Chill Pill, Southbank's Being A Man Festival, Sunday Assembly and 2000 hits on youtube...

October was a very eventful month after reading's in Bristol, Leicester, Sweden and around London. I am now officially appointed as one of six London Laureates (http://www.londonlaureates.co.uk/young-poet-laureate-shortlist/) and was mentioned in The Guardian as one of Michael Rosen's Cultural Highlights as well as The Independent on National Poetry Day.

I also just had a few poems from The Island That's Hard To Find In English accepted for publication in The Rialto, Oxford Diaspora's Programme, Magma, Morning Star and University of Arkansas Press. 

One more thing...The First Time I Wore Hearing Aids just reached over 2000 hits on youtube, so thank you all for that.



UPCOMING SHOWS 

Chill Pill November 10th
https://qbichotels.com/london-city/treats/chill-pill-meets-qbic-london/

Chill Pill are proud to be hosting three poets from Sweden - Oskar Hanska, Henry Bowers and Sam Kessel at QBIC Hotel for an international special. Also, this show is FREE!

BAM Festival at Southbank 27th Nov
http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/festivals-series/being-a-man

I will be appearing on a panel selected by BBC Radio One host, Gemma Cairney to discuss masculinity, education and boyhood. 

5th Dec http://london.sundayassembly.com/

I will be poem'ing at Sunday Assembly, Conway Hall. I have appeared previously with Sunday Assembly at Wilderness Festival, an honour to join them in London this time around.

Storymoja Festival (Kenya, Nairobi) Chill Pill (London, The Albany)

Proud to announce that I'm flying to Kenya to take part in the Storymoja Festival with the British Council. I will be meeting local students from 10 - 14 year olds as well as collaborating with local poets and reading my own poetry. (http://storymojafestival.com/2015-guest-line-up/).

Sep 17th at The Albany
Tickets - http://www.thealbany.org.uk/event_detail/1607/Spoken-Word/Chill-Pill

Also, Chill Pill is back. Although I will be in Kenya, if you're in London you must go! We're featuring poet, Kayo Chingonyi with live music from FUR. Also more from the OPEN MIC.

7th May - Chill Pill ELECTION SHOW (A Ticket To Chill Pill Is A Vote For Poetry)

Get Tickets Here -
http://www.thealbany.org.uk/tickets/1396/Spoken%20Word/Chill-Pill:-The-Big-One

We have got such a nuts line up this month.

Outspoken boys Anthony Anaxagorou and Karim Kamar will be performing poetry and classical piano. Meaty. Beautiful. Rare. 



The rowdy godmother of spoken word, Salena Godden, will be bringing her distinct brand of unpredictability, hilarity and pin-point poignance to the big room. 



The incredible Gentle Mystics are lending us their DJ's to play us out into the wee hours with their balkan gypsy punk rap joyousness.



And Chill Pill's own Adam Kammerling is dragging his partner in hip hop crime up from Brighton to kick off their pre album launch tour!



Plus secret special guests, Chill Pill regulars, general poetry happiness and a generous dose of spring time giggles. 

See you there.

FB - https://www.facebook.com/events/1574414339507575/
Twitter - @ChillPillUK

Chill Pill is BACK at The Albany this Thursday (March 19th) with Bunty & Pete The Temp

"one of the best nights around" