particular mix of comedy, music and poetry to the MADCAP stage.

He will be ably supported by Richard Tyrone Jones, who is putting the final polish to his material ahead of a busy Edinburgh Festival.

Flying the flag as the Milton Keynes poet this time will be Ian Barker, a stalwart of the local scene whose work is by turns challenging and moving.

And you could be sharing a stage with these talented people! A draw will be made for the open mic this time. The first ten people out of the hat will be able to have their three minutes of fame in the first half of the show.

Tickets available from Mark Niel 01908 691755 or markniel@gmail.com

LEAMINGTON SPA: PUREandGOODandRIGHT

Sunday, July 26th, 2009, 7.30pm prompt start, £3/£2
The Newbold Comyn Arms,
Newbold Terrace East
Leamington Spa
Warwickshire
CV32 4EU

PUREandGOODandRIGHT is an open mic poetry event, with great guest performance poets! Every event is an opportunity for YOU to come along and perform your poetry!! Please arrive in time to book a slot.

Our special guest this month is our very own, extremely talented and amazing George Hardwick. What do onions, woodlice and community empowerment have to do with poetry? How could tulips, bees and rap music inspire a person to give up their job and rely on poetry to provide a living? Since realising his passion for poetry and actually having some talent to back it up, George Hardwick - aka PoshBoy - has spent the last few years honing his poetic craft. This one man show is the culmination of his journey to date. It draws humour from the rants of his early angry phase, builds on the inspiration found in being a youthworker in the Midlands, and brings to public awareness for the first time the nation's original Hip Hop Woodlouse. Join George for an evening of wit, wisdom and sharing guaranteed to have you leave with a smile on your face and maybe one or two new perspectives to play with.

If you're planning to come along, or would like to know more about the night, please email pgrpoetryandpints@talktalk.net

LONDON: Camden Poetry Series

Friday, 24th July, 2009, 7pm (doors open 6.30pm), £4/£3, wine
Trinity United Reform Church,
1 Buck Street,
Camden Town,
London
(2 minutes from Camden Town tube)

Ruth O'Callaghan presents Chimera and Ninth Arrondissement poets Derek Adams, Ken Champion, Olivia McCannon and Philip Wilson.

Poets from the floor very welcome. Cinnamon Press is our new sponsor. Please bring a copy of the poem if you wish to be considered for the new anthology.

Proceeds to the Cold Weather Shelter for the Homeless

GALWAY: The North Beach Poetry Nights' July 2009 Slam

Monday, July 13th, 2009, 9pm, 5/3 Euros
The Crane Bar,
Sea Road,
Galway

With guest performance poet Pamela Brown (from The Poetry Chicks), and cabaretist Conner Kelly on piano.

The Poetry Chicks have had another busy year and are regular performers on the British and Irish poetry scenes. At the end of June they performed at this year's Glastonbury festival, as well as this year returning to Electric Picnic and Flatlake festival. Pamela Brown (50% of The Poetry Chicks) is a published poet who has written comedy sketches for radio. She has had two plays produced,one of which was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (1993). Collaborating with the Dutch photographer Jan Voster, her work has been exhibited in Holland and Ireland. She is currently a member of Artists in Creative Enterprise and was a leading facilitator for Wordflight, a prose and poetry project resulting in an anthology by young writers.

Conner Kelly is a 19-year old keyboard virtuoso and cabaretist from Derry, who regularly does support with The Poetry Chicks. His new album is due for release in two weeks' time.

Poets wishing to take part in the two-round slam please bring along two three-minute poems, preferrably memorized. The winner of each month's Slam goes forward to the 2009 North Beach Poetry Nights' Grand Slam in December 2009. The prize for the Grand Slam winner is publication of a collection of her/his work.

info: john walsh @ 593290

LONDON: Lumen Poetry Series

Tuesday, 14th July, 2009, doors open 6.30pm for 7pm, £4/£3, wine
88 Tavistock Place
London
WC1
Tubes: Russell Square, Kings Cross, St Pancras.

