Scottish Poetry News: March 2022

Open mics, charity anthologies and the return of StAnza poetry festival all feature in March's spoken word and poetry round-up

Feature by Beth Cochrane | 02 Mar 2022
  • Summerhall

New monthly venture Rock the Boat open mic arrives in Summerhall’s Gallery Bar on Wednesday 9 March (7-9pm, free) – if you’re keen to read a poem, you can register on their site. Queer poet Peter Scalpello releases his debut collection, Limbic, with Cipher Press on 24 March. Based in Glasgow, he has been published widely, so it’s exciting to see his work in one collection. Limbic is a ‘glittering ode to sex, intimacy, and queer discovery’.

Taproot Press launch a brilliant anthology on 4 March to celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Rock Trust – a youth-specific charity battling homelessness. The anthology, All the Way Home, features many of Scotland’s best known contemporary poets and writers, including James Robertson, Val McDermid, Jenni Fagan. 50% of the profits go directly to funding The Rock Trust, so by buying poetry, you are actively helping them continue their journey to end youth homelessness.

It wouldn’t be a March poetry column without mentioning the always-wonderful and ever-vibrant StAnza International Poetry Festival. Taking place in St Andrews in person and digitally from 7-13 March, there's a whole host of talks, performances, and workshops to attend. Book as soon as you can, tickets will likely sell out for many events.