Kevin Higgins Launch: Saturday March 29th

Salmon Poetry invites you to the launch of Time Gentlemen, Please by Kevin Higgins.

Guest speaker: Michael Gorman.
Venue: Galway City Museum

Date: Saturday, March 29th
Time: 1.00 pm

Last Monday at RIO, Glasgow: Monday, March 31st

Last Monday at Rio
March 31, 8pm - 10pm. Admission Free.
The Rio Cafe, Hyndland Street, Glasgow, (Kelvinhall tube).

Where the speech is free and it`s cheap for your tea!

Spoken word cabaret evening starring Carl MacDougall.
Carl is a novelist, a storyteller and a telly broadcaster. You`ll have seen his series of 8 programmes on the Scots tongue for the BBC. You`ll know his books, Stone Over Water, The Lights Below, The Casanova Papers - of Elvis is Dead, his collection of stories. You`ll be wanting to see him live. Here`s your chance. Carl is a champion of the wonder tales of Scottish oral history. At Last Monday at Rio he`s going to treat us to a couple of his own.

First hour of the evening is open mic. Robin Cairns is your compere. Anyone wishing to read, speak or perform please contact robin.cairns@btconnect.com

See you at Rio

Brian Turner at Michaelhouse, Cambridge, TONIGHT!

Reading by Brian Turner, Tuesday 25th March, Michaelhouse

Tuesday, March 25, 2008
7:45pm - 10:00pm
Michaelhouse Cafe, Trinity Street, Cambridge, United Kingdom

CB1 Poetry is pleased to announce a special additional event on Tuesday 25th March at 8pm at the Michaelhouse. This is the day after Easter Monday and five days after the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. We have been lucky enough to secure a reading by the American poet Brian Turner, who is on a limited tour of the UK - this will be his only reading in East Anglia.

Brian Turner’s poetry collection, Here, Bullet has recently been published in this country by Bloodaxe Press. Brian was a soldier for several years and spent a year as a team leader with an infantry unit in Iraq. His collection is unique in its exploration of what life in the middle of such a conflict is like for both the ordinary soldier and civilians.

This collection has won several prestigious awards in the States and Sarah Crown, when reviewing the collection in The Guardian, said:

"Turner proves himself an ideal chronicler, eloquent and detached. Above all, he affords dignity to the participants through acknowledgment of their individuality, giving names, recognising relationships, delineating histories. The power of this collection extends far beyond its harrowing subject-matter."

The New York Times Book Review said:

"The day of the first moonwalk, my father's college literature professor told his class, ‘Someday they'll send a poet, and we'll find out what it's really like.’ Turner has sent back a dispatch from a place arguably more incomprehensible than the moon—the war in Iraq—and deserves our thanks..."

A Q&A session after the reading will give you the opportunity to put your questions to this exceptional poet and discover some more of the background to his unique work. For more information about Brian Turner's work, please visit www.blueflowerarts.com/bturner.html

N.B. As this is an extra event unfortunately we are unable to offer concessions at this reading, so all tickets will be £5

Broadcast returns to the Poetry Studio: Monday, 31st March

BROADCAST

Monday March 31st, 7.45pm at The Poetry Studio, Betterton Street, Covent Garden, London

BroadCast, London's top monthly poetry series, returns after a few months away. This event features eight poets in their late teens and 20s, all of whom featured in the latest edition of Magma.

Olivia Cole, Joe Dunthorne, Dai George, Michael McKimm, Richard O'Brien, Heather Phillipson, Charlotte Runcie, Emily Tesh.

Entry: £5 (£4 for Po Soc members)

Coming soon: April's BroadCast on Thurs 17th features Three Liverpool Poets (James Dowd, Paul Farley and Chris McCabe)

Open Mic with guest poet DON BARNARD in Leamington Spa: Wednesday, 19th March

PURE&GOOD&RIGHT in Leamington Spa

WEDNESDAY 19TH MARCH (7.30pm to book a slot, 8pm prompt start) at the FOX, 32 Clarendon Avenue, Leamington Spa CV32 4RZ.

Now one of the Midlands' best-known open mic nights. Our VERY special guest in March - for our SECOND BIRTHDAY - is the amazing and extremely talented Don Barnard.

Nick Makoha at the Poetry Cafe, London: Thursday 20th March

THURSDAY 20 MARCH - NICK MAKOHA
Nick Makoha, author of The Lost Collection of an Invisible Man, will appear at the African Writers' Evening this Thursday 20 March 2008.