John Lucas pays tribute to Shoestring poets Matt Simpson and Michael Murphy, plus Paul McLoughlin and Rosemary Norman.

Poets from the floor very welcome. Please bring a copy of your poem if you wish to be considered for the anthology sponsored by the thought-provoking Cinnamon Press.

Proceeds to the Cold Weather Shelter.

Thursday, July 09, 2009

LONDON: Ride The Word XII

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009, 7pm-9.15pm, FREE
The Cafe Yumchaa,
45 Berwick Street,
Soho,
London
W1

Reading are poets Luke Kennard, Cherry Smyth, Derek Adams, Aletta Lawson (for Catherine Eisner), Jay Merill, Mark Norfolk and Vincent De Souza

plus

guests Tears in the Fence, with editor David Caddy, Tom Chivers and Dzifa Benson

plus

limited open mic slots

Hosted by Jay Merill and Vincent De Souza

GALWAY: Westside Library Writers & Over The Edge Summer Open-Mic

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009, 6.30pm
Westside Library,
Seamus Quirke Road,
Galway

Over The Edge in association with Westside Arts Festival presents a reading by the Westside Writers and the 2009 Over The Edge Summer Open Mic

The Westside Library Writers, who recently participated in a series of workshops facilitated by Kevin Higgins at Westside Library, will read their work. Afterwards the annual Over The Edge Summer Open Mic will take place. Everyone who has a poem or story to share is most welcome to take part.

The MCs for the evening will be Kevin Higgins and Susan Millar DuMars. All are welcome to attend.

RICHMOND: Jam @ The Box

Friday, July 17th, 2009, 7.30pm, FREE
The Tea Box
7 Paradise Road,
Richmond,
Surrey
TW9 1RX

Come one and come all, The Tea Box hosts another evening of verse, poetry and spoken-word-ness.

Newcomers and veterans, experienced and innocent, published or non-published, all are welcome to perform in this open mic night like no other. Anyone can sign up for a slot, either by phone or e-mail, or just turn up and stick up your hand.

The Tea Box offers a lovely friendly atmosphere and a full range of booze, teas and food to grease the cogs of creativity.

Hosted by resident poet Anonymous Webster and with several professional and published poets already signed up, this should be a poetry jam filled with fun and frolics (but no dancing, we're not licensed for dancing).

To sign up for a slot contact James on 020 8940 3521 or info@theteabox.co.uk

Tel: 0208 940 3521
E-mail: info@theteabox.co.uk

CHESTERFIELD: Templar Poetry Results Reading

Thursday, July 9th, 2009, 7pm, FREE
Chesterfield Library,
Derbyshire

Templar Poetry announces the results of the 2009 Templar Poetry Pamphlet Competition, plus readings with Pat Winslow, Katrina Naomi and Jane Weir.

info@templarpoetry.co.uk

LONDON: Every Day A Battle

Saturday, July 11th, 2009, 6.30pm-8.30pm, £5, all proceeds to charity
Mosaic Rooms,
226 Cromwell Road,
London
SW5 0SW

Wet Ink and Scenery Chewer present Every Day A Battle

We seek, for an evening, to revisit the notion of Earls Court as cultural battleground. This event takes inspiration from Peter Barry's book Poetry Wars: British Poetry of the 1970s and the Battle of Earls Court, which uncovers the 'battle' at the National Poetry Society during the 1970s between radical and conservative factions.

Thirty-five years after Eric Mottram heralded a 'British Poetry Revival', the question of how to negotiate with the poetic mainstream still infiltrates choices made in the everyday practice of many emerging poets. We present the work of several new poets and hope they will be joined by some of the leading figures of this historical moment to revisit the scenes of an important struggle for creative freedom.

Poets:
Sejal Chad, Becky Cremin, Ryan Ormonde, Karen Sandhu, Lawrence Upton, Allen Fisher (on film) and Robert Hampson (tbc).

