Here at BookGig we know that sometimes you want to take a break from the norm, let your hair down and try something a little bit different. With that in mind, these events are just some of the hidden gems on the site, handpicked from lesser known sources and brought to your attention! So, take a look and attend an event, or two, or even three …
Poetry is cool again thanks to Bang Said the Gun - the
number one best poetry night as voted by The Times. Advertised with the tagline
‘poetry for people who don’t like poetry’ but recommended by laureates and
celebrities alike, it has outgrown its aloof message – it must be cool. The
events feature both headline spoken word artists and ‘Raw Meat Stew’ open mic
spots for anyone brave enough to enter what spoken word seasoned vet Kate
Tempest describes as ‘mud wrestling with words’. Dates are spread across the UK
and occur every last Thursday of the month, so head down with the hoards if you
know what’s cool for you.
There are few better ways to spend a night than in a pub after hours, so this literary lock-in is a must for anyone in the
Dundee area with a thirst for more than just the written word. Held at the
namesake pub of the legendary George Orwell, this is a great opportunity for writers,
readers, students, librarians, and all other book heads to mingle, relax, and keep
the festivities of the Dundee Literary Festival going until the very end.
Take a dip into the rich, chocolate flavoured culture pool
of Brixton at this live performance event with a side of chocolate, expert
cakes and pastries courtesy of the hosts at Brixton Blend Café. Whatever your
spoken word forte, be it poetry, storytelling, or aided by acoustic music, come
and showcase your skills in the company of the iconic David Bowie mural, or
simply join in by eating, listening and drinking.
The once palpitating heart of Punk Rock has arguably all but
stopped in the UK these days, but once at the centre of its every beat was
Stephen Micalef, a writer and prominent personality found in the legendary Punk
fanzine Sniffin’ Glue. In store at Housmans Bookshop, Steve will be resuscitating
the glory days of Punk with a reading of poems that encapsulate 10 months
amidst the raw power of a musical movement the ripples of which are still felt today.
Beautiful greenery, chilled vibes and a light refreshment
are on the menu at an evening with Gynelle Leon, the founder of London’s first
all-cactus, aptly named flower shop – PRICK. Join the history making Gynelle
for a relaxed chat on all things travel, culture, and of course, cacti.
Come and support one of the delicatessens of the publishing
world Bluemoose Books as they host a salon to promote their independent publishing
house with an array of author readings and anecdotes of attempts to take on the
publishing world. Kevin and Hethy Duffy founded Bluemoose back in 2007 and have
since achieved incredible success with numerous authors on leading prize
shortlists, so this event particular appeals to those taking babysteps in indie
publishing who will go away with a new arrow in their quiver to start their own
war with major publishers.
London is full of secret and unknown spaces created in the
wake of vast and rapid economic and cultural change, and here’s your chance to
hear all about where to find your own forgotten part of the city. This talk
features numerous voices from the book Art Night: Expanding the City’s
Boundaries in which essays from acclaimed architects and urbanists argue for
public art being a tool for safety, inclusion and inspiration. You are invited
to discover a forgotten London well worth remembering.
Perhaps the publishing world wont admit the genius of your novel, and you haven't the expenses to buy your own printing press, or maybe you're just curious, in any case, come along to this event where you can learn to lovingly handcraft and bind your stories into a book.
A journey through T.S Eliot’s The Waste Land can be an
uneasy one, but this event hopes to restore some balance to your footing with a
walk through some of the sites that inspired the aesthetic of Eliots renowned
poem. Visits will be paid to important
architectural sites that offer a tangible insight into the inspiration that
London lent to The Waste Land, while readings will be performed in the hope of
enlightening many themes and ideas through group discussion. So come and let
your imagination fly through Eliot’s Unreal City.