Under the banner of Old Faces, New Work, Nick will be reading exclusive new material from his forthcoming debut poetry book, which builds on the success of his acclaimed chapbook The Lost Collection of an Invisible Man. Nii will introduce Nick Makoha and host the first half and Nick will introduce Nii, who will be reading from his debut novel, Tail of the Blue Bird, which will be released in April 2009 by Jonathan Cape and host the second half. We hope you'll join us to support Nick for what promises to be a brilliant evening of poetry and prose.

OLD FACES - NEW WORK
Date: Thursday 20 March 2008
Venue: The Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street, London (Covent Garden tube)
Doors: 7.30 pm
Entry: 4 GBP / 3 (conc.)

Seeds of Thought: Saturday March 22nd, Glasgow

Please click to enlarge

Utter! in London, March 26th

Please click to enlarge

Ides of March, London: Saturday 15th

14 Hour: Ides of March

Saturday 15th March
Upstairs, The Griffin
93 Leonard Street
EC2A
London

FREE ENTRY

Not-to-be-missed, all-star cast featuring: Dockers MC, Clare Pollard, Hannah Silva and Kelly Marie.

Blue Chrome Poets Charity Reading: Friday 28th March

Blue Chrome Poets

Leah Fritz, Ruth O'Callaghan, Siriol Troup, Adele Ward
Friday 28th March 2008
7pm

Poets from the floor very welcome - please bring two copies of the poem if you wish to be considered for the bluechrome anthology. There are at least 10 major poets who will also be contributing to the anthology inc. UA Fanthorpe, Fiona Sampson, Marilyn Hacker, Penelope Shuttle, to name but a few.

Trinity United Reform Church
1 Buck St, Camden Town, London
(2 minutes Camden Town tube)
Entry £4/£3
Wine
Proceeds to COLD WEATHER SHELTER

Poets' Cafe in Reading: Friday 21st March

Poets’ Café
South Street Arts Centre, South Street, Reading.
Friday 21st March
8pm doors.
£6/£4.

With OPEN MIC

Featuring Jo Bell (www.bell-jar.co.uk) as special special guest, and plenty of open mic space for everyone else to join in. Hosted by AF Harrold. "Very exciting!"

Michael Horovitz: Fifty Years of CounterCulture

Thursday 20 March 2008
7.30pm
London Print Studio, 425 Harrow Road, London W10 4RE

Michael Horovitz presents ‘Fifty Years of CounterCulture from the Beat Generation to a New Waste Land’, a live performance, including a screening of Wholly Communion, Peter Whitehead’s documentary of highspots from the catalytic poetmeet at London’s Albert Hall on 11 June 1965. This film includes performances by Gregory Corso, Harry Fainlight, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Allen Ginsberg, Horovitz, Ernst Jandl, Christopher Logue, Adrian Mitchell and Alexander Trocchi.

Michael will also trace the progress of Live/New Departures, Jazz Poetry SuperJams and the Poetry Olympics festivals – www.poetryolympics.com
He will introduce a screening of images from his just published A New Waste Land: Timeship Earth at Nillennium – plus readings from this, and his other books and anthologies, including songs, music and Q&A.

London Print Studio talks and film screenings are FREE.
No booking necessary. Telephone 020 8969 3247 for more information.
Buses: 18, 28, 328, 31, 36.
Tube: Westbourne Park (8 mins walk – LPS is opposite First Avenue).

London Print Studio is celebrating the changing art of utopian rebellion and activism in its AgitPop exhibition, up until the end of May, featuring international and contemporary work alongside a unique display of posters from Sixties to Eighties Notting Hill Gate, Ladbroke Grove and Westbourne Park – info@londonprintstudio.org.uk

New Comedy-Lit Night in Glasgow

DiScoMbObUlAtE

where literature & comedy collide, hosted by Ian Macpherson, with Alan Bissett, Iain Heggie, Magi Gibson, Rob Wringham, Kirstin Innes & more: the literary fringe of the comedy festival - the comedy fringe of the literary festival.

TUESDAY MARCH 11th
8 - 10pm
Entry free – a hat will be passed round. Concessionary rate - smaller hat.
Cabbages & Kings, 5 Byres Road G11 (Kelvinhall Underground)

'The Best Wit Lit in Town.' Arnold Brown
www.ianmacpherson.net, www.magigibson.co.uk, & brighten your day - check out Ian's blog at www.ianmacpherson.blogspot.com

Steven Waling at the University of Salford

1.00pm - 2.00pm, Tuesday 4 March, 2008
The Chapman Gallery, The University of Salford,
Peel Park Campus, Salford M5 4WT
Admission: Free

A Poetry Reading by Steven Waling

Constantly looking for the wonderful in the ordinary, the beautiful in the demotic, Steven Waling explores the chances and encounters of modern life in vibrant, exploratory poems that sparkle with lyric fire. Using cut-and-paste and other chance techniques, his poems explore urban life, travel and relationships.

