Some People I've Seen Recently No.2

Following on from last weeks blog where I put Riki Livermore and Cate Ferris on, here's two others whom I performed with back in May at the Crawley event for Come Rhyme With Me.

First up is Sabrina Mafhouz. For me Sabrina is one of the best and someone that has accomplished a lot. A great performer and writer who's very entertaining to watch and also very poignant.

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Hollie McNish flew in from Belfast that night, straight to Crawley for the gig. Smashed it. Then had to head off elsewhere straight away after. She's in demand and I think there's a good reason why. She's very very good. What I like about Hollie, also Sabrina too, is that they have the ability to talk about huge issues, but in a way that's authentic and not generic, which I think is something that's very difficult to do and certianly something that I don't think I'd be able to do. Here's a decent example

Misc Stuff, like the Poejazzi app and some gigs and that

Hello

It's a Monday and I'm reflecting. Last week was a good week, so I'm going to do a little roundup.

Poejazzi App

Those nice people over at Poejazzi have produced this sweet little poetry app, which has recorded audio, text, illustration and a whole host of banging poets. They are featuring one in each week and it was my turn last, (well actually it was the week before..). The piece I did is called Highland Blues, which I wrote probably about 2 years ago and is about growing up and seeing my father in myself, and that kind of thing. So far to feature has been Gareth Lewis, Molly Naylor, James Massiah, Rachel Rose Reid, Hollie McNish, Alex Gwyther, Catherine Martindale, Sean Mahoney, Anna Lee with more to come. You can download it for free from Itunes Google Play Samsung Apps

Gigs

I'm pretty fortunate to be on a really good run of gigs at the moment, the best one I've had in a long time, possibly ever. Over the last month I've featured at BoxedIn, Hector Hears, Streetfest, Come Rhyme With Me Crawley, but this Thursday I'm going to be heading up to Birmingham for the first time to feature at Hit The Ode  a night which is run by a great poet called Bohdan Piasecki  and Apples &Snakes. Then the friday after is the Brighton leg of Come Rhyme With Me.

Other Stuff

Last Thursday I was invited down to Christ's Hospital school in West Sussex to run a workshop. This came off the back of a Poetry From The Heart completion, where I met 2 of their students, Kobby Adi (who won the competition that night) and Leeza Awojobi. They told me about a Spoken Word club they run at their School and after a few emails from Leeza, I eventually went down there and met the group, who are all aged between 13 and 18 and have around 25 people that turn up each week to thier sessions. It's hard not be impressed by the school itself, which is a collection of huge old buildings set in the Sussex countryside, where they still preserve the old traditions of the school, like the tudor uniforms, however, what impressed me most was the group themselves. They run it all off their own backs and host their own events within the school.  There was a lot of talented people within the group, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of them start appearing on the spoken word radar in the near future.  I had a very nice time!

Come Rhyme With Me

Happy Friday and all that!

Tonight, I start a nice little 3-legged gig run with Come Rhyme With Me starting in Crawley today, then Brighton on May 16th (feat Sabrina Mahfouz and Kendel Hippolyte) and finishing May 30th in London (feat Moona Moon and Jay Bernard). 

Crawley is a town where I did a lot of my growing up and still have a lot of fond memories so I'm pretty excited, my parents are coming! It's part of the annual Crawley Wordfest which is a jam packed schedule of decent events happening around the town. The line up for Crawley features heavyweights Hollie McNish, Sabrina Mahfouz, and of course Dean Atta and Deanna Rodger who run the event. Come and reach!

Up-Coming Gigs

Hey

So I'm back out of the theatre and into doing spoken word gigs again, and a few people have been kind enough to book me! I have been working on new pieces so I'm looking forward to getting gigging again, here's what's coming up...

Hector Hears, April 24th

It's a new night, mixed line up, just how I like it, it's in South London too! It's a pretty tasty line up, have a butchers

CATE FERRIS
Captivating songstress on guitar, keys, drums & loopstation (Dizraeli & Small Gods)
http://www.cateferris.com/

K ANDERSON
Enchanting soul/folk singer-songwriter #Soulkulele
http://www.iam-kanderson.com/

PAUL CREE
Outstanding spoken word artist/writer; critically-acclaimed solo show Tales From The Bedsit (Roundhouse, BAC)
http://www.paulcreewrites.com/

PIERRE DA SILVA
Future acoustic soul star rising quickly through Lyrix Organix's ranks
http://youtu.be/aFUG_ms1Mco

Streetfest, May 4th 

Again, I've performed at this before, it's a whole day, which some big acts so should be fun, I'm on the un-signed stage, I think...

Come Rhyme With Me (Crawley WordFest)

oi oi back in the manor!!!!! Crawley is where I did a lot of my growing up, I lived next door in Horley but always went to school in Crawley, lots of my mates lived there, so I'm excited for this. Come Rhyme With Me is one of the best nights in london, and also Brighton, and their bringing it to Crawley! Sick line up too, Dean Atta, Deanna Rodger and guests, Hollie McNish, Sabrina Mafouz and me! There's a whole bunch of events going on for Crawley Wordfest too so worth checking out...I'm also performing at the Come Rhyme With Me events in Brighton on May 16th, and London on May 30th

Come Into The Garden, May 10th

Curated by the wonderful Lettie McKie, I think this one is an alfresco afair in the lovley surroundings of Duclich Village, yes I'm going in the word, good line up

Free
To celebrate Dulwich Artists Open House Lettie Mckie hosts a poetry open mic night with a difference. Surrounded by art of all shapes, sizes and genres (including Street Art), sip on our pink vodka cocktails, soothed by ambient jazz piano before settling in for an inspiring evening of spoken word and open mic. 
Our line up
// Sh’Maya
Sh’maya is a spoken word artist who will carry you away with his lyricism and unique performance style. His slick verbal riffs and incredible imagery will have you spellbound. http://www.shmaya.co.uk/
// Paul Cree
Hot off the press from performing his one man show a Tale from the Bedsit at Roundhouse and Battersea Arts Centre Paul is a calmly confident poet, his words understated and compelling.
http://www.paulcreewrites.com/
// Talia Randall
A founding member of Roundhouse’s first poetry collective Rubix Talia weaves insightful storytelling with thought provoking imagery drawn from her teenage years. http://www.taliarandall.com/

If you want a slot on the open mic just click 'attending' and write a request on the event page. Turn up early on the night to confirm your slot!

Come Rhyme With Me 2012

Happy New Year and all that. Have a wee look at the fresh E-Flyers for CMWM, which is a wicked event run by fellow Rubix members Deanna Rodger and Dean Atta. They theme the night around a menu and there is also the option of having a Caribbean meal. The night started back in July 2010 and I was lucky enough to be "The Starer" on the menu, it was also the day I left my old job, so fond memories. Since then, theve now expanded into Brighton, and this year I will be performing at both events in March, on the 15th (Brighton) and 29th (London). They line-ups are always top notch and the food is wicked too!