What's On - May

FESTIVALS
30th April -6th May Chipping Campden Festival :http://www.campdenlitfest.co.uk/contentok.php?id=88

Fri 4th-7th May Shrewsbury Bookfest:http://www.shrewsburybookfest.co.uk/#/whats-on/4559069123

Mon 7th-19th May Swindon Festival of Literature:http://www.swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk/

Sat 19th May-27th Nailsworth Festival:http://www.nailsworthfestival.org.uk/

Tues 1st Night Blue Fruit, Taylor Johns, Canal Basin, Coventry 8pm: Free in Sarah James headlines plus open mic, Barry Patterson/ Anthony Owen host

Thurs 3rd Phenomenal Women Two, Library Theatre, Birmingham. Poetry evening with Jan Watts 7.30pm,
Birmingham Poet Laureate, Jan Watts brings you another evening of poetry by ‘phenomenal women’ that she has met, worked with or come across. This is a free event on Thursday 3 May (7.30pm – 9pm) at Birmingham Library Theatre (no need to book, just turn up, please contact Jan direct (details on attachment) if you would like a reading slot at this event).

Thurs 3rd Yard of Tales,Joules Yard, rear of 53-55 High Street, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 7AF. Joules Yard is a unique venue with a licensed bar after 7pm, also serving tea and coffee. If you would like to order a vegetarian meal for the evening, provided by ‘The Green House’ please telephone 01858 463250. Market Harborough, Leicestershire, Meets first Thursday in the month.Yard of Tales is a performance storytelling club hosted by Kevin Walker www.kevinwalker-storyteller.com!Tickets £6 at door (includes nibbles).For further information – 0116 259 2233 or 01858 463250

Thur 3rd Word Up Poetry Open Mic plus headliners,The Drum Arts Centre,The Drum, 144 Potters Lane, Aston, Birmingham, B6 4UU,0121 333 2444, www.the-drum.org.uk Seasonal monthly, first Thursdays, Last one before the autumn 8pm, £5in.j.morley@the-drum.org.uk

Thur 3rd The Poetry Evening The Shrewsbury Coffeehouse,5 Castle Gates, SY1 2AE, with Liz Lefroy , 8pm , free in, Booked bill.

Thurs 3rd, Parole Parlate, Little Venice, Worcester, 7.30pm:Parole Parlate : The Spoken Word” is back on Thursday 3rd May 2012 and is a dedicated spoken word and “music that tells a story” platform. If you would like the chance to read your short stories, poems, prose, try out your performance poetry or music that tells a story, this evening is for you!
Hosted by Little Venice in Worcester, there will be a full bar service, cakes/snacks and you can of course take advantage of their full menu and enjoy their delicious pizzas, pastas or salads. Try out their £7.95 menu which includes a main course and a drink.
Already confirmed to perform on May 3rd:
Chris Wayne
Euginia Herlihy
Math Jones
Chardonnay Jade
Andrew Owens
Beth “Knuckles” Edwards
Plus a very special performance by Tony Judge, who will be entertaining us with more of his extracts from the Littlehope Parish Magazine.
ENTRY FEE
The entry fee for this event is £3.00 on the door,
TAKING PART AND PERFORMING
If would like a slot to perform on one of these dates please let us know by emailing info@worcslitfest.com, leave a post on the wall of this event or visit www.facebook.com/worcslitfest and leave a post on the wall.
Performers get free entry, a choice of an alcoholic or soft drink and cake for taking part.
“Parole Parlate : The Spoken Word” is on the first Thursday of every month

Thur 3rd Poetry & Pints, Church Rooms, Chipping Campden.9pm; £5.00:Angela France is back by popular demand for a third year with Nine Arches Poets Daniel Sluman, Matt Merritt and Maria Taylor.Open mic spots for audience members to read their own work, or much loved poems by others.Please sign up on the door.Book tickets: 01386 841 222

http://www.campdenlitfest.co.uk/contentok.php?id=88

Fri 4th Spoken Word & Music First Friday 20:30 The Hollybush The Hollybush, 53 Newtown Street, Cradley Heath B64 5EA Open mic liveatthebush@yahoo.co.uk
Jack Edwards and Al Barz officiate

Fri 4th Northampton Poetry/ Short Fiction Reading,University of Northampton, Avenue Campus, MR33,9:30am until 11:00am,Andrew “Mulletproof Graves, Roy Marshall, Jessica Mayhew, Charles G Lauder and Hannah Stevens will be reading from their new pamphlets, published by Crystal Clear Creators. Free to come along! Tea and coffee provided.

