Over 100 poets – many of them Write Out Loud members – are expected in the seaside town of Hoylake on Sunday 8 July for the Poetry Proms at Wirral’s Festival of Firsts.

Write Out Loud member and poetry steering group chair for the festival, Dave Costello, said: “We’ll point you in the direction of your first venue, but after that it’s really up to you. You can move between hosted venues (or stay at the one you prefer if you wish). You can pop in to one of the pop up venues and hit the punters with a quickie. You can even surprise members of the unsuspecting public in one of the open air venues. Or you can take time out and enjoy a coffee or a beer while someone else reads for you. We anticipate over 100 poets on the day, many of them Write Out Loud members, so you’ll be in good company.”

The day’s events include an opening Poetry Lunch, 1pm – 1.45pm, hosted by Poem Shed with special guest Kate McLoughlin reading from her 2011 collection Plums published by Flipped Eye. The main event, the Poetry Proms, takes place between 2pm and 4.30pm, with four hosted venues, and numerous “pop-up” venues to sample and read at. Those wanting to read on the day should contact Dave at  mailfordjc@gmail.com. You can also email Dave with any queries.

After the Poetry Proms comes the Wind Down between 5.35pm and 7pm, a chance to relax after poetic exertions and take in the work of a diverse group of invited poets and a representative reader from each of the hosted venues. Poets who have a collection published also have the chance to sell it on the bookstall, open from 12.30pm to 7pm. You should let Dave Costello know the title of the book and the selling price (and you’ll have to get your copies to the organisers), but there is no charge for this service and, subject to available time, poets will also have the opportunity to read a poems (a shortish one please) and plug their book just prior to the Wind Down event. Those interested in this should email Dave.

There are Festival of Firsts events taking place over the whole weekend - music, art, and drama, as well as poetry. A train to Hoylake station takes you directly into the heart of the action and there are plenty of free parking spaces around the town.