{"title": "TESTING GROUND - open mic poetry and performance", "start": "2026-11-04T19:00:00Z", "end": "2026-11-04T21:30:00Z", "place": "Bàrd Books", "address": "Roman Road 341-343, E3 5QR London", "price": "£6.00 (+£0.15 ticket service fee)", "price_from": "6.00", "price_to": "6.00", "tickets_url": "", "category": "talks-readings", "tags": ["literature/poetry"], "description": "TESTING GROUND is an open mic night of poetry, music and performance at Bàrd Books, where anyone can sign up at the door for a slot, assigned on a lottery basis. It is a welcoming night for first-timers and seasoned performers alike to try out new things. This edition features headline guest Cia Mangat, a London writer and zinemaker whose work has appeared in fourteen poems, gal-dem, Propel and bath magg, been broadcast by the BBC, and whose debut pamphlet is Lobe. She founded and edits Zindabad, a zine for people in diasporas worldwide, and facilitates writing and zine-making workshops.", "url": "https://noky.io/en/london/events/testing-ground-open-mic-poetry-and-performance-41015/", "official_url": "https://www.wearebardbooks.co.uk/event-details/testing-ground-open-mic-poetry-and-performance-5", "image": "https://noky.io/images/35e394fc8082cd3e1ec982f1dba926c866c710cf134c68f4b9ed0beefa27cab3-2000.webp", "dates": [{"start": "2026-11-04T19:00:00Z", "end": "2026-11-04T21:30:00Z", "place": "Bàrd Books", "address": "Roman Road 341-343, E3 5QR London", "tickets": ""}], "similar": [{"title": "Jawdance", "start": "2026-05-20T00:00:00+01:00", "end": "2026-11-25T00:00:00Z", "place": "Ovalhouse Theatre", "address": "Kennington Oval 52-54, SE11 5SW London", "price": "£15", "price_from": "15.00", "price_to": "15.00", "tickets_url": "https://brixtonhouse.co.uk/book-online/334456", "category": "talks-readings", "tags": ["literature/spoken-word"], "description": "Jawdance is a performance poetry night featuring honest and real storytelling, a resident DJ, and an open mic with typically ten slots for anyone to take the stage. It is presented by Apples and Snakes, a national organisation that has championed performance poetry for over forty years and puts artists first. The night welcomes everyone, from first-timers to seasoned performers, in a warm and welcoming poetry community. Performances include writers such as Amina Jama, Akila Richards, and Roger Robinson, with a collaboration with Flipped Eye Publishing.", "url": "https://noky.io/en/london/events/jawdance-37686/", "official_url": "", "image": "https://noky.io/images/4e8c882c2f06ca6b9e53397b74a7809d04e582745eb0d95100cad1b298cd0aad-600.webp"}, {"title": "Resonance Open Mic Poetry Night", "start": "2026-11-04T18:30:00Z", "end": "2026-11-04T21:00:00Z", "place": "Set Social", "address": "Nigel Road 55, SE15 4NP London", "price": "Free", "price_from": "0.00", "price_to": "0.00", "tickets_url": "", "category": "talks-readings", "tags": ["literature/poetry"], "description": "Resonance Open Mic Poetry Night is a friendly open mic evening where anyone who loves reading, listening to or writing poetry can share one poem of ideally under five minutes. It is run by Resonance, a poetry collective from South East London made up of queer volunteers, which builds community, supports early-career artists and improves access to the arts for underrepresented groups. Fifteen readers take part across three sections, with ten advance slots and five available on the door, welcoming everyone from first-timers to regulars, with new work, rough drafts and old favourites all encouraged.", "url": "https://noky.io/en/london/events/resonance-open-mic-poetry-night-38493/", "official_url": "https://setspace.uk/event/resonance-open-mic-poetry-night/2026-11-04/", "image": "https://noky.io/images/4d32ea18193ca9c826933a25c89dd3a5c0b53272b8d43fc8b005544b033f004c-2000.webp"}, {"title": "Poems Not Bombs", "start": "2026-10-29T18:30:00Z", "end": "2026-10-29T21:00:00Z", "place": "Walthamstow Trades Hall", "address": "17 Hoe Street (off Tower Hamlets Road), E17 4SB London", "price": "", "price_from": "0.00", "price_to": "0.00", "tickets_url": "https://www.datathistle.com/events/books/", "category": "talks-readings", "tags": ["literature/poetry", "occasion/halloween"], "description": "Poems Not Bombs is a