Sun 6th Buzzwords, Exmouth Arms,Bath Road Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL53 7LX, 7pm Workshop, open mic plus Katy Evans Bush

Sun 6th ARTournament’s Sunday Chill,The New Inn in the centre of Gloucester (opp M&S) City Centre. 16 Northgate Street, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL2. UK. First Sunday, £5in, 3pm-9pm. poetry, Comedy and Music.

Mon 7th The SW@N Club – Spoken Word at the Newhampton, Wolverhampton Meets every 1st Monday of the month (no club in August) at 8 pm – 10.30 pm. Admission – suggested donation on entry.The club meets in the upstairs room at the Newhampton Inn, Riches Street, Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, WV6 0DW.For further details please contact Peter Chand www.chandstory.com

Tues 8th Mouth & Music 5,Boars Head Gallery, Kidderminster 8pm, £3 in:We’re delighted to present THE DECADENT DIVAS, 4 women, each from a different decade – all great friends who giggle over tea, toast, cake…in fact anything edible/drinkable and write poetry together. This is their second show, set at a wedding…..what do women really talk about when no-one but you is listening?…..
The Decadent Divas are:
Maggie Doyle, Charlie Jordan, Lorna Meehan & Laura Yates
Come and be entertained! It’s only £3 to get in, and if you fancy performing there’s no charge. 5 minute slots are available for spoken word performers, 2 songs for musicians. Get there early to book a slot. There’s no PA – it’s cosy & up-close.
Presented by Heather Wastie & Sarah Tamar for KAF Creatives.

Tues 8th City Voices Second Tuesday 19:30 City Bar King Street, Wolverhampton WV 1ST booked poets simon.fletcher@wolverhampton.gov.uk

Tues 8th Scribal Gathering Bull Hotel, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes MK11 1AQ, 2nd tuesday monthly,Entry: free; open mic poetry and music with featured acts,”Stony Stratford’s première spoken word and music performance event. This monthly meeting of minds will bring together writers, musicians and performers of all kinds to share their talents, entertain each other and evoke the spirit of gathering. Join us…” Sign up for the open mic on the night, or reserve a slot by email: info@scribalgathering.com.http://www.scribalgathering.com/

Tues 8th Tales at the Edge, White Lion Inn, Bridgnorth, Shropshire,Tales at the Edge is one of the country’s oldest and most established storytelling clubs, meeting in Bridgenorth on the 2nd Tuesday of every month (except August) at 8 pm.
Hear tales, myths and legends from all over the world in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere. Whether you are new to storytelling, an experienced teller or just enjoy listening to stories. There is no charge for admission.
For more details contact: Mike Rust 01694 771 379.

Wed 9th The Quad Derby QUAD, Market Place, Cathedral Quarter, Derby, DE1 3AS Second Wednesday 19.30 Free in, A monthly night of performed poetry for everyone, new performers always welcome or just come and listen, More details from QUAD or contact Les on T: 01332 206 734, http://www.derbyquad.co.uk

Wed 9 May,: An evening of Persian Poetry at The Barber Institute, Birmingham University 6.30 – 8pm,Persian poetry is one of the world’s greatest literary treasures, although little is known of the rich and dynamic tradtition of contemporary Persian poetry. The Poetry Translation Centre’s Persian Poets’ Tour presents two prominant Persian langauge poets from Afghanistan and Mimi Khalvati. The poets will read in the their native language before the UK poets share the translations. In partnership with The Barber Institute of Fine Arts.
– full details and a booking link will be available at www.birminghambookfestival.org shortly.

