Michael Rosen to read at Smokestack Books farewell
Michael Rosen, who has published several poetry collections with Smokestack Books, will be reading at a special event to mark the poetry publisher ceasing operations at the end of the year. Other poets appearing at Smokestack Farewell at the Cockpit in Gateforth Street, north London, on 8 December from 5-7.30pm include Nancy Charley, Alan Morrison, Ruth Valentine, Martin Rowson, Richard Skinner, a...
30th November 2024
Poetry of survival: new collections from two north-east poets
Two north-east poets, Marilyn Longstaff and SJ Litherland, will be reading from their new collections at Norton library, Stockton-on Tees, on Thursday 7 November from 6.30-7.30pm.
Marilyn Longstaff will read from her new book Being Gemini, which is about the two sides of everything - lockdowns, a...
2nd November 2024
Your chance to take the stage: Write Out Loud's poetry jam at Marsden jazz festival!
Write Out Loud returns to Marsden in West Yorkshire for its popular annual open mic poetry jam at the jazz festival on Sunday morning 13 October 11am-1pm. This year we are delighted to have secured a ...
8th October 2024
Festival that welcomes grassroots poets: Morecambe is back!
A poetry festival that includes headline names but also welcomes grassroots poets with open arms returns to the north-west this week. Pam Ayres is topping the bill at Morecambe poetry festival, from 1...
17th September 2024
Prize-winner Trystan Lewis is guest at Write Out Loud Bolton
Winner of this year’s Plough poetry competition, Trystan Lewis, will be the guest poet at Write Out Loud Bolton on Sunday 8 September at a rearranged venue - see Dave Morgan's comment below. Doors ope...
4th September 2024
Celebrating the Northern Poetry Library on National Poetry Day
A poetry reading on Thursday 3 October – National Poetry Day – will celebrate the return of the Northern Poetry Library to its original home at the main Morpeth Library in Gas House Lane, Morpeth. On ...
13th August 2024
Open-mic poetry sessions at Edinburgh's Scottish Poetry Library
The Scottish Poetry Library in Edinburgh is staging two open-mic poetry sessions during festival time in the city. Come along to read or to just listen. Those wanting an open-mic slot should arrive 15...
8th August 2024
Harvest time: Graham Sherwood's 'Reap' poem in Lammas anthology
Write Out Loud’s Graham Sherwood is one of 16 local writers in Milton Keynes whose work has been included in Dreams for Lammas, a Milton Keynes literary festival online anthology on the theme of Harve...
19th July 2024
Lisa Kelly at Write Out Loud Woking on Thursday
Lisa Kelly will be guest poet at Write Out Loud Woking at the Fiery Bird on Thursday 27 June. Lisa is associate editor with Magma magazine, has two collections out with Carcanet (the last one was a Po...
24th June 2024
Dave Morgan at Write Out Loud Woking on Zoom tonight
The co-founder of Write Out Loud, Dave Morgan, will be the guest poet at Write Out Loud Woking on Zoom on Wednesday 19 June, reading from his new collection On Not Being Observed. Dave is a writer, co...
19th June 2024
Celebrating queer poets in the north-east: new open-mic night in Darlington
A new open mic poetry night to celebrate queer poets in the north-east is being launched in Darlington later this month. Hook, Line & Thinkers at the Queerish Bookshop will have two featured poets (to...
2nd June 2024
Remembering Morden Tower: Tom Pickard stages event to mark 60th anniversary
Poet Tom Pickard will be looking back to the days when he and his wife Connie hosted Allen Ginsberg and Basil Bunting and many other leading poets at the legendary Morden Tower in Newcastle later this...
2nd June 2024
Steve Tasane is guest poet at Write Out Loud Woking at the Fiery Bird tonight
Performance poet Steve Tasane will be delivering words from his new collection Counteroffensive at Write Out Loud Woking at the Fiery Bird on Thursday 30 May. Your host is Rodney Wood. Sign up on the ...
30th May 2024
Hippie's tale: Pratibha Castle at Write Out Loud Woking on Zoom
Pratibha Castle will be reading from her pamphlet Miniskirts in The Waste Land, about her hippie days in London and India, as guest poet at Write Out Loud Woking on Zoom on Wednesday 8 April. More det...
30th April 2024
Back after break-in havoc ... Write Out Loud Woking at the Fiery Bird tonight
Write Out Loud Woking’s open-mic poetry night at the Fiery Bird music and community arts venue in Woking will be going ahead on Thursday 25 April after all, after last month’s event - along with many ...
