Kettle's Yard Anthology Launch: TONIGHT, Friday 30th November

A ROOM TO LIVE IN: A Kettle’s Yard Anthology

LAUNCH EVENING
FRIDAY 30 NOVEMBER 6.30pm
Free - everyone welcome

With readings by Ian Patterson and Sharon Morris and music by Anton Lukoszevieze.

To celebrate the first 50 years of Kettle's Yard, Salt is publishing an anthology of new poetry and prose featuring thirty of our best writers, edited by poet Tamar Yoseloff.

Friday, November 30, 2007
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Kettle's Yard, Castle Street, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Phone: 4401223352124
Email: mail@kettlesyard.cam.ac.uk

Contributors include: Alan Bennett, Anne Berkeley, Meredith Bowles, Richard Burns, Michael Bywater, Clare Crossman, Tony Curtis, Fred D'Aguiar, Jane Duran, Elaine Feinstein, John Greening, David Hare, Jeremy Hooker, Sue Hubbard, Martha Kapos, John Kinsella, Rod Mengham, John Mole, Sharon Morris, Ruth Padel, Ian Patterson, Jacob Polley, Andrea Porter, Lawrence Sail, Fiona Sampson, Sarah Skinner, Ali Smith, Robert Vas Dias, Susan Watson, Neil Wenborn, Tamar Yoseloff.

"You know those dreams where a door opens into further rooms in a familiar house, rooms you never knew were there? Kettle's Yard opens up like that, and so does this anthology in its honour. Freedom, intimacy, space and the unexpected are all realised in the poems and reflections. The book is filled with pleasure" — Dame Gillian Beer

Published in hardback 30 November 2007
12.99 GBP
ISBN 978-1-84471-420-9

LA LANGOUSTINE EST MORTE: Saturday December 1st

LA LANGOUSTINE EST MORTE

Saturday December 1st 2007
7:30pm
@ The Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street, WC2H 9BX, London

The second series of the landmark Langoustine reading series continues with a fantastic year end finale featuring the best in innovative and experimental literature and performance.

For this event we are proud to welcome back the poet and novelist Ronnie McGrath, making his second appearance at Langoustine, performing extracts from his new CD Acoustic Avant Gardism.

Sharing the stage with Ronnie are poet and performance artist Eisha Karol with her Sea Suite which includes electronic soundscapes, tabla and flamenco dance. Eisha Karol spoken word

Carolina Esteves flamenco dance
Sandhya Sanjana Indian classical vocal
Steve Abu Nab tabla
Arne Sjogren film
Imran Ahmad electronic soundscape

Stephen Watts will also be joining us. Watts, an ex-Shepard is the author of three books of poetry and a highly regarded translator of contemporary Kurdish, Slovenian and Persian poets.

And in an exclusive performance for Langoustine, Anthony Joseph presents new work from his forthcoming collection. Hosted as always by Sascha Akhtar and Anthony Joseph. There may be other surprise performances…

Expect magic.

Buzzwords Poetry Night in Cheltenham: Sunday 2nd December

BUZZWORDS POETRY WITH OPEN MIC

Sunday, 2nd December
Upstairs at The Exmouth, Bath Road (opposite the co-op), Cheltenham

Guest poet: A. F. Harrold
*please note that we will be starting at our old, earlier time*

7pm Workshop led by Sonia Hendy-Issacs
8pm - Open Mic and A. F. Harrold

As this is the last one of the year, do feel free to bring others' poetry to read at the open mic if you'd like. We did this last December and it was lovely to hear some of your favourite published poems.

Come at 7 if you want to write, 8 if you don't.
Entrance £3

There is a car park at The Exmouth but if it is full the bath road 'shoppers' car park is just a few yards away, around the corner.

Alan Garvey at Ó Bhéal, Cork: Monday 26th November

Ó Bhéal: Poetry in Cork, Ireland

Alan Garvey will be Monday night's guest at Ó Bhéal, upstairs in the Hayloft at The Long Valley.
The evening will begin at 8.30 as usual, so see you there!
Monday 26th of November

NEW GUEST POET: Alan Garvey
Alan Garvey’s work has been published in various magazines and included in the anthologies: The Backyards of Heaven, However Blow the Winds and The Echoing Years. He self-published three chapbooks: Dear Whoever, The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea and Play Dead. Recipient of Travel & Mobility grants from the Arts Council to read in the University of Toronto and at the March Hare Festival, Newfoundland, he lives in Carlow with his wife, Tara and son, Keir. His first full collection, Herself in Air (2006), is published by Lapwing Publications (Belfast). A second collection, Learning to Crawl, is forthcoming.

As Mark Whelan's new collection is not yet off the press he has rescheduled for January. The new line-up for December and January will be sent out in the next day or three.

FARRAGO HAIKU SLAM! London, Friday 30th November

FARRAGO HAIKU SLAM! & Showcase,
@The Poetry Place, (above the Poetry Café), Betterton St , WC2.
Covent Garden tube
Friday, 30th November
7:30pm

The annual Farrago Haiku SLAM! is OPEN TO ANY POET! Any subject or style, bring at least 10 of your finest haikus! EVERY POET WINS A PRIZE! + SLAM ! winners doing features & special guests including: Bro’s Grim, Warsan Shire & Jacob Tsypkin + lots of open mic slots!

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

Events supported by Forward Press. Info: farragopoetry@yahoo.co.uk 07905078376. London.e-poets.net www.myspace.com/farragopoetry

LAST Oxfam poetry reading: London, Thursday 6th December

LAST in the Oxfam Poetry series!

Winter Poetry Reading - The Last One
Thursday, 6 December, 2007, 7 pm
Hosted by Todd Swift
featuring poets:

Alan Buckley
Claire Crowther
Anne-Marie Fyfe
Susan Grindley
Stephen Gyllenhaal
Luke Kennard
Tim Liardet
Barbara Marsh
David Morley
&
Alistair Noon

Oxfam Books & Music Shop
91 Marylebone High Street, W1
near Baker Street tube station.