Thurs 10th The Shipping Forecast Open Mic, Second Thursday Monthly Rude Shipyard Cafe,89 Abbeydale Rd Sheffield, S7 1FE:7.45 Hosted by miss piggy or stan skinny, message for slots.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Great-Yorkshire-Word-search/275766372495584?sk=wall#!/pages/The-Shipping-Forecast-spoken-word/276780052333840?sk=info

http://www.therudeshipyard.com

Saturday 12th Mars On The Rise Book Launch by Rachel Gee, Century Theatre, Coalville.7.30pm For a mere £20 you receive a signed copy of the book, various Victorian themed goodies and music, dancing, laughter and general splendidness at the Century Theatre. Going to be a lot of Steampunk fun!

Saturday 12th– Swindon Youth Slam and Wed16th adult Poetry Slam at Swindon Festival of Literature. Time and venue to be confirmed

Sat 12th Poets Place, Birmingham Central Library,2pm-4pm, free in, second Sat monthly

Mon 14th Pub Poetry Nottingham The Canal house, 48-52 Canal Street, Nottingham, NG1 7EH,8pm, 2nd monday : Free in, Open mic Contact Nick on pubpoetry@nottscomedyfestival.co.uk

Mon 14th PureandGoodandRight Second Monday 19:30 The Sozzled Sausage 141 Regent St, Leamington Spa CV32 4NX Open mic + guest pgrpoetry@gmail.com http://pgrpoetry.blogspot.com/

Tues 15th Poetry Alight, Spark Cafe, Tamworth St, Lichfield.WS13 6JP 7.30pm start. free in. Open mic poetry evening – but all places taken, a fabulous roster of poets. Gary Longden comperes. Get there early. Sue Brown , Mstr Morrison , Rob Stevens and Roy Marshall headline. Railway station close by, easy parking.

Tues 15th Poetry Club Giggling Goblin Coffee Shop, Mill Lane, Ashby de la Zouch– 8:30, free in, with a licensed bar and great coffee. Third Tuesday of the month. Open mic poetry and folk
Wed 16th Templar Poetry,Lamb & Flag, The Tyhthing, Worcester, 8pm; Open mic, third Wednesday, Alex officiates contact:Alex McMillen, Alex McMillen,Templar Poetry, PO BOX 7082, Bakewell, Derbyshire, DE45 9AF,Tel: 01629 582500, Mobile: 07918166975

Thurs 17th Speak Up, Bulls Head, Moseley, Birmingham, 3rd Thursday, monthly, 7.30pm: headliners plus open mic,£5in http://www.bullsheadmoseley.co.uk/

Fri 18th Spoken Worlds Third Friday 19:30 The Old Cottage Tavern , Byrkley St,eet, Burton-upon-Trent DE14 2JJ with Gary Carr Open mic gajwriter@btinternet.com

Sunday 20th Poetry Rodeo,Jam Café, 12 Heathcoat Street, Nottingham NG1 3AA:6pm:FREE ENTRY,To celebrate the launch of new publications by four extra-special poets, we welcome you to the Poetry Rodeo….With guest poets Alistair Noon, Sarah Jackson, C.J. Allen and Aly Stoneman
Alistair Noon was born in 1970 and grew up in Aylesbury. Besides time spent in Russia and China, he has lived in Berlin since the early nineties, where he works as a translator. His poetry and translations from German and Russian have appeared in nine chapbooks from small presses. Earth Records is his first full-length collection.
Sarah Jackson’s pamphlet Milk (Pighog) was shortlisted for the Michael Marks Award. Her work appears in a wide range of magazines and anthologies including Voice Recognition: 21 Poets for the 21st Century (Bloodaxe) and The Best British Poetry 2011 (Salt). Pelt is published by Bloodaxe in May 2012.
C. J. Allen’s prize-winning poetry (in the Arvon, Yorkshire, Lebdury, Ilkley, Ware, Nottingham & English Association competitions, amongst others) has been appearing in magazines & anthologies in the UK, USA, Ireland & elsewhere for what feels to him like hundreds of years. His most recent collections are: A Strange Arrangement: New and Selected Poems (Leafe Press, 2007), & Lemonade (a red ceilings press e-book, 2010). Violets – winner of the Templar Press Short Collection Competition – was published in November 2011. He currently edits the reviews pages of the literary magazine Staple.
Aly Stoneman is an arts project coordinator and poetry editor at LeftLion Magazine. Her writing explores relationships between human beings and landscape through myths and journeys. A commissioned poet for Lyric Lounge and winner of the Nottingham Poetry Society Slam 2011, her pamphlet Lost Lands was published by Crystal Clear Creators in March 2012.