25th April 2024
Away from home, just round the corner: New York's Nuyorican poetry slams at The Bowery
Described by Allen Ginsberg (writer of Howl, the poem that changed US obscenity laws) as “the most integrated place on the planet”, the Nuyorican Poets Café closed its doors in November 2023 for a $24...
21st March 2024
Away from home, just round the corner: New York's Nyorican Poetry slams at The Bowery
Described by Allen Ginsberg (writer of Howl, the poem that changed US obscenity laws) as “the most integrated place on the planet”, the Nuyorican Poets Café closed its doors in November 2023 for a $24...
21st March 2024
Away from home, just round the corner: New York's Nyorican Poetry slams at The Bowery
Described by Allen Ginsberg (writer of Howl, the poem that changed US obscenity laws) as “the most integrated place on the planet”, the Nuyorican Poets Café closed its doors in November 2023 for a $24...
21st March 2024
Write Out Loud Wigan at the Old Courts tonight
Write Out Loud Wigan is at the Old Courts, Crawford Street, Wigan on Thursday 14 March from 7.30pm. More details
14th March 2024
Sharron Green is guest poet at Write Out Loud Woking tonight
Compere Sharron Green is also guest poet at Write Out Loud Woking at the Fiery Bird on Thursday 29 February. Sharron will be reading from her new collection Willing Words. Entry is £5, and doors open ...
29th February 2024
Elizabeth Gibson is guest at Write Out Loud Sale on Monday
Elizabeth Gibson is the guest perfomer at Write Out Loud Sale at the Waterside arts centre on Monday, 19 February. She is a queer, neurodivergent poet and performer who has been the recipient of a New...
14th February 2024
Write Out Loud Woking on Zoom tonight
The next Write Out Loud Woking on Zoom is on Valentine’s Day. Poems about hearts and flowers certainly allowed, but by no means essential. Email Greg Freeman on gregfreem@gmail.com if you’d like to re...
14th February 2024
Write Out Loud at Stockport art gallery tonight
Come and share your poems at this friendly open-floor poetry night set in the stimulating environment of Stockport Art Gallery. £1.50 donation is obligatory for all attendees. Entrance is round the ri...
8th February 2024
Write Out Loud Wigan at the Old Courts tonight
Write Out Loud Wigan is back at the Bailiff Bar at the Old Courts, Wigan on Thursday 8 February. Compered by Ian Whiteley, sign up from 7.30pm for an 8pm start. More details
8th February 2024
Linda Downs is guest at Write Out Loud Bolton tonight
Poet and playwright LInda Downs is the guest performer at Write Out Loud Bolton on Sunday 4 February at Bolton Socialist Club at 7.30pm. Fifteen five-minute open-mic slots available. Sign up at the do...
4th February 2024
Heather Cook is guest poet at Write Out Loud Woking at the Fiery Bird tonight
Heather Cook will be the featured poet at Write Out Loud Woking at the Fiery Bird on Thursday 25 January. Heather will be reading from her debut, award-winning pamphlet Out of the Ordinary. Sharron Gr...
25th January 2024
'Monkey Poet' Matt Panesh at Newcastle's Born Lippy
Monkey Poet - aka Matt Panesh, winner of many fringe awards and organiser of Morecambe poetry festival – will be headlining at Born Lippy, Newcastle’s mix of spoken word, comedy, hip-hop and open-mic,...
24th January 2024
Write Out Loud at Stockport art gallery tonight
Members of Stockport Write Out Loud will be sharing their poems on Thursday 11 January at Stockport art gallery. Come and share your poems at this friendly open-floor poetry night set in a wonderfully...
14th January 2024
Kate Hook is guest poet at Sale Write Out Loud on Monday
Kate Hook is the guest poet at Sale Write Out Loud at the Waterside arts centre, Sale, on Monday 15 January. Kate's first poetry book I Can Hear You Ironing is due out in March. Contact host Sarah Pri...
11th January 2024
Bright Stars: celebrating three Romantic poets in Sussex
Bright Stars – Celebrating the Anniversaries of the Romantics in Sussex – involves readings in Chichester on Saturday 20 January of poetry by John Keats, Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron in his bic...
11th January 2024
Write Out Loud Wigan at the Old Courts tonight
The ever-popular Write Out Loud Wigan is at the Bailiff Bar at the Old Courts in Wigan on Thursday 11 January. Your host is Ian Whiteley. Sign up on the night from 7.30pm for an 8pm start. More detail...
11th January 2024
Write Out Loud Woking on Zoom tonight
Write Out Loud Woking stages its first open-mic poetry night of 2024 on Zoom on Wednesday 10 January. It's compered by Greg Freeman, so email Greg for details gregfreem62@gmail.com if you'd like a fiv...
10th January 2024