The Loud Poets Open Mic takes place on the second and last Monday of each month at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh. It's FREE and unticketed, and open to poets of all ages, styles, and experience levels! Learn more: scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:64...

Tickets for Loud Poets events, including our Slam Heat and performance poetry workshop, at StAnza are on sale, so book quickly as they have an amazing programme featuring our friends Bad Betty Press, Harry Baker, Kate Ireland, RJ Hunter and many more! Get yours at byretheatre.com/upcoming/sta...

Sign ups for the Aberdeen Slam Heat are open! Add your name to the mix for a chance to compete for the £200 prize, entry into our 2026 Loud Poets Grand Slam Final, and the title of Loud Poets Aberdeen Champion. Sign ups close on Friday, March 13, head to iamloud.co/slam for more information

We'll be at Drygate in Glasgow on Saturday, February 28, for our final showcase with Griot, alongside spoken word artist and theatre maker Imogen Stirling, storyteller Tawona Sithole, and a bunch of Glasgow open mic-ers. Head to iamloud.co/live to book tickets or sign up for our open mics

We'll be hitting the road and bringing Griot to Aberdeen on Friday, February 27, to share the stage with Fiona Robertson, our current Grand Slam Champion Aditya Narayan, and a whole host of Aberdeen open mic-ers.

It's our birthday month! We're ready to celebrate turning 12 with the return of our showcases. Join us in Edinburgh at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Thursday, February 26, for an evening with Pepita, Gilad Zinman, Caitlin O'Ryan, and Griot Gabriel. Get tickets at iamloud.co/live

Our next February Open Mic Feature is Loud Poets resident musician, Jack Hinks! Jack Hinks is an internationally-published poet, musician and photographer. Known for his introspective style, and award-winning collaborative work with hundreds of poets in the UK spoken word scene.

Our first February Open Mic is TONIGHT! Featuring the current Drafted! Slam Winner Emily Grace Briggs! Here's a few photos from our January Open Mic, where we featured current Grand Slam Champion Aditya Narayan. The event is FREE, with doors at 6.30 pm at the Scottish Storytelling Centre.

Venue update! Our Loud Poets Glasgow Showcase and Masterclass with Griot Gabriel will now be taking place at Drygate. Both events are on Saturday, 28th Feb. Info & tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/12828900054 #poetry #Glasgow

Bute, you beauty! We had a fantastic time last weekend leading spoken word workshops in Rothesay with young people and adults, and performing our new touring show. It may have been our first time in Bute, but we're sure it won't be our last...

You know, Helen of Troy was fathered by a swan and born from an egg but I’m not hearing any swan complaining she doesn’t represent them accurately. Probably because the swans are aware of how mythology works and that she is a FICTIONAL CHARACTER.

Our Celestial Celebration of Burns event last month was out of this world! Getting to perform spoken word poetry and music in the incredible setting of the Dynamic Earth Planetarium was such a thrill. Huge thanks to Dynamic Earth for approaching us for this exciting collaboration!

Bute, see you this weekend! Join us in Rothesay on Saturday for spoken word poetry workshops for adults and young people, then an open mic and our new Loud Poets show in the evening. Details: www.facebook.com/events/87045...

Our first Open Mic of 2026 is TONIGHT! Featuring the REIGNING GRAND SLAM CHAMPION! Aditya Narayan! Here's a few photos from our last Open Mic in 2025. The event is FREE, with doors at 6.30 for a 7pm start at the Scottish Storytelling Centre See you tonight!

Please share. 💔

for Alex Pretti

Glasgow is a city of infinite culture and creativity. This touristy AI slop is the antithesis of that, even if it had got the correct type of eagle. Pay a human to do it properly.

If you've performed at a filmed Loud Poets event in the past year and are interested in submitting one of your performances with us to the Prizes, we'd be happy to edit out a video for your submission. That includes poems that aren't already on our YouTube channel! (...)

Poets, submissions are open now for the 2026 @forwardprizes.bsky.social! The Jerwood Prize for Best Single Poem - Performed category is accepting video submissions until 15 March. This is such an important prize, and we encourage all poets with a performance practice to consider submitting. (...)

The Loud Poets Open Mic next takes place on the last Monday of January at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh. It's FREE and unticketed, and open to poets of all ages, styles, and experience levels! Find out more here: scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:64...

Our first Open Mic of 2026 is NEXT WEEK! Our first feature poet is our Grand Slam Champion, Aditya Narayan! Aditya is a spoken word poet born in India and performing in the UK for over a year. He is the current Roundhouse Slam Champion and the reigning Loud Poets Grand Slam Champion.

Even when frost hasn’t left the hard ground rutted by the wheels of tractors Even though tail lights clog the motorway Even though the moon still stands blind and cold in the morning sky… —William Letford, “Waking for Work in the Winter” from BEVEL, @carcanet.bsky.social 2012 #poem #poetry

Is writing part of your 2026 plans? Join our friendly online workshops led by inspiring international poets. On 11 Feb award-winning Palestinian-American poet Naomi Shihab Nye explores how to transform mundane moments into powerful poetry: www.citizenticket.com/events/push-...

StAnza has just launched their 2026 programme, and it's a corker! We're delighted to once again be partnering with them for the St. Andrews Heat of our Loud Poets Slam Series, plus a performance poetry workshop. Check out the programme: stanzapoetry.org/festival/sta...