LONDON: Utter! Cats

Thursday, July 9th, 2009, 7pm-10pm, FREE / donation
Whitechapel Art Gallery,
Whitechapel High Street,
London
(Tube: Aldgate East)

Utter! Spoken Word presents: UTTER! CATS
Open mic and special guests

Open mic special: read 2 poems; one poem of your own about cats, one not about cats, or one from the pile of cat poems written by little old ladies about their dead cats, or T.S. Eliot's Book of Practical Cats or something.

Sign up 6.30pm (NO prebooking) - 7.30pm showtime. Winner wins a book of cat poems and a place in the Utter! Ajar Mic 2009 Grand Final. Winner for best fancy dress! (As a cat).

CAT FACE PAINTING!

A SPECIAL CAT FLAP ALL READERS MUST ENTER THROUGH (unless you're disabled)

ALL TOILETS REPLACED WITH LITTER TRAYS!*

Special guests:
Karen Hayley: She's been on the Armstrong & Miller show, Bo Selecta and MTV, she's been in VELOCITY, (the very best of Apples & Snakes) / Black Spring Press / Main Street / Breakfast all day / Gargoyle / Rising / Dogmatika / Pen Pusher / Poetry International Rotterdam, now she's AT Utter! where she'll give us a catalogue of cat facts in a cat suit. Purrrrr-fect.

Graham Buchan: Mild-mannered tom hiding a scratching post of subtly erotic poetry from his book There Is Violence In These Vapours. By the end, you'll be glad they never took him to the vets!

Tim Wells: You know him as the Forward-Prize nominated editor of Rising magazine - the "Reader's Wives of Poetry mags" according to John Cooper Clarke, with poems about dance halls and pool club assassins from his book Rougher Yet. But you didn't know he had cat poems, oh yes.

Hosted by mischevious Ginger Tom Richard Tyrone Jones.

Monday, July 06, 2009

BUXTON: Mark Gwynne Jones

Saturday, 18th July, 2009, 8pm, £8
Railway Hotel,
Bridge Street,
Buxton

Winners at last year's Festival, Mark Gwynne Jones and the Psychicbread return to the Buxton Fringe for one night only.

Tickets from Opera House Box Office, tewl: 0845 127 2190
http://www.buxtonfringe.org.uk/descriptions2009.html#top

SHEFFIELD: Mark Gwynne Jones

Thursday, 16th July, 2009, 8pm, £8/£6.50
Lantern Theatre,
Kenwood Park Road,
Netheredge,
Sheffield

Mark Gwynne Jones and the Psychicbread play the bizarre but beautiful Lantern Theatre. A Victorian relic, a bijou music-hall-style theatre built in the 1890s.

To reserve tickets call 0795 0000 761 or email: busyplanet@mailcity.com

LONDON: Jazz Verse Jukebox

Sunday, 12th July, 2009, doors 6pm, show 8pm, £6 on the door
Ronnie Scott's,
Soho,
London

Mark Gwynne Jones guests at the Jazz Verse Jukebox

For more details visit: http://www.jumokefashola.com/Jumokefashola.com/Upcoming_Events_%26_Gigs.html

SALFORD: Mark Gwynne Jones

Saturday, 11th July, 2009, 8.30pm, £8 on the door
The King's Arms,
Bloom Street,
Salford

Following a sell-out show in January, Mark Gwynne Jones and the Psychicbread return to the King's Upstairs @ the King's Arms, Salford

To reserve tickets call 0795 0000 761 or email: busyplanet@mailcity.com

GALWAY: The North Beach Poetry Nights' July 2009 Slam

Monday, July 13th, 2009, 9pm, 5/3 Euros
The Crane Bar,
Sea Road,
Galway

With guest performance poet Pamela Brown (from The Poetry Chicks), and cabaretist Conner Kelly on piano.

