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.

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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.

Picture source.