TODMORDEN: Gill McEvoy, Janet Loverseed, Joy Howard & Gina Shaw

Saturday, 12th December, 2009, 2pm-3.30pm
Todmorden Library,
Strand,
Rochdale Road,
Todmorden
OL14 7LB

Gill McEvoy, Janet Loverseed, Joy Howard and Gina Shaw
A reading from the new anthology from Grey Hen Press Cracking On: Poems about ageing by older women.

Plus mince pies!

LONDON: Camden Poetry Series

Friday, 11th December, 2009, 7pm (doors open 6.30pm), £4/£3, Wine
Trinity United Reform Church
1 Buck Street,
Camden Town
(2 minutes Camden Town tube)

Ruth O'Callaghan presents Shearsman poets Martin Anderson, Sarah Law and Janet Sutherland.

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

CHELTENHAM: Buzzwords Poetry Night

Sunday, 6th December, 2009, 7pm onwards, £3/£5 if you are able
function room at The Brown Jug,
Bath Road,
Cheltenham

Nine Arches Press present David Morley and Matt Nunn
7pm Workshop led by David Morley
8pm - Readings and open mic

BIRMINGHAM: Sunday Xpress Open Mic

Sunday, 13th December, 2009, 1.30pm-6pm, FREE
The Adam and Eve
54 Bradford Street
Digbeth
Birmingham
B12 0JD

Your compere - Big Brendan Higgins.

LONDON: Shearsman Reading Series

Tuesday, 1st December, 2009, 7.30pm, FREE
Swedenborg Hall
Swedenborg House
20/21 Bloomsbury Way
London
WC1A 2TH

Featuring Janet Sutherland and Alan Wearne

Details of the new collection that will be launched on the evening:
http://www.shearsman.com/pages/books/catalog/2009/sutherlandHA.html

and of Alan Wearne's remarkable verse-novel, published last year:
http://www.shearsman.com/pages/books/catalog/2008/wearne.html

Biographical details may be found here:
http://www.shearsman.com/pages/books/authors/sutherlandA.html
http://www.shearsman.com/pages/books/authors/wearneA.html

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.

LONDON: wordPLAY

Tuesday, 1st December, 2009, 7pm-10.30pm, £4.50 entry / £3.50 concessions
The Good Ship,
Kilburn

wordPLAY London spoken word extravaganza presents:
'wordPLAN - Twisted Christmas' - all proceeds to Plan International

The time has come for the last wordPLAY of the year...and it's going to be a 'cracker' (don't you judge me!!!)

Expect the usual laid-back, all-welcoming atmosphere of the jingle-all-the-way Good Ship and general jollity of the wordPLAY audience, who don't miss a beat...unless they're at the bar or 'avin a fag...

Twisted Christmas is the loose theme, though the day when the acts start listening to/obeying anything Becca tells them to do will be the day hell freezes over...though it is Winter in England, so who knows. Eeeeeeeeeenjoy my pretties...and of course: spread the word.

Featured Writers:

Mab Jones http://www.mabjones.com/ - Welsh wonder down in the smoke to show you English how to spit it

Guest Stars:
Pia Hansen - Quadrilingual general all-round good egg rocks superb short stories

Steven Sanderson - From far up past the Watford Gap gives us Southerners a taste of Northern (words from the) soul

Jack Stannard http://www.myspace.com/stannarddoeswords - Cheeky chappy dappy rhymes and verse from this talented young poet

Alexander Thanni http://www.myspace.com/plantainuk - 'The Reverend' preaches his mantra to all, with some fine sounds and arresting politik

MUSIC: Susannah Pearse - spine-tingly haunting vocals from this composer and one-of-a-kind singer-songwriter

+ your host Nancy Clarik - some say she wanes with the moon...some say she just plain odd (Becca has been taken away for a month after losing it in Trafalgar Square and indiscriminately decapitating pigeons and tourists alike with manic glee).

+ Raffle-Lit...the prize may be wine. Or it may be books. Or we may branch out...edge of seat stuff. Each paying guest gets a chance to win - hooray!

LONDON: Winter Fuel

Tuesday, 1st December, 2009, 7pm, £4
Upstairs at The Duchess,
101 Battersea High Road,
London,
SW8 4DS

Come warm yourselves with a night of poetry at the Duchess, opposite Battersea Power Station, with Simon Barraclough, Emily Berry, Isobel Dixon, Chris McCabe, Heather Phillipson and Richard Price.

LONDON: Night of the Goldrush Sounds

Sunday, 29th November 2009, 7.30pm 'til late, FREE
The Bell,
Middlesex Street,
Spitalfields,
London
E1 7EX

A London launch for The Night of the Day, Sounds in the Grass and After the Goldrush. Join Nine Arches Press to celebrate the launch of their three latest titles, including the first two Nine Arches Press books and a special edition pamphlet, with readings from David Morley, Matt Nunn and Peter Carpenter.

The Night of the Day - David Morley
The Night of the Day is remarkable for the skill and grace with which it travels through the difficult territories that map a journey from darkness towards light. In this movement from out of the shadows, it engages with tricks of the light, vanishings, illusions, magic and bitter realities, whilst using the terrain of language that each necessitates. From the brutally austere language that depicts a child’s experience of violence that opens this short collection, the poems move thematically into the natural world and the darting, shifting vocabularies of memory, friendship and loss. The Night of the Day keeps a solid and determined pace, which ultimately brings us under the canvas of the big top and into the lives of the travelling circus people, in their own words, their own voices, an undertow of threat and prejudice forever shadowing their footsteps on the road.

After the Goldrush - Peter Carpenter
Peter Carpenter’s poetry is radiant with quiet surprises, important moments captured in the folds of an old document wallet, in back gardens or on winter sea-fronts, buried in the sand or hidden by the noise of a football crowd. Such moments take flight to uncover a distinctive take on both ‘the here and now’ and the echoes of public and private histories. After the Goldrush is thus of its time and about time, in the attentive, skilful hands of a poet truly hitting his stride.

'…a new voice, precise and distinct, and therefore, doubly welcome' George Szirtes

'In short, Peter Carpenter is a masterly portrait-painter' - Matthew Jarvis, English

Sounds in the Grass - Matt Nunn
Join Matt Nunn as he travels through the spaces that define us, taking in subjects as diverse as Mother Nature, the back catalogues of youth, breaking down at the greasy spoon and hitting the highways, all accompanied by generous and bittersweet helpings of food, sex and music.
Matt Nunn’s third collection, following on from Apocalyptic Bubblegum and Happy cos I’m Blue is his most complete yet.

