There’s poetry and music in the square each day, readings, a folk opera, Jack and Jenny, in poetry and song about Cornish miners, including Write Out Louders Ann Foxglove and Judi Strega (pictured), and even a clay workshop where you can stamp your favourite ode onto a piece of clay to be fired later, as St Ives literature festival kicks off a feast of poetry in Cornwall over the next few weeks. The poetry at St Ives, from 9-16 May, also includes two Free Speeches at Café Art, and the legendary Café Frug. More details here.  

St Ives is followed on the Cornish festivals calendar by Bodmin Moor poetry festival in Liskeard at the end of May, with David Harsent, Sinead Morrissey, Carrie Etter, Matthew Sweeney and Little Machine on the bill. The festival is from 29-31 March. More details 

From 12-14 June comes the Charles Causley festival in Launceston, with Brian Patten, Kathryn Simmonds and Alyson Hallett, plus workshops and readings with the Indian King Poets.  Charles Causley was born in Launceston in 1917 and lived there all his life, apart from a six-year spell in the Navy. His work is known for its associations with Cornish folklore. More details 

 

MAY 

Live from Worktown, Bolton's festival of words, until 30 May 

Poetry-next-the-sea, Wells-next-the-sea, Norfolk, 8-10 May 

St Ives literature festival, Cornwall, 9-16 May 

Surrey poetry festival, Guildford, 9 May 

South Yorkshire poetry festival, 18-24 May

The Last Word festival, Roundhouse, London, 19-31 May 

Bodmin Moor poetry festival, Liskeard, Cornwall, 29-31 May

Festival of Suffolk Poetry, Stowmarket, 30 May 

 

JUNE

Eclectic Iron, festival of words, music & oddities, Cullercoats, 4-7 June

Charles Causley festival, Launceston, Cornwall, 12-14 June 

Bridlington poetry festival, 19-21 June 

Poetry & Words, Glastonbury festival 24-28 June 

 

JULY

Ledbury poetry festival, 3-12 July