Admission is free – donation of £8 appreciated.
All proceeds will go to Oxfam.

Glasgow's 'Last Monday at Rio': Open Mic, Monday 26th November

Last Monday at Rio

Monday November 26th
8pm start
The Rio Cafe, Hyndland Street, Glasgow (Kelvinhall tube)

Friends, the backwardness of the clocks is complete, the dark time is upon us. But deep in the heart of Partick burns a cheery glow. The Rio Cafe hosts another monthly gathering of Weegies setting about their comfort food in readiness for an evening of things literary..

Headline act this month is Tim Turnbull, Yorkshire tyke by birth, Londoner by experience - and Perthshire resident by preference. Tim won the Arts Foundation prize for performance poetry last year. This funded him to develop his vaudevillian nightmare show "Caligula On Ice". He has a number of collections in print - including "Stranded In Sub-Atomica". (He loves a good title!). He is also writer in residence at that august institution Her Majesty`s Prison, Saughton.

Supporting act will be Sofia, of Washington DC. Winner of the Glasgow Slam, October 07, she brings to the business of poetry an honesty which can induce the strongest of souls to seek out a couch to hide behind. See her before she sees you!

The first hour of the evening will feature 10x 5 minute open mic spots (less than normal this month as we have two main acts). Your compere will be Robin Cairns.

See you at Rio
Robin

Another event for your support is on Saturday 8th December at the Street Level Gallery, 48 King Street (first floor) - 7pm.
Graham Fulton, Bobby Christie and Jim Ferguson will be reading from their own work to commemorate the twenty years passed since they published their influential collection, "The Tower Of Babble". They will be joined by Canadian poet Sandra Alland.

Roz Goddard plus Open Mic in Swansea: Thursday 29th November

Roz Goddard reads in Swansea

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

A reading from the popular Birmingham-based author of 'How to Dismantle a Hotel Room', plus open mic spots.
Thursday 29th November 2007.
£3 / £2.10 conc. / £1.20
Swansea PTL

www.dylanthomas.org
01972 463 980

Tall Lighthouse at the Poetry Cafe: Wednesday 28th November

Tall Light-house at the Poety Cafe: Poetry & Open Mic

Wednesday 28th November, 8pm.
@ The Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street, Covent Garden, WC2
Admission £4/£3

A diverse night of poetry, with readings from John Davies, Carla Jones, Ronnie McGrath & Kate Potts plus OPEN MIC

Further details from lastwednesday@tall-lighthouse.co.uk

Storm and Spandex: London, Tuesday 27th November

Storm and Spandex

Tuesday 27 November 2007, 8pm.
Upstairs at the Old Crown, 33 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1BL.
Free entry.

Variety night with featured performances from poets Lee Wilson, Paul Birtill and Bertram Trotar, music and open mic. Hosted by Lucy Leagrave.

Sign up for open mic 7 - 7.30pm.
Contact: lucy_leagrave@hotmail.co.uk www.myspace.com/lucy_leagrave

"Lucy Leagrave, hostess of London's most 'bizarre dinner-party' strikes again - this time in Lurex. Gracing the table will be the Unholy Trinity of Poetry - Lee Wilson, Paul Birtill and Bertram Trotar. Playing and dancing their little hearts out will be John 'Jazzman' Clarke and 'Swing It!'. There's a seat and a plate reserved for each and everyone of you poets, jesters, story-tellers, singers, on-lookers. Sandwiches and cake for the hungry hordes (cause you?ll come straight over from your little offices, right?). Fun and games and sick humour on top. And - all of this is absolutely free, so if you don?t turn up, I must assume you're dead, my dear."

Poetry & Poppadums: London, Monday 26th November

Poetry and Poppadums

Monday 26th November
Doors 6pm show 8.15pm
La Kera Restaurant, 4 Coburg Road, Wood Green, N22
Price £3.00

Poetry and Poppadums spoken word event.

The UK's only spoken word gig in an Indian restaurant, after a sell-out storming 1st night back our November show is another delight featuring, recent UK, world, & BBC poetry slam champion KAT FRANCOIS, the mind bogglingly uniquely funny RACHEL PANTECHNICON & the soul, wit 'n' sharp observations of ABE GIBSON host is PAUL LYALLS (east yorkshire, spiky hair etc)

info-ticket res
020 8 829 8962 / info@karamel.co.uk

Vincent De Souza in London: Wednesday 28th November

Vincent De Souza reads from Weightless Road (Salt)

@ Borders Books
203-207 Oxford Street,
London W1D 2LE,

Wednesday 28th November 2007
Time: 7.30
All welcome

Jo Colley launches new Salt book this month

Teesside University Live Lit Soc in association with Ek Zuban and Digital Cities presents --- Writing Visions: Music & Mayhem

A night of experimental spoken word and music performances, book launches, cheerleading and physical poetry.

Featuring music by:
Shrug
Gobble Racket
Shaun Lennox

Words by: poet Jo Colley,
launching her fantastic new book from Salt Press 'Weeping For The Lovely Phantoms'
Kalle Niinikangas from Finland
Andy Willoughby
Bob Beagrie
Live Literature Society experimental Performances

Plus:
Open Mic

@ The Hub, Upstairs in the Students Union, University of Teesside
Tuesday 27 November
£3.00 entry (all profits to Zoe's Place)

------ ALSO:

Wednesday November 28th
Jo Colley reads @ Borders Books
Teesside Retail Park, Thornaby, Stockton on Tees
Tel 0164 260 8651 6pm
Free entry

SALT AUTUMN PARTY & LAUNCH: Thursday 29th November

SALT AUTUMN PARTY
A celebration of Salt and a launch of recent Salt writers

Thursday 29th November
6.30 p.m.

