In this year of two little ducks (22), Spoke is attempting to catch up with the trend that many events have set. We’re going Hybrid for audience and for open mic performers.
Yes, you’ll be able to come to Brownhills and join “in the flesh” or stay at home and join via your digital connection. (Subject to the technical wizardry of Nigel Anderson - and the god of the gremlins.)
Either come to the Lamp theatre space in Brownhills Community Centre
Or join in via a Zoom link into the live event from your mobile, tablet or computer.
Please email spoke@albarz.uk ahead of the date to let us know if you intend to come to Brownhills Community Centre or to join via Zoom.
If online, we’ll send you a link on or before the event day (26th Jan)
We’ve not done this before so please bear with us if we encounter a glitch…or a couple of ducks.
THEME: Two Little Ducks
HEADLINER: Spoz
Spoz (Giovanni Esposito) is an award winning performance poet, singer/songwriter, film maker, playwright and poet-in-residence at Birmingham City FC.
Spoz has been seen on BBC Television, has been heard on BBC Radio Four, Radio Five Live, Radio West Midlands, Radio Coventry & Warwickshire, Radio Hereford & Worcs, Capital Gold and on the toilet.
Spoz has performed at Glastonbury, Shambala, Cheltenham Lit Fest, Larmer Tree, Wychwood and other festivals, as well as in front of his mom.
Spoz was Birmingham’s 11th Poet Laureate in 2006/7 which was nice. He works a lot with young people in schools, though likes to rough it a little with adults too.
Spoz manages and facilitates many school poetry slam projects, including The West Midlands, Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Gloucestershire and other regions nationwide.
Spoz has had three poetry collections published. “The Day the Earth Grew Hair” and “Spoz’s Shorts … and the Occasional Long One” are for a younger reader. “Sometimes Angry” is a bit more grown up and is released on Verve Poetry Press. You can get it from Waterstone’s too!
Spoz has a website. You can have a look if you like? www.spoz.co
The NEW NORMAL for Spoke:
Covid is still around so please follow normal guidelines for comfort and security of yourself and all of us. We all want to feel safe.
The Lamp theatre space is big and airy enough for distanced seating at tables.
Most of us are triple-jabbed against Covid.
Hand sanitiser can be used at the door.
When chatting with those who are wary, have a mask handy.
If you are familiar with lateral flow tests, you might like to do one before you come. They’re available from pharmacies.
Thank you for any precautions you take!
*Free* teas/coffees!
Other drinks available at the bar.
Raffle with delightful prizes for lucky 50p tickets (Lamp attendees only)
Poetry books available to purchase from performers.
So there you have it. The year twenty twenty-two opens with hope; hope for an end to the plague of Covid; hope for a better year ahead; hope for the freedom of creative writers and performers to reach audiences kept away for many months; hope for the muse and music of our souls once more to burgeon with delight.
In brief…
Date: Wednesday 26th January, 2022
- 7:15 for 7:30 pm
- finish approx 10:00 pm
Theme: Two Little Ducks
Place: Brownhills Community Centre, by the miner island.
- Car park entrance via Pelsall Road.
Digital connection: book early by email spoke@albarz.uk
- a Zoom link will be sent on or before 6:30 on the night
Entry: pay as you feel (suggested up to £3)
- on the door, or
- via PayPal - https://www.paypal.me/albarz?locale.x=en_GB
Please reserve an audience seat or performance slot via Facebook message or email spoke@albarz.uk
Facebook Page: https://fb.me/e/1C3s6ZjhG
Postal Address:
The Lamp,
Brownhills Community Centre
Chester Road North
Brownhills
Walsall
WS8 7JS
(This is a disabled-friendly building.)