The Poetry Chicks have had another busy year and are regular performers on the British and Irish poetry scenes. At the end of June they performed at this year's Glastonbury festival, as well as this year returning to Electric Picnic and Flatlake festival. Pamela Brown (50% of The Poetry Chicks) is a published poet who has written comedy sketches for radio. She has had two plays produced,one of which was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (1993). Collaborating with the Dutch photographer Jan Voster, her work has been exhibited in Holland and Ireland. She is currently a member of Artists in Creative Enterprise and was a leading facilitator for Wordflight, a prose and poetry project resulting in an anthology by young writers.

Conner Kelly is a 19-year old keyboard virtuoso and cabaretist from Derry, who regularly does support with The Poetry Chicks. His new album is due for release in two weeks' time.

Poets wishing to take part in the two-round slam please bring along two three-minute poems, preferrably memorized. The winner of each month's Slam goes forward to the 2009 North Beach Poetry Nights' Grand Slam in December 2009. The prize for the Grand Slam winner is publication of a collection of her/his work.

info: john walsh @ 593290

LONDON: Streatham Festival/Oxfam Bookfest Poetry Jam

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009, 7.30pm-9.30pm (sign up for open mic by 7.15pm), £5 includes buffet and drink, and all money goes to Oxfam
Oxfam (Electrical & Furniture Store)
23 Streatham High Road,
London
SW16 1DS

Streatham Festival/Oxfam Bookfest Poetry Jam featuring Katrina Naomi plus 10 open mic spots.

See www.streathamfestival.com

LONDON: Glam Slam UK

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009, 8pm, £5/£3/FREE for slammers
Royal Vauxhall Tavern
372 Kennington Lane,
SE11 5HY

A Poetry Slam competition in two rounds.

First Round: Four competing categories:
DARK poem - a sad poem wearing all black
GLAD poem - a happy poem in colourful clothes
SHAG poem - sexy words in lingerie, fetish, flesh
DRAG poem - gender-bending words in drag

Second Round: A Grand Final on the night,
with a £100 Grand Prize for the BEST VERBAL VOGUE!

See more details here:
http://blog.myspace.com/glamslamuk

Also: non-competitive open mic slots and special guest performers (Susie Showers, The Fallen Raconteur, Hilda Eusebio, Qwee).

Saturday, July 04, 2009

CHELTENHAM: Buzzwords Poetry Night

Sunday, 5th July, 2009, £3, £5 if you are able
upstairs at The Exmouth Arms,
Bath Road,
Cheltenham

Guest poet Bob Mee reads from his new collection.
7pm - Workshop led by Bob Mee.
8pm - open mic and Bob Mee reading.

Friday, July 03, 2009

CHESTERFIELD: Templar Poetry Results Reading

Thursday, July 9th, 2009, 7pm, FREE
Chesterfield Library,
Derbyshire

Templar Poetry announces the results of the 2009 Templar Poetry Pamphlet Competition, plus readings with Pat Winslow, Katrina Naomi and Jane Weir.

info@templarpoetry.co.uk

LONDON: Streatham Festival/Oxfam Bookfest Poetry Jam

Tuesday, July 7th, 2009, 7.30pm-9.30pm (sign up for open mic by 7.15pm), £5 includes buffet and drink, and all money goes to Oxfam
Oxfam (Electrical & Furniture Store)
23 Streatham High Road,
London
SW16 1DS

Streatham Festival/Oxfam Bookfest Poetry Jam featuring Katrina Naomi plus 10 open mic spots.

See www.streathamfestival.com

Thursday, July 02, 2009

LONDON: wordPLAY

BIRMINGHAM: BBC Radio 4 UK Performance Poetry Slam

Thursday, 2nd July, 2009, 7.45pm, £4
Birmingham Rep,
Broad Street,
Birmingham
B1 2EP

BBC Radio 4 is organising a UK and Northern Ireland Performance Poetry Slam between 18 of the top UK performance poets, representing the nine BBC regions, in a verse-spilling, wit-spitting, live knockout poetry competition

Each region will choose two performance poets to represent them by pitting proven local slam winners against each other in a series of high-octane verbal battles guaranteed to sort the poetic wheat from the prosaic chaff.

