Brighton International Women's Special Slam!

This Saturday March 11th sees Hammer and Tongue presenting their International Women's Special in Brighton.

This will be an Open Poetry Slam with special guest, Salena Saliva, and will be held at Polar Central, Queens Road, Brighton. So if you're in the Brighton area this weekend, get yourself down to Polar Central and perform your poems, or show your support by listening and having a few drinks on the side. Iced lemonade, of course. My own favourite tipple.

Doors 7pm show 8-11
£6 / £4 conc.

Women Poets Showcase in Coventry

This was the line-up at Tuesday night's poetry reading in Coventry, celebrating International Women's Day, from right to left: Kim Trusty, Jane Holland, Pascale Petit, Zoe Brigley, Helen Ivory and Esther Morgan.

To read a full report on this Women Poets Showcase which was held at the Herbert Gallery in Coventry, visit my writing blog Raw Light.

John Hegley & Co. in The Cellar this Saturday

This Saturday, March 11th, at 8pm sharp, for the slight inconvenience of a fiver, you can hear the world-renowned poetry performer John Hegley, not to mention poets Ainsley Burrows and Lucy Leagrave, down in the Cellar at the Poetry Sociey, that dark intimate space under the stairs where they keep all the best poets. This London event is hosted as usual by Niall O’Sullivan. The Poetry Society is at 22 Betterton Street, London. Tube: Covent Garden. For more information, you can always try visiting the Poetry Society website.

I've got John Hegley's 'Beyond Our Kennel'(Methuen 1999) on my desk at the moment;

hilarious stuff,
I wish I could make it myself,
but alas, the train
costs a bomb
and the head gasket's gone ...

et cetera, Anon.

Irish Bookfair Readings in London this Saturday

There will be a poetry reading at the Hammersmith Irish Centre in London this Saturday, featuring Ulli McCarthy (aka Freer), Eamonn Nugent, and Tony Allen as part of THE IRISH BOOKFAIR.

Saturday March 11th at Hammersmith Irish Centre, Blacks Rd, W6
(Hammersmith tube) 1pm - 5pm
Free Entrance!

London Review Bookshop reading Thursday night

I've just heard that Dirk van Bastelaere (from Flanders/Belgium), Arjen Duinker (from the Netherlands) and Sarah Maguire will be reading at the London Review Bookshop, 14 Bury Place, London WC1 on Thursday 9 March, at 7:00pm.
Free admittance!
Bury Place is one of the streets running south of the British Museum, parallel to Museum Street.

UK Slam Championship Semi-Finals

Hammer and Tongue’s own Steve Larkin and Sophia Blackwell are two poets who have qualified for the UK Slam Championship. They would both value your support at the semi final event at The Theatre Royal, Stratford, London on Thursday 9th of March. The final should either of them or one of them get through is on Saturday the 11th of March. Sadly, I don't know who the other semi-finalists are or I would gladly post up their names. Here are the venue details if you fancy going along:

Theatre Royal Stratford East
Gerry Raffles Square
Stratford
London
E15 1BN

Free booking Line: 0800 183 1188, Telephone: 020 8534 7374, Fax: 020 8534 8381
For Enquiries, email theatreroyal@stratfordeast.com or visit their website.

N.B. Since there has been some controversy over the naming of this Slam Championship, I'm posting this to accompany the publicity. Theatre Royal Stratford East would like to clarify that its UK SLAM CHAMPIONSHIP has no connection whatsoever to any event bearing the same, or similar title.

John Siddique at the MAC, Birmingham

Thursday 9th of March, 7.30pm. Poetry Bites. The MAC, Birmingham

John Siddique’s poetry has at its heart the themes of communication, storytelling and what it means to be human at this point in time. He is a British poet who subtly draws on his Irish and Indian heritage to straddle the complications of today’s society. His writing charts a middle course between emotion and intellect, confession and “spin”, intuition and factuality. His work has appeared in numerous publications in the UK and abroad. His many commissions and residencies include Ilkley & Ledbury Festivals, New Writing Partnership, HMYOI Wetherby, The Lowry, and BBC Manchester. He mentors and teaches creative writing, and acts as a consultant, privately and for many institutions, including Arts Council of England, The Arvon Foundation & The Poetry Society.

