Here’s the list of local events in January 2024. If I’ve missed anything you think should be included or needs correcting – please let me know.
Details are to the best of my knowledge at time of writing or amending during the month, please check event with hosts before attending in case of restrictions/changes.
Keep checking throughout January in case I’ve been able to add anything else, otherwise February’s list will follow in due course.
For end of December 2023 events – https://scottcoe.co.uk/west-anglia-east-midlands-real-world-poetry-events-December-2023/
Wednesday 3rd 19:00
Wisbech.
Wisbech Stanza. Wisbech Castle, The Crescent, PE13 1ES (w3w = ///union.reply.expel)
Hosted by Kim Allen, former Fenland Poet Laureate.
Regular event – First Wednesday of every month.
Contact wisbechstanzagroup@gmail.com to sign up and further event details
See Wisbech Stanza’s Facebook page for this and other events
Wednesday 3rd 19:30
Lincoln.
Uncaged. The Birdcage, 54 Baggholme Road, LN2 5BQ (w3w = ///gifted.studio.caves)
Regular event – First Wednesday of every month.
See Outspoken Poets’s Facebook page for this and other events
Wednesday 3rd 19:30
Market Deeping.
Si & Soph’s Shenanigans Spoken Word. The Iron Horse Ranch, High Street, PE6 8EB (w3w = ///beefed.inflates.fried)
Open Mic. Everyone welcome, free entry.
Regular event – First Wednesday of every month.
Further details on Si & Soph’s Facebook page
Thursday 4th 18:30
Nottingham.
Invoke Poetry Workshop. Nottingham Writers’ Studio, The Carousel, 25 Hockley, NG1 1FH (w3w = ///bless.jelly.valid)
Creative writing poetry workshops centred on providing the tools, space and support for anybody who has the urge to write their own poetry.
See Nottingham Writers’ Studio website for this and other events
Thursday 4th 19:30
Coventry.
Fire & Dust. LTB Showrooms, 1 Warwick Row, CV1 1EX (w3w = ///squad.trial.voices)
Featured artists plus open mic. NOTE – BRAND NEW VENUE
Just turn up to watch, but recommend ticket to book open mic slot.
Regular event – First Thursday of every month.
See Eventbrite for more details
Thursday 4th 9:30
Leicester.
Run Your Tongue. Donald Watson’s Vegan Bar, 94 Granby Street, LE1 1DJ (w3w = ///joke.scale.leaves)
Featured artists, plus open mic (Poets, singers and storytellers are all welcome)
See Eventbrite for more details
Thursday 4th 19:30
Nottingham.
Live From The Poets Corner. The Playwright, 38 Shakespeare Street, NG1 4FQ (w3w = ///error.sugars.goods)
Poetry Open Mic.
See Eventbrite for more details
Thursday 4th 20:00
Derby.
Open Mic. The Victoria Inn, 12 Midland Place, DE1 2RR (w3w = ///park.vibrates.phones)
Everyone is welcome, providing any kind of entertainment.
See Eventbrite for more details
Friday 5th 19:30
Nottingham.
Speech Therapy. Bunker’s Hill, 36-38 Hockley, Lace Market, NG1 1FP (w3w = ///volunteered.actors.enjoyable)
Spoken word open mic.
Regular event – 1st Friday of the Month.
See Speech Therapy’s Instagram Page for more details
Sunday 7th 17:00
Nottingham.
Open Mic. Hopkinson, 21 Station Street, NG2 3AJ (w3w = ///dive.pasta.uses)
Singing, Poetry, Comedy & unplugged music performances
Weekly – every Sunday
See Eventbrite for more details
Sunday 7th 18:30
Cambridge.
CB1 Poetry. Town & Gown Pub & Theatre, 8 Market Passage, CB2 3PF (w3w = ///heave.rings.friday)
Poetry Open Mic.
1st Sunday of the month
Further details on CB1 Poetry’s Facebook page
Sunday 7th 19:30
Cambridge.
Love Rites: Performance Storytelling. The Old Schoolhouse, St Luke’s Church, Victoria Road, CB4 3DZ (w3w = ///slate.window.finds)
With Steph Brittain and Ben Haggarty
Step-free access – Entry though church car park on Stretten Avenue
Further details on Marion Leeper Storyteller’s Facebook page
Monday 8th 19:30
Leicester.