free monthly poetry open mic held upstairs at Walthamstow Trades Hall, open to poets of all experiences and levels. It is hosted by Paul McGrane of the local poetry collective Forest Poets. Sign-up on the night runs from 6.30pm to 7pm, and time permitting everyone gets five minutes; anyone can read poems on any theme, or simply come along to listen. For the 29 October 2026 session near Halloween, attendees are invited to bring scary poems, though themed poems are optional and all poems are welcome.", "url": "https://noky.io/en/london/events/poems-not-bombs-70749/", "official_url": "https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/poems-not-bombs-at-the-trades-hall-walthamstow-tickets-649696007247", "image": "https://noky.io/images/51dda5e3a9a2153ac2eb6430f9f6223e5622a40be4aec5589c0c4c90676b1fba-1200.webp"}, {"title": "Open Mic Night", "start": "2026-10-29T18:30:00Z", "end": null, "place": "St. Margaret's House", "address": "Old Ford Road 15-23, E2 9PJ London", "price": "FREE", "price_from": "0.00", "price_to": "0.00", "tickets_url": "https://www.tickettailor.com/events/stmargaretshouse/1364367/select-date", "category": "talks-readings", "tags": ["literature/poetry", "music"], "description": "Open Mic Night is a monthly open stage evening held in The Gallery Cafe at St Margaret's House. Performers of all kinds are welcome, from acoustic musicians, poets and storytellers to stand-up comedians, with eight slots of 8 to 10 minutes each. Four slots can be pre-booked and four are available for sign-up on the door, with sign-up from 6.30pm and performances starting at 7pm. The cafe offers a warm, supportive atmosphere, with teas, beer, wine, soft drinks and a selection of salads available on the night.", "url": "https://noky.io/en/london/events/open-mic-night-38810/", "official_url": "https://www.stmargaretshouse.org.uk/events/open-mic-night-1", "image": "https://noky.io/images/a6a9b673914b3d099a7bc9c01f32e453220808c6b1f268c865a7e68b05a41a17-2000.webp"}, {"title": "Poetry at Lala: Joelle Taylor & Olive Franklin + open mic", "start": "2026-10-29T19:00:00Z", "end": null, "place": "Lala Books", "address": "Grove Lane 4a, SE5 8SY London", "price": "£12", "price_from": "12.00", "price_to": "12.00", "tickets_url": "https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/111081447981", "category": "talks-readings", "tags": ["literature/poetry"], "description": "A monthly poetry night at Lala Books, headlined by T.S. Eliot Prize-winning poet Joelle Taylor and Olive Franklin, with readings from the writers' collective Page of Wands and open mic slots. Taylor is the author of four poetry collections, including 2025's Maryville, whose C+NTO & Othered Poems won the T.S. Eliot Prize and the Polari Book Prize; she is a former UK Poetry Slam Champion and hosts Out-Spoken at the Southbank Centre. Franklin's debut pamphlet Dyke Juvenilia won the Poetry London Pamphlet Competition, and her poems have appeared in Granta, Poetry and The Poetry Review. Open mic performers get five minutes each on a first come, first served basis and receive complimentary drinks.", "url": "https://noky.io/en/london/events/poetry-at-lala-joelle-taylor-olive-franklin-open-mic-41620/", "official_url": "https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/poetry-at-lala-joelle-taylor-olive-franklin-open-mic-tickets-2000880541562", "image": "https://noky.io/images/307a1b650d2ca527f034c49a9564a2d9b38cde79781b4b2120178437197bcbe5-2000.webp"}, {"title": "More Fire: Performance Poetry Ignited", "start": "2026-11-05T20:00:00Z", "end": null, "place": "Woolwich Works", "address": "No 1 Street 11, SE18 6HD London", "price": "Cabaret Seats: £27 | Standard Seats: £22 (all prices include a £2 booking fee per ticket)", "price_from": "22.00", "price_to": "27.00", "tickets_url": "", "category": "talks-readings", "tags": ["literature/spoken-word"], "description": "More Fire: Performance Poetry Ignited is a one-night spoken word show gathering radical and exceptional voices in performance poetry, never seen together on stage before. It is presented by Apples and Snakes, the national organisation for performance poetry, and spotlights the transformative origins, present and future of the art form. The line-up includes The Last