"John Siddique is a powerful, arresting and provocative new poetic voice" - Gavin Wallace - Head of Literature, Scottish Arts Council

Poetry Bites also includes floor spots where people can share their own poetry with an appreciative audience. If you would like to read your own work, please arrive a bit earlier to book a floor spot.

Please note, this is the last Poetry Bites in the series; if you want them to continue following Sibyl Ruth's change of job - she's been organising them and is now moving on - make sure you let the MAC know by post, email or leaving a note after your visit.

What does MAC stand for? The Midlands Arts Centre.
Where's the MAC? Click here to visit the MAC website for more details on John Siddique's reading and how to find the venue.

A Slam History Request from Helen Gregory

The Emergence of Slam in England: Can You Help to Fill in the Gaps?

Do you know anything about the emergence and early development of Slam in England? Were you performing poetry in the early 90s? Or were you in the audience for one of the early Slams?

I am trying to piece together an account of the spread of slam to England, as as part of my sociology PhD at the University of Exeter.

So far, the earliest two references I can find are to a Slam with the Nuyorican poets at the Hackney Empire, London and a Slam broadcast on Radio 4, both in the early-mid 90s. Do you know about either of these events? Were you there? Maybe you've heard about Slams in England even earlier than these? As far as I'm aware, nothing has been published about the early history of Slam in England, so I'm desperately short of resources for my research.

I'm also hoping to plug this gap and spread the word about Slam's beginnings and evolution in Blighty - after all, I'm a performance poet myself and believe that the more people write, read and talk about Slams the better!

If you can help, please e-mail: helen_gregory@hotmail.com

Thanks!

Helen Gregory

Farrago Spanish Poetry Showcase

Farrago Spanish (& English) Poetry Showcase

This a London event, to be held on Thursday, 9th March, 7:30pm, in the RADA Foyer Bar, Malet St, WC1. (Tube: Goodge St.)

Come and read your original or favourite Spanish language poetry, in Spanish or translation or both! Features include: Juan Calle & Isabel del Rio. Others tbc! Performers, poets & audience needed for a celebration of poetry, literature and culture in Spanish and translated from Spanish!

Host: John Paul O’Neill. Tickets: £6/£4.

For more information, you can try farragopoetry@yahoo.co.uk

Poetry Idol 7 at SHORTFUSE

Thursday 9th March: SHORTFUSE POETRY IDOL 7

After the success of the first six Poetry Idol contests, from which the winners
have gone on to obtain regular performances across London, 5 star Edinburgh
Fringe shows, and BBC Radio appearances, SHORTFUSE is once again giving new poetic
talent a chance to shine.

They will be presenting six poets new to SHORTFUSE: Dorna Aslanzadeh, Richard Tyrone Jones, Domain Jane, Ahren Warner, Louise Bennett and Mat Lloyd. These poets will each perform for 10 minutes and then the audience will be allowed to decide which two acts should be given a full length set at SHORTFUSE later in the year and crowned Poetry Idol 7 winners.

Shortfuse is held every Thursday at The Camden Head, Camden Walk, Islington, London, N1 (Tube: Angel)Doors: 8.30pm. Admission: £5 waged / £3 concessions.

More details can be found by emailing info@shortfuse.co.uk or you can visit their website. If you'd like to try out for Poetry Idol yourself, there are details online of how to send samples of your work to SHORTFUSE on CD or DVD.

Last in Cambridge Series Poetry Readings

CAMBRIDGE SERIES POETRY READINGS

This is the last in the current run of poetry readings at St. John's. Poets reading their work this week are: Dell Olsen, Peter Robinson, and Tom Jones.

For regulars, please note, this is being held on TUESDAY March 7th at 8pm, and is back in the NEW MUSIC ROOM, First Court, St John's College. £3/2 donations hoped for. Wine will be served as usual.

ALL ARE WELCOME

see www.cambridgepoetry.org for further details
or email contact@cambridgepoetry.org to be sent them.

