Books, Poetry

142 events

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Burns an' a' That! Festival

A whole festival dedicated to Scotland’s internationally acclaimed poet Robert Burns. To celebrate the 2013 Year of Natural Scotland, the festival heads outdoors to Belleisle Park for a programme of live music, and visual and performing arts.

Belleisle Park, Ayr

Sun 26 May

Times & prices vary / 01292 616143

Fri 31 May

Prices vary / 01292 616143

  • 12:00 – 17:30

Fri 7 Jun

Prices vary / 01292 616143

  • 12:00 – 17:30
…and 12 more dates until 30 Aug

Inverness Provincial Mod

Traditional song, poetry and storytelling competitions, plus an evening ceilidh.

Eden Court Theatre, Inverness

Fri 21 Jun

£2 / 01463 234234

  • 09:00

Sat 22 Jun

£2 / 01463 234234

  • 09:00

John Cooper Clarke

The legendary Mancunian punk poet, who is a spiritual godfather to the likes of Mike Skinner and Plan B hauls his insatiable laconic wit on tour.

Artrix, Bromsgrove

Tue 17 Sep

£17.50 / 01527 577330

Button Factory, Dublin

Fri 14 Jun

€24

Colston Hall, Bristol

Fri 7 Jun

£18.50 / 0117 922 3686

With support from Keith Allen's Grow Up, Simon Day, Thea Gilmore and Mike Garry.

  • 19:30

Also on at:

Neu! Reekie!

Avant-garde spoken word, film and music fusion night describing itself as 'playing host to the sinister and the sanguine'.

The Poetry Club, Glasgow

Fri 14 Jun

£8

Neu! Reekie! heads back to Glasgow, this time taking along indie trio Sparrow and the Workshop, filmmakers Kim Moore and Gareth Griffiths (with their protest film Hell Unltd) and poet, novelist and performer Kevin Williamson. Plus, a mystery guest! Ooh, who could it be?!

Summerhall, Edinburgh

Fri 31 May

£7 / 0845 874 3001

With readings from American poet Krystelle Bamford and short story writer McGuire; music from Stevie Jackson of Belle and Sebastian and pop folkies Admiral Fallow; and the usual selection of animated goodness.

Paul Evans & Chris Jones

An interactive installation featuring a study desk containing drawings from Evans' The Spirit Is A Bone series, inspired by natural history specimens from the nearby Fragments Of Bone display, with words by Dr Jones based on ancient Anglo-Saxon riddle poems.

Derby Museum And Art Gallery

Sun 26 May

1001 Objects Gallery

Free / 01332 641901

  • 13:00 – 16:00

Tue 28 May

1001 Objects Gallery

Free / 01332 641901

  • 10:00 – 17:00

Wed 29 May

1001 Objects Gallery

Free / 01332 641901

  • 10:00 – 17:00
…and 185 more dates until 31 Dec back to top

Alex Musgrave: My Life in Poetry (& Perfume)

Writer, perfume expert and jogger Alex Musgrave talks about his life in poetry and scent (he's Business Manager of Penhaligon's), with a chance to smell the perfumes he mentions. Ages 16+. Booking is essential.

Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh

Thu 30 May

£10 (Members £8) / 0131 248 2909

The Big Untidy Night Out

Featuring performaces by multi-media punk band Jackdaw With Crowbar and Formby.

Rising Sun Arts Centre, Reading

Fri 14 Jun

£5 / 0118 986 6788

  • 20:00 – 23:30

Patti Smith: An Evening Of Words And Music, Tony Shanahan

The award-winning American singer-songwriter and poet preforms her best known punk-rock hit alongside a selection of her poetry.

Alban Arena, St Albans

Sat 10 Aug

£25 / 01727 844488

  • 20:00

Caesura

An eclectic and experimental night of poetry, performance and spoken word, held on the second Friday of each month.

The Artisan, Edinburgh

Fri 14 Jun

Entry by donation / 07719 481092

Line-up to be confirmed.

  • 19:00 – 23:00

Fri 13 Sep

Entry by donation / 07719 481092

Line-up to be confirmed.

  • 19:00 – 23:00

Café Voices

A relaxed session of oral storytelling, poetry by memory, music and song.

Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh

Wed 12 Jun

Over-14s only

£5 / 0131 556 9579

With storyteller Mio Shapley, who celebrates the famous Japanese phrase 'Ichi-go Ichi-e' – making the most of once in a lifetime opportunities.

  • 19:00

Wed 19 Jun

Over-14s only

£5 / 0131 556 9579

Tonight, a special Refugee Week Scotland night, with Zimbabwean guitarist Rise Kagona and a host of other musicians and artists.

  • 19:00
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Jean Bleakney, Moyra Donaldson, Maria McManus, Deirdre Cartmill

A showcase of award-winning local poets, featuring Jean Bleakney, Moyra Donaldson, Maria McManus and Deirdre Cartmill.

