It’s that time again!
The annual Cork-Coventry poetry exchange is now in its eighteenth year. Two rising stars of Coventry’s local poetry and spoken word scene, Dangermouse# and Maxi Di Poet, have been selected to represent the city for 2026, which involves travelling overseas to Cork (Ireland) and performing their work.
Coventry is the birthplace of the ‘twin city’ concept, which began in 1941 with a gesture of solidarity sent from women of Coventry to Volgograd (then Stalingrad), following the Blitz and extensive bombings of WWII. Cov has special partnerships with a multitude of cities around the world (twenty-six!), a fact many local residents take pride in – and, in 1958, we became Cork’s first ever twin city. This connection was formed due to a high number of Cork residents emigrating to Coventry at that time for work and then choosing to settle there.
The Coventry-Cork poetry exchange has been going since 2008, as a scheme for writers to promote international peace, friendship and cultural understanding between the two places as creative communities with a lot to offer society. In addition to performing at poetry events overseas, the selected poets take a tour of significant landmarks, network with other local writers, and pay state visits to both the Coventry and Cork Lord Mayors.
Next month, on 10th August, Maxi and Dangermouse# will be in Cork city and headline at legendary events like Ó Bhéal go Béal and DeBarra’s Spoken Word. This is an exciting opportunity for them to experience the atmosphere of renowned venues like Cork city’s Long Valley pub and DeBarra’s folk club in Clonakilty. Then, in November, two poets representing Cork (TBC) will be welcomed to Coventry and feature at two of our events, including a special edition of ‘Fire&Dust’ open mic night at the Priory Visitor Centre. We’re hoping to see a good turnout for both events, with tons of representation from Cov’s creative and Irish communities to help our Cork visitors feel welcome – so please save the details in your calendars when the gigs are announced!
Here Comes Everyone is grateful to acknowledge the continued support of partner organisations who have funded/hosted/championed the exchange scheme, in 2026 and previous years: Coventry Association of International Friendship (CAIF), Coventry City Council, Cork City Council, Coventry Peace Festival, Nine Arches Press, Writing West Midlands, Ó Bhéal and DeBarra’s Spoken Word. Special thanks for their involvement also goes to the Ó Bhéal go Béal team, Moze Jacobs, Ann Atkins, John Watson and Amy Rugg, The Long Valley pub in Cork, DeBarra’s Folk Club in Clonakilty, The LTB Showrooms in Coventry, Earlsdon Carnegie Community Library and The Tree House Bookshop in Kenilworth.
“Made at Fire & Dust,
local Coventry poet and cleaner
often seen looking angry at paper,
touting rhymes and spinning web
from cats, crackheads, to Sunday dinners at your nan’s.
And always willing to entertain
the silly, serious and strange.”
Dangermouse# was the 2021 winner of Positive Images Poetry Competition and in later years served as a judge for the competition. He has headlined at various events, including ‘Fire&Dust’, ‘Pure & Good & Right’ at the Tree House Bookshop and ‘Coventry Fusion: When Music Meets Words’. His work has been published in a handful of local publications and zines, and also commissioned for inclusion in a poetic film about growing up in Coventry. In 2023, Dangermouse# was the poet-in-residence for Springboard Festival at the Criterion Theatre.
“Coventry based poet with Caribbean roots, awakened and living in truth. My poetry is therapy, healing and I envelope, embody and dance in that feeling. Poetry remains my truest element. I sit within it and remain ever present. Poetry helps me, never lose my voice, I hope you enjoy my art and are in tune.”
Maxi Di Poet has performed at Coventry’s Godiva Festival (2024) and in 2026 he headlined at both Fire&Dust in Coventry and Pure & Good & Right in nearby Kenilworth. He makes regular appearances on the Birmingham poetry scene, performing at Poetry Jam, Empower, Kohetry and Poet’s Palace. Maxi has supported Alison Manning with Sparks Young Writing Group at the Belgrade Theatre and was also a co-host for a collaborative event between Action Rayz and Fire&Dust at Coventry Cathedral, which combined open mic poetry with a screening of the Linton Kwesi Johnson film ‘Dreadbeat an’ Blood’. He was also shortlisted for the role of Coventry Poetry Laureate in 2025. Maxi’s visions for the future include getting a typewriter to do pop-up poetry for people in Coventry.