__________

ALSO check out:

- Peter Robinson reading
Wed 8 March, from 6:30, at King's College, The Strand, London.

WOMEN POETS SHOWCASE

This week, there will be a WOMEN POETS SHOWCASE in Coventry City Centre, on Tuesday 7th March. It will feature readings by several noted female poets, to celebrate International Women's Day.

Poets reading at this special event will be Esther Morgan, Jane Holland, Pascale Petit, Helen Ivory, Zoe Brigley, Kim Trusty, Jenny Ousbey. You will have noticed my name in there, I'm sure. And the fact that it's a free event must be even more of a sweetener.

The poetry readings will run from 7- 9pm, at the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Jordans Well, Coventry City Centre. It's FREE entrance, refreshments will be provided, and there's always plenty of parking around the Cathedral area of the city. So I hope to see you there ...

Jackie Kay at the Bolton Octagon Theatre

This Monday evening, March 6th, Jackie Kay will be reading her work at the Bolton Octagon Theatre.

One of Britain's best known poets, the brilliant Jackie Kay is performing in the Bolton University series of literary events at the Octagon. The Edinburgh-born writer drew on her own family experience for her first collection, 1991's The Adoption Papers and her subsequent collections have won both awards and acclaim. Her latest book of poetry, Life Mask, was published by Bloodaxe last year and incorporates themes of love, secrets and loss.

Unfortunately, I've just heard that this show has SOLD OUT! But I suppose there might be cancellations on the night. Try the Octagon Theatre here.

LOUD & PROUD at the SPIT-LIT FESTIVAL

SPIT-LIT FESTIVAL

Celebrating Women's Writing 3 – 11 March 2006
Oxford House, Derbyshire Street, off Bethnal Green Road E2.

This Sunday, March 5th, at 7pm, at the Spit-Lit Festival, you can enjoy the various talents of the poetry & spoken word performers listed below, in LOUD & PROUD, a show presented by Apples & Snakes, with Clare Dowie, Jay Bernard, Ebele, Kate Fox and Joelle Taylor MC.

TICKETS 020 7247 2584. £6/£4 concs and £7/£5 concs.

A full Festival programme with times of visits can be found at Alternative Arts under SPIT-LIT Festival.

Mr Gee, Dave Bryant & Kate Fox lurking in the Cellar this Saturday night

Yes, the post title never lies, and here's the proof ...

At 8pm this Saturday, March 4th, for the cost of a mere five pound note - or three pound coins and a bent farthing if you are socially disadvantaged in any way, which includes me - you can nip down into The Cellar at the Poetry Society, 22 Betterton Street, London, to gawk at the inimitable MR GEE, DAVE BRYANT and KATE FOX shakin' their thangs behind or just to one side of a microphone, with Niall O’Sullivan playing host, as opposed to truant or the goat. Recommended.

Nearest tube: Covent Garden.

Women's Slam this Tuesday in Oxford - with FREE chocolates!

This is just a reminder of an International Women's Day poetry event, as I've already flagged this up as a good evening to attend if at all possible. But I didn't know at that stage about the free chocolates!

So, for the second year running, Hammer and Tongue will be hosting a poetry slam at the ZODIAC, Cowley, to celebrate International Women's Day on Tuesday the 7th of March. Oxford's premier performance poetry night, Hammer and Tongue, presents 'Crème de la Femme,' a chocolatey treat for International Women's Day that brings this year's theme of 'Women's Voices,' into the loud, proud, public domain.

Hammer & Tongue will indulge the audience with a delectable array of female poetic talent: smooth, dark, sweet, sophisticated, zesty, bitter and stimulating, just like your favourite chocolates! Serving up the finest homemade truffles and cakes to tempt audiences in the breaks, we promise to send serotonin levels soaring - and all the profits from the sweets go to Women's Aid, so forget the guilt!

