SFTL_cover_FINAL 18/1/07 13:08 Page 1 This Guide is available in large print by email or as a Word document from www.shotfromthelip.org Shot from the Lip is managed by Audiences London and a consortium of artists and The Guide to well-written promoters: Melanie Abrahams, Apples & Snakes, Barbican Library, Malika Booker, Paul Lyalls - Express Excess, Kat Francois, Mr Gee, Anjan Saha, Jacob Sam-La Rose, spoken word events in London Steve Tasane, Baden Prince Jr - Speakeasy Reloaded, Spread the Word. www.shotfromthelip.org Audiences London and Apples & Snakes are regularly funded by Arts Council England and London Councils. Spread the Word is also regularly funded by Arts Council England. Shot from the Lip Shot from the Lip is funded by: partners: Design by Sugarfree Design Ltd / sugarfreedesign.co.uk SFTL_Guide_FINAL7 18/1/07 13:10 Page 2 Contents 03 This Guide 04 Spoken Word Events 05 Shot from the Lip Season 06 A Bluffer’s Guide to Spoken Word 08 How to Choose 10 Event Listings 32 Get Involved 34 Writing and Reading 35 Writing Workshops 36 Reading Groups This Guide 37 Magazines 38 Publishers 39 Bookshops Tired of the mainstream and want to try something new? Use this Guide to discover an alternative London experience. “Spoken word” commonly means the art The Shot from the Lip group (all of us of writers bringing their words to life spoken word writers and lovers) has put through performance. London’s spoken this Guide together as an introduction to word scene is one of the world’s liveliest this wild world. We hope you’ll take it as and most intriguing. It also has a large an invitation. and enthusiastic underground following. Spoken word experiences are pretty The word is on the street, all you Cover photos: Main - Yusra Warsama, by Jason Grant for Apples & Snakes. much guaranteed to be immediate, have to do is step out… Inset 1 - Polarbear, by Inua Ellams for OneTaste. Inset 2 - Kat Francois, by surprising and sociable. Jason Grant for Apples & Snakes. Right photo: JB Sparks, by Jason Grant for Apples & Snakes We think it’s time more people heard Compiled by Baden Prince Jr, the word. Anjan Saha and Audiences London. 2 SHOT FROM THE LIP SHOT FROM THE LIP 3 SFTL_Guide_FINAL7 18/1/07 13:10 Page 4 Spoken Word Events Shot from the Lip Season Sometimes underscored by music or DJs, There are events all over town to choose The Shot from the Lip Season offers a events usually take place in, or near, a from and there’s such a range of writers taster of spoken word highlights from bar and many have open mic slots in and performers that we defy you not to 4th March to 27th April 2007 kicking off case you want to have a go (but you don’t find something you like from around £5 a with Apples & Snakes at Soho Theatre on have to). Poets tend to hang around after ticket (and lots of late bars). 28th February. But if you’re reading this their performance and are an and you missed it, don’t worry, there are approachable lot if you wanted to come “The writing just blew me away… around 30 different spoken word events up and say something (nice). the words really shone through to get your chops round every month! that performance. It stayed with me for ages”. To find out more or send your feedback Audience member “Something Dark”, about this Guide or about spoken word Lemn Sissay. events in general go to www.shotfromthelip.org Photo: Lucy English and Abraham Gibson, by Jason Larkin www.jasonlarkin.co.uk “I remember going down to BAC to see for Apples & Snakes. American Will Power in the one man show, The Gathering, set in a barber’s shop. It was incredible. By the end you had lived through the characters’ lives and there was no going back”. Anjan Saha (poet) Poetry is the voice at the back of the mind… My books are flags in the mountainside. They display the discoveries and describe the views from each part of my journey. I write therefore I am. Lemn Sissay 4 SHOT FROM THE LIP SHOT FROM THE LIP 5 SFTL_Guide_FINAL7 18/1/07 13:10 Page 6 A Bluffer’s Guide to Spoken Word… A few tips and how to use the listings We have listed here many of the capital’s events, but this is an evolving scene with frequent new additions, so we can’t claim it’s a definitive list - more of a taster to whet the appetite. Access: you’ll find by the venue title Finding out about an event: not all symbols indicating wheelchair access and events have websites so we’ve added induction loops where available. Signed a telephone number and email for each and audio described performances are promoter. Because venues and times still rare in spoken word events as is tend to change, it’s always worth information in accessible formats. You’ll checking the details with the promoter Photo: Amen Noir by Jason Grant have to contact the promoter