Steven Waling was born in Accrington in 1958, and has published widely, including five books of poetry. He is currently the writer in residence at HMP Whatton. stevenwaling.blogspot.com

For directions, access and further information please contact The Arts Unit on 0161 295 5223 or email artsunit-amss@salford.ac.uk
www.arts.salford.ac.uk

Magma Poetry Magazine Launch this Monday, 3rd March

Monday, March 3rd
8pm
The Troubadour
265 Old Brompton Road
London SW5 (nearest tube Earls Court)
£6/£5

Magma 4 poetry magazine launch

Magma launch nights - for those few who haven't experienced them - offer a collage, a cornucopia, a compendium of all that is urban, edgy, eclectic and imminent in metropolitan poetic practice - a chance to listen to editor Roddy Lumsden's choice of contributors, to catch the journal itself hot off the Magma presses, hear about upcoming issues/themes...and enjoy special contributions from guest poets Martina Evans - her third collection, apart from 3 novels including Betty-Trask-winner Midnight Feast, is Can Dentists be Trusted? (Anvil) - and former-Forward nominee and essential urban poet Matthew Caley, latest collection The Scene of My Former Triumph (Wrecking Ball).

For information, advanced booking, season ticket & mailing list enquiries, phone 020 8354 0660 or email: CoffPoetry@aol.com

Guest Poets & Open Mic in Cambridge at CB1: Tuesday March 11th

Tuesday, March 11, 2008
7:30pm - 10:30pm
Michaelhouse Cafe, Trinity Street, Cambridge

Email: cb1poetry@fastmail.fm

Matthew Caley's first collection Thirst, described by Time out as "a joy, comic, witty, even touchingly poignant", was nominated for the Forward Prize for Best First Collection. The work has been acclaimed as offering "stunning invention and remarkable versatility" (Sophie Hannah), "shaped and honed to a mosaic brilliance" (Ken Smith). His latest collection, The Scene Of My Former Triumph (Wrecking Ball, 2005) has received highly enthusiastic reviews, with Poetry London calling it "drop dead brilliant" and Magma commending that "from the first page to the last the book crackles with linguistic invention".

Rychard Carrington is well known in Cambridge for his highly inventive poetry and at times outlandish readings. Expect a distinctive, by turns wry and by turns challenging performance from a writer who sums himself up like this: 'Rychard Carrington is ninety per cent water. He has written poems in the morning, in the evening, and occasionally in the afternoon. His work is popular in the north and south, but less so in the east and west.'

The event also features short poem floor spots, books for sale and a licensed bar. Doors open at 7:30pm, come early to sign up for open mic. £5 / £3 entry fee

Sophia Blackwell, et al, 'Behind the Mic': Friday March 7th

'Behind The Mic' at The Glass Bar is a monthly showcase of bright new female talents in music, comedy, poetry and performance at this unique women-only venue.

Behind The Mic at The Glass Bar, West Lodge, 190 Euston Road, London NW12EF. 8.30pm. £6. 020 7388 9555

Every first Friday of the month. WOMEN ONLY!

Hosted by musician / comedian Rosie Wilby (finalist Funny Women 2006. 'Her stage presence exudes warmth' The List)

Friday 7th March is a special celebration of International Women's Week
Guests are: Stella Duffy, award-winning internationally-renowned author Stella Duffy reading from her latest novel The Room Of Lost Things. Stella has also directed several plays, appeared in Radio 4 sitcoms and quizzes and is an occasional guest with the Comedy Store Players. Also, Julie Jepson: 'Intelligent stand-up that is instantly engaging...truly fabulous' - bbc.co.uk.

Also featuring Sophia Blackwell, well-known performance poet & multiple Slam winner, who has performed at Glastonbury and Womad. 'Sophistication incarnate- an artist who combines humour and original social commentary with stunning visual performance.' - Steve Larkin. Also, Nicol, vocalist, pianist, guitarist who grew up in LA and has performed with Seth Lakeman, Ron Sexsmith, Guy Chambers and Roachford. Roxy Rawson, 'Comparisons to the likes of Joanna Newsom and Regina Spektor are beginning to emerge. With each show, the applause gets louder and her name gets bigger.' Independent on Sunday.

For more info see:Behind the Mic

Mothering Sunday Slam in Glasgow

No - not where the Scots slam their dear old mothers, but where you get to perform or rant your poems/spoken word creations at the Glasgow Slam this Sunday!

The Glasgow Slam

Sunday March 2nd
8pm
Downstairs at Blackfriars, Bell Street, Glasgow.

Live poetry competition with prize money. Open to all. Come and have a go if you think you`re bard enough!