Get Mouthy. The Big Difference, 68 High Street, LE1 5YP (w3w = ///slime.sadly.police)
Featured artists plus open mic. Everyone welcome.
Regular event – Second Monday of every month
See Get Mouthy’s Instagram page for more details
CANCELLED – ST IVES WILL RETURN IN FEBRUARY
St Ives (Cambridgeshire).
Open Mic in the Riverport Cafe at St Ives Corn Exchange, The Pavement, PE27 5AD (w3w = ///yesterday.meanders.recorders)
Poetry & Folk music – Bring your own or favourite classics/modern poems. Everyone welcome, Entry fee varies. Often between £2 – £4 (cash only).
Regular event – Second Tuesday of every month.
See St Ives Corn Exchange’s website for this and other events
Tuesday 9th 19:30
Stony Stratford.
Scribal Gathering. Upstairs at The Crown, Market Square, MK11 1BE (w3w = ///unheated.indoor.trifle)
Music and Spoken Word Open Mic, plus featured performers
Regular event – Second Tuesday of every month
See Scribal Gathering’s Facebook page for further details
Wednesday 10th 20:00
Nottingham.
Free your mind – Poetry open mic. King William IV, 6 Eyre Street Nottingham NG2 4RG (w3w = ///farms.random.chew)
Free minds is a poetry night open to all forms of poetry and for all stories to be told.
Regular event – Second Wednesday of every month.
See Eventbrite for more details
Thursday 11th 19:00
Huntingdon.
Open Mic Poetry Event. Commemoration Hall, 39 High Street, PE29 3AQ (w3w = ///escalated.tank.landowner)
Free entry.
See Commemoration Hall’s website for details of this and other events
Thursday 11th 19:30
Northampton.
The Bardic Open Mic. The Lab. 95-97 Charles Street, NN1 3BG (w3w = ///bigger.zones.jelly)
Music & Spoken word open mic.
Regular event – Second Thursday of every month.
See The Lab’s website for details of this and other events
Thursday 11th 20:00
Lincoln.
Open Mic Night. The Dog and Bone. 10 John Street, LN2 5BH (w3w = ///talked.using.items)
Open Mic with host Gaz Clitheroe. Music, Comedy, Poetry & Spoken Word all welcome.
See Gaz Clitheroe’s Facebook page for this and other events
Saturday 13th 10:30
Stamford.
Poetry in the Gallery. The Gallery Bar at the Stamford Arts Centre, 27 St Mary’s Street, PE9 2DL (w3w = ///fame.slowly.surely)
2nd Saturday in December & January (In place of Poetry at Walkers)
Bring your favourite poems – classics or modern. Everyone welcome. Free entry. Poetry at Walkers will return in February 2024.
See Stamford Poetry’s Facebook page for this and other events
Saturday 13th 12:00
Whittlesey (Whittlesea).
Story Telling Sessions. Methodist / United Reformed Church, 24 Queen St, PE7 1AY (w3w = ///formless.inkjet.expert)
With storyteller Marion Leeper
These events are free and are operating on a first come first served basis, at 12noon, 1pm and 2pm
See Whittlesea Straw Bear Festival website for this and other events
Saturday 13th 20:00
Kenilworth.
Tree House Sessions. Tree House Bookshop, 4 The Square, CV8 1EB (w3w = ///video.appear.clay)
Open mic for music and spoken word.
Second Saturday of every month
See Tree House Bookshop’s website for more details of this and other events
Sunday 14th 17:00
Nottingham.
Open Mic. Hopkinson, 21 Station Street, NG2 3AJ (w3w = ///dive.pasta.uses)
Singing, Poetry, Comedy & unplugged music performances
Weekly – every Sunday
See Eventbrite for more details
Monday 15th 19:00
Spalding.
White Horse Writers sessions. The Red Lion, Market Place, PE11 1SU (w3w = ///moves.acted.ending)
Group writing sessions: Fiction, Poetry, Prose, etc.
See White Horse Writers’ Facebook page for this and other events
Monday 15th 19:30
Stamford.
Playing With Words. MindSpace, 39 Broad Street, PE9 1PX (w3w = ///themes.bonus.snow)
Fun word games, poetry and writing prompts with former Stamford Poet Laureate Scott Coe. Everyone welcome. Free entry.
Third Monday of every month.
This is a free event but encourage you to bring donations towards hot drinks.
Places are limited. Please see the MindSpace website to book
Monday 15th 19:45
Lincoln.