‘Nunn has the staccato, twisted, lyrical joy in language of an English Raymond Queneau and he brings it to bear on a beautiful, litter-strewn urban landscape where “civilisations intersect” in travestied platitudes, deep-dish riddles and a cavalcade of local detail all at about 100mph. If you’ve heard Nunn read out loud you’ll be familiar with this energy and the hallucinatory clarity of his imagery. He ploughs fearlessly straight into class, religion and education with frenzied, articulate wit matched by rage, which is not to overlook the genuine warmth and humanity beating underneath the surface. Sounds in the Grass realises the potential suggested by Nunn’s previous collections and then some.’ – Luke Kennard

LONDON: Teen Angst: A Celebration of Inadvertantly Hilarious Adolescent Writing

Tuesday, 8th December, 2009, 7pm-11pm, £5/£4
Bethnal Green Working Men's Club - BASEMENT
42-46 Pollard Row,
E2 6NB
London

Featuring Angry Sam, Cath Cath, Sophia Blackwell, Tim Clare and Tim Wells.

Teen Angst is an open mic comedic reading series where everyday people read from their embarrassing old journals, poems, songs, essays (and more), in front of an audience.

Part stand-up comedy, part poetry reading, part karaoke (in the way you go to watch people embarrass themselves). The night started in Canada in 2000 to launch the website http://www.TeenAngstPoetry.com - Teen Angst has since gone on to publish an anthology Teen Angst: A Celebration of REALLY BAD Poetry (St. Martin's Press, 2005), performed at the LATITUDE FESTIVAL (UK), BUMBERSHOOT (Seattle), THE KGB BAR (New York City), THE INTERNATIONAL HIGH PERFORMANCE RODEO (Calgary) and at London's BOOK CLUB BOUTIQUE.

Hosted by Sara Bynoe, creator of Teen Angst and Michelle Madsen, founder of the London arm of the Hammer and Tongue Poetry Slam.

PLUS ...weird and wonderful foodstuffs and drinkables to plant you firmly back in the heady days of your adolescence.

WANT TO READ YOUR BAD TEEN WRITING?
Contact sarabynoe(at)gmail.com

MORE INFO AT:
http://www.teeangst.ca

GALWAY: Geraldine Mills book launch

Thursday, November 26th, 2009, 6pm, FREE
Galway City Library,
Augustine Street

Arlen House warmly invites you to the launch of the new poetry collection by Geraldine Mills, An Urgency Of Stars

http://overtheedgeliteraryevents.blogspot.com/2009/11/launch-of-urgency-of-stars-by-geraldine.html

SHEFFIELD: Blackwell's Poetry Reading

Thursday 26th November, 6pm-8pm, free entry and refreshments, with poets' books available to buy on the night

Blackwell University Bookshop (Mappin St, Sheffield, off West Street)

featuring four Sheffield poets:

Frances Leviston, Rob Hindle, Cathy Bolton, and Sally Goldsmith

email: sheffield@blackwell.co.uk for further details / queries

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.

Rob Hindle lives in Sheffield, where he works for the WEA and the University of Sheffield. He has published poems and stories in Dreamcatcher, Frogmore Papers, Iota, Staple and The North. His Some Histories of the Sheffield Flood 1864 was a winner of the inaugural Templar Poetry Pamphlet Competition in 2006. His first collection, Neurosurgery in Iraq, was published by Templar in 2008. A second pamphlet, The Purging of Spence Broughton, a Highwayman, was published by Longbarrow Press in 2009.

Cathy Bolton is the director of Manchester Literature Festival. She has recently completed her MA in Writing at Sheffield Hallam University. She was the winner of this year’s Ictus Prize and her pamphlet collection, A Fool’s Height Short of Heaven, has just been published by Mews Press. She is a founding member of the A6 Poets and a poetry ambassador for the Southbank’s Global Poetry System. Her poems and short stories have been published in a wide range of anthologies and literary magazines.

Sally Goldsmith's poems and songs have been featured in publications including The North and Poetry Review, and in award-winning dramas for BBC Radio 4. Her poem Song was a runner-up in the 2006 Arvon International Poetry Competition. She was one of the winners in the Poetry Business's Book and Pamphlet Competition 2008/9, and they recently published her pamphlet of poems, Singer. Sally lives on the edge of Sheffield near the border with Derbyshire.

LONDON: Tall Lighthouse

Thursday, November 26th, 2009, 7.30pm, FREE

Whitechapel Gallery,

14 Hour presents tall-lighthouse, with Brendan Cleary, Helen Mort, Jasmine Cooray, Alex Brocklehurst and Graham Buchan.

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=173392951073

● BRENDAN CLEARY: Brendan Cleary has published several full-length poetry collections including The Irish Card and Sacrilege, both from Bloodaxe, and Stranger in the House from Wrecking Ball Press. Over 20 years he has also published numerous pamphlets from various small presses, his latest being Jackson from Pighog Press. He currently lives in Brighton where he works as a poetry tutor. His selected poems, Goin' Down Slow, is due out in June 2010 with tall-lighthouse.

HELEN MORT: Helen's poems are tender and intriguing, filled with subtle yet memorable images. She writes with an easy maturity and is a welcome new presence. Helen was born in Sheffield and grew up in Derbyshire. She received an Eric Gregory Award in 2007 and won the Manchester Young Writer prize in 2008.

JASMINE COORAY: Jasmine Ann Cooray lives in London where she develops confidence in young people through writing and performance. She founded Floetics, Brighton’s monthly performance night, and runs WRITELondon, an innovative series of writing workshops. Her debut pamphlet, Everything We Don’t Say, was published by tall-lighthouse in April 2009.

ALEX BROCKHURST: Originally from Cambridge, Alex has lived in Brighton for many years where she has achieved success in the fields of Fine Art, Law & Psychology. Her debut pamphlet Black Fen is published by tall-lighthouse.

GRAHAM BUCHAN: Graham Buchan has spent his working life in the film, video and television industries as an editor, writer, producer and director. He is a regular on the London poetry scene and, apart from poetry in many magazines, he has published short stories, travel writing and film appreciation. His poetry is also available on the CD Radio Pussycat.

● JOHN CITIZEN is guest compere. Plus 14 Hour DJs.

BIRMINGHAM: 'Rhymes' @ The Custard Factory

Thursday, November 26th, 2009, 8pm, £5
The Mixing Bowl Theatre @The Custard Factory
Birmingham
£5

This month's poets...

Brendan Hawthorne, a vibrant and instinctive performer, he brings his own unique poetic style forged from Black Country steel and wit to any event.

Louis Campbell, a multimedia poet, regular on the West Midlands poetry scene since 1992 and an all round cool guy.

Jacqui Rowe's poems have appeared extensively in anthologies and magazines and she runs 'Poetry Bites', a regular event with leading poets, as well as workshops.

Adrian Johnson, poet, story teller and Literature Office for the West Midlands will be performing one of his first gigs as Birminghams new Poet Laureate.

MC Lorna Meehan, plus The Wordbag Challenge and The Rhymes Raffle.

