Word on the Street: Live Literature in Edinburgh & Glasgow

Are you the kind of person who longs for the chance to speak your mind? One of the richest and most diverse spoken word scenes in the UK is waiting in Glasgow and Edinburgh for you to explore

Feature by Illya Kuryakin | 03 Sep 2013

Rachel McCrum, who co-runs Rally & Broad, identifies a rich tradition of spoken word in Scotland. The country has “a history of storytelling, bards, oral tradition and ballad poetry. When people employ that, as well as working to discover and perform in their own unique poetic voice, something quite special happens.”

Slam poetry originated in Chicago in the 1980s. When London-based poet Jem Rolls brought his Big Word events to Edinburgh in 1996 poetry readings were far from a new thing, but competetive poetry, where writers battle it out to win the title of Slam Champion, was new to Scotland. The rising popularity of slams led to the creation of a wealth of new spoken word nights.

Harry Giles runs Inky Fingers, catering to “poets, fictioneers, experimenters, storytellers and more.” Each event has an 'open mic' section as well as a selection of established performers. “We're proud of working to be the friendliest and most supportive space for open mic possible,” says Giles, who also runs writers' workshops. Giles also co-runs ultra-cool devised performance night Anatomy at Summerhall.

Blind Poetics offers a 20-minute featured artist spot, 'introducing' spots and a vibrant open mic. It's a place to spot the best up-and-coming talent. “We probably get the highest number of new/unknown/first timers at any open mic in Edinburgh,” says Alec Beattie, who co-runs the night with Roddy Shippin.

One of Glasgow's longest-established nights, run by performance poet Robin Cairns, Last Monday at Rio features a whopping 20 open mic spots alongside a showcase from a high-profile local, national, or international poet. “The event is aimed at working writers who want to show off or try out their new material,” says Cairns, adding that it “doesn’t matter whether they have a grand pedigree or not.” Cairns also runs the annual Glasgow Slam, and small press imprint SilkScreen.

A recent addition to the Glasgow scene, Fail Better is a night rich with political and socially-conscious writing, mixing music and performance in with the poetry. Student-run outing The Verse Hearse offers a space for page poets and performance poets to meet, read their work and exchange ideas. Catering to a younger, intellectually and politically adventurous crowd, both these nights are at the cutting edge of Scottish spoken word.

Rally & Broad is half literary salon and half decadent cabaret. Organisers Jenny Lindsay and Rachel McCrum frequently welcome the absolute cream of Scotland's literary scene, with writers such as Ewan Morrison and Alan Bisset gracing the stage next to musicians and avant garde performers. Jenny Lindsay took over the stewardship of Big Word after Jem Rolls left Edinburgh to tour internationally, and is the lynchpin of the city's spoken word community. McCrum describes Lindsay's work as “engaged, funny, astute, generous and utterly beautiful.” McCrum herself was instrumental in setting up Inky Fingers with Harry Giles, and co-runs a thriving small press imprint, Stewed Rhubarb, which this year won the Calum MacDonald Award for pamphlet publishing.

You may not be able to sign up for an open mic at Rally & Broad, but if you are asked to perform at one of their coveted 'Introducing' spots, opportunity might well beckon. They re-launch on 18 October. Lindsay namechecks William Letford, and Kirstin Innes (who ran her own brilliant live literature event, Words Per Minute, in Glasgow in recent years) as some of the best that Scotland has to offer. McCrum is equally enthusiastic: “It's a small country with an intimate scene, but I've found that means there is a lot of support for fellow artists, as well as lively discussions around the artform itself.”

Writers' Bloc shows are carefully curated around specific, sometimes topical themes, and feature a tight core of prose writers working together to create new and engaging performances. Bloc have participated in the Edinburgh Book Festival and Science Festival, and count noted SF authur Hannu Rajaniemi and critic, editor and writer Andrew J. Wilson among their number. Bloc shows offer a spectacle not to be missed, at the bleeding edge of live literature.

Illicit Ink, run by writers Barbara Melville and Ariadne Cass-Maran, is “aimed at everyone who likes the sinister, the witty and the weird.” Melville continues: “Our focus is on a sense of mischief and playfulness. We’ve had everything from heartfelt stories about relationships to silly stuff about ghost chickens.” From September on, their regular events will re-launch as Illicit Ink: Underground at the Bongo Club and Illicit Ink: Skyground at the Scottish Storytelling Centre.

Perhaps the most venerated spoken word night in Scotland, Neu! Reekie! is run by poet Michael Pedersen and writer, publisher and activist Kevin Williamson, founder of Rebel Inc. Press, the first publisher to introduce the world to Irvine Welsh. Their events mix poetry, performance, music and film, and with a list of past guests that includes the Scots Makar Liz Lochhead, respected novelist Alasdair Gray and actor Tam Dean Burn, you are always guaranteed an evening of top-notch entertainment.

The above represents a fair selection of the best spoken word nights Edinburgh and Glasgow have to offer, but in an ever-changing and wildly diverse scene, there is always more to see. Get yourself down to an open mic or a slam, get stuck in, and explore for yourself.

Find details of forthcoming events:

Open mics
Inky Fingers: inkyfingersedinburgh.wordpress.com
Blind Poetics: www.facebook.com/pages/Blind-Poetics/173754889340723
Last Monday At Rio: www.robincairns.com/rio.html
Fail Better: www.facebook.com/FailBetterGlasgow
The Verse Hearse: www.facebook.com/groups/457327344286964

Showcase events -
Rally & Broad: rallyandbroad.wordpress.com
Writers' Bloc: www.writers-bloc.org.uk
Illicit Ink: illicitink.net
Neu! Reekie!: neureekie.tumblr.com