Poets, Michael Rosen, Inua Ellams, AFLO. the poet, Jordan Stephens, Rakaya Fetuga and David Okodeh, hosted by Yomi Ṣode. The evening of raw storytelling and unmissable energy is never to be repeated.", "url": "https://noky.io/en/london/events/more-fire-performance-poetry-ignited-40362/", "official_url": "https://www.woolwich.works/events/more-fire", "image": "https://noky.io/images/069f86da197260f99be8b5625e0d7039338f8d01164b76055dd345e28ef762bd-1200.webp"}, {"title": "Extra Second London", "start": "2026-10-31T18:45:00Z", "end": null, "place": "St. Margaret's House", "address": "Old Ford Road 15-23, E2 9PJ London", "price": "£4 (£5 for Open Mic + Guest)", "price_from": "4.00", "price_to": "5.00", "tickets_url": "https://www.tickettailor.com/events/stmargaretshouse/1432082/select-date", "category": "talks-readings", "tags": ["literature/spoken-word"], "description": "A cosy monthly evening of poetry, spoken word, music and discussion with open mic slots. Hosted by Kid Anansi and Julie G, it pairs performances with a discussion section that gives performers and audiences a space to reflect on writing and performing, welcoming everyone from newcomers to seasoned pros. The October theme is ALCHEMY.", "url": "https://noky.io/en/london/events/extra-second-london-38811/", "official_url": "https://www.stmargaretshouse.org.uk/events/extra-second-london", "image": "https://noky.io/images/bba057d21d53ce77888181cc3445b100438830ba4441c8eda3441b81cdb90301-2000.webp"}, {"title": "Regular Poetry Club: Lost in the Foxglove", "start": "2026-10-29T18:30:00Z", "end": null, "place": "St. Margaret's House", "address": "Old Ford Road 15-23, E2 9PJ London", "price": "", "price_from": "6.00", "price_to": "6.00", "tickets_url": "https://www.outsavvy.com/event/16216/regular-poetry-club-lost-in-the-foxglove", "category": "workshops-courses", "tags": ["literature/poetry"], "description": "A bi-monthly poetry workshop called Regular Poetry Club: Lost in the Foxglove, offering a gentle, welcoming space to write freely, connect with others and grow your poetry in community, with tea, biscuits, a micro-lesson on a topic of focus, writing time and sharing in a low-pressure, queer-friendly environment. The poet, writer and artist Lauren Bulla runs the sessions, which form phase one of a two-phase process leading from writing to performing at seasonal open mic events, and whose work has been featured on BBC Radio 1 and LOOSE.FM.", "url": "https://noky.io/en/london/events/regular-poetry-club-lost-in-the-foxglove-38776/", "official_url": "https://www.stmargaretshouse.org.uk/events/regular-poetry-club-lost-in-the-foxglove", "image": "https://noky.io/images/288722e200b233096a4f0971c0258bec8f182bae9b4bef47b3a0e432de827b9c-1200.webp"}, {"title": "Open Mic - Bubblebath - ALL WELCOME", "start": "2026-11-03T19:00:00Z", "end": null, "place": "The Fiddler's Elbow", "address": "Malden Road 1, NW5 3HS London", "price": "FREE ENTRY", "price_from": "0.00", "price_to": "0.00", "tickets_url": "", "category": "concerts", "tags": ["literature/poetry", "comedy", "music"], "description": "Open Mic - Bubblebath - FREE ENTRY - ALL WELCOME is a monthly open mic night held at The Fiddler's Elbow in Camden. Bubblebath is a showcase of London's raw talent, welcoming music, poetry, spoken-word, comedy and other acts of every skill level, with sign-up from 7pm on the night. Acts of all kinds are platformed except bands of more than two people, and performers are called up in order of registration. Entry is free and everyone is welcome, whether on stage or in the audience.", "url": "https://noky.io/en/london/events/open-mic-bubblebath-all-welcome-47946/", "official_url": "https://www.thefiddlerselbow.co.uk/whos-playing/open-mic-bubblebath382021-3nyzk-sapbm-sdt8l", "image": "https://noky.io/images/da0fc98db6e7ba34910e31c3c8e1ef148adc93cd256b321fadc3644e51879f90-2000.webp"}, {"title": "Autumn Term Writers Drop In: Stage, Screen & Spoken Word", "start": "2026-11-02T00:00:00Z", "end": "2026-12-07T00:00:00Z", "place": "Roundhouse", "address": "Chalk Farm Road, NW1 8EH London", "price": "£2", "price_from": "2.00", "price_to": "2.00", "tickets_url": "https://booking.roundhouse.org.uk/71672/71674", "category": "workshops-courses", "tags": ["literature/creative-writing"], "description": "A