Line up:
Sascha Aurora Akhtar
Elizabeth Baines
Mike Barlow
Jo Colley
Carys Davies
Catherine Eisner (performed by Aletta Lohmeyer)
Vincent De Souza
Isobel Dixon
Chrissie Gittins
David Grubb
Alexander Hutchison
Peter Jaeger
Shamshad Khan
Matthew Licht
Valeria Melchioretto
Jay Merill
Will Stone
John Hartley Williams


The Gallery
Foyles Bookshop
113-119 Charing Cross Road
LONDON WC2H 0EB

RSVP chris@saltpublishing.com

Pure&Good&Right, Last Open Mic of the Year in Leamington Spa: December 9th

Robbins Well, The Parade, Leamington Spa.
Sunday December 9th
7.30pm
Admission £3

Glasgow's 'Last Monday at Rio': News & Dates

Last Monday at Rio, November 26, 8pm start
The Rio Cafe, Hyndland Street, Glasgow (Kelvinhall tube)

Friends, the backwardness of the clocks is complete, the dark time is upon us. But deep in the heart of Partick burns a cheery glow. The Rio Cafe hosts another monthly gathering of Weegies setting about their comfort food in readiness for an evening of things literary..

Headline act this month is Tim Turnbull, Yorkshire tyke by birth, Londoner by experience - and Perthshire resident by preference. Tim won the Arts Foundation prize for performance poetry last year. This funded him to develop his vaudevillian nightmare show "Caligula On Ice". He has a number of collections in print - including "Stranded In Sub-Atomica". (He loves a good title!). He is also writer in residence at that august institution Her Majesty`s Prison, Saughton.

Supporting act will be Sofia, of Washington DC. Winner of the Glasgow Slam, October 07, she brings to the business of poetry an honesty which can induce the strongest of souls to seek out a couch to hide behind. See her before she sees you!

The first hour of the evening will feature 10x 5 minute open mic spots (less than normal this month as we have two main acts). Your compere will be Robin Cairns.

See you at Rio
Robin

Another event for your support is on Saturday 8th December at the Street Level Gallery, 48 King Street (first floor) - 7pm.
Graham Fulton, Bobby Christie and Jim Ferguson will be reading from their own work to commemorate the twenty years passed since they published their influential collection, "The Tower Of Babble". They will be joined by Canadian poet Sandra Alland.

Rhythm & Muse, Teddington: Thursday 22nd November

Rhythm & Muse - new poetry & music, plus floor spots

Thursday 22nd November
8.30-10.30 ~ £4.00/£2.00
The Lion, Wick Road, Teddington, TW11
Nearest BR - Hampton Wick

Guest poets Claire Crowther and Racker Donnelly and music from singer
songwriter - and poet - Steve Antoni. Also open mic (book in advance).

Contact Alison Hill for more info
Tel: 020 8977 4610 / Email: alison-hill@blueyonder.co.uk

Tilting the Mirror at Southport: Thursday 22nd November

Tilting the Mirror

22nd November 2007, 8pm.
Southport Arts Centre, Lord Street, Southport.
£7 / £5 conc.
Box Office - 01704 540 011
www.seftonarts.co.uk

Readings from Greta Stoddard, Jean Sprackland and Ray Robinson


A man whose love is like an origami swan, a boy who gives his mum a bubble-gum tattoo for mothers' day, the couple who steal a mirror from a skip under cover of the night. The poems and fiction in "Tilting the Mirror" brim with characters who are struggling and juggling with love - the finding, keeping and understanding of it. Poets Jean Sprackland and Greta Stoddart and short story writer Ray Robinson present their specially selected work in a lightly staged live literature performance.

Jean's poems display a "subtle, sexy humour" says Carol Ann Duffy, while Greta's are "deceptively serene" but "always musical, always true" according to Jo Shapcott. The Guardian described Ray's writing as "wry, ingenuous, hugely compassionate" - and all three writers are generous and engaging performers.

As we love our partners, parents or children, "Tilting the Mirror" shows us our reflections. These poems and stories cast bright lights on the lives and loves of our own.

New Blood at the Poetry Cafe: Wednesday 21st November!

New Blood at the Poetry Cafe

Katy Evans-Bush, James Wilkes and Abigail Oborne – November 21st, 7.30pm - Don't miss out!

Wednesday, November 21, 2007
7:30pm - 10:30pm
The Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street, London
Tube: Covent Garden
Email: newbloodpoetry@gmail.com
(£5/3 on the door)

This Month’s New Blood is on November 21st, starting at 7.30pm at The Poetry Cafe, London. It has the following excellent line-up as well as FLOORSPOTS available on the night:

Katy Evans-Bush
Poet, critic and editor, her first collection Me and the Dead is forthcoming from Salt in 2008, her poems can be found in numerous magazines and anthologies including The Like of It. She is a regular contributor to Contemporary Poetry Review.

Abigail Oborne
One half of our Generation Txt double bill and fresh from a nationwide tour, a talented young poet not to miss.

James Wilkes
Experimental poet and text artist and a member of the Generation Txt tour.

This is going to be a brilliant night so don’t miss out and make sure you’re there early if you want to sign up for a floorspot. For further information: newbloodpoetry@gmail.com

Zoe Brigley & David Morley: University of Warwick, Wednesday 21st November

Zoe Brigley & David Morley: a poetry reading
Wednesday 21st November 2007
7.15pm - 8pm
Warwick Arts Centre Conference Room
University of Warwick
Bookings/Info: warwickartscentre@warwick.ac.uk

Zoe Brigley reads from her first collection, The Secret (Bloodaxe) which is a Poetry Book Society Recommendation this Autumn. Zoe won an Eric Gregory Award in 2003.

The award-winning poet David Morley's new poetry collection The Invisible Kings is also a Poetry Book Society Recommendation: 'a rare and beautiful book' (The Guardian) and 'one of the most thrilling poetry books of the year' (Radio 3). The book's language and themes are influenced by the writer's Romany heritage. David writes regularly for Poetry Review and The Guardian.