Mon 21st Shindig, Western PH, Leicester, 7.30pm: Free in,Open mic & Celebration of the launch of Alistair Noon and C.J. Allen’s new Nine Arches Press poetry collections.
Alistair Noon was born in 1970 and grew up in Aylesbury. Besides time spent in Russia and China, he has lived in Berlin since the early nineties, where he works as a translator. His poetry and translations from German and Russian have appeared in nine chapbooks from small presses. Earth Records is his first full-length collection.
Robert Richardson: as well as appearing in CCC’s Hearing Voices, he has been published in Agenda poetry magazine and also co-edited ‘Homage to Imagism’ (AMS Press, New York). As a visual artist, he was recently included in ‘Artists’ Postcards: A Compendium’ (Reaktion Books, London).
C. J. Allen’s prize-winning poetry (in the Arvon, Yorkshire, Lebdury, Ilkley, Ware, Nottingham & English Association competitions, amongst others) has been appearing in magazines & anthologies in the UK, USA, Ireland & elsewhere for what feels to him like hundreds of years. His most recent collections are: A Strange Arrangement: New and Selected Poems (Leafe Press, 2007), & Lemonade (a red ceilings press e-book, 2010). Violets – winner of the Templar Press Short Collection Competition – was published in November 2011. He currently edits the reviews pages of the literary magazine Staple.
Julie Boden is Symphony Hall’s Poet in Residence and she explores the frontiers of poetry and music in collaboration with a ‘meticulous eye’ and an ‘ear for the mellifluous’. Accomplished on both stage and page, her sensitivity, warmth and humour have endeared her to a wide audience.

Wed 22nd The Telling Space, Mythstories, *NEW VENUE* (relocated from Wem) Mythstories,The Shrewsbury Coffeehouse,5 Castle Gates, SY1 2AE,Wem, Shropshire,The club meets on the 4th Tuesday of every month unless otherwise stated. Please check the website under ‘opening hours and events’ www.mythstories.com or contact Dez or Ali on 01939 235500 for further information.Meet at 7 pm for refreshments (bring food to share) or at 7.30 pm for stories. A chance to listen or an opportunity to tell. Admission is free.

Tuesday 22nd Polesworth Abbey, Poleworth, Open Mic and Guest Gary Carr.7.30pm, Free in, plus open mic

Tueday 22nd Poetry Bites, Kitchen Garden Cafe, York St Kings Heath, 7.30pm, £5, opne mic plus special guest Clare Best.

Wed 23rd Poetry Evening for BORN FREE/ZOO CHECK, Station PH, Kings heath, 8pm: £4in. Open mic.

Thur 24th Bilston Voices Fourth Thursday 19:00 Cafe Metro 46 Church Street, Bilston: £3in, set bill.

Fri 25th Site Poetry Slam, Stroud:as part of the town’s Site Festival. The event kicks off at 7.30pm at Stroud Valley Artspace, John Street, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 2HA, tickets £5 on the door. If you want to hear a bevy of sparkling spoken wordsters, then this is the place to be. Contact Marcus on 01285 640470 if interested in performing.