The Midlands Heat qualifying slam gives you the opportunity to select the two champions of the spoken word in the Midlands that you think should take on representatives from Scotland, Wales, Ireland, North East England, North West England, South East England, South West England and London.

The two inter-regional semi-finals will be broadcast on Radio 4 on Thursday 24th September at 11pm and Thursday 1st October at 11pm. The Grand Final will be broadcast on Thursday 8th October at 11pm.

The UK Performance Poetry Slam forms part of the BBC's multi-platform poetry series running from May to October 2009.

Compere:
Giovanni "Spoz" Esposito

Line-up:
Chris Vickers
George "Poshboy" Hardwick
Emma Pursehouse
Steve Rooney
Brenda Read-Brown
Simon Lee
Mark Neil
Bohdan Piaceski
Cherrie "Riddlewoman" Gillings
Sean "Evoke" Welch
Mohammed "DubLe" Shariff
Michelle "Mother" Hubbard
Rob Gee
Jude Simpson
Ash Dickinson

LONDON: The Rambling Tongue

Friday, July 3rd, 2009, 7pm-late
Price: £25 for food and poetry (7pm-late)
£5 for poems and dancing (10pm-late)
The Oubliette Arthouse
170 Westminster Bridge Road,
SE1 7RW

07809 236 133
madsen.michelle@gmail.com

Hammer and Tongue London presents The Rambling Tongue

Fusing food for the mind and the body in the cavernous belly of the Oubliette in Waterloo, foodrambler and Hammer and Tongue London join forces to bring you the best of London's poetry and feasting in one evening of sensory bliss.

The team that brought the massive salad toss to last year's Antic Banquet are taking over the catacombs of one of London's most innovative new art spaces: the Oubliette.

A 60-room former language school and hostel, the Oubliette has been transformed into a maze of theatres, galleries and cinemas by a 14-strong collective of artists over the past month. Although the collective won the first court case, meaning that the Oubliette is safe for the next few weeks, it's likely that the owners will get the property back fairly soon so this (unless we are very lucky) is going to be a one-off extravaganza.

We will turn the basement of the building into a banqueting hall, where poets will punctuate a sumptuous three course feast with words to feed the soul. From 10pm we pass the space over to
a group of the UK's finest spoken word artists, including Salena Godden, Dizraeli and Kate Tempest, hosted by the soulful Angry Sam and the bitingly wicked Michelle Madsen. DJs and dancing will follow to keep the festivities going into the early hours.

GALWAY: Over The Edge Summer Poetry Special

Friday, July 3rd, 2009, 8pm, FREE
Sheridan's Wine Bar,
14-16 Church Yard Street,
Galway

Ailbhe Darcy has published poems in Ireland, Britain and the US, and writes critically for a number of publications including The Stinging Fly and Verbal. She recently appeared as part of the prestigious Poetry Ireland Introductions Series, and has read at the London Irish Centre, Poetry Café, RADA, Dublin’s Liberty Hall and Keats’ House. She has just embarked on a PhD in contemporary poetry at the University of Notre Dame. Her poetry features in the recently published anthology Voice Recognition 21 Poets For The 21st Century (Bloodaxe) and will also feature in the generation defining anthology to be published by Bloodaxe early next year Identity Parade: New British and Irish Poets.

John Corless lives and writes in County Mayo in the Irish Riviera. His poetry is a mix of political, satirical, ecclesiastical and rural and has been described as Paul Durcan meets The Sawdoctors. He has an MA in Creative Writing from Lancaster University (2008) and is currently researching for a PhD. He writes poetry, fiction and drama. His work has been published in magazines and collections worldwide. His creative writing classes in the Castlebar campus of GMIT are very popular. His first collection of poems Are You Ready? was published recently by Salmon Poetry.

Tom Lavelle lives in Galway and works as the finance director of a manufacturing company. He is currently a participant in the Advance Poetry Workshop at Galway Arts Centre and as part of that group read his work at last year’s Clifden Arts Week. His poems have appeared in Revival, West 47 online and The Cuirt Annual. Tom was shortlisted for the Cúirt Over The Edge showcase reading in both 2008 and 2009 and in the 2008 Over The Edge New Writer of The Year competition. This autumn he will be embarking on an M Phil in Writing at the University of Glamorgan.

