by Anita Foxall. March 2020 was certainly unforgettable for us all. But this is also the date that marked the beginning of Interesting Wallpaper, a Southampton based band who have now released their first EP. Pete Harvey, the lead singer and song writer, explained they started as a trio,...
Poetry
Poem: Who’s up for a New Year’s Day walk?
by Katie Isham. Who’s up for a New Year’s Day walk? Blow the cobwebs away Start the new year afresh Fill the lungs with January air Who’s up for a New Year’s Day walk? …Mum Whatsapped the family group, alongside a boot emoji, A circuit...
Local poet Estelle Phillips’ debut collection published
Described as “beautifully brutal” by The John Hansard Gallery (Hannah Cox), “Motherhoodlum” is performance poet Estelle Phillips’ debut collection, and comes some two years after publisher Jawbone Collective saw her perform, recognised her as “an important and fresh voice” and thought, “we should publish her”. Estelle represented Southampton in the...
Preview: poet and performer Leyla Joseph at The Bookshop Alehouse, Southampton
Critically acclaimed poet and performer Leyla Josephine is bringing an evening of fearless words and home truths to The Bookshop Alehouse, Southampton, on Wednesday, November 16, with support from local poet Kat Sinclair. In Public / In Private: poetry with Leyla Josephine is a live poetry performance in which...
Write a Note Poetry October: Andy Buchanan, Deborah Gearing & Panda-monium
by Anita Foxall. Here’s your monthly review of Write a Note, a spoken word open mic, which takes place at MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton. This was another wonderful evening of poetry, fairy tales and pandas. Yes, you read that right. These were two of the brilliant poets who attended...
Write a Note Poetry, September: Jo Fisher, Bobby Looga and Jack Dale and Bastien Terraz
by Anita Foxall. After a month’s break, Write a Note poetry evening returned in full force in September. Twelves poets read their words to a very attentive engaging audience. It was a busy dynamic evening with splendid spoken word and music. Meet two of the regular poets who attended...
New spoken word night, Words at Whiskey, comes to Southampton
by Anita Foxall. Issa Loyaan Farrah-Kelly, a name you may well recognise from Southampton’s bid for City of Culture, and one of the most talented local poets, has started hosting Notes and Whiskey, a new spoken work evening on the 3rd Thursday of every month. When one day at...
All-Aboard the River Itchen
by Charlie Hislop. For a city on the coast, split by rivers, not much celebration happens on the water in Southampton. Then last weekend (September 3) along came the All-Aboard Festival, making the most of the River Itchen on a summer’s day with entertainment on the water and along...
People in Common: Poetry Platform’s Stephen Ripper Mizzen
by Anita Foxall. Poetry Platform is a warm welcoming spoken word open mic held at the Railway Inn in Winchester on the first Tuesday of every month. I met its incredibly talented host/poet, Stephen Ripper Mizzen, for a conversation about his open mic, his love of poetry and all...
Write a Note poetry evening, July: Holly Hearn, Craig Chalmers & Harley Truslove
by Anita Foxall. Write a Note brings monthly poetry and spoken word at the MAST, in the heart of Southampton. In Common poetry editor Anita Foxall runs and comperes the event. In a monthly article she shares highlights of the evening. July’s Write a Note was a busy evening,...