LONDON: Shearsman Reading Series

Tuesday, 1st December, 2009, 7.30pm, FREE
Swedenborg Hall
Swedenborg House
20/21 Bloomsbury Way
London
WC1A 2TH

Featuring Janet Sutherland and Alan Wearne

Details of the new collection that will be launched on the evening:
http://www.shearsman.com/pages/books/catalog/2009/sutherlandHA.html

and of Alan Wearne's remarkable verse-novel, published last year:
http://www.shearsman.com/pages/books/catalog/2008/wearne.html

Biographical details may be found here:
http://www.shearsman.com/pages/books/authors/sutherlandA.html
http://www.shearsman.com/pages/books/authors/wearneA.html

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.

GALWAY: Geraldine Mills book launch

Thursday, November 26th, 2009, 6pm, FREE
Galway City Library,
Augustine Street

Arlen House warmly invites you to the launch of the new poetry collection by Geraldine Mills, An Urgency Of Stars

http://overtheedgeliteraryevents.blogspot.com/2009/11/launch-of-urgency-of-stars-by-geraldine.html

LONDON: Lumen Poetry Series

Tuesday, 8th December, 2009, doors open 6.30pm for 7pm, £4/£3, wine
Lumen
88 Tavistock Place
WC1
Tubes: Russell Square , Kings Cross, St Pancras.

Ruth O'Callaghan presents Shoestring poets and friends John Hartley-Williams and Lynne Wycherley.

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.

LONDON: wordPLAY

Tuesday, 1st December, 2009, 7pm-10.30pm, £4.50 entry / £3.50 concessions
The Good Ship,
Kilburn

wordPLAY London spoken word extravaganza presents:
'wordPLAN - Twisted Christmas' - all proceeds to Plan International

The time has come for the last wordPLAY of the year...and it's going to be a 'cracker' (don't you judge me!!!)

Expect the usual laid-back, all-welcoming atmosphere of the jingle-all-the-way Good Ship and general jollity of the wordPLAY audience, who don't miss a beat...unless they're at the bar or 'avin a fag...

Twisted Christmas is the loose theme, though the day when the acts start listening to/obeying anything Becca tells them to do will be the day hell freezes over...though it is Winter in England, so who knows. Eeeeeeeeeenjoy my pretties...and of course: spread the word.

Featured Writers:

Mab Jones http://www.mabjones.com/ - Welsh wonder down in the smoke to show you English how to spit it

Guest Stars:
Pia Hansen - Quadrilingual general all-round good egg rocks superb short stories

Steven Sanderson - From far up past the Watford Gap gives us Southerners a taste of Northern (words from the) soul

Jack Stannard http://www.myspace.com/stannarddoeswords - Cheeky chappy dappy rhymes and verse from this talented young poet

Alexander Thanni http://www.myspace.com/plantainuk - 'The Reverend' preaches his mantra to all, with some fine sounds and arresting politik

MUSIC: Susannah Pearse - spine-tingly haunting vocals from this composer and one-of-a-kind singer-songwriter

+ your host Nancy Clarik - some say she wanes with the moon...some say she just plain odd (Becca has been taken away for a month after losing it in Trafalgar Square and indiscriminately decapitating pigeons and tourists alike with manic glee).

+ Raffle-Lit...the prize may be wine. Or it may be books. Or we may branch out...edge of seat stuff. Each paying guest gets a chance to win - hooray!

LONDON: Hammer and Tongue Open Poetry Slam

Monday, December 7th, 2009, 7.30pm-11pm, £5/£4
Green Note Café
106 Parkway
Camden

Hammer & Tongue is delighted to welcome Henry Bowers (http://www.myspace.com/kunghenrybowers) former Swedish Slam Champion, World Slam Championship runner-up and 4 Continents Slam Champion and 2009 Young Storyteller of the year Wilf Mertens (http://www.myspace.com/stanleywilfridmerttens) to its last London slam of the year.

Slammers: Come along early and sign up on the door. The first eight get in for free and slam for a place in the London H&T final next year.

Hosted by Michelle Madsen and Angry Sam

The very next day we'll be at the Bethnal Green Working Mens Club for a night of Teen Angst Poetry, hosted by the irascible Sara Bynoe and featuring Tim Clare, Cath Cath, Sophia Blackwell, Angry Sam and Michelle Madsen. The kids from Foodrambler will be making very leftfield foodstuffs to go with the evening, £6/5 on the door.

Contact: Michelle Madsen on 07809 236 133

http://twitter.com/hammerandtongue

LONDON: Winter Fuel

Tuesday, 1st December, 2009, 7pm, £4
Upstairs at The Duchess,
101 Battersea High Road,
London,
SW8 4DS

Come warm yourselves with a night of poetry at the Duchess, opposite Battersea Power Station, with Simon Barraclough, Emily Berry, Isobel Dixon, Chris McCabe, Heather Phillipson and Richard Price.

Map here.

LONDON: Night of the Goldrush Sounds

Sunday, 29th November 2009, 7.30pm 'til late, FREE
The Bell,
Middlesex Street,
Spitalfields,
London
E1 7EX

A London launch for The Night of the Day, Sounds in the Grass and After the Goldrush. Join Nine Arches Press to celebrate the launch of their three latest titles, including the first two Nine Arches Press books and a special edition pamphlet, with readings from David Morley, Matt Nunn and Peter Carpenter.

The Night of the Day - David Morley
The Night of the Day is remarkable for the skill and grace with which it travels through the difficult territories that map a journey from darkness towards light. In this movement from out of the shadows, it engages with tricks of the light, vanishings, illusions, magic and bitter realities, whilst using the terrain of language that each necessitates. From the brutally austere language that depicts a child’s experience of violence that opens this short collection, the poems move thematically into the natural world and the darting, shifting vocabularies of memory, friendship and loss. The Night of the Day keeps a solid and determined pace, which ultimately brings us under the canvas of the big top and into the lives of the travelling circus people, in their own words, their own voices, an undertow of threat and prejudice forever shadowing their footsteps on the road.

After the Goldrush - Peter Carpenter
Peter Carpenter’s poetry is radiant with quiet surprises, important moments captured in the folds of an old document wallet, in back gardens or on winter sea-fronts, buried in the sand or hidden by the noise of a football crowd. Such moments take flight to uncover a distinctive take on both ‘the here and now’ and the echoes of public and private histories. After the Goldrush is thus of its time and about time, in the attentive, skilful hands of a poet truly hitting his stride.

'…a new voice, precise and distinct, and therefore, doubly welcome' George Szirtes

'In short, Peter Carpenter is a masterly portrait-painter' - Matthew Jarvis, English

Sounds in the Grass - Matt Nunn
Join Matt Nunn as he travels through the spaces that define us, taking in subjects as diverse as Mother Nature, the back catalogues of youth, breaking down at the greasy spoon and hitting the highways, all accompanied by generous and bittersweet helpings of food, sex and music.
Matt Nunn’s third collection, following on from Apocalyptic Bubblegum and Happy cos I’m Blue is his most complete yet.