directly for if you are not on their mailing list. for Apples & Snakes information. They’d be happy to hear from you. Sign up at: [email protected] Times: we indicate when doors open, Dress code: there isn’t one. Where available we’ve added a You can unsubscribe when you like. shows tend to start roughly 30 min after Come as you are. myspace address for the event or that. But as seating is unreserved and promoter so you can sample audio Nearby: if you want to make a night of venues fairly small, it’s worth getting Finding your way around the Guide: and film clips from their nights. it and go for dinner too, we suggest you there early. Events usually last around you’ll see that events are organised by go before the show as it will probably two and a half hours with plenty of geographical areas so you can easily Frequency: events can be weekly, finish late. Where relevant we’ve breaks to chat and prop up the bar, so find what’s closest to you (plus a few monthly or only occasionally so we’ve mentioned a few nice places to try, look evenings feel quite informal. pan-London ones). If you want to delve indicated how often they take place (i.e. out for the Nearby section in some listings. deeper and develop your own writing every third Saturday or every second Programme: most nights will have about go to the Resources section for a few Wednesday etc). Prices, discounts and concs: prices are 3-6 artists doing short sets so you get a options to try. If you work with or know generally low, on average around £5. range of styles and a variety of stories. any young people who want to engage Mailing list: when you sign up to a We’ve noted which promoters offer an The compere is likely to be a poet too, so with spoken word, see the Get Involved promoter’s list expect to receive an email ‘early bird’ discount if you book in you’ll hear a few of their pieces as well. page for a few initiatives. about once a month. There are hardly advance but otherwise you buy tickets any postal lists. You could also sign up on the door. Promoters offer to the “FYI list” - a great e-list to join concessionary tickets (listed as concs if you want to be plugged into the spoken throughout the Guide) for those on state word world. You’ll usually receive a few benefits, students etc. They tend to vary, emails a day - there’s so much going on. so contact the promoter directly. 6 SHOT FROM THE LIP SHOT FROM THE LIP 7 SFTL_Guide_FINAL7 18/1/07 13:10 Page 8 How to Choose? Each night is different but they all have one DJ thing in common: poets performing their DJ sets between acts. pieces - from short stories and poems to full- blown one-person shows. Sometimes they may be underscored by music or interspersed stand-up Usually features comedy acts. by DJ sets, so to give you an at-a-glance idea of what to expect we have added these symbols by each event: other media Expect multi-media, film, projections etc with the pieces. open mic slam These are open slots for you to take the mic and have a go. 89 A competition where artists perform a short set which is Sign up early with the host if you want to perform; usually 1 then scored by the audience. Sometimes the competing 1-2 pieces. Number of available slots vary. It’s not, of course, line-up is made up of professionals only, sometimes compulsory, just an option if you’re feeling keen… audience only or a mix of the two - check with the promoter. The ultimate audience participation. feature spot Programmed artists; the line-up. By this we mean the literature professional poet and performers on the bill. Events with a literary leaning featuring novelists and writers reading from their books, debates etc. live music Nights that usually feature musicians or bands. All details are correct at time of going to print. Shot from the Lip cannot take responsibility for any 3rd party information provided throughout the Guide. 8 SHOT FROM THE LIP SHOT FROM THE LIP 9 SFTL_Guide_FINAL7 18/1/07 13:10 Page 10 Photo: by Jason Grant for Apples & Snakes North Express Excess Plum Upstairs at The Enterprise Upstairs at the Old Queen’s Head 2 Haverstock Hill, Chalk Farm, 44 Essex Road, Angel, London NW3 2BL London N1 8LN Frequency every second Wednesday Frequency quarterly, check website for (not August), 8.30pm-10.45pm details Prices £5/£3 concs (on the door) Prices £3 (on the door) Event Email [email protected] Email [email protected] Website www.expressexcess.co.uk Website www.plumlive.co.uk Listings Tel 020 7485 2659 MySpace www.myspace.com/plumlive Access no wheelchair access Access no wheelchair access Express Excess features a vibrant, Plum is a live literature night featuring scintillating mix of stand-up poetry, unpublished work by emerging and spoken word, storytelling, music established writers.