Ulster Hall, Belfast

Mon 10 Jun

Free / 028 9032 3900

  • 13:00 – 14:00

The Poet Speaks

Two of the pillars of contemporary music come together for an intimate evening of poetry, music and song in tribute to their friend, the great Beat Generation poet Allen Ginsberg. Punk poet and provocateur Patti Smith performs both her own and Ginsberg’s poetry, with accompaniment and solo pieces for piano from founding…

The Edinburgh Playhouse

Tue 13 Aug

£12–£35 / 0131 473 2000

StAnza: Scotland's Poetry Festival

StAnza is a literary festival that focuses on verse. Joining the locals for readings, performances, slams and open mics, jazz, films, workshops and poetry-related art exhibitions, installations and films are a host of local and international wordsmiths.

Various venues, St Andrews

Wed 5 Mar

Times & prices vary / 01334 475000

Thu 6 Mar

Times & prices vary / 01334 475000

Fri 7 Mar

Times & prices vary / 01334 475000

…and 2 more dates until 9 Mar 2014

Ute Lemper Sings Pablo Neruda

A rare opportunity to see charismatic German chanteuse Ute Lemper. Famed for her interpretations of Kurt Weill, Marlene Dietrich, Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel and Stephen Sondheim, Ute Lemper presents an atmospheric evening of song based on the love poems of Pablo Neruda. This very delicate and beautiful songbook is…

Queen Elizabeth Hall, London SE1

Tue 28 May

£17.50–£25 Booking: £1.75 (Members £0.00) (£50) / 0844 875 0073

  • 19:45

Ahmed Dickinson Cardenas: Nine Ways To Caress A Woman

The UK premiere of Enrique Gonzalez Medina's evocative work will be performed by the Cuban guitarist Ahmed Dickinson, along with nine poetry readings from actor Jamie Nicols.

Bolivar Hall at Venezuelan Embassy, London W1T

Fri 14 Jun

£10 / 020 7584 4206

  • 19:30 – 21:30
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Allographic Workshop

Poetry writing workshops for aspirant storytellers and performers.

The Fountain, Cambridge

Sun 26 May

£3.50 / 07816 788120

  • 15:00 – 17:00

Sun 23 Jun

£3.50 / 07816 788120

  • 15:00 – 17:00

Anatomy

Variety night with a focus on risk-taking performance from any genre.

Summerhall, Edinburgh

Fri 14 Jun

£6 / 0845 874 3001

  • 19:30 – 22:30

Andy Moor, Anne James Chaton And Thurston Moore

A fusion of experimental music with poetry by the two guitarists and poet.

Cafe Oto, London E8

Sun 2 Jun

£12; £10 adv / 020 7923 1231

  • 20:00

Artist In A Sauna

Take one enlightened rap poet artist and all round freedom guy, put him in a sauna live on stage, turn up the heat, bring in the audience, cue the action! It's hot, it's hip, it's a happening. A lyrical journey of pure delight. Better come prepared to be inspired! (Towel not required.).

The Cabin, Brighton

Tue 28 May

£6.50 (£4.50) / 01273 917272

Part of Brighton Fringe Festival.

An Audience With Tony Harrison

A rare recital by the Leeds-born poet, introduced by fellow local writer Anthony Clavane.

West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds

Sun 9 Jun

£8 / 0113 213 7700

  • 19:30
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Bee Myths: John Burnside and Sean Borodale

John Burnside reads from Melissographia - a sequence of poems scattered with embossed, hand-painted, pollen maps. This is his long-standing collaboration with artist Amy Shelton. He also reads Bee Myths, a new work which reflects on the role of bees in the evolution of myth, husbandry, cultivation and healing. Sean…

Royal Festival Hall, London SE1

Mon 27 May

Level 5 Function Room

£8 Booking: £1.75 (Members £0.00) (£50) / 0844 875 0073

  • 16:00

The Beguilers

The Beguilers fill The Front Room at Queen Elizabeth Hall with tender, mellifluous singing and finely wrought harmonies inspired by the poems of Blake, Shakespeare, Joyce, Clare and others. Composed by Fred Thomas, these songs invite your imagination to be moved, released and ultimately beguiled. The Beguilers are…

Queen Elizabeth Hall, London SE1

Fri 31 May

The Front Room

Free / 0844 875 0073

  • 17:30

Ben Mellor: Anthropoetry

The poet presents a journey around the human anatomy, using poems set to music.

Contact, Manchester

Wed 29 May

£8 (£5) / 0161 274 0600

  • 19:30

Thu 30 May

£8 (£5) / 0161 274 0600

  • 19:30

Bertolt Brecht Featuring David Constantine: Poet In The City

Poet and translator Constantine and Brecht expert Tom Kuhn read the playwright's German-language poetry, with live musical settings from composer Dominic Muldowney and theatre director Di Trevis.

Kings Place, London N1

Mon 17 Jun

Hall One

£9.50 / 020 7520 1490

  • 19:30
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