‘Nunn has the staccato, twisted, lyrical joy in language of an English Raymond Queneau and he brings it to bear on a beautiful, litter-strewn urban landscape where “civilisations intersect” in travestied platitudes, deep-dish riddles and a cavalcade of local detail all at about 100mph. If you’ve heard Nunn read out loud you’ll be familiar with this energy and the hallucinatory clarity of his imagery. He ploughs fearlessly straight into class, religion and education with frenzied, articulate wit matched by rage, which is not to overlook the genuine warmth and humanity beating underneath the surface. Sounds in the Grass realises the potential suggested by Nunn’s previous collections and then some.’ – Luke Kennard

BRADFORD: Word Life

Saturday, December 5th, 2009, £5
Theatre In The Mill,
University of Bradford

Performers: Joe Kriss, Jon Gomm, Mark Gwynne Jones, Jasmine Ann Cooray and Gareth Durasow

A night of moving and original story telling and poetry from some of the most renowned performance poets in the UK. Followed by live music from Jon Gomm, fresh from his Italian tour.

Jon Gomm is a singer-songwriter and acoustic solo performer, with an incredible virtuoso guitar style. He uses one acoustic guitar to create drum sounds, basslines and sparkling melodies all at the same time. The emphasis is still on the soulful vocals and songwriting however, and his original material is influenced by everything from Robert Johnson to Radiohead, Roni Size to Joni Mitchell.

Mark Gwynne Jones is a poet whose work crosses over into physical theatre and the visual arts. An engaging and energetic performer, Mark has presented his work on platforms from Edinburgh to London.

Jasmine Ann Cooray is a poet who is learning to tell stories, but is better known for uncompromisingly moving verse and arresting delivery. She tries to tell the truth. Her debut pamphlet, everything we don't say, was published with Tall Lighthouse Press in April 2009.

Gareth Durasow is a prize-winning poet, performer and playwright. He appears at events ranging from intimate readings at cafes and bars to renowned literature festivals, collaborating with the audience to create a truly unique spoken word experience that alternates between the disarmingly endearing, the riotously funny and the blisteringly intense.

Hosted by Joe Kriss who has performed at venues such as the Tate Modern, The Roundhouse Theatre and The Winter Gardens. The creative writing editor of Now Then, which is one of the most widely distributed outlets for new writing in the country.

Word Life is a live literature organisation dedicated to showcasing live original poetry and music from writers and musicians.
http://www.jongomm.com
www.myspace.com/joekriss
www.myspace.com/wordlifeuk
www.nowthensheffield.blogspot.com

Tickets from 01274 233200/theatre@bradford.ac.uk

NOTTINGHAM: Poets and Exhibitions

Tuesday, 24th November, 2009, 7pm, FREE

Nottingham Contemporary Gallery

Come along and hear newly commissioned poems in response to two exhibitions at Nottingham Contemporary Gallery: 'David Hockney 1960-1968, A Marriage of Styles' and 'Frances Stark: But what of Frances Stark, standing by itself, a naked name, bare as a ghost to whom one would like to lend a sheet?'

Poets reading: Wayne Burrows, Sue Dymoke, Michael McKimm, Carol Rowntree-Jones and Gregory Woods.

CAMBRIDGE: CB1 Poetry - Lizzy Dening

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009, doors open 7.30pm, 8pm start

The Punter Pub,
Pound Hill,
Cambridge

CB1@ The Punter presents Lizzy Dening

Lizzy Dening is a local poet and wildlife writer who graduated from Liverpool with a degree in Creative Writing. She was the editor of the prestigious literature journal at John Moore's University and has been published in various poetry magazines.

Readers from the floor fill up most of the night, with two 10-minute slots either side of the interval for the headliner to read.

For details of how to find The Punter visit us at our website, www.cb1poetry.org.uk

SHEFFIELD: Blackwell's Poetry Reading

Thursday 26th November, 6pm-8pm, free entry and refreshments, with poets' books available to buy on the night

Blackwell University Bookshop (Mappin St, Sheffield, off West Street)

featuring four Sheffield poets:

Frances Leviston, Rob Hindle, Cathy Bolton, and Sally Goldsmith

email: sheffield@blackwell.co.uk for further details / queries

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.

Rob Hindle lives in Sheffield, where he works for the WEA and the University of Sheffield. He has published poems and stories in Dreamcatcher, Frogmore Papers, Iota, Staple and The North. His Some Histories of the Sheffield Flood 1864 was a winner of the inaugural Templar Poetry Pamphlet Competition in 2006. His first collection, Neurosurgery in Iraq, was published by Templar in 2008. A second pamphlet, The Purging of Spence Broughton, a Highwayman, was published by Longbarrow Press in 2009.

Cathy Bolton is the director of Manchester Literature Festival. She has recently completed her MA in Writing at Sheffield Hallam University. She was the winner of this year’s Ictus Prize and her pamphlet collection, A Fool’s Height Short of Heaven, has just been published by Mews Press. She is a founding member of the A6 Poets and a poetry ambassador for the Southbank’s Global Poetry System. Her poems and short stories have been published in a wide range of anthologies and literary magazines.

Sally Goldsmith's poems and songs have been featured in publications including The North and Poetry Review, and in award-winning dramas for BBC Radio 4. Her poem Song was a runner-up in the 2006 Arvon International Poetry Competition. She was one of the winners in the Poetry Business's Book and Pamphlet Competition 2008/9, and they recently published her pamphlet of poems, Singer. Sally lives on the edge of Sheffield near the border with Derbyshire.

BIRMINGHAM: Poetry Bites with Angela France

Tuesday, 24th November, 2009, 7.30pm (food available from 6.30pm), £5/£4

Kitchen Garden Café,
17 York Road,
Kings Heath,
Birmingham
B14 7SA

Angela France is a Gloucestershire-based poet whose second collection, Occupation, has been published this year by Ragged Raven Press. She has had poems published in many of the leading journals in the UK and US and has been anthologised – most recently in A Twist of Malice: uncomfortable poems by older women. She has just completed an MA in Creative and Critical Writing at the University of Gloucestershire

"Angela France writes with passion and clarity; here is a meticulous sensuous imagination, richly structured and musical." - Penelope Shuttle
" The poems are always vigorous and rhythmically controlled. Occupation establishes a clear, firm, valuable voice in contemporary poetry." - George Szirtes

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

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

LEAMINGTON SPA: PUREandGOODandRIGHT

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009, 7.30pm, £3 (£2 Student/OAP)

The Stables,
Newbold Comyn Arms,
Newbold Terrace East
Leamington Spa
CV32 4EU

Our guest MC for the night is Richard Owen and our performance poet is the truly amazing and absolutely fabulous Matt Black.

Both serious and entertaining, Matt writes on subjects such as snails, love, travels in Texas and Cleethorpes, granny power, childhood, council strategies and the joys of Ofsted inspections. Matt writes and performs for adults and children, created the first Poetry Jukebox, set a world record performing in 50 venues in 5 hours (on a tandem) and runs (with Jonny White) the Zing-Zong Fantielastical Poetry Imagination Machine. He is published in magazines such as Envoi, Fatchance, Magma, Smith’s Knoll, Interpreter’s House ………he has won awards and commissions and has toured in Germany, U.S.A, Ireland, Poland and the Czech Republic.
For more information please see www.matt-black.co.uk

With open mic support from…….yes……YOU! Arrive early to book a slot.