The reading will be followed by a Q & A with the poets. All are welcome.

£5 (£3.50)

Poetry Bites at the MAC, Birmingham: this Thursday 22nd November

Poetry Bites in Birmingham

Thursday, November 22nd, 2007
7:30pm - 9:30pm
www.macarts.co.uk
mac, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham

Contact Phone: 01214403838
Email: enquiries@macarts.co.uk

November’s Poetry Bites guest, Laurence Inman, was born in Birmingham. He taught English for twenty five years, in Manchester, London, Leicester, Exeter, Germany, Bahrain an Singapore, before becoming a playwright, short story writer, stand up comedian and actor, and, of course, a poet. He has appeared in a number of TV dramas and in the film “Sex Lives of the Potato Men” with Johnny Vegas and Mackenzie Crook. His work appears in Loffing Matters, published by Tindal Street Press. He would like people in general to be more stoical and believes that there is, at the moment, exactly the right amount of happiness in the world.

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

Niall O'Sullivan Launch: Wednesday November 21st, London

Niall O'Sullivan launches: 'Ventriloquism for Monkeys'

Celebrate the launch of Niall O'Sullivan's second collection in London this week!
Niall O'Sullivan/ Flipped Eye Publishing
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
7:00pm - 11:00pm

Upstairs at The Yorkshire Grey, 29-33 Grays Inn Road WC1X 8PN, London

Tall Lighthouse in Cambridge: Tuesday November 20th

Tall Lighthouse Poetry @ the Picturehouse

Featuring Adam O'Riordan with support from Neil Singh and Benjamin Morris

Tuesday, November 20th, 2007
7:00pm - 8:00pm
Arts Picturehouse, 38-39 St Andrews Street, Cambridge, UK

Tall lighthouse presents one of the most exciting emerging talents in performance supported by two up and coming Cambridge poets....

Adam O'Riordan was born in Manchester. He read English at Oxford University and studied poetry under Michael Donaghy. Later, he won a scholarship to study under Andrew Motion at the University of London where he was awarded the inaugural Peters Fraser and Dunlop poetry prize. His first pamphlet 'queen of the cotton cities' was released to wide acclaim earlier this year.

A native of Mississippi, Benjamin Morris is a PhD student at Cambridge. In 2005 he earned a master's in poetry from the University of Edinburgh; his work has appeared in such publications as Seam, Chapman, Poetry
Southeast, The Independent on Sunday, and the Mays Anthology, and earned such honours as a Pushcart nomination and a Commendation in the National
Poetry Competition. In 2006 he won both the Brewer Hall Prize and the Chancellor's Medal for Poetry at Cambridge.

Neil Singh is a student doctor who has read his poetry alongside major writers including Simon Armitage, Jacob Polley and Carol Ann Duffy. Some of his poems appear in The Mays Anthology 2007 and The National Poetry Anthology 2008. He is currently writing a collection of poetry on the theme of health and disease.

There will be a short open mic slot at the start of the event, come early to sign up.
Voluntary contribution £3 / £2
www.tall-lighthouse.co.uk

PUREandGOODandRIGHT: this Sunday, change of venue

Pure ‘n’ Good ‘n’ Right
Robbins Well, The Parade, Leamington Spa
Sunday 18th November
7.30pm
Admission: £3 (OAP/NUS £2)

This popular open mic with guests costs £3/£2 and starts at 7.30pm prompt. This month's guest poet is AF Harrold.

Aidan Dunn & the Fire Poet: Friday 16th November

AIDAN DUN & THE FIRE POET

This vibrant event, featuring Aidan Dun & the superb Philip Wells as the Fire Poet, takes place next week at St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation & Peace with ANN MEEK & SIRISHKUMAR, tabla maestro

7pm
Friday 16th November
78 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AG
(near Liverpool St tube)

£10 with refreshments
Telephone: 020 7496 1610
Email: events@stethelburgas.org
Website: www.stethelburgas.org

Bath University readings featuring Maxwell & Atkinson: Thursday 15th November

Stand Up Poetry

Thursday 15th November 2007, 8pm.
Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institute, 16-18 Queen Square, Bath.
£6 / £4 conc.

The latest in this series organised by Bath Spa University features readings from Glyn Maxwell and Tiffany Atkinson.

For more information email Carrie Etter: c.etter@bathspa.ac.uk

Poetry Launch in Brighton: Jackie Wills, November 15th

Jackie Wills' Poetry Launch

Shakespeare's Head, Spring Street, Brighton BN1 3TP
7.30pm

Jackie Wills launches her latest collection, Commandments, published by Arc. Hosted by THE SOUTH.
Thursday 15th November 2007.
£5 / £4 conc.
Friends of THE SOUTH receive a £1 discount.

Jackie Wills has published three collections of poetry. Her first, Powder Tower, was shortlisted for the 1995 TS Eliot prize. She was selected as one of Mslexia magazine's top 20 new women poets of the decade in 2004, the year after her third collection, Fever Tree, appeared. She has won awards from the Arts Council, Society of Authors and K Blundell Trust. Her work has appeared in anthologies, BBC News Online, national newspapers and BBC Radio Four.

Matchbox in Manchester: Wednesday 14th November

Matchbox Presents...