monthly drop-in workshop for ages 18–25 interested in creative writing for performance, exploring styles from scriptwriting for stage and screen to contemporary poetry and spoken word. It is run by the Roundhouse as part of its autumn term youth programme, with a different guest tutor and focus each month. Participants try creative writing exercises, learn techniques from modern writers, share their texts for feedback, and meet other young writers in a supportive space, with no advance booking needed and spaces first-come, first-served.", "url": "https://noky.io/en/london/events/autumn-term-writers-drop-in-stage-screen-spoken-word-64951/", "official_url": "https://www.roundhouse.org.uk/whats-on/writers-drop-in-stage-screen-spoken-word-au26/", "image": "https://noky.io/images/a0aa45913f7c1a65efb2b0440088899e76e9c61d468e5cbfafe753160cafbca9-2000.webp"}, {"title": "Word Space", "start": "2026-11-02T19:00:00Z", "end": null, "place": "Jamboree", "address": "St Chad's Place 6, London", "price": "Donations", "price_from": "0.00", "price_to": "0.00", "tickets_url": "https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/word-space-poetry-open-mic-writing-workshop-words-based-chill-kings-x-tickets-698383091627", "category": "talks-readings", "tags": ["literature/poetry"], "description": "Word Space is an open mic and poetry night with poem sharing, discussion, feedback and communal writing activities. It takes place at Jamboree, a music venue in Kings Cross, London, and invites people to bring pens, pencils and daydreams for a cosy, creative start to the week. It is a Pay What You Can event, where donations support independent, community art and help offer tickets to those who cannot afford one.", "url": "https://noky.io/en/london/events/word-space-60801/", "official_url": "https://www.jamboreevenue.co.uk/events/open-mic-and-poetry-night-in-london-10/", "image": "https://noky.io/images/fa7925a8b7c8eddd343810a0cd31530ef1704754584d4e2ac4656953d47ed380-600.webp"}, {"title": "Dare-Gale Press: New Poetry", "start": "2026-11-10T00:00:00Z", "end": null, "place": "The Horse Hospital", "address": "Colonnade, WC1N 1JD London", "price": "Free", "price_from": "0.00", "price_to": "0.00", "tickets_url": "https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/new-poetry-at-the-horse-hospital-tickets-2003084843689?aff=oddtdtcreator", "category": "talks-readings", "tags": ["literature/poetry"], "description": "An evening of contemporary poetry at which four outstanding poets, including Fran Lock and Stephen Romer, read from their new work. It is presented by Dare-Gale Press, Michael Marks Publisher of the Year 2024. Entry is free, but booking is essential.", "url": "https://noky.io/en/london/events/dare-gale-press-new-poetry-39369/", "official_url": "https://www.thehorsehospital.com/events/dare-gale-press-new-poetry", "image": "https://noky.io/images/dcfaff97ca0ea99fac7f1a828b66fc3479ac8a934ac4aa4acdc9b841b6633e9e-2000.webp"}, {"title": "Aayushi + Ray Vincent-Mills + Hannah Lou Clark", "start": "2026-11-11T19:30:00Z", "end": null, "place": "Paper Dress Vintage", "address": "352a Mare Street, E8 1HR London", "price": "", "price_from": null, "price_to": null, "tickets_url": "https://paperdressvintage.co.uk/by-day", "category": "concerts", "tags": ["music/folk/singer-songwriter"], "description": "A live music night at Paper Dress Vintage, the venue's bar and events space on Mare Street in London. The line-up was handpicked by Aayushi, a Birmingham-based folk singer-songwriter who writes strikingly tender songs blending poetry with vocals drawn from her Indian heritage, and has drawn nearly 10 million streams. She is joined by Ray Vincent-Mills, a Birmingham-based poet and performer whose work explores his identities as a BLACK, trans and queer artist through imagery that is abstract yet sharp. Hannah Lou Clark appears as Special Guest, with praise from NME, Guy Garvey, Steve Lamacq and Line of Best Fit.", "url": "https://noky.io/en/london/events/aayushi-ray-vincent-mills-hannah-lou-clark-61645/", "official_url": "https://paperdressvintage.co.uk/?p=18526", "image": "https://noky.io/images/89779fc7869450aa649c71b1b30646092fa0864ff262dcd3a75cee936ff8a035-600.webp"}]}