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

BIRMINGHAM: Flarestack launch

FLARESTACK POETS BOOK LAUNCH, 2pm, SATURDAY, 21ST NOVEMBER, BIRMINGHAM REP

Flarestack Poets, the new imprint from Flarestack Publishing, will celebrate the publication of its first three pamphlets, Wake by Cliff Forshaw, Advice On Wearing Animal Prints by Selima Hill (both winners of the Flarestack Poets Pamphlet Competition 2009) and Mr Barton Isn't Paying, an anthology of poems selected from the competition.

There will be readings from Cliff Forshaw, Selima Hill and poets whose work appears in the anthology.

Wine and other refreshments will be served. The event is free, but anyone wishing to attend should contact jacquirowe@hotmail.co.uk

LONDON: Camden Poetry Series

Friday, 20th November, 2009, doors open 6.30pm, 7pm start, £4/£3, wine

Trinity United Reform Church
1 Buck Street,
Camden Town
(2 minutes Camden Town tube.)

Ruth O'Callaghan presents Arc poets Shanta Acharya and Stephen Watts. 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

LEWES: Kate Tym

Thursday, November 19th, 2009, doors 8pm, 8.30pm start

Upstairs at the Lewes Arms

Lewes

The fantastic Kate Tym will giving it her all as headliner at the last of the current season of Lewes Poetry. Also, there will be an unforgettable performance by Charlie Devus plus the legendary limerick competition with the usual prize!

Open mic poets welcome!

GALWAY: Over The Edge

Thursday, November 19th, 2009, 6.30pm-8pm

Galway City Library,
St. Augustine Street,
Galway

Featured Readers are Jimi McDonnell, James Marshall and Claire Kilroy.

Jimi McDonnell is a native of Tuam, Co.Galway. He cites his family, playwright Tom Murphy and footballer Ja Fallon as pivotal influences. Since 2007, Jimi has been the music correspondent for the Connacht Tribune. Last year he took Susan Millar DuMars’ Creative Writing course at GTI and is now enrolled in the MA in Writing programme at NUI, Galway. Jimi is currently working on poetry and fiction projects.

James Marshall was born on the west coast of Scotland sometime in the 60s to a Swedish mother and Scottish father. He grew up in and around London. James landed in Galway in 1999 and never took off again. A mid life crisis resulted in his musical tastes broadening towards the extreme end of the spectrum; the more bizarre and challenging the better. He has attended creative writing classes with both Susan Millar DuMars and Kevin Higgins at Galway Technical Institute and is currently working on his first novel, but not as much as he should be.

Claire Kilroy is the author of three novels which loosely form a trilogy about the obsessions and exhilarations of art. Her debut, All Summer, a literary thriller about a stolen painting, was awarded the 2004 Rooney Prize for Irish Literature. Her second novel, Tenderwire, a love story between a violinist and a masterpiece violin, was published to great acclaim in 2006, and was shortlisted for the 2007 Irish Novel of the Year as well as the Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award. Her latest novel, All Names Have Been Changed, set in 1980s Dublin and centring around a great Irish writer and his Trinity writing class, was published this May. Educated at Trinity College, she lives in Dublin.

There will be an open-mic when the Featured Readers have finished. This is open to anyone who has a poem or story to share. New readers are always especially welcome. The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details phone 087-6431748.

LONDON: Tall Lighthouse

Thursday, November 26th, 2009, 7.30pm, FREE

Whitechapel Gallery,

14 Hour presents tall-lighthouse, with Brendan Cleary, Helen Mort, Jasmine Cooray, Alex Brocklehurst and Graham Buchan.

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=173392951073

● BRENDAN CLEARY: Brendan Cleary has published several full-length poetry collections including The Irish Card and Sacrilege, both from Bloodaxe, and Stranger in the House from Wrecking Ball Press. Over 20 years he has also published numerous pamphlets from various small presses, his latest being Jackson from Pighog Press. He currently lives in Brighton where he works as a poetry tutor. His selected poems, Goin' Down Slow, is due out in June 2010 with tall-lighthouse.

HELEN MORT: Helen's poems are tender and intriguing, filled with subtle yet memorable images. She writes with an easy maturity and is a welcome new presence. Helen was born in Sheffield and grew up in Derbyshire. She received an Eric Gregory Award in 2007 and won the Manchester Young Writer prize in 2008.

JASMINE COORAY: Jasmine Ann Cooray lives in London where she develops confidence in young people through writing and performance. She founded Floetics, Brighton’s monthly performance night, and runs WRITELondon, an innovative series of writing workshops. Her debut pamphlet, Everything We Don’t Say, was published by tall-lighthouse in April 2009.

ALEX BROCKHURST: Originally from Cambridge, Alex has lived in Brighton for many years where she has achieved success in the fields of Fine Art, Law & Psychology. Her debut pamphlet Black Fen is published by tall-lighthouse.

GRAHAM BUCHAN: Graham Buchan has spent his working life in the film, video and television industries as an editor, writer, producer and director. He is a regular on the London poetry scene and, apart from poetry in many magazines, he has published short stories, travel writing and film appreciation. His poetry is also available on the CD Radio Pussycat.

● JOHN CITIZEN is guest compere. Plus 14 Hour DJs.

Horizon Review & Poetry Reading, Soho this Wednesday 18th November

Ride the Word XVIII
on the road to
The Café Yumchaa
Free Admission

Cafe Yumchaa, 45 Berwick Street, Soho, London W.1
Wed 18th November 7.00 p.m.—9.15 p.m.

All Salt lineup
Elizabeth Baines reading from her new novel: Too Many Magpies
Jane Holland
Vincent De Souza
Jay Merill
and guests:

Horizon Review introduced by:
editor, Jane Holland, plus readers George Ttoouli and Sophie Mayer

also
Floor spots: Jan Woolf, Alan Franks,
Marc Compton, et al

BIRMINGHAM: 'Rhymes' @ The Custard Factory

Thursday, November 26th, 2009, 8pm, £5
The Mixing Bowl Theatre @The Custard Factory
Birmingham
£5

This month's poets...

Brendan Hawthorne, a vibrant and instinctive performer, he brings his own unique poetic style forged from Black Country steel and wit to any event.

Louis Campbell, a multimedia poet, regular on the West Midlands poetry scene since 1992 and an all round cool guy.

Jacqui Rowe's poems have appeared extensively in anthologies and magazines and she runs 'Poetry Bites', a regular event with leading poets, as well as workshops.

Adrian Johnson, poet, story teller and Literature Office for the West Midlands will be performing one of his first gigs as Birminghams new Poet Laureate.