14 November 2007, 6.30pm.
The Thirsty Scholar, Oxford Road, Manchester (under railway bridge).
Free
Readings from Tom Jenks, Scott Thurston, Matthew Welton

Tom Jenks lives in Manchester and is the founding editor of Parameter. His first collection will come out in 2008. Matthew Welton's The Book of Matthew won the Jerwood-Aldeburgh First Collection Prize 2003. His new collection is on the way. Scott Thurston's most recent book is Hold, published by Shearsman in 2006. Listen to a reading at www.archiveofthenow.com"

www.matchbox.org.uk

Paul Durcan Launch: Wednesday 14th November

An evening with Paul Durcan

The Irish Cultural Centre, Blacks Road, Hammersmith, London W6 9DT
8pm

Durcan, a former winner of the Whitbread Poetry Award, launches his new collection The Laughter of Mothers.
£7 / £5 conc.
Booking and information: 020 8563 8232
www.iriscentrehammersmith.co.uk

Apples & Snakes in Soho: 14th November

Apples and Snakes in Soho

Soho Theatre, 21 Dean Street, London W1D 3NE
8pm
Featuring Michael Rosen, Tuup, Jay Bernard and Emma McGordon.

£8 / £6 conc.
Box Office: 0870 429 6883
Book online: www.sohotheatre.com

"A unique line-up of quality poets and storytellers who invite you into their imaginative worlds. Join champion of poetry Michael Rosen, newly-appointed Children's Laureate, ably supported by the engagingly tall tales of Tuup and the spot-on poetical observations of Jay Bernard and Emma McGordon."

Poetry Parlour: Waterloo, 13th November - TONIGHT

Poetry Parlour: TONIGHT!

13th November 2007, 7pm.
Crockatt and Powell bookshop, 120 Lower Marsh, Waterloo SE1 7AE.
£4 inc. glass of wine.

The regular poetry night returns with readings from Sharon Morris and Saradha Soobryan.
Further info: poetryparlour@gmail.com
www.crockattandpowell.com

Tall Lighthouse in Cambridge: Tuesday November 20th

Tall Lighthouse Poetry @ the Picturehouse

Featuring Adam O'Riordan with support from Neil Singh and Benjamin Morris

Tuesday, November 20th, 2007
7:00pm - 8:00pm
Arts Picturehouse, 38-39 St Andrews Street, Cambridge, UK

Tall lighthouse presents one of the most exciting emerging talents in performance supported by two up and coming Cambridge poets....

Adam O'Riordan was born in Manchester. He read English at Oxford University and studied poetry under Michael Donaghy. Later, he won a scholarship to study under Andrew Motion at the University of London where he was awarded the inaugural Peters Fraser and Dunlop poetry prize. His first pamphlet 'queen of the cotton cities' was released to wide acclaim earlier this year.

A native of Mississippi, Benjamin Morris is a PhD student at Cambridge. In 2005 he earned a master's in poetry from the University of Edinburgh; his work has appeared in such publications as Seam, Chapman, Poetry
Southeast, The Independent on Sunday, and the Mays Anthology, and earned such honours as a Pushcart nomination and a Commendation in the National
Poetry Competition. In 2006 he won both the Brewer Hall Prize and the Chancellor's Medal for Poetry at Cambridge.

Neil Singh is a student doctor who has read his poetry alongside major writers including Simon Armitage, Jacob Polley and Carol Ann Duffy. Some of his poems appear in The Mays Anthology 2007 and The National Poetry Anthology 2008. He is currently writing a collection of poetry on the theme of health and disease.

There will be a short open mic slot at the start of the event, come early to sign up.
Voluntary contribution £3 / £2
www.tall-lighthouse.co.uk

PLUM: a new poetry reading series in London

Plum, with Lumsden, Osborne, Dunthorne & Williams

Thursday 15th November from 7pm, free entry
Whitechapel Gallery, 80 Whitechapel High St, London E1

Roddy Lumsden (full set)
John Osborne (young poet whose first book is due in 09)
Joe Dunthorne (poet and novelist, first novel due next spring)
Luke Williams (first novel also forthcoming)

There will also be some music later from Kaisa.

The Wolf Poetry Reading: UEA, Thursday November 15th

The Wolf Poetry Reading: Four Graduates from UEA

Thursday, November 15, 2007
7:00pm - 9:00pm
The Drama Studio, UEA, Norwich
Free Admission

Leading independent poetry magazine The Wolf and UEA’s Creative Writing programme team up for an exciting event featuring four returning poets who have been published as UEA alumni in The Wolf.

Featuring
Fiona Curran
Sandeep Parmar
Will Stone
& Todd Swift

Hosted by UEA’s Creative Writing Professor George Szirtes and The Wolf Editor James Byrne

To reserve tickets please email
James Byrne thewolfpoetry@hotmail.com
or Alison Rickett: A.Rickett@uea.ac.uk

All writers are graduates of UEA’s Creative Writing MA Programme, with the exception of Will Stone who studied an MA in Literary Translation. This event is part of a tour to celebrate 5 years of The Wolf. For a full itinerary or to find out more about the magazine please visit the website www.wolfmagazine.co.uk

Oxfam Reading: Friday November 16th

Life Lines 2: Poets for Oxfam Reading At Dulwich College

featuring Cope, Morrison, Nagra, Sampson, Ward and others

Friday, November 16, 2007
7:30pm - 9:30pm
The Great Hall, Dulwich College, Dulwich, UK

A poetry reading and signing to be held at Dulwich College featuring the poets Wendy Cope, Blake Morrison, Daljit Nagra, Fiona Sampson, Todd Swift and Jonathan Ward. Tickets available on the door.

£6 for Adults (£4 concessions) and £3 for Boys at the College.

Bah Humbug! with special guests and floor spots for YOU

Saturday, December 15, 2007
12:00am - 11:00pm
The Betsey Trotwood, Farringdon Road, London

Bah Humbug! is a Christmas party to remember. Throughout the day and on all three floors of the Betsey Trotwood there will be readings and performances by some of London’s top poets, comedians, musicians and spoken word artists.

Lazy Gramophone will be on hand with face-painting and seasonal fun. Tim Wells will be masquerading as Santa Claus. The lovely people from Legend Press, Pen Pusher, Succour and Trespass Magazine will sell their wares. There will be an open mic. There will be fairy lights. There may be mince pies. Failing that, there will be steak and kidney pies.

And because it’s Christmas all profits will go to charity.