Anthony Daly was born in Galway in 1979. He gained a BA Degree in Classics and History from NUI. Galway. He has been writing poetry for about the past decade and has published several poems in the local press. He has acted with Selkie Theatre in 2008 in their production last summer of Goodwill, as well as in several other productions and shows over the last six years. Anthony has been a many time participant in the Cúirt Poetry Grand Slam, was a Featured Reader at the March 2005 Over The Edge: Open Reading and was shortlisted for the 2007 Cúirt Over The Edge Showcase reading.

John Liddy was born in Youghal, Co. Cork, grew up in Limerick and now lives in Spain. His poetry collections include Boundaries (1974), The Angling Cot (1991), Song of the Empty Cage (1997), Wine and Hope (1999), Cast-A-Net (2003) & The Well: New and Selected Poems (2007). La Barca de la Arena (a translation by Francisco Rivero in Spanish of The Angling Cot) & Poisionous Pleasure (a translation by John Liddy from Tosigo Ardento by José Maria Álvarez) were published recently. He lives in Madrid.

All welcome. For further information contact 087-6431748.

Over The Edge acknowledges the ongoing generous financial support of the Arts Council and Galway City Council.

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

SHEFFIELD: Oxfam Poetry Night


Wednesday, 15th July, 2009, 6.30pm-9pm, £2.50 donation on the door and free poetry CD
Oxfam Bookshop
West St / Glossop Rd
Sheffield

Oxfam Poetry Night, featuring four Sheffield poets: Frances Leviston, Chris Jones, Helen Mort, and Ben Wilkinson.

Frances Leviston was born in Edinburgh in 1982 and later moved to Sheffield. She read English at St Hilda's College, Oxford, and has an MA in Writing from Sheffield Hallam University. A pamphlet of her work, Lighter, was published in 2004 by Mews Press, and became the PBS Bulletin's Pamphlet Choice for Spring 2005. Her poems have appeared in various magazines and anthologies including New Writing 14, Poetry Review, Poetry London, Ten Hallam Poets and the TLS. She received an Eric Gregory Award in 2006, and her first collection, Public Dream, was published by Picador in 2007. It was shortlisted for both the Forward Prize for Best First Collection and the T.S. Eliot Prize.
Chris Jones was awarded an Eric Gregory Award in 1996. From 1997 to 1999 he worked as the writer in residence at Nottingham Prison. A pamphlet collection entitled Hard on the Knuckle was published by Smith/Doorstop in 1993. He has recently put together a sequence of poems (At the End of the Road, a River) that explores the trajectory of the River Don as it curves through Sheffield. A full-length collection, The Safe House, was published by Shoestring Press in 2007. He lives in Sheffield, working as a freelance writer, teacher and arts administrator.

Helen Mort was born in Sheffield and lives in Cambridge. Her pamphlet, The Shape of Every Box, was published by Tall-Lighthouse in 2007, the same year she received an Eric Gregory Award. A winner of the Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award on five occasions between 1997 and 2004, Helen has published work in Poetry London, The Rialto, Dreamcatcher and the Times Educational Supplement. She was winner of the Manchester Poetry Prize in 2008 and is currently working on a new pamphlet and accompanying poetry show, A Pint for the Ghost.
Ben Wilkinson was born in Stafford in 1985 and now lives in Sheffield. His poems have appeared in publications including Poetry Review, Poetry London, Magma, Stand and the Times Literary Supplement. He also regularly reviews poetry for many of these publications and writes critical perspectives of poets for the British Council's Contemporary Writers database. He recently read his work at this year's StAnza, Scotland's international poetry festival, and his first pamphlet of poems, The Sparks, was published last year as part of Tall-Lighthouse's Pilot series, showcasing the best poets under 30 yet to publish a collection.

BIRMINGHAM: Tongue-Tied