MC Lorna Meehan, plus The Wordbag Challenge and The Rhymes Raffle.

BIRMINGHAM: Poetry Bites with Angela France

Tuesday, 24th November, 2009, 7.30pm (food available from 6.30pm), £5/£4
Kitchen Garden Café,
17 York Road,
Kings Heath,
Birmingham
B14 7SA

Angela France is a Gloucestershire-based poet whose second collection, Occupation, has been published this year by Ragged Raven Press. She has had poems published in many of the leading journals in the UK and US and has been anthologised – most recently in A Twist of Malice: uncomfortable poems by older women. She has just completed an MA in Creative and Critical Writing at the University of Gloucestershire

"Angela France writes with passion and clarity; here is a meticulous sensuous imagination, richly structured and musical." - Penelope Shuttle
" The poems are always vigorous and rhythmically controlled. Occupation establishes a clear, firm, valuable voice in contemporary poetry." - George Szirtes

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

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

LONDON: Camden Poetry Series

Friday, 20th November, 2009, doors open 6.30pm, 7pm start, £4/£3, wine
Trinity United Reform Church
1 Buck Street,
Camden Town
(2 minutes Camden Town tube.)

Ruth O'Callaghan presents Arc poets Shanta Acharya and Stephen Watts. 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

LEAMINGTON SPA: PUREandGOODandRIGHT

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009, 7.30pm, £3 (£2 Student/OAP)
The Stables,
Newbold Comyn Arms,
Newbold Terrace East
Leamington Spa
CV32 4EU

Our guest MC for the night is Richard Owen and our performance poet is the truly amazing and absolutely fabulous Matt Black.

Both serious and entertaining, Matt writes on subjects such as snails, love, travels in Texas and Cleethorpes, granny power, childhood, council strategies and the joys of Ofsted inspections. Matt writes and performs for adults and children, created the first Poetry Jukebox, set a world record performing in 50 venues in 5 hours (on a tandem) and runs (with Jonny White) the Zing-Zong Fantielastical Poetry Imagination Machine. He is published in magazines such as Envoi, Fatchance, Magma, Smith’s Knoll, Interpreter’s House ………he has won awards and commissions and has toured in Germany, U.S.A, Ireland, Poland and the Czech Republic.
For more information please see www.matt-black.co.uk

With open mic support from…….yes……YOU! Arrive early to book a slot.

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

RICHMOND: Poetry Jam @ The Tea Box

Friday, 13th November, 2009, 7.30pm, FREE
The Tea Box,
7 Paradise Road,
Richmond,
TW9 1RX
Nearest tube: Richmond

‘Innocence meets Experience’ as The Tea Box hosts another open mic poetry jam where new voices can perform alongside established performance poets.

Feed your mind, soul and belly at this unique event where you can enjoy tea, hot food, soft and alcoholic drinks while listening to the odd bard or two.

At our last event Dominoe Joe entertained us with his witty and quirky performance poetry, mixed up with some sad and serious war poetry.

And hopefully we'll be seeing either some more war poetry, given the proximity to Remembrance Day, or some scary and supernatural poetry as this jam takes place on Friday 13th!

Our audience are always friendly, supportive and enthusiastic, as is our host, resident poet 'Anonymous Webster', who will ensure you receive a warm welcome to the stage.

Want to join the Jam? Call us on 020 8940 3521, e-mail on info@theteabox.co.uk or just stick your hand up on the night.

LONDON: Rum, Punch and Poets

Friday, November 13th, 2009, 8pm, £12 / £10
Rich Mix
35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road,
London,
E1 6LA

A mouthwatering show with four leading poets. Legend Lemn Sissay leads the way. Dub poet Jean 'Binta' Breeze has worked in theatre, television and film. Inua Ellams has been described as the love child of John Keats and Mos Def. Alex Pascall OBE is an inspirational playwright and songwriter..
http://www.richmix.org.uk/aandc_whatson.htm

Box Office: 020 7613 7498
Online booking: www.richmix.org.uk/bookings

LONDON: Tall Lighthouse

Friday, 13th November, 2009, 8pm (late bar), £3
The Old Tigers Head,
351 Lee High Road,
SE12 8RU

Tall-Lighthouse presents a seriously good poetry night, supported by the Lee Green Locality Fund

with Roddy Lumsden, Niall O’Sullivan, Christopher Horton, Jocelyn Page, Paul Blake, plus others tbc

with John Citizen (mc)

plus open mic

LEICESTER: Three Leicester Poets

Friday, November 13th, 2009, 7.30pm
Friends Meeting House,
16 Queen's Road,
Leicester

featuring Pam Thompson, Lydia Towsey and Matt Merritt.

Pam Thompson has been writing and performing poetry in the East Midlands for a number of years. She is part of the steering-group of and was artistic producer of the Lyric Lounge week at The Y Theatre, Leicester, in July 2009. Pam is widely published in magazines and pamphlets. Her first full collection is The Japan Quiz, published by Redbeck Press in 2008

Lydia Towsey comperes and coordinates WORD! and in 2009 has been the Artistic Director of The Lyric Lounge (www.lyriclounge.co.uk). She has performed alongside John Hegley and Jean 'Binta' Breeze and is soon to be published in POM, an anthology of new voices, co-edited by Michael Horovitz, John Hegley and Melanie Abrahams.

Matt Merritt's first full collection, Troy Town, was published by Arrowhead Press in March 2008, following a chapbook, Making The Most Of The Light, from HappenStance in 2005. He has read all over England and Scotland, and blogs at Polyolbion.

NOTTINGHAM: Poets and Exhibitions

Tuesday, 24th November, 2009, 7pm, FREE
Nottingham Contemporary Gallery

Come along and hear newly commissioned poems in response to two exhibitions at Nottingham Contemporary Gallery: 'David Hockney 1960-1968, A Marriage of Styles' and 'Frances Stark: But what of Frances Stark, standing by itself, a naked name, bare as a ghost to whom one would like to lend a sheet?'

Poets reading: Wayne Burrows, Sue Dymoke, Michael McKimm, Carol Rowntree-Jones and Gregory Woods.

MANCHESTER: Beyond Words - New Poetry from South Africa

12th November 2009, 8pm, £10 / £6
Contact,
Oxford Road,
Manchester,
M15 6JA
Box office: 0161 274 0600 / www.contact-theatre.org

Apples & Snakes presents Beyond Words: New Poetry From South Africa Live On Tour

Four incredible South African poets tour the UK together for the first time. Brought together by South African Poet Laureate and renowned exile campaigner Keorapetse Kgositsile, the show premieres specially commissioned new work. This is a blistering introduction to the new South Africa and to the power of live poetry in performance.

Featuring some of the most exciting voices of South Africa in the 21st century - Keorapetse Kgositsile, Lebo Mashile, Don Mattera and Phillippa Yaa de Villiers.

Keorapetse Kgositsile said: "I think an exchange of literature among peoples has better chances of building understanding and friendship than any diplomatic missions could ever achieve."