We’ve put this together to celebrate what has been a breakthrough year for the poetry and spoken word scene. So if you’ve been part of the ‘revolution’ (that’s The Times, not us), or if you fancy dipping your toe into London’s most exciting underground arts scene, Bah Humbug! is for you.

* * *

Zena Edwards, Simon Munnery, Generation Txt, Tim Wells, Roddy Lumsden, Niall O'Sullivan, Ross Sutherland, D'Archetypes, Ventriloquist & Tongue Fu Band, Excentral Tempest, Yap and more tba!

Recommended donation £5
Midday til closing time

Zoe Brigley & David Morley: University of Warwick, Wednesday 21st November

Zoe Brigley & David Morley: a poetry reading
Wednesday 21st November 2007
7.15pm - 8pm
Warwick Arts Centre Conference Room
University of Warwick
Bookings/Info: warwickartscentre@warwick.ac.uk

Zoe Brigley reads from her first collection, The Secret (Bloodaxe) which is a Poetry Book Society Recommendation this Autumn. Zoe won an Eric Gregory Award in 2003.

The award-winning poet David Morley's new poetry collection The Invisible Kings is also a Poetry Book Society Recommendation: 'a rare and beautiful book' (The Guardian) and 'one of the most thrilling poetry books of the year' (Radio 3). The book's language and themes are influenced by the writer's Romany heritage. David writes regularly for Poetry Review and The Guardian.

The reading will be followed by a Q & A with the poets. All are welcome.

£5 (£3.50)

AF HARROLD DOES POETRY: this month

FROM AF HARROLD: Poet & English Eccentric

Thursday 15th November
Farrago Poetry
RADA Foyer Bar, Malet St., London.
7.30pm. £6/£5.

This is a rather exciting Farrago event without a slam. To celebrate the 80th birthday of jazz singer and beat poet Fran Landesman, she’ll be along knocking some tunes out with her band, while special guests John Hegley, Michael Horovitz and me do some poems and things. Sounds quite fun.


Friday 16th November
Poets’ Café
South Street Arts Centre, South St., Reading.
8pm for 8.30pm. £6/£4.

Two Rivers Press Special. Tonight instead of one special guest there will be little guests spots from the authors of TRP’s first six poetry collections in their latest series (which began in 2004 with my book Logic & The Heart (still available from www.afharrold.co.uk, go to the shop), though I shall be keeping my reading very, very short – so really it’s the next five) – Susan Utting, Joe Butler, Adrian Blamires, Ian House and John Froy. TRP will have a book stall selling their books which make ideal Christmas, birthday and all other presents. In addition to which there will still be time for the usual open mic, turn up on the night to sign up. Hooray.


Sunday 18th November
Pure ‘n’ Good ‘n’ Right
Robbins Well, The Parade, Leamington Spa Admission: £3 (OAP/NUS £2)

This popular open mic with guests costs £3/£2 and starts at 7.30pm prompt.

Mario Petrucci at the Poetry Cafe, Friday 23rd November

New Poetry at the Poetry Cafe
Friday 23rd Nov, 8 pm

Mario Petrucci presents a reading from 'Flowers of Sulphur', with music & poems from the floor, plus Jacqueline Gabbitas (a delightfully human new voice)

Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street (near Covent Garden Tube), London
more info: 0208 299 2767

Rhythm & Muse, Teddington: Thursday 22nd November

Rhythm & Muse
Thursday 22 November
8.30-10.30 ~ £4.00/£2.00
The Lion, Wick Road, Teddington, TW11
Nearest BR - Hampton Wick

Guest poets Claire Crowther and Racker Donnelly and music from singer
songwriter - and poet - Steve Antoni. Also open mic (book in advance).
Contact Alison Hill for more info
Tel: 020 8977 4610
Email: alison-hill@blueyonder.co.uk

Cafe Writers in Norwich: this Monday, 12th November

Cafe Writers

Jurnet's Bar, Wensum Lodge, 169 King Street, Norwich
2nd Monday of every month
7.30pm



This month Cafe Writers features the poet and editor Matthew Hollis, and Andrea Holland. All events include support acts and an open mic session for all-comers.


More details: www.cafewriters.org.uk

A Message from Hammer & Tongue

Hello pop pickers,

Thank you to the hundreds of people who turned out for The John Hegley / Inflatable Buddha gig on Friday - I hope you enjoyed it as much as the Hammer & Tongue team did!

This Sunday sees an exciting event in the form of Slounge. The fine purveys of original live music extravaganzas Oxford Contemporary Music have teamed up with Hammer & Tongue to produce a multi-media event that promises to float the boat of even the most jaded gig goer. Music / art / poetry and organic food will be served up at everybodies favorite fair trade cafe The Vaults and Gardens (Radcliffe Square opposite the Radcliffe Camera).

On the bill is the much touted winsome folk-punk harpist Serafina Steer
"blurring cartoonish fantasy with kitchen-sink reality" (BBC) and if that's not enough a rare solo poetry performance from Inflatable Buddha frontman Steve Larkin "funny and biting, like a pump-action powerhouse on-stage" Edmonton Journal, Canada. There will also be short films from Oxford Film and Video Makers and a DJ.

This is the shape of things to come. The future is a multi-media. The future is slounge! Be there. Come for dinner for £12 from 7pm or come without dinner for £4 from 8pm.

That's all for now folks.

Boomshanka
The Hammer & Tongue Team

CB1 Poetry with Michael Laskey: Tuesday November 13th

CB1 Poetry
Tuesday November 13th
7.30pm - 10pm
Michaelhouse Cafe, Trinity Street, Cambridge


This popular Cambridge poetry events boasts two guest readers, this month Michael Laskey and Andrea Holland. The event also features short poem floor spots, books for sale and a licensed bar. Doors open at 7:30pm.

www.cb1poetry.org.uk

Two Forthcoming Farrago Events in London

On Thursday, 15^th November – The Fran Landesman 80^th Birthday Celebration Show. RADA Foyer Bar, Malet St, WC1. Goodge St tube.
Featuring Fran Landesman and her band, (Miles Landesman, Rsyzarda & Simon Lawrence) and special guests including John Hegley, Michael Horovitz & AF Harold. Hosted by John Paul O’Neill.
Tickets: £6/£5.