Guest artists include:

· Salena Saliva - London spoken word artist whose mission is to take poetry into clubs; renowned for her uncensored poetry and sexy, sassy stage presence.
· Rebecca Smart - 2005's Cheltenham Literature Festival Slam champion- lyrical, sophisticated and charming.
· Jay Bernard - Daring, powerful young London poet, featured in the Guardian and on Radio 4 - an unmissable up-and-coming talent.
· Baraka - Local spoken-word goddess from the Coven Club


The comperes - Hammer and Tongue Slam Champions Claire 'Radical Supergirly' Fauset and Sophia 'Sassy Sappho,' Blackwell - will bring their own brand of wild womanhood to the night.

The highlight of the night will be a competitive Poetry Slam featuring eight local performance poets. Anyone is welcome to come and sign up for the Slam!

Doors open 7 pm, showcase and slam 8 - 11, £6 / £4 concessions. Places at the slam are limited to 8 competitors, so arrive early if you want to perform. For more information call 01865 200550, or email poetry@hammerandtongue.org

Bespoken Word, BBC Radio 4's performance poetry show

BESPOKEN WORD
This is BBC Radio 4’s performance poetry show, on at the Albany Theatre next weekend. You can book now for free tickets for Saturday March 11th, if this is your kind of thing. It certainly looks like being an impressive line-up.

Presented by Mr Gee

Featured performance artists include:John Hegley, Zena Edwards, Malgorzata Kitowski, Polar Bear, shortMAN, Jamie Woon, Littleman and Edge, Attila the Stockbroker and many more…

ALBANY THEATRE
Tel: 0208-692 4446
www.thealbany.org.uk
http://www.thealbany.org.uk/calendar.php

SONY RADIO AWARD NOMINEE

Bar Opens 6.30pm
Doors Close 7.25pm
Recording 7.30 pm

As featured in New Nation, The Voice, Time Out, The Times, The Observer

SIX OF THE BEST (Birmingham) advance dates

Last night saw the final open audition night for SIX OF THE BEST, a search across the Midlands for the best poetry and spoken word performers in the region. Starting in April, these top performers will appear at a series of shows held at the Birmingham Library Theatre, demonstrating their skill for fifteen minutes each to a paying audience.

Most of the slots had already been decided, but last night’s auditions were to find the remaining performers for the last event of the series, to be held in September, plus what Dreadlockalien - Birmingham’s Poet Laureate and organiser of SIX OF THE BEST - charmingly calls ‘suicide poets’; i.e. the 3 minute warm-up acts that will kick off each evening performance.

We will also have an excellent ska band accompanying the series, whose name, I think, is PHAT CONTROLLER. Here are some of the band in action last night at the Birmingham Library Theatre.



I don’t have all the names for last night’s winners, I’m afraid, but I can give you the names of the other top Midlands performers to appear in SIX OF THE BEST ... and please note, I’ll be performing on May 3rd, ahem:

APRIL 5TH:
Helen Monks, Moaqapi Selassi, Polar Bear, Peter Wyton, Muna Hussen, Launa Meehan

MAY 3RD:
Sean Kelly, Emma Purshouse, Kokumo, Andy Conner, Sue Brown, Jane Holland

JUNE 7TH:
Spoz, Big Brendan Higgins, Heather Bryson, Jimmy Fantastic, Louis Campbell, Paul Rafferty

JULY 5TH:
Godfrey Salter and his Invisible Ducks, Jah Biggz, Dan Wilson, Leeanne Stoddart, Vince Gould, Yussef Ahmed

AUGUST 2ND:
Matt Nunn, Maggie Doyle, Charlie Jordan, Simon Lee, Jasmine Johnson, plus one tba

SEPTEMBER 6TH:
Slots to be filled by the winners who came through last night’s final audition at the Library Theatre

DETAILS OF TICKET PRICES, PERFORMANCE TIMES etc TO FOLLOW SOON.

AFTERWORD:
Now, the name of the fellow below, who gave us a great performance last night in the final auditions and fully deserves his place in SIX OF THE BEST, is possibly Just B. Or Justin B. Not sure about that, I had my hat on at the time. Anyone who knows for sure, please leave a comment below. But he’s very good. If a little saucy.

Crossing the Line, Friday March 3rd

Another Crossing the Line reading will take place this Friday 3rd March in the upstairs room at The Plough, 27 Museum St., London WC1.