CAMBRIDGE: CB1 Poetry - Lizzy Dening

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009, doors open 7.30pm, 8pm start
The Punter Pub,
Pound Hill,
Cambridge

CB1@ The Punter presents Lizzy Dening

Lizzy Dening is a local poet and wildlife writer who graduated from Liverpool with a degree in Creative Writing. She was the editor of the prestigious literature journal at John Moore's University and has been published in various poetry magazines.

Readers from the floor fill up most of the night, with two 10-minute slots either side of the interval for the headliner to read.

For details of how to find The Punter visit us at our website, www.cb1poetry.org.uk

LONDON: Lumen Poetry Series

Tuesday, 10th November, 2009, doors open 6.30pm for 7pm, £4/£3, Wine
88 Tavistock Place
WC1
Tubes: Russell Square , Kings Cross, St Pancras.

Ruth O'Callaghan presents Flipped Eye poets Paul Lyalls, Adrienne Odasso and Camilla Reeve.

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.

CAMBRIDGE: CB1 Poetry - Roddy Lumsden and Tom Warner

Tuesday, 10th November, 2009, 8pm (doors open 7.30pm)
Michaelhouse,
Trinity Street,
Cambridge

For directions to our venue visit our website at: www.cb1poetry.org.uk

CB1 Poetry @Michaelhouse
This month we present
Roddy Lumsden and Tom Warner

Roddy Lumsden’s first book Yeah Yeah Yeah (1997) was shortlisted for Forward and Saltire prizes. His second collection The Book of Love (2000), a Poetry Book Society Choice, was short-listed for the T.S. Eliot Prize. Mischief Night: New & Selected Poems (Bloodaxe Books, 2004) was a Poetry Book Society Recommendation. Third Wish Wasted (Bloodaxe Books, 2009) is his latest collection. He was a “poet-in-residence” to the music industry when he co-wrote The Message, a book on poetry and pop music (Poetry Society, 1999). His other books include Vitamin Q: a temple of trivia, lists and curious words (Chambers Harrap, 2004). His anthology Identity Parade: New British and Irish poets is due from Bloodaxe Books in 2010. Born in St Andrews, he lived in Edinburgh before moving to London.

Tom Warner is currently the poet in residence for Newark as is busy preparing poems about the River Trent. In 2010 he will be one of the new Faber poets. He won an Eric Gregory Major Award in 2001 and his work has been published in a number of places including The Rialto, Smith's Knoll and Stand. He is 28 and lives in Norfolk.
"This is exquisite work ... Thomas Warner has an exceptional gift as a serious poet", Denise Riley
"Thomas Warner is one of the most interesting poets I've taught...I've no doubt we'll be hearing more of him in the future", Andrew Motion;
"There is a genuine sensibility at work here ... Poetry used as a vehicle of serious investigation", Christopher Reid;
"Tom Warner's poems seem to be carved from firm, natural material. They are austere structures but moving and humane at core, indeed all the more humane for their austerity", George Szirtes.

There will be a short open mike. There is disability access and a hearing loop available.
Come and support Poetry in Cambridge and meet other poetry-minded people. There is a bar and coffee available.

LONDON: Beyond Words - New Poetry From South Africa

10th November 2009, 8pm, £8 / £5
The Albany,
Douglas Way,
Deptford,
London
SE8 4AG
Box office: 020 8692 4446 / www.thealbany.org.uk

Apples & Snakes presents Beyond Words: New Poetry From South Africa Live On Tour

Four incredible South African poets tour the UK together for the first time. Brought together by South African Poet Laureate and renowned exile campaigner Keorapetse Kgositsile, the show premieres specially commissioned new work. This is a blistering introduction to the new South Africa and to the power of live poetry in performance.

Featuring some of the most exciting voices of South Africa in the 21st century - Keorapetse Kgositsile, Lebo Mashile, Don Mattera and Phillippa Yaa de Villiers.

Keorapetse Kgositsile said: "I think an exchange of literature among peoples has better chances of building understanding and friendship than any diplomatic missions could ever achieve."

Flarestack Launch in Birmingham

FLARESTACK POETS BOOK LAUNCH, 2pm, SATURDAY, 21ST NOVEMBER, BIRMINGHAM REP

Flarestack Poets, the new imprint from Flarestack Publishing, will celebrate the publication of its first three pamphlets, Wake by Cliff Forshaw, Advice On Wearing Animal Prints by Selima Hill (both winners of the Flarestack Poets Pamphlet Competition 2009) and Mr Barton Isn't Paying, an anthology of poems selected from the competition.

There will be readings from Cliff Forshaw, Selima Hill and poets whose work appears in the anthology.

Wine and other refreshments will be served. The event is free, but anyone wishing to attend should contact jacquirowe@hotmail.co.uk

HAY ON WYE: Tigerfish Session

Saturday, 7th November, 2009, 8pm, £8 / £6
The Globe,
Hay

Roy Sadler at this month's Tigerfish Session @ The Globe at Hay
This is the third of a new series of live music and poetry events on the first Saturday every month. Admission is £8 (concessions £6) which this month entitles you to £5 (£4) for December - February.
December features poetry and jazz with Tony Walton. January welcomes The Fire Poet Philip Wells.

See www.globeathay.org

NORTH SHIELDS: Beyond Words - New Poetry From South Africa

7th November 2009, 7.30pm, £8/£6
Saville Exchange,
Howard Street,
North Shields
NE30 1SE
Box office 0191 643 7093

Apples & Snakes presents Beyond Words: New Poetry From South Africa Live On Tour

Four incredible South African poets tour the UK together for the first time. Brought together by South African Poet Laureate and renowned exile campaigner Keorapetse Kgositsile, the show premieres specially commissioned new work. This is a blistering introduction to the new South Africa and to the power of live poetry in performance.

Featuring some of the most exciting voices of South Africa in the 21st century - Keorapetse Kgositsile, Lebo Mashile, Don Mattera and Phillippa Yaa de Villiers.

Keorapetse Kgositsile said: "I think an exchange of literature among peoples has better chances of building understanding and friendship than any diplomatic missions could ever achieve."

GALWAY: Over The Edge

Thursday, November 19th, 2009, 6.30pm-8pm
Galway City Library,
St. Augustine Street,
Galway

Featured Readers are Jimi McDonnell, James Marshall and Claire Kilroy.

Jimi McDonnell is a native of Tuam, Co.Galway. He cites his family, playwright Tom Murphy and footballer Ja Fallon as pivotal influences. Since 2007, Jimi has been the music correspondent for the Connacht Tribune. Last year he took Susan Millar DuMars’ Creative Writing course at GTI and is now enrolled in the MA in Writing programme at NUI, Galway. Jimi is currently working on poetry and fiction projects.