*

On Friday, 16^th November – The Farrago London SLAM! Championships.
RADA Foyer Bar, Malet St, WC1. Goodge St Tube.

The longest running poetry slam in Europe, open to ANY poet living, working or studying in London. Feature guests include dub musician John Juakli, others tbc. Emcee: John Paul O’Neill. Tickets: £6/£5.

Information from John Paul O’Neill: 07905078376. farragopoetry@yahoo.co.uk. http://London.e-poets.net www.myspace.com/farragopoetry

Apples Xmas Cabaret: London, Thursday 6th December

Apples Xmas Cabaret

Whitechapel Gallery, 80-82 Whitechapel High Street, E1 7QX
Thursday 6th December 2007
7pm
FREE!

A freewheeling night of comedic wordplay in East London’s artiest café bar.

Featuring
Stacy Makishi
Multimedia weirdness to flip your brain inside out. Removes the spoken word from its comfort zone and soon has it foaming at the mouth.

Bob Boyton
Shady character monologues and no-nonsense chat from the man they once dubbed “the Joe Orton of alternative comedy”.

Yam Boy
Song-and-dance man explores the status of the British Asian in his inimitably tongue-in-cheek style.

Vanessa Walters
A set of knowing and spot-on poems from the Borough of Kensington & Chelsea’s artist-in-residence.

Compered by
Critically acclaimed funnywoman and would-be swingball champion Rosie Wilby

Poetry Bites at the MAC, Birmingham: Thursday 22nd November

Poetry Bites at the mac

Poetry Bites in Birmingham, hosted by Jacqui Rowe, also includes floor spots where you can share your own poetry with an appreciative audience. Please arrive early to book a spot.

Midlands Arts Centre, off Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham
Thursday 22nd November 2007
7.30 pm.
See www.macarts.co.uk for details of venue, directions, booking.

November’s Poetry Bites guest, Laurence Inman, was born in Birmingham. He taught English for twenty five years, in Manchester, London, Leicester, Exeter, Germany, Bahrain an Singapore, before becoming a playwright, short story writer, stand up comedian and actor, and, of course, a poet. He has appeared in a number of TV dramas and in the film “Sex Lives of the Potato Men” with Johnny Vegas and Mackenzie Crook. His work appears in Loffing Matters, published by Tindal Street Press. He would like people in general to be more stoical and believes that there is, at the moment, exactly the right amount of happiness in the world.

Aidan Dunn & the Fire Poet: London, Friday 16th November

AIDAN DUN & THE FIRE POET

This vibrant event, featuring Aidan Dun & the superb Philip Wells as the Fire Poet, takes place next week at St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation & Peace with ANN MEEK & SIRISHKUMAR, tabla maestro

7pm
Friday 16th November
78 Bishopsgate, London, EC2N 4AG
(near Liverpool St tube)

£10 with refreshments
Telephone: 020 7496 1610
Email: events@stethelburgas.org
Website: www.stethelburgas.org

Night Blue Fruit at the Tin Angel, Coventry: TOMORROW, Tuesday November 6th

Night Blue Fruit

This famous Midlands open mic poetry night at the Tin Angel, Coventry, continues tomorrow with guest songwriter Cliff Hands from Coventry, and the usual open floor slots.

Poetry kicks off at about 8.30pm. Be there early to sign up if planning to read (or planning to park, in fact). There is usually a slight fee/donation to the cause. Good bar, great atmosphere, superb and informal open mic poetry.

8 - 8.30pm sign-up.
Slight entrance fee/donation.

The Tin Angel Bar
Medieval Spon Street
Coventry

Poetry & Open Mic in Brighton: Wednesday 7th November

Floetics

Wednesday 7th November 2007, 8pm.
Red Roaster Coffee House, St James' Street (off Old Steine), Brighton BN2 1RE
Entrance £2.50

A monthly night with open mic slots, poetry, live music, spoken word, storytelling and drama hosted by Jasmine Cooray.

This month features poetry from Danny Rovira and Rosy Carrick, and music from Rudi Schmidt and Holly Dawson. Come early to sign up for open mic slots!

POEJAZZI in London: Tuesday 6th November

Poejazzi

Tuesday 6th November 2007.
6pm doors open, show starts at 8pm.
Volupte Bar, No 9 Norwich Street, off Furnival Street, London EC4A 1EJ

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

Features Kevin Molloy, Ana Silvera, Rhian Edwards and Valentina. Hosted by A Poem in Between People.

"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!). Also Voted one of London's Top Five Spoken Word Nights By... The London Paper.

Exciting Line-up in the Salt Margins: Thursday 8th November

SALT MARGINS

Thursday 8 November
Whitechapel Gallery
Doors 7pm, readings from 8pm
Free entry

Salt Margins closes its doors for 2007 with a hefty dose of future fiction and poetry. There’s a return journey for the outrageously talented Luke Kennard and first-time Whitechapel forays for poets Valeria Melchioretto and Sascha Akhtar. Plus ‘sawn-off tales’ from David Gaffney. Joining the hosts of East London’s most exciting literary residency are the editors of Succour Magazine, celebrating their sixth issue ‘The Future’.

Whitechapel Gallery, 80-82 Whitechapel High Street (Tube: Aldgate East)

www.pennedinthemargins.co.uk
www.succour.org
www.saltpublishing.com
www.whitechapel.org

* * * * * *

Luke Kennard
Since his recent nomination for the Forward Prize for Best Collection, 26 year-old Luke Kennard has enjoyed a meteoric rise to poetic stardom. The Harbour Beyond The Movie (Salt) has been dubbed ‘original and startlingly imaginative lyrical pyrotechnics’. He is regional editor of Succour Magazine, an award-winning playwright with theatre group Pegabovine and is currently completing a PhD at Exeter University.