Guild Session. St Mary’s Guildhall, 2-18 Sibthorp St, LN5 7SH (w3w = ///nights.visits.speaks)
An evening of amazing music and poetry in a beautiful 12th century building in the centre of Lincoln.
Third Monday of every month.
See The Guild Session’s Facebook page for this and other events
Tuesday 16th 19:00
Leicester.
TLC: Poetry Night with Carol Leeming MBE. Ole’ Moses Cabin, 17 Frog Island, LE3 5AG (w3w = ///march.lifted.saints)
The Literati present Casey Bailey
See Eventbrite for more details
Tuesday 16th 19:00
Nottingham.
American poets in Britain. Five Leaves Bookshop, 14a Long Row, NG1 2DH (w3w = ///mini.tonic.bubble)
With Jason Schneiderman, Kathryn Maris & Dante Micheaux.
See Five Leaves website for more details of this and other events
Tuesday 16th 19:30
Bury St Edmunds.
Poetry Aloud. Live at upstairs at Oakes Barn. St Andrew’s St South, IP33 3PH (w3w = ///booklets.operation.inflict)
Poetry Aloud Open Mic sessions are hybrid Live / Zoom meetings on the 3rd Tuesday of each month except December.
See Poetry Aloud’s Instagram Page for further details
Wednesday 17th 19:30
Ely.
Fen Speak. Babylon Gallery, Waterside, CB7 4AU (w3w = ///dark.bonfires.rush)
Poetry & spoken word open mic.
Free entry – donations welcome. Cash bar.
See Fen Speak’s Facebook page for further details
Wednesday 17th 19:30
Stratford-upon-Avon.
Stratford-upon-Avon Stanza.
Methodist Hall, Trinity Close, Old Town, CV37 6BG (w3w = ///curry.mouth.exists)
Third Wednesday of each month, starting promptly at 7.30pm. Everyone welcome.
Contact connie.bott@mac.com to sign up and further event details
Thursday 18th 19:30
Nottingham.
Full Circle. The Cock and Hoop, High Pavement, NG1 1HN (w3w = ///option.fish.fuzzy)
Poetry Open Mic.
See Notts Poetry’s Instagram Page for more details
Thursday 18th 20:00
Kenilworth.
PGR. Tree House Bookshop, 4 The Square, CV8 1EB (w3w = ///video.appear.clay)
Featured artist plus open mic slots, hosted by Kim and John Watson.
Third Thursday of every month
See Tree House Bookshop’s website for more details of this and other events
Thursday 18th 20:00
Northampton.
The Good Vibes. The Lab. 95-97 Charles Street, NN1 3BG (w3w = ///bigger.zones.jelly)
Music & Spoken word open mic. Monthly event (3rd Thursday) – free entry
See The Lab’s website for details of this and other events
Friday 19th 19:00
Leicester.
Some Antics. Grays Coffee Shop, 31 Rutland Street, LE1 1RE (w3w = ///judge.judges.legal)
Featured artists plus Spoken Word Slam & Open Mic. Everyone welcome. Monthly event
See Some Antics Facebook page for event post with cost and to sign up for slots. Also for future dates.
Saturday 20th 11:00
Nuneaton.
Spark Young Writers – Nuneaton Teen Young Writers Group. Nuneaton Library, Church St, CV11 4DR (w3w = ///mass.upgrading.tins)
Youth writing workshop with Coventry Poet Laureate John Bernard.
See Spark Writers’ website for further details of this and for other events in other areas
Saturday 20th 19:00
Lincoln.
The Green Road Spoken Word. Lincoln A.O.D.S, 33 Tentercroft Street, LN5 7DB (w3w = ///ducks.amuse.adults)
£1 entry fee to non-members. Pre-book an open mic slot – see The Green Room Spoken Word Fellowship Facebook page for this and future events
Sunday 21st 17:00
Nottingham.
Open Mic. Hopkinson, 21 Station Street, NG2 3AJ (w3w = ///dive.pasta.uses)
Singing, Poetry, Comedy & unplugged music performances
Weekly – every Sunday
See Eventbrite for more details
Tuesday 23rd 19:00
Nottingham.
Balloons and Stripey Trousers. Five Leaves Bookshop, 14a Long Row, NG1 2DH (w3w = ///mini.tonic.bubble)
With Rennie Parker & Jenny Swann.
See Five Leaves website for more details of this and other events
Tuesday 23rd 19:30
Leicester.