Huddersfield Literature Festival

Huddersfield Literature Festival 2008 7th-16th March 2008

Taking place at venues across Huddersfield. A celebration of the written, spoken, sung and read word. The online brochure is now available to download! Please go to www.litfest.org.uk

This year's authors include Joanne Harris, (festival patron), who'll be discussing her life and work, including her new book The Lollipop Shoes; zany poet Nick Toczek who'll show you how to twist a rhyme and turn rhythm into poems, with a few magic tricks up his sleeve; novelist and broadcaster Stuart Maconie, who'll be reading from and discussing his new book Pies and Prejudice; plus sharp, silver-tongued performance poetry and lyrics from Generation TxT.

Made in Bradford, is a collection of frank interviews with British Pakistani men in Bradford; discussing everything from faith, forced marriages and freedom. Especially for the festival, the book is brought to life through live performance and debate with the book's editor, Yunis Alam.

Speakers include Doreen Lawrence, who recounts the impact of the murder of her son, Stephen, in her stunning and inspiring memoir, And Still I Rise. Caine-Prize nominated Nigerian Writer, Sefi Atta discusses her brand new work and nomination for the 'African Booker Prize'. Louise Page, Royal Literary Fellow, whose play Salonika is at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, leads a creative writing master class to inspire and illuminate.

Catch the world premiere of Beast Market, a powerful new piece of verbatim theatre. Chol Theatre gathers the diverse voices of Huddersfield to take a fresh, funny and forthright look at what’s happening under the surface of this Pennine town. Don't miss The River, a brand new commission from writer David Lawton, performer Eilon Morris, and musician Camilo Tirado and, who fuse music, performance and text in an intimate exploration of freedom.

Poet Jim Greenhalf is praised by writers such as Tony Harrison, Alan Sillitoe, Anne Fine, Jim Burns and Vernon Scannell. Described as "an act of defiance", experience Greenhalf's writing yourself. Sarah Corbett was shortlisted for the Forward and TS Eliot Prizes. Sarah will present brand new poems from her forthcoming collection, Other Beasts, as well as reading from Huddersfield University's recent anthology, The Intelligent Woman's Guide.

The Small is Beautiful Writers' Day and Book Fair features Ian Clayton, James Nash and Gaia Holmes, who'll share their writing secrets and discuss how to get published. Small Presses, Big Voices celebrates what's hot off the press: the new voices and new work emerging from some of the country's best small presses.

“Words are the backbone of my life, as an actor. Therefore it is my absolute pleasure to be asked to be a patron for Huddersfield Literature Festival. It’s fitting that the place described as ‘the poetry capital of the North’, finally has its own literature festival. This emerging and dynamic new festival is dedicated to celebrating the power of words, wherever we may find them. May you enjoy all that the festival has to offer'

Patrick Stewart (Actor and Festival Patron)

“I am very happy to be a patron of Huddersfield Literature Festival, where established authors will be able to give a platform for new writers to launch their work to the public. It is so difficult to be a new writer nowadays and yet there has never been more exciting new talent and more interest in books. I am delighted to be associated with this project.”

Joanne Harris (Author and Festival Patron)

For further information about Huddersfield Literature Festival, please contact:

Rommi Smith
Creative Writing Projects Officer and Festival Co-ordinator
T: +44 (0) 1484 471 895
E: brochure@litfest.org.uk

Shearsman Readings: Tuesday 4th March in London

Shearsman Readings

The fourth in Shearsman's 2008 Reading Series takes place on Tuesday, 4 March at 7:30 pm featuring Anamaría Crowe Serrano & Laurie Duggan.

Anamaría Crowe Serrano's first collection Femispheres is now available from Shearsman. Over the past two to three years her work has been appearing in magazines in Ireland, the UK and the USA, as have her translations from the Spanish and Italian. Biographical details may be found here:www.shearsman.com.

Laurie Duggan's Compared to What – Selected Poems 1971-2003 and The Ash Range were published by Shearsman in 2005, the latter being a second edition of a prize-winning volume that first appeared in Australia in the late 1980s. Biographical details here: www.shearsman.com. Follow the links on that page for further information on the two titles available from Shearsman.

Swedenborg Hall
Swedenborg House
20/21 Bloomsbury Way
London WC1A 2TH
Admission free.

The entrance is around the corner on Barter Street. Closest Tube Stations: Holborn (Central & Piccadilly Lines : 4 minutes' walk), Tottenham Court Road (Central & Northern Lines: 6 minutes), Covent Garden (Piccadilly Line: 10 minutes). Several buses stop a few yards from the Hall. There is an underground carpark close by, underneath Bloomsbury Square. Disabled access is available, but please let us know in advance if it is required. Further details here of the venue: http://www.shearsman.com/pages/editorial/readings.html