Listing for August 2020: Literary Events Online
Although some lockdown restrictions have been eased in the UK, the COVID-19 pandemic has not yet gone away. Subsequently, the challenges of making sure arts events still happen are on-going. Social distancing needs to continue to keep infection rates as low as possible. Various community hubs, events venues and public spaces are not yet open to visitors. This has left some people feeling fed up and isolated, still unable to participate in their usual cultural activities. But there is some good news: creative communities across the UK, and all around the globe, have come together to plug the void in our lives with some amazing virtual events!
The HCE magazine team have created another list of some literary open mics, events and workshops (listed in separate categories below), to help you plan for the weeks ahead. Let’s stay safe AND enjoy our favourite gigs! This is also the perfect chance to “travel” afar and attend events you never thought you could…
Side note: Since hosting our Fire & Dust poetry nights online, unexpected audience members have included multiple dogs, cats, rabbits, and even one poetry fan less than a month old! Keep an eye out for encounters with similar ‘special guest’ appearances at your virtual experiences.
OPEN MICS
Sun 2nd August – via Facebook group posts
Yes We Cant
(Usually happens in: Walsall, UK)
Featuring: Robert Garnham and Cheryl Doyle
‘Open mic’ posts can be written text or video
Every first Sunday
For more details, visit the Poets, Prattlers & Pandemonialists Facebook page.
Sun 2nd August, 8-11PM (BST) – via Zoom
Dreading Poetry Slam
(Usually happens in: London, UK)
Theme for first poem: freedom. No theme for second poem. 3 mins max. Open mic slots also available. Check the Facebook event page for updates or email Dreadingslam@gmail.com for more details.
Tues 4th August, 7-10:30PM (BST) – via Zoom
York Spoken Word
(Usually happens in: York, UK)
For more details, visit the Facebook event page.
Thurs 6th August, 7.30-10PM (BST) – via Zoom
Fire & Dust Meets: GENEVIEVE CARVER
(Usually happens in: Coventry, UK)
Open mic with featured headline act
To attend, grab an Eventbrite ticket (free). Details re: Zoom URL and how to sign up for open mic will be emailed. There is also a Fire & Dust event page on Facebook.
Thurs 6th August, 8-9.30PM (BST) – via YouTube
Mind Over Matter: 3rd Birthday!
(Usually happens in: Leicester, UK)
Ten previous headliners plus open five mic slots. For more details, check out the Facebook event page
Fri 7th August, 8-10PM (BST) – via YouTube
Some-Antics Spoken Word: Online 5
(Usually happens in: Leicester, UK)
Open mic, a poetry slam, DJ mixes and feature poet Matt Gopsill
For more details, check out the Facebook event page
Fri 7th August, 7-9PM BST – via Zoom
WORD Stafford: Season 3 Episode 1
(Usually happens in: Stafford, UK)
Poetry slam. Open mic slots available.
More info available on the Facebook event page.
Friday 7th August, 7.30-10.30PM (GMT) – via Zoom
Oooh Beehive! Online Slam Championship – Heat 4
More details are available on the Oooh Beehive Facebook event page.
Sun 9th August, 2.30PM (EDT) – via Zoom
Awenites Poetry
(Usually happens in: Ohio, USA)
Poetry open mic featuring John Burroughs, Beat Poet Laureate of Ohio.
More details are available on the Awenites Facebook page.
Mon 10th August, 8.30PM (BST) – via Zoom/Facebook Live
Ó Bhéal Poetry: Cork-Coventry Twin Cities Exchange
(Usually happens in: Cork, Ireland)
Headliners: Matt Black and Emilie Lauren Jones
Open mic, headliners, live poetry prompt challenge
Details of how to access the gig are here on the website
Tues 12th August, 8.30PM (BST) – via Zoom/Facebook Live
DeBarra’s Spoken Word Goes Coventry
(Usually happens in: Clonakilty, Ireland)
Headliners: Matt Black and Emilie Lauren Jones
Open mic, headliners, live poetry prompt challenge
Details of how to access the gig are on the Facebook page
Thurs 13th August, 8PM (BST) – via Zoom
Run Your Tongue Online! #10
(Usually happens in: Kettering, UK)
For Zoom URL and sign-up details, visit their Facebook event page.
Sat 15th August, 6PM (Central) – via Zoom
Poetry in the Brew
(Usually happens in: Nashville, Tennessee, USA)
For more details about open mic sign-up and Zoom access, visit the website.
Sunday 16th August, 6.45-8.15PM (Central) – via Zoom
Poetry in the Boro – Poetry and Spoken Word Virtual Event
(Usually happens in: Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA)
4th birthday special event. Includes an “actors reading poetry” segment. Open mic slots available – short form poetry only (haiku, senryu, tanka, etc.).
More details are available on the Facebook event page.
Thurs 20th August, 3PM (Eastern Standard) – via Zoom
Love in the Time of COVID Poetry Open Mic
(Usually happens in: Ontario, Canada)
Open mic slots available (round one: 3 mins, with a possible round two).
More details are available on the Facebook event page.
Thurs 20th August, 6.30-8.30PM BST – via Zoom
Digi-Listener
(Dear Listener normally happens in: Worcester, UK)
More info available on the Facebook event page.
Friday 21st August, 7.30-11PM (GMT) – via Zoom
Oooh Beehive! August Online Antics
Headline poet: Michael Wilson. Open mic slots (5 mins) up for grabs.
More details are available on the Oooh Beehive Facebook event page.
Fri 21st July
Find the Right Words
With headliners Erin Bolens and Elvis McGonagall. Open mic slots available – contact via Twitter. Pre-recorded, downloadable via host Jess Green’s Patreon.
Sat 22nd August, 3-4.30PM (Central) – via Zoom
Gestalt Poetry Open Mic
Headline poet: Kory Wells. Open mic slots available.
For more details, visit the Facebook event page.
Wed 26th August, 7.30-9.30PM (BST) – via Zoom
Fen Speak ft. Leanne Moden
Open mic slots available on the night.
For more details and to register, visit the Eventbrite page.
Sat 29th August, 6-8PM (Central) – via Zoom/Facebook livestream
Isolation: An Online Poetry Event
To raise awareness of mental health and suicide during the pandemic. Submission deadline for poetry slots: August 14th
For more details, visit the website.
EVENTS
Sun 2nd August, 8-9.30PM (BST) – via YouTube
Book launch for A Commonplace: Apples, Bricks and other People’s Poems.
Hosted by: The Poetry Business.
Featuring Jonathan Davidson, Jo Bell, Gregory Leadbetter and Sue Brown.
More details available on the Facebook event page. Watch the video on YouTube when it goes live.
Wed 5th August, 7-9PM BST – via Zoom
WORD Stafford presents: Black Lives Matter Poetry Night
(Usually happens in: Stafford, UK)
Awareness raising poetry event featuring poets Jason N Smith and Patricia Rebecca. More info available on the Facebook event page.
Fri 7th August, 7PM (BST) – via Zoom
Oooh Beehive! UK online slam championship – Heat 4
(Usually happens in: Swindon, UK)
Pay What You Feel
More details are available on the Facebook event page.
Thurs 20th August, 7-8PM (BST) – via webpage, pre-recorded
Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists
Award-winning poetry show with Emma Purshouse, Steve Pottinger and Dave Pitt.
Part of Ludlow Fringe Festival 2020
More details/available to watch on the Festival event page
Tues 25th August, 7-7.45PM (BST)
Forward Meet the Poet – David Morley
One session in a series of ten. A chance to hear and quiz the people on Forward Prizes for Poetry 2020 shortlists. £3 (or £10 to attend all the sessions).
More details and register for tickets on the Eventbrite page
Wed 26th August, 6PM (EST) – via Zoom
Zoomglossia
Zoeglossia event. Featuring: Stephen Lightbown, Ava C. Cipri, Jessica Stokes, Zoe Stoller. ASL interpretation and closed captioning. Zoom meeting ID: 811 2240 4589. Email: zoeglossia@gmail.com for passcode.
Thurs 27th August, 8PM (BST) – via Instagam Live
Poems for a Lockdown – Season 2
With Anthony Anaxagorou (@anthony_anaxagorou) and Raymond Antrobus (@raymond_antrobus)
WORKSHOPS
Fri 7th August, 1-4PM (BST) – via Zoom
The Writer’s Bloc one-on-one sessions
Led by: Cash Caraway
Bookable feedback sessions from Writing on the Wall. See Eventbrite page for more details/to register.
Wed 26th August, 4-5.30PM (BST)
Online WORD!shop
Free workshop. All levels catered for. Connect and explore the theme of peace and reconciliation.Workshop with Antony Owen and Mellow Baku (writing poetry for peace and reconciliation)
More info on the Facebook event page.
Thurs 27th August, 7.30PM (BST) – via Facebook
WORD! Online with Antony Owen
Workshop (writing poetry for peace and reconciliation) and Bogside Story anthology launch.
For more info, and a chance to be involved in their poetry film, visit the WORD! Poetry UK website
Lockdown Writing Workshops with Jamie Thrasivoulou
Join the Facebook group for more details.
Not on Facebook? Search for the workshops on YouTube.
Write Club: every Monday, 9.30AM (BST) – via Zoom
Workshop leader: spoken word poet Mark Grist
Join the Facebook group to access the Zoom URL each week.
Positive Images Festival Poetry workshop: every last Sunday of the month
Workshop leader: Emilie Lauren Jones
Check out Emilie’s YouTube channel for workshop videos.