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/txt2YSGOtv4 At our December 2025 open mic, Carly Brown treated us to this classic about the abstinence-only Sex Ed she received in the Texas public school system. Learn more about the Open Mic: scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:63...

The Loud Poets Open Mic returns on January 26! We are delighted to return to the Scottish Storytelling Centre in 2026 with our Open Mic. You can sign up to perform here: forms.gle/qqDAjGcmf6oh... The event is FREE (no ticket required), with doors at 6.30 for a 7pm start

Announcing the amazing list of Slammers for our Glasgow Slam on Jan 9th at CCA Glasgow. Make sure to grab your tickets: www.cca-glasgow.com/programme/lo...

New Full Slam! Watch here: youtu.be/pfEORRSt2dk On 22rd November 2025, we held our Edinburgh Heat at the Pleasance Theatre in Edinburgh in partnership with Push the Boat Out Festival! We were delighted to partner with Push the Boat Out Festival on this event! Learn more at pushtheboatout.org

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/RAbVWO4oAoI From Molly Knox, a tender poem about loneliness and celebration. Learn more about Molly Knox's work via www.instagram.com/mollymoon28_ We were delighted to partner with Push the Boat Out Festival on this event! Learn more at pushtheboatout.org

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/xV6TzW50uqk From Josh Cake, a powerful poem about climate change and the consequences of inaction. Learn more about Josh via www.instagram.com/joshcakemusic We were delighted to partner with Push the Boat Out Festival! Learn more at pushtheboatout.org

Join us 9th Jan to cheer, clap and holler as Glasgow’s top poets compete in the second of 10 heats for the biggest prize in UK slam poetry. You have until the 23rd of December to signup to take part! forms.gle/BJFGyyWCMDri... Stay tuned for an update on tickets going on sale soon!

Adore this poem!

The Loudcast is BACK! Watch it here: youtu.be/__wkR9HfQyU Or wherever you get your podcasts Welcome back to the LoudCast! New host, RJ Hunter, brings the Loud Poets Podcast back with a BANG with an in-depth chat and slam analysis with former host and I Am Loud Creative Director, Kevin McLean!

Scotland, you’re no mine (you were no his) and I don’t want you… —Hannah Lavery, “Scotland, you’re no mine” from BLOOD SALT SPRING (Birlinn, 2022) A #poem for #StAndrewsDay birlinn.co.uk/product/bloo...

We're hiring! We're looking for a Social Media & Marketing Officer to join our team in the new year. The deadline to apply is midnight on Sunday, 14th December 2025. More information on the role and application details here: tinyurl.com/iamloudjob

The Loudcast is returning! On November 30th we are launching the latest season of The Loudcast with NEW HOST, RJ Hunter! The first guest is none other than the former host and creative director of I Am Loud, Kevin Mclean! The Loudcast is available wherever good podcasts are found.

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/fr6q0pP6FAs From Katie Ailes, a searing indictment of the Trump administration and a love letter to all those resisting. Learn more about Kate: www.katieailes.com Jack Hinks provided musical accompaniment to this poem. Learn about Jack's work: www.jackhinks.co.uk

It's a tad down to the wire, I know, but I'm thrilled to say that I'm running the Poetry Advent Calendar again this year -- sign up by donating to @msf.ca and receive a poem every day from 1 to 24 December: book.benefacthq.com?id=poetry-ad...

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/xuaX6BiVS88 From Dean Tsang, a stunning performance merging poetry and beat-box, performed at our October 2025 open mic! Learn more about Dean's work via linktr.ee/deantsangpoe...

Our penultimate open mic of the year is tonight! Featuring the sensational Spencer Mason! The event is free with doors at 6.30 for a 7pm start. We are loving our new venue and heres a few snaps of last open mic.

Truly ridiculous quality at last night's slam. I'm constantly blown away by the calibre of the Scottish spoken word scene, and even more so by the community and the support the poets give each other. What a night!

This Saturday we kick off our brand-new Slam Series with our Edinburgh Heat at @ptbopoetry.bsky.social! In addition to a stellar lineup of slammers, we're delighted to feature last year's Edinburgh Champion, Lucas Sheridan, as our Sacrificial Poet! Tickets: pushtheboatout.org/events/loud-...

Announcing our feature for next week's open mic, the one, the only...SPENCER MASON! Spencer Mason is a multi-disciplinary storyteller and musician based in Glasgow's East End. Free Entry! Venue: The Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh Doors at 6.30 for a 7pm start.

Katie Ailes performs “Outwith” at @iamloudpro.bsky.social in Dumfries in 2022: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBem...

‘outwith’: preposition: outside; beyond. A term unique to Scotland. Revising my visa essay, applying for three more years here, I read my own scribbled words: Comparable opportunities for critical study do not exist outwith Scotland… —Katie Ailes, “Outwith” Glasgow Women Poets, Four-em Press 2016

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/icgcsKU6xI8 From Kate Ireland, an ode to her gran - and to a slower pace. Kate Ireland is a poet and performer from Glasgow, based in Manchester. Learn more about Kate's work via www.kateireland.uk

Dean is one of the most exciting new voices to emerge from the Edinburgh spoken word scene in the past few years, and this poem is a powerhouse. Well worth a watch. www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4H1...

ICYMI, our new Loud Poets Grand Slam Champion Aditya Narayan featured on BBC Radio 4's The Verb last weekend! Hear him performing and chatting with Ian McMillan and other great panelists here: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m... #Poetry

Had an absolute blast hosting this last night - always a joy when the Bad Betty team rolls into town!