James Marshall was born on the west coast of Scotland sometime in the 60s to a Swedish mother and Scottish father. He grew up in and around London. James landed in Galway in 1999 and never took off again. A mid life crisis resulted in his musical tastes broadening towards the extreme end of the spectrum; the more bizarre and challenging the better. He has attended creative writing classes with both Susan Millar DuMars and Kevin Higgins at Galway Technical Institute and is currently working on his first novel, but not as much as he should be.

Claire Kilroy is the author of three novels which loosely form a trilogy about the obsessions and exhilarations of art. Her debut, All Summer, a literary thriller about a stolen painting, was awarded the 2004 Rooney Prize for Irish Literature. Her second novel, Tenderwire, a love story between a violinist and a masterpiece violin, was published to great acclaim in 2006, and was shortlisted for the 2007 Irish Novel of the Year as well as the Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award. Her latest novel, All Names Have Been Changed, set in 1980s Dublin and centring around a great Irish writer and his Trinity writing class, was published this May. Educated at Trinity College, she lives in Dublin.

There will be an open-mic when the Featured Readers have finished. This is open to anyone who has a poem or story to share. New readers are always especially welcome. The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details phone 087-6431748.

LONDON: Gay's the Word reading

Wednesday, 18th November, 2009, 8pm
Gay's the Word,
66 Marchmont Street,
London
WC1N 1AB

Readers Kate Foley, Joy Howard and Cherry Potts.
Women only event

RICHMOND: Poetry Jam @ The Tea Box

Friday, 13th November, 2009, 7.30pm, FREE
The Tea Box,
7 Paradise Road,
Richmond,
TW9 1RX
Nearest tube: Richmond

‘Innocence meets Experience’ as The Tea Box hosts another open mic poetry jam where new voices can perform alongside established performance poets.

Feed your mind, soul and belly at this unique event where you can enjoy tea, hot food, soft and alcoholic drinks while listening to the odd bard or two.

At our last event Dominoe Joe entertained us with his witty and quirky performance poetry, mixed up with some sad and serious war poetry.

And hopefully we'll be seeing either some more war poetry, given the proximity to Remembrance Day, or some scary and supernatural poetry as this jam takes place on Friday 13th!

Our audience are always friendly, supportive and enthusiastic, as is our host, resident poet 'Anonymous Webster', who will ensure you receive a warm welcome to the stage.

Want to join the Jam? Call us on 020 8940 3521, e-mail on info@theteabox.co.uk or just stick your hand up on the night.

LONDON: Tall-Lighthouse First Thursday

Thursday, November 5th, 2009, 8pm, £5/£4
The Poetry Cafe
Betterton Street,
WC2H 9BX

With Hugo Williams, Rhian Edwards, Rob Auton, Anne Brechin and John Citizen (mc) plus open mic.

ORANMORE: Charlie Byrne's Bookshop launch

Thursday, November 5th, 2009, 6pm
Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop,
Oranmore Village (near the filling station!)

Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, in association with Over The Edge, presents an evening of poetry to celebrate their new shop in Oranmore

Local poets, including John Walsh, Mary Mullen, Jarlath Fahy, Miceal Kearney, Edward Lee, Connie Masterson and Bernie Crawford will read their work. Come along and enjoy refreshments and browse through our selection of new and remaindered books. If you haven't gotten the chance to visit our Oranmore shop yet, this is the perfect opportunity!

http://overtheedgeliteraryevents.blogspot.com/2009/10/evening-of-poetry-to-celebrate-new.html

LONDON: Rum, Punch and Poets

Friday, November 13th, 2009, 8pm, £12 / £10
Rich Mix
35 - 47 Bethnal Green Road,
London,
E1 6LA

A mouthwatering show with four leading poets. Legend Lemn Sissay leads the way. Dub poet Jean 'Binta' Breeze has worked in theatre, television and film. Inua Ellams has been described as the love child of John Keats and Mos Def. Alex Pascall OBE is an inspirational playwright and songwriter..
http://www.richmix.org.uk/aandc_whatson.htm

Box Office: 020 7613 7498
Online booking: www.richmix.org.uk/bookings

TONBRIDGE: Matt Nunn and Peter Carpenter

Thursday, 5th November, 2009, 7.30pm, £6
The Studio Theatre,
Tonbridge School,
Tonbridge,
Kent

Readings from Matt Nunn and Peter Carpenter to celebrate the launch of their Nine Arches Press collections, Sounds in the Grass and After the Goldrush.

Peter Carpenter’s poetry is radiant with quiet surprises, important moments captured in the folds of an old document wallet, in back gardens or on winter sea-fronts, buried in the sand or hidden by the noise of a football crowd. Such moments take flight to uncover a distinctive take on both ‘the here and now’ and the echoes of public and private histories. After the Goldrush is thus of its time and about time, in the attentive, skilful hands of a poet truly hitting his stride.

'…a new voice, precise and distinct, and therefore, doubly welcome' George Szirtes

'In short, Peter Carpenter is a masterly portrait-painter' - Matthew Jarvis English

Join Matt Nunn as he travels through the spaces that define us, taking in subjects as diverse as Mother Nature, the back catalogues of youth, breaking down at the greasy spoon and hitting the highways, all accompanied by generous and bittersweet helpings of food, sex and music. Matt Nunn’s third collection, following on from Apocalyptic Bubblegum and Happy cos I’m Blue is his most complete yet.

‘Nunn has the staccato, twisted, lyrical joy in language of an English Raymond Queneau and he brings it to bear on a beautiful, litter-strewn urban landscape where “civilisations intersect” in travestied platitudes, deep-dish riddles and a cavalcade of local detail all at about 100mph.’ – Luke Kennard

'Matt Nunn is multitudes' - David Morley

HAY ON WYE: Tigerfish Session

Saturday, 7th November, 2009, 8pm, £8 / £6
The Globe,
Hay

Roy Sadler at this month's Tigerfish Session @ The Globe at Hay
This is the third of a new series of live music and poetry events on the first Saturday every month. Admission is £8 (concessions £6) which this month entitles you to £5 (£4) for December - February.
December features poetry and jazz with Tony Walton. January welcomes The Fire Poet Philip Wells.

See www.globeathay.org

LONDON: Beyond Words - New Poetry From South Africa

4th November 2009, 7.45pm, £10
Southbank Centre,
Purcell Room,
Belvedere Road,
London
SE1 8XX
Boxx office: 0871 663 2500 / www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Apples & Snakes presents Beyond Words: New Poetry From South Africa Live On Tour

Four incredible South African poets tour the UK together for the first time. Brought together by South African Poet Laureate and renowned exile campaigner Keorapetse Kgositsile, the show premieres specially commissioned new work. This is a blistering introduction to the new South Africa and to the power of live poetry in performance.

Featuring some of the most exciting voices of South Africa in the 21st century - Keorapetse Kgositsile, Lebo Mashile, Don Mattera and Phillippa Yaa de Villiers.

Keorapetse Kgositsile said: "I think an exchange of literature among peoples has better chances of building understanding and friendship than any diplomatic missions could ever achieve."