Rough Draft. The Y Theatre, 7 East Street, LE1 6EY (w3w = ///edgy.soil.camp)
Once a month (forth Tuesday) we hold our scratch nights, each artists getting fifteen minutes to share their work, be that script in hand or something more polished.
From gut-wrenching theatre to side-splitting comedy, melodic music to punchy poetry, and all those arty bits in between.
See Y Theatre’s website for further details
Wednesday 24th 18:30
Hinckley.
AccessAbility Arts presents Spoken Word. Rendezvous Hinckley, 119 Factory Road, LE10 0DP (w3w = ///trooper.exhales.heartache)
Featured artists plus open mic.
Pay as feel event. To book at open mic slot email thekaysdl@gmail.com
See AccessAbility Arts’ Facebook page for more details of this and other events
Wednesday 24th 19:00
Leicester.
Performance Poetry Labs. Leicester Central Library, Bishop Street, LE1 6AA (w3w = ///solar.torn.spoken)
Workshops with The Literati and Ty’rone Haughton
See Eventbrite for more details
Thursday 25th 13:00
Coventry.
Coventry Stanza. The Old Windmill, 21 Spon Street, CV1 3BA (w3w = ///exit.pizza.then)
Fourth Thursday of each month.
Email Emma: e.t.kemp@gmail.com for more details
Thursday 25th 19:30
Cambridge.
Desperate Fleas. The Blue Moon. 2 Norfolk St, CB1 2LF (w3w = ///files.gloves.poet)
Mixed open mic: Comedy, Music, Spoken Word
Regular event – Last Thursday of every month.
Please be aware, the building is wheelchair accessible but unfortunately we do not have disabled toilets
See The Blue Moon’s website for this and other events
Friday 26th 19:30
Derby.
Word Wise. Dubrek Studios, 67 Bridge Street, DE1 3LB (w3w = ///jokes.cute.glad)
Monthy Event. Poetry, Spoken word and music.
Regular Event – last Friday of every month
See Word Wise’s Facebook page for more details
Saturday 27th 14:00
Leicester.
We are the Headliners. Leicester Central Library, Bishop Street, LE1 6AA (w3w = ///solar.torn.spoken)
Spoken word event – Fourth Saturday of each month.
Hosted by Beltane Spring Fayre Group, phone 0116-270-4765 for more info
Saturday 27th 14:00
Nottingham.
Unveiling the Self. Malt Cross, 16 St James’s St, NG1 6FG (w3w = ///muddy.spend.zest)
Poetry workshop & music jam with Sanni Haruna
See World Jam’s Facebook page for details
Saturday 27th 19:00
Peterborough.
Key Nights: A fantastic evening of scratch performances featuring a selection of new and developing work in the Key Theatre Studio Space.
Featuring Ash and Jo, Charley Genever, Karima Shah, and Taiwo Oloyede. Tickets £5
The Key Theatre Studio, Embankment Road, PE1 1EF (w3w = ///gladiators.rock.punch)
See The Key Theatre’s website for this and other events
Sunday 28th 13:00
Coventry.
Positive Images Poetry Workshops. Central Library, Smithford Way, CV1 1FY (w3w = ///laptop.ruler.fries)
Free workshops with Coventry Poet Laureate Emilie Lauren Jones
Usually the last Sunday of every month. Email: emilielaurenwriter@gmail.com for info
Sunday 28th 17:00
Nottingham.
Open Mic. Hopkinson, 21 Station Street, NG2 3AJ (w3w = ///dive.pasta.uses)
Singing, Poetry, Comedy & unplugged music performances
Weekly – every Sunday
See Eventbrite for more details
Wednesday 31st 19:00
Leicester.
Performance Poetry Labs. Leicester Central Library, Bishop Street, LE1 6AA (w3w = ///solar.torn.spoken)
Workshops with The Literati and Ty’rone Haughton
See Eventbrite for more details
Wednesday 31st 19:30
Stamford.
Pint of Poetry. The Gallery Bar at the Stamford Arts Centre, 27 St Mary’s Street, PE9 2DL (w3w = ///fame.slowly.surely)
Open mic Poetry & Spoken Word. Everyone welcome, free entry.
Regular event – Last Wednesday of every month.
See Stamford Arts Centre website for this and other events
Find out more about Pint of Poetry in Stamford in this month’s Spoken Word Spotlight here
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