Reading this Friday evening will be Jeff Hilson, Vahni Capildeo and Stephen Mooney.

The event begins at 7.30pm. Admissions: £5/£3 (concessions). Nearest tubes: Russell Sq, Tottenham Crt Rd, Holborn.

Other forthcoming readings in the series include Peter Manson and Robert Sheppard (7 April), John Hall and Ken Edwards (5 May), and Christopher Twigg and tba (2 June).

Shortfuse with Rhian Edwards, Niall McDevitt and Kathryn Gray

Here's the line-up for this Thursday, 2nd March, at SHORTFUSE, Islington.

Rhian Edwards:
A feature length set from Welsh born London based poet, performer and musician.A
fusion of intelligent spokenword, song and poetry, laden with humour and
subtlety. One of the most exciting young voices around.

Niall McDevitt:
A contemporary troubadour that fearlessly pushes the boundaries of the literary
tradition, a passionate performer that will make you sit up and take notice.

Kathryn Gray:
Delicate, intricate and accessible – well observed and intelligently
constructed poetry.

Every Thursday @ The Camden Head, Camden Walk, Islington, London, N1
Tube: Angel. Doors: 8.30pm. Admission: £5 waged / £3 concessions.

Click here for SHORTFUSE online.

Poetry at Queens' College, Cambridge, Thursday 2nd March

CAMBRIDGE SERIES POETRY READINGS

PLEASE NOTE: THE VENUE FOR THIS EVENT IS THE OLD HALL, QUEENS' COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE

This is a rare opportunity to hear a night of performances of avant-garde music and sound poetry. Since this could turn out to be an exceptional evening, the Cambridge Series Poetry Reading organisers are - not unnaturally - encouraging as many people as possible to attend.

Thursday March 2:
John Cage _Four6_ (1992)
extract from Cornelius Cardew _Treatise_ (1963-67)
Kurt Schwitters, _Ursonate_ (1922-32)
and other 'sound' poetry.

The event begins promptly at 8pm in the Old Hall, Queens' College, Cambridge. Tickets will be £3 (available on the door) and wine will be served, as usual.

Performers will include:
Sean Bonney (voice), Harry Gilonis (percussion, radio, electrics),
Chris Goode (voice &c.), Clare Lesser (voice), David Lesser (piano),
Katie McClaughry (trumpet), Peter Manson (voice), Kate Newell (oboe),
Josh Robinson ('cello, voice).
Curated by Harry Gilonis and Josh Robinson

See www.cambridgepoetry.org for further details
or email contact@cambridgepoetry.org to be sent them.

Queens' College is here (on a map).

*
The final reading in this series will be on Tuesday 7th March (please note this is a Tuesday, not a Thursday as usual).
Peter Robinson - Dell Olson - Tom Jones

'Buzzwords' Live Poetry in Cheltenham this Sunday

If you live out west, there's a regular live poetry event happening in Cheltenham on the first Sunday of every month, featuring a writing workshop, guest poet and - best of all, for those of us who like to exercise our egos and improve our performance skills at the same time - an open mic session. The event is called Buzzwords at The Beehive and looks to be an engaging and dynamic presence on the UK live poetry scene.

I bumped into Peter Wyton at a Hammer & Tongue event in Oxford the other night, an established poet-performer from that neck of the woods, who has entertained the crowd at Buzzwords and recommends it. The next meeting is on Sunday March 5th, with guest poet Tony Petch, the live poetry part of the event kicking off at 8pm with an extremely reasonable entrance fee of £3.

Here are those details again:
Cheltenham’s Poetry Cafe
First Sunday of Every Month
Upstairs at: The Beehive,
Montpellier Villas, Cheltenham

CURRENT PROGRAMME:
Guest poets: 5th March - Tony Petch
2nd April - Paul Lyalls
7th May - Jane Kinninmont
4th June - Ann Drysdale
2nd July - A F Harrold

7pm - Writing time: exercises, themes and tips to get you going.
8pm – Guest poet reading and open mic
Come at 7pm if you want to write, 8pm if you don’t. There will be open mic spots available; first come, first served.
Entrance: £3. Enquiries: 07855 308122. E-mail: cheltpoetry@yahoo.co.uk

Women's Poetry Slam for International Women's Day

WOMEN’S POETRY SLAM at the Zodiac, Oxford, next Tuesday March 7th.

To celebrate International Women’s Day, this is a super-charged event based on the theme of ‘Women’s Voices', featuring a 'stupendous quadruple bill with special guest artists' according to the vast and complex Hammer & Tongue publicity machine (i.e. Steve Larkin) - and here they are -

Salena Saliva
who has not single-handedly, but almost, been responsible for making poetry popular on the London club scene, has been a guest vocalist with Ninja Tunes ColdCut and Alabama 3 and is as outrageous and funny a poetry performer as you’re ever likely to see

Jay Bernard
Winner of the Foyles Young Poet Award

and Rebecca Smart
Cheltenham All Stars Slam Champion 2005.

Finally, there's the Women's Open Poetry Slam, which is your chance to wow the judges inside three minutes and qualify for the final in May.

To recap, the Women's Poetry Slam will be held @ The Zodiac, Cowley, Oxford, this coming Tuesday 7th March, doors open and sign up 7pm, show 8-11.

Word in Leicester Wednesday 1st March

From 8pm onwards, on Wednesday 1st March, with entrance absolutely FREE for everyone, the monthly Leicester performance poetry and spoken word show will roll onto the stage once more at Bambu, 21 Welford Road (opposite council buildings).

As always, there will be Open Floor Spots available, which sounds unhealthy but actually just means you can step up to the mic yourself if so inclined. For more information on that, you can contact Steve Carroll on 07870 608875 or email him at steve@applesandsnakes.org

Word is Leicester's premier open floor spoken word event. It runs on the first Wednesday of each month at the Bambu café bar, and features a fantastic guest artist as well as open floor spots.

This month's special guest performer is none other than Kimberley Trusty.

Kimberly Trusty grew up in Canada and Jamaica and now resides in Birmingham.
She holds an MA in Colonial and Post-Colonial Literature from the University
of Warwick. Her first book of poetry, 'Darker Than Blue' was published in
2002 (McGilligan Books, Toronto). 'Modern Amazons', her first play, was at
The REP (Birmingham) in June 2005. She was one of the artists selected for
the Apples & Snakes national tour 'Temptations', which ran very successfully
last year.

To find out more about the people behind this event, feel free to click here for the Apples and Snakes website or the Complex Trout website.

Countdown begins to the Live Literature Arena, April 1st & 2nd

Hammer and Tongue presents The Live Literature Arena

Saturday, 1 April & Sunday, 2 April • 12 pm-10.30 pm • £8.00 • The Rotunda, Grove House, Iffley Turn, Iffley, Oxford

In case you haven't been reading the fliers or listening to the announcements at clued-up poetry events recently, Hammer and Tongue, the biggest promoters of poetry slams in the UK, are staging a special weekend of live acts at the end of the Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival 2006. Specializing in literature that thrives in a live environment, this series of performance poetry and spoken word shows takes place in an eighteenth-century building once owned by Graham Greene and steeped in literary heritage; Grove House was frequented by Lewis Carroll and it's believed the character of The Mad Hatter was based on a former resident!

Featuring some of the best performance poets and spoken word artists that the UK has to offer, including: BBC and world slam champion, Kat Francois; Spoken Word Olympic international champion, Steve Larkin; Motormouth and stand- up poetry genius, Rob Gee; the Hammer and Tongue annual slam champion, A. F. Harrold; the 2005 Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival slam champion, Alan Buckley; and many others, too numerous for me to mention in this particular post ... except perhaps for my own local group of spoken word and stand-up poetry performers, Birmingham's finest New October Poets. What a weekend!

These shows are for children (some are PG or 15 rated) and adults: the full programme of events can be seen at www.hammerandtongue.org, by calling 01865 200550, or by emailing events@hammerandtongue.co.uk

Alternatively, you can wait another week or so until I've got my act together and return here to find a full listing of who's performing what & when.