This is an extract from February’s West Midlands Snakebasket, to view the full version, click here.

Hello all! To be perfectly honest, I am rarely enthusiastic at the prospect of February. Dark, cold, and unnecessary are adjectives that come to mind. But this year, I feel positively thrilled, and that’s because poetry-wise, things are stirring; they’re stirring like nobody’s business.

Poets’ Place has begun, for one. We’ll see how it will evolve, but the initial responses of the participants have been very positive, and seeing all those poets chatting and sharing work over a cuppa is enough to warm your cockles – no mean feat in this unsympathetic weather.  Hit the Ode continues its triumphant stroll through the world’s poetry, with Brum’s answer to Tom Waits, a razor-witted performance powerhouse from Bristol, and two, count them, two top US poets (who, in an unprecedented move, will also be leading a workshop at the Victoria before the event). Not too shabby, you will agree.

In fact, if you factor in the Masterclass led by Mark Gonzales and the Learn:Eat:Perform workshop led by Ben Mellor, this could turn out to be the month when your writing and performance skills rise to unprecedented levels. Just don’t forget us when you’re rich and famous – or when you’re leading a revolution down the street… Either way, see you soon!

Bohdan
Apples and Snakes West Midlands Coordinator

PS Each Snakebasket presents only a fraction of what is going on poetically in the West Midlands. For more quickfire updates, follow me on Twitter – @ApplesWM or join the Apples and Snakes West Midlands group!

This is an extract from February’s West Midlands Snakebasket, to view the full version, click here.

Apples and Snakes’ Snakebaskets are monthly newsletters tailored for each region we work in. Here you will find lots of exciting poetry stuff and more about what we are up to in your area. Why not join our e.mailing list? Click here for more.

“just wanted to say thanks for one of the best poetry-info emails I’ve ever received. Hope to attend at least a couple of the events – brilliant!” London Snakebasket reader.

This is an extract from December’s West Midlands Snakebasket, to view the full version, click here.

Welcome to the December Snakebasket!

The year is slowly coming to an end, and the days are getting shorter, but darkness and cold wind have never been known to stop poetry, have they? So although Hit the Ode is taking a one-month break (after completing its first full year, hurray!), there is still plenty of poetic goodness around in the run-up to 2012.

First, I’m very excited to remind you that the second Lit Fuse showcase is coming up. I know people overuse the phrase “I’m excited”, but this is genuine: four poets have worked very, very hard on four new pieces of writing, under the direction of director Cheryl Martin, and I am incredibly curious to see what they have come up with. Judging by what I’ve spied at the workshops sessions, it should be a very special night. I hope you’ll be there at the mac to share the experience with us.

Next, the last Learn:Eat:Perform of the year is happening in Worcester – led by Rob Gee, no less. I’m sure all the regulars will be there – they can attest to how useful these sessions can be – but do consider coming even if you’re from out of town. Trust me, you won’t regret it. This might be a good time to mention that Inua Ellams (who recently led an L:E:P session) has had a show in Birmingham a few days ago in a living room in Digbeth. It was a special night, with words from the man himself and music from Hoon Young Kim – check out Inua’s write-up here.

Also, you may have noticed during a recent shopping trip that Spiceal Street, the newly developed piazza around St Martin’s Church near the Bullring, sports a new water feature – a granite wall inscribed with a poem co-written by Polarbear and Simon Turner and commissioned via Apples and Snakes! We are very proud to have been involved in putting poetry in one of the busiest parts of the city. The piece is called Everything Happens Here. Go read it, tell us what you think.

More recommendations after the jump. Happy holidays, happy new year – and see you very soon!

Bohdan

This is an extract from December’s West Midlands Snakebasket, to view the full version, click here.

Apples and Snakes’ Snakebaskets are monthly newsletters tailored for each region we work in. Here you will find lots of exciting poetry stuff and more about what we are up to in your area. Why not join our e.mailing list? Click here for more.

“just wanted to say thanks for one of the best poetry-info emails I’ve ever received. Hope to attend at least a couple of the events – brilliant!” London Snakebasket reader.

This is an extract from November’s West Midlands Snakebasket, to view the full version, click here.

Welcome to the November Snakebasket!

Warm greetings, poetry fans, on this grey and chilly day. The weather may be engaging in its old November shtick, but the poetry shows no sign of slowing down. Case in point: Hit the Ode. That’s right, after a phenomenal October which featured the country’s first Dice Slam and an electrifying and moving night at the Victoria, we’re keeping things going with a spectacular line-up featuring three absolutely top-notch poets, each very different from the others. Details after the jump, but remember, there won’t be a Hit the Ode in December, so make sure you don’t miss this one or the wait will become unbearable.

This might be a good time to mention, however, that we are gearing up for the second instalment of Lit Fuse – four poets will meet director Cheryl Martin this month, and they’ll start working on their new long pieces immediately thereafter. They will premiere their work at mac Birmingham on Saturday 10 December 10… date for the diary. I’m very excited to see how their writing will develop over the course of this project. If you want regular updates from the process, consider “liking” Lit Fuse on facebook.

Speaking of developing your writing – we are very close to launching Poet Space, an exciting new collaboration with Birmingham Central Library designed to give poets of all levels a place to write, socialise, and compare notes. Keep your eyes peeled for updates on social media sites – details will be unveiled very soon indeed. On another note, our national youth slam project Shake the Dust is well underway now, and you’ve just got time to apply for the roles of Poet Coach and Shadow Artist through our partner venue, The Drum. Make sure you visit www.shakethedust.co.uk to stay up-to-date with this phenomenal project.

Whew. That’s plenty of news, and you still have all those listings to read… Go on, I won’t detain you any longer. See you soon!

Bohdan

This is an extract from November’s West Midlands Snakebasket, to view the full version, click here.

Apples and Snakes’ Snakebaskets are monthly newsletters tailored for each region we work in. Here you will find lots of exciting poetry stuff and more about what we are up to in your area. Why not join our e.mailing list? Click here for more.

“just wanted to say thanks for one of the best poetry-info emails I’ve ever received. Hope to attend at least a couple of the events – brilliant!” London Snakebasket reader.