January 25 is Burns Night, the anniversary of the birth of Robert ‘Rabbie’ Burns, Scottish poet and revolutionary.
If bagpipes and whiskey aren’t your thing, why not celebrate Burns Night the old fashioned way by trying out some of Manchester’s best poetry nights.
You may even hear Address to Haggis, if you’re lucky…
Burns Night at the Two Tubs, Bury, Sunday January 24
A popular boozer in the heart of Bury, the Two Tubs is hosting a medieval feast in honour of Burns Night.
The evening’s entertainment will include some spoken word and music thrown in for free.
Cask ales are the pub’s speciality, so visitors can enjoy a pint next to a cosy log fire, before nipping a wee dram in Rabbie’s honour.
Bad Language, The Castle, Northern Quarter, Wednesday January 27
Of course the Northern Quarter has a quirky offering of the spoken word, this one hosted by The Castle, the unapologetically grimy venue perfect for an authentic Mancunian experience.
Once a month Bad Language puts on a free open mic night which encourages the poets and short story writers of Manchester, especially those who have never performed before, to try out their work alongside a critically acclaimed performer.
Headlining this month is Rodge Glass, author of LoveSexTravelMusik and Bring Me the Head of Ryan Giggs.
Verbose, Fallow, Fallowfield, Monday January 25
“Bringing words to the ’burbs with live literature in Fallowfield… “
The live literature night Verbose is being relaunched for the New Year, with a new host and new format and, students take note, it’s absolutely free!
Taking place on the fourth Monday of the month at Fallow café in Fallowfield, the event will feature performances by special guests, along with an open mic, when audience members are encouraged to take to the stage and read their prose and poetry.
The Fuel Word Cup, Fuel, Withington, Thursday February 4
Competitive slam poetry at its northern best, covering topics ranging from the ownership of women’s bodies to hating the London Underground, The Fuel Word Cup is a spoken word event held every first Thursday of the month in Fuel, Withington, Manchester.
In return to a £3 entry fee, guests get free chips and the best poets of the North-West.
Anyone who is interested in performing can contact Fuel or just show up on the night and rock the mic (psych).
Ten Poets x Ten minutes, Whitworth Gallery, Thursday February 4
The newly refurbished and award-winning Whitworth Gallery opens its doors for Thursday lates, a series of eclectic openings.
Sarah L Dixon runs regular Quiet Compere events in Chorlton, Manchester.
Sarah has toured The Quiet Compere format (ten poets performing for ten minutes each) nationally in 2015 and in the North of England in 2014.
Quiet Compere events enlist great, established poets and emerging voices. The Quiet Compere introduces them with little fanfare so the poems (and not the poet’s track record) tell you all you need to know.
