WHEN
Saturday, April 9th, 18:30

WHERE
The Library Theatre
Birmingham Central Library, Paradise Place, Birmingham B3 3HQ (map)

MORE INFO
The Spring Thing is a leaner, more compact version of the Birmingham Book Festival, a short but intense celebration of literature which makes the wait for October easier. They pack a lot of events into one weekend – have a look.
Me, I’ll be performing at Talking Cities, where Birmingham Poet Laureate Roy McFarlane has invited a number of us to tell stories inspired by, well, the cities that they somehow feel close to. Other guest poets include Dave Reeves, Julie Boden, Kadisha, Alan’ Kurly’ McGeachie and Roz Goddard. Should be a good one!

Tickets – free!

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WHEN
Saturday, May 14th, 19:30

WHERE
Town Hall
Regent Circus (map)

MORE INFO
The Swindon Festival of Literature‘s grand finale is an extravaganza of of music and poetry, with tunes from the Glow Globes and Angela Jones, and a very strong line-up of poets, featuring, in no particular order, Catherine Brogan, AF HArrold, Liz Berry and me. “If we get it right,” the festival website proclaims, “this will be a memorable night!” Probably so, Swindon Festival of Literature, probably so.

Tickets £10(£9)

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WHEN
Saturday, February 19th, 19:00

WHERE
The Nave
1 St Paul’s Rd, Islington, London N1 4 (map)

MORE INFO
This is the third instalment of Sssh Boom Ssh Boom. The night is a surprising mix of various art forms – from dance, through music, magic and theatre to, well poetry. I had great fun performing at the first night of the series, skipped the second because of the German expedition, and am now coming back for more. Here’s who you can expect on stage this time around:

Young Athletes League
The Typewriters Collective (w/Alison Blunt & Benedict Taylor)
Model Staggs
Tax Deductible Theatre Company
Bohdan Piasecki
Two Way Medical

That’s a lot of metaphorical bang for your buck.

Tickets – £7.

Full gig list here.

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WHEN
Wednesday, February 16th, 20:00

WHERE
The Arts House
108a Stokes Croft
Bristol BS1 3RU (map)

MORE INFO
I love Bristol, but I have never had the chance to perform there. Except, that is, for an unplanned guest slot at a Smoke & Mirrors featuring Bernat, Laura & Sergio, which ended in me getting my feet tangled in the mic cable and nose-diving off the stage onto the hallowed floors of the Arnolfini.
On the 16th, I’m featuring at Jack Dean‘s regular slam, Brizzlemania, alongside James Bunting, Sam Drew and Lydia Beardmore. This is, by all accounts, an amazing night, and I’m really looking forward to it. Who can tell what wonderful feats of slapstick I might achieve this time around!

Tickets – £3.

Full gig list here.

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WHEN
Wednesday, February 2nd, 19:00

WHERE
The Winchester
39 Poole Hill, Bournemouth, United Kingdom (map)

MORE INFO
The Dutch tour is over – watch this space for some pictures and a quick recap, coming very soon indeed – but February promises to be a very busy month, with several gigs in various parts of the country. First up, a headline slot at Freeway Poets, a night that has built up quite a reputation in the South of England. I have never been to Freeway – in fact, I have never even been to Bournemouth – and I’m really looking forward to the night, which will feature live art and vegetarian food alongside the poetry. The other features are Adi Kyeyune and Keli Anne B. There’ll be an open mic, too, and the whole evening will be compered by Mark Berry. Should be a good one.

Tickets £4/NUS £3

Full gig list here.

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PureandGoodandRight

WHEN?

Monday, January 10th, 2011, 19:30

WHERE

The Sozzled Sausage

141 Regent St

Leamington Spa CV32 4NX (map)

MORE INFO

Fun fact: the first time I headlined PureandGoodandright was around three years ago. Natasha Godfrey, then the Apples & Snakes West Midlands coordinator, was there, and kindly recommended me to the rest of the A&S crew… As a result, I did a few gigs for the organisations in exotic places where no one had ever heard of me, like Plymouth. I have fond memories, is what I’m trying to say!

So if you’re around, come to the first PureandGoodandright night in 2011, and enjoy the spiffy new venue and long headline set from yours truly. Open mic slots are available, too.

Full gig list here.

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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.

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WHEN?
Wednesday, 27 October, 2010, 19:30

WHERE?
ARTCH
Next door to Ten Gales gallery, Arch 11, Gales Gardens London, Bethnal Green, E2 0EJ (map)

MORE INFO
Anti-slam champion Raymond Antrobus will host the night in conjunction with the evil mastermind behind the whole concept, Paula Varjack, flying in from here secret volcano-base in exotic Berlin.A choice panel of London’s topmost hosts and poetry promoters, including Richard Tyrone Jones, Niall O’Sullivan, Michelle Madsen and Naomi Woddis.
Proceedings will begin with throwing the Sacrificial Poet, Simon Mole, to the bloodthirsty crowds. The frenzied masses will then have the opportunity to witness Hollie McNish, Bohdan Piasecki (ha!), MC Angel, Musa Okwonga, Pete The Temp, Niall Spooner Harvey, Mark Walton, Sabrina Mahfouz, Rob Auton and the Captain Of The Rant try their best to be the worst. There are also rumours about a secret guest…
Remember: the lowest score wins!
If you want to know (even) more. email the organisers at antislam@live.com.

Cheltenham Literary Festival

WHEN?

Sunday, October 10th, 2010, 15:00

WHERE?

Voices Off Stage

Regent Arcade, Cheltenham (map)

MORE INFO

The Cheltenham Literary Festival is one of the biggest in the UK. Invited writers are ferried from the station to the luscious green room by limousines and fed with gourmet food. They then appear on brightly lit stages before an adoring public.

So it makes sense that when I go there on October 10th, I will be trying to capture  the attention of random passers-by on a tiny stage in a shopping arcade.

Seriously, though, the Voices Off stage is a great way to take poetry to people who would otherwise not have the chance to experience it, and I’m thrilled to have been invited to take part. So if you’re around in Cheltenham on that Sunday, come over and show your support!

Tickets: free!

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