Valeria Melchioretto
Born to Italian parents in the German part of Switzerland, Valeria Melchioretto has been living in the UK since the early ‘90s. She was the winner of New Writing Ventures in 2005 and her debut collection of poetry was published recently by Salt. The End of Limbo is a journey through heaven and hell and back, stopping at numerous stations on the way, including iffy guest houses and ice palaces.

David Gaffney
Former teacher, lecturer, holiday camp entertainer, medical records clerk, pub pianist, debt counsellor and legal consultant David Gaffney is a master of short, short fiction. His Sawn-Off Tales (Salt) is filled with poignancy and wit – each story goes off like a tiny depth charge in the mind, leaving you with the trace memory of some new urban myth. Comic, absurd and disturbingly true.

Sascha Akhtar
Pakistan-born Sascha Akhtar is a writer, filmmaker, photographer, musician and dancer. She also teaches yoga and meditation. Her debut collection of poetry The Grimoire of Grimalkin is forthcoming from Salt. With fellow poet Anthony Joseph she runs experimental music, poetry and fiction night La Langoustine est Morte. She plans to learn Mongolian throat-singing.

Slam on Siblings: Thursday 15th November, London

POET SIZE SLAM

Thursday 15 November
9pm
Clare Theatre, Young Vic, 66 The Cut, Waterloo, London SE1
FREE (reservations 020 7922 2922)

A poetry slam on the subject of siblings - win two tickets for a show at the Young Vic plus a signed copy of The Brother Size

To help celebrate the new ATC/Young Vic production of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s The Brothers Size, the evening show (15 Nov, 7.45pm) will be followed by a quickfire poetry competition. If you’ve got a poem on a brother/sister theme, come along and vie for the prize of two theatre tickets.

Special guest slot from Polarbear, one of the UK’s top performance-poets, and compere Mr Jacob Sam-La Rose

For further info about The Brothers Size, contact www.youngvic.org / 020 7922 2922

When: Thursday 15 November @ 9pm
Where: Clare Theatre, Young Vic, 66 The Cut, Waterloo, London SE1
Tickets: Free (reservations 020 7922 2922)
Info: www.applesandsnakes.org

THE BIG WORD, Edinburgh, hosted by Jenny Lindsay: Thursday 15th November

THE BIG WORD

THE JAZZ BAR, 1a Chambers St, Edinburgh.
THURSDAY 15TH NOVEMBER,
Doors 8.30pm, show 9 - 11.15pm.
£4/3 concs.
Hosted by JENNY LINDSAY.

FEATURING TIM TURNBULL, Fiona Lindsay, VIV GEE, Tribal Tongues, and music from CHRIS BRADLEY. For more info contact Jenny on 07989 508 436

The Big Word is back with more lyrical treats from a whole host of wildly diverse spoken word artists and poets.

Fresh (&) Poetry at the Palace: Apples & Snakes, with an Open Mic

Fresh, in association with Apples & Snakes

Are you in to poetry with a hip hop beat?

From fast'n'furious words to delicious moves'n'grooves, Fresh brings you a showcase of poetry blended with rap and music. There'll be guest acts from pioneering hip hop poets and dub poets, as well as open mic slots up for grabs on the night.

Featuring: Raw Jam artist-in-residence Frisko; beatboxer John Berkavitch; spoken word duo Under da Poetree; and dub poet Moqapi Selassie.

Go to www.skycast.com and watch performers at the last Fresh: Tempest, Chris Rowan, Abstract Turmoil, Will Stopha and Kenny Baraka

When: Friday 2 November @ 8pm
Where: The Albany, Douglas Way, Deptford, SE8 4AG
Tickets: £6 /£5 concs /£4 under-25s
Box office: 020 8692 4446 / www.thealbany.org.uk



Also recommended... Poetry at the Palace

Some of the best British performance poets come together for one night only. Expect wit and wordplay! Line up includes: Francesca Beard, 'the Queen of British performance poetry' (Metro), OneNess, nominated for Best Black female poet by Black Women in the Arts and [verb]swish. Plus, Edinburgh Fringe favourite Luke Wright presents his new live act Poet & Man whilst acting as compere for the evening.

Apples and snakes Offer: get tickets for just £5. Call the Box Office on 01923 225671 to book and quote 'Apples and Snakes'.

When: Friday 16 November @ 8pm
Where: Watford Palace Theatre, Clarendon Road, Watford WD17 1JZ - just 20 minutes from Euston on fast trains
Info: www.watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk

Return of the Lobster: Saturday 3rd November

La Langoustine est Morte

3rd November 2007
7.30pm.
Poetry Cafe, 22 Betterton Street, Covent Garden, London WC2
£5 / £4 conc.

The regular Langoustine poetry night returns after its summer break with a superb line-up featuring Chris Good, The Ex-Men and Sascha Akhtar.

Six Women Poets with a Kick - SOLD OUT!

Six Women Poets with a Kick

4th November 2007
7:30 PM
Lantern Theatre, Kenwood Park Road, Sheffield

After their electrifying visit to Off the Shelf 2005 Six Women Poets with a Kick are back by popular demand. Encompassing some of the hottest talent in the region (including two Bloodaxe poets) Suzanne Batty, Anne Caldwell, Nell Farrell, Char March, Clare Shaw and River Wolton are re-defining any concepts of ‘Women’s Poetry. Prepare to find yourself out of your comfort zone.

Six Women Poets with a Kick
Tickets £5/£4 from Sheffield Theatres – tel. 0114 249 6000

NB. This event is SOLD OUT but there might be the odd ticket available at the last minute, due to no-shows.