Have you heard of 30/30 projects? It’s when a foolhardy poet decides to produce one poem each day for every day of the month. For a reason I’m sure someone knows very well, more often than not, that month is April. This year, I have decided to try my hand at it, and so from Friday onwards I will be shamelessly displaying a brand new text for your viewing pleasure (if you accept a broad definition of pleasure, that is).

Obligatory ego-saving disclaimer: these poems will be first drafts, sketches, not finished pieces. I am very nervous about publishing them, mostly because this is very far from my normal writing habits. I am a slow, slow writer, and I tend to polish my texts endlessly before I decide they are ready to face the world. In fact, as I type this, I can’t shake the feeling that this is a very stupid decision; but as the attached picture shows, I have tried my hand at stupid before. I know stupid. I’m good at it.

Also, all the cool kids are doing it: exhibit A, exhibit B.

Header image source.

Here’s a conveniently compiled list of the four gigs we have lined up – if you are around, come and say hi. It would be lovely to see you.

• 25/01 – Amsterdam
• 26/01 – Utrecht
• 27/01 – Utrecht
• 29/01 – Venlo

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We have a cracking line-up for the inaugural night. Kim Trusty will be representing Birmingham – I’m very grateful to Kim (who is semi-retired as a performer) for agreeing to do a set. I saw her at Polarbear’s “Bear’s House” event at the mac and have want

ed to hear more ever since. Next is Tony Walsh, a Manchester poet whom I first met in Warsaw, where he did a 40 minute feature set for a special anniversary slam. 40 minutes, in English, in front of  a Polish crowd, and he still killed it. ’nuff said. And finally we have two Canadian artists – Ian Keteku, reigning Poetry Slam World Champion, and Brad Morden, ukulele player and poet, too.

Me, I’m looking forward to putting my hosting hat back on; but you, you should invite your friends, get there early to grab a seat, and enjoy. See you at the Victoria.

Picture source.

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Oh, and don’t forget to check out Ray’s poetry, as well as his spoken word/music project, Speed Camera Shy.

Well, I can now disclose the truth to you, oh internet: I am the new Apples & Snakes West Midlands Programme Coordinator. If you’re not familiar with Apples & Snakes –  it’s the UK’s foremost organisation for the promotion of spoken word as an art form. You can find out more about them by following this link, and really, you should go do it now. I’ll wait. There is some pretty amazing stuff up on that site. While you’re there, if you want to know exactly what I will be doing, click here; as a bonus, you will get a picture of me looking pale, apprehensive, and vaguely suspicious. As first impressions go, it doesn’t get much better than that.

So brace yourselves, all you West Midlands poetry people! Here I come.

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• Monday, June 7th: Hammer & Tongue London end of season party, with Steve Larkin, Yap, and open slam @ the Green Note Cafe (map); 19:30.
• Tuesday, June 8th: Chill Pill, “a weekly melldow vibe night of music & spoken word”, run by Mista Gee, Ray Antrobus and Deanna Rodger @ the Scream Bar, in Bethnal Green Road (map); 19:00.

I might do some poems; I might just sit back and enjoy the shows. Either way, it would be lovely to see you there.

Our hold over television screens in the Iberian Peninsula just got stronger: the TVE1 news item about La Noche de los Libros includes a brief mention of the spoken word poetry event which featured, among others, a performance from Smoke and Mirrors. I even appear on screen for about two seconds, around the 1:10 mark, only for the newscaster to say something about “poetas anonimos”, which is good promo if I ever saw any.

UPDATE

The ash cloud has shifted! Assuming it doesn’t erupt again in the next 24 hours, both Madrid gigs will take place as planned.

So, good to see you here. Have a browse, and don’t be a stranger.