Sat 26th , Midlands Poetry Convention,Barlow Theatre, Langley – following the sad death of organiser Geoff Stevens, what was to have been a three day event may now be a one day memorial and celebration event – details:The Barlow Theatre, Oldbury Rep, 3 Spring Walk, Langley, Oldbury, B69 4SP .
Everyone is welcome to come and spend a day reading poems, chatting, eating and drinking to celebrate Geoff’s life and work and to enjoy each other’s company as Geoff would have wanted. There will be two open mic sessions, morning and evening, for people to read their own work and the afternoon will be a chance for whoever wants to, to read a favourite poem of Geoff’s. Or you may just want to come and listen. Programme details below.
There will also be a meeting between 5.00 and 6.00 for anyone who would like to discuss how Geoff’s work and reputation could be preserved and developed in future projects. (If you can’t come on May 26, please email your ideas to Geraldine at the address below and she’ll bring them up for discussion.)There is no charge for the day thanks to the generosity of the Barlow Theatre but there will be a collection for St. Mary’s Hospice where Geoff spent his last few days and for Acorns Children’s Hospices.Within a few steps there are plenty of places to get food. The Teapot Cafe opens at 7.00 am and closes at 12.00 am and is a great place to get your bacon butties or whatever and bring them across to the Barlow to have with your coffee. There are two pubs within a very short walk, The Model and Crosswell’s Inn, and a short drive away the Wetherspoons Court of Requests where we had the Wake for Geoff. There’s also fish and chips, Chinese and Indian take-aways and Asian food restaurants within yards of the theatre.Parking is very close to the theatre and the bar, where we’ll meet, has easy access for wheel-chairs.There will be tables in the foyer for those who want to sell books. Come and enjoy!Please confirm that you are coming by emailing Geraldine: geraldine.wall@blueyonder.co.uk
Programme for the Day
9.30-10.00 Arrivals – coffee available
10.00-10.05 Welcome by Geraldine
10.05-12.30 Open mic readings (5-10 minute slots)
12.30-12.45 So It Goes – music
Lunch
2.00-4.45 Geoff’s poems and anecdotes
Break
5.00-6.00 Meeting re promoting Geoff’s work and reputation in the future.
7.00-10.00 Open mic sessions
Bar open all day!Any queries, please email Geraldine
geraldine.wall@blueyonder.co.uk,To find out about the theatre: www.oldburyrep.org

Saturday 26th– the 3rd Nailsworth Slam.at the Comrades Club, Nailsworth.7.30pm. Contact Marcus on 01285 640470 for places.

Sun 27th Attila the Stockbroker, Kitchen Garden Cafe , York St Kings Heath 7.30pm (Doors 6.30pm),£10 in:Attila the Stockbroker is a performance poet, and folk punk musician/songwriter. Inspired by punk, and especially The Clash, he’s loud, radical, lyrical, reflective, and will make you roar with laughter as well as seethe with anger. A regular at Glastonbury, Attila’s melodically political musings are both thoughtful and entertaining. ‘Whether he’s ranting a poem or bashing out a song, there is something magnificent about Attila in full flight’ (Ian McMillan, BBC Radio 4). Support is provided by Australian Alt Country/Blues singer/songwriter Rory Ellis.

Sunday 27th “Tell me on a Sunday” Storytelling, Ikon Gallery, 1 Oozells Square, Brindleyplace, Birmingham, B1 2HS, 4pm – 6.30pm; Free in, Participants tell stories based around a specially selected theme, all with truth (and a good performance!) at their heart. Each month, five storytellers will be chosen to perform a seven minute story live.The events feature special guests and are curated by Cat Weatherill, one of Europe’s leading performance storytellers, who will also tell her own story.These events begin at 4pm with Story Supper, a chance to meet fellow audience members and story tellers over a special Cafe Ikonmenu. Performances commence at 5pm, finishing at 6.30pm.Theme: Secret and Lies

Sunday 27th Sunday Xpress Fourth Sunday Doors 1500, Start 16:30 Adam & Eve Bradford Street, Birmingham B12 0JD Open mic
jameskennedycentral@yahoo.co.uk

Sunday 27th Rhyme and Tells at the Six Bells in Bishops Castle, Shropshire,Meets every 4th Sunday of the month (except for public holidays) at 8 pm – 10.30 pm. It is free admission and an open session for poetry, prose and storytelling.For further details please contact Mike on 01588 680685.

Tues 29th Word Wizards * New venue* Buckingham Hotel, opp the Pavillion Gdns , Buxton last Tuesday Monthly 19.30. Open mic three minute slam format. Rob Stevens. More info Poetryslamuk@aol.com
01298 77362/ 0781 3289358

Wed 30th “42″ Open Mic Night (Gothic, Horror, Sci-Fi & Fantasy) Lunar Bar, New St Worcester, 7.30, Free in:Glen James hosts. last wed monthly E-mail: 42openmicnight@42genrearts.co.uk

Thurs 31st Hit the Ode Last Thursday 19:30 The Victoria 48 John Bright Street, Birmingham B1 1BN 3 featured acts + limited open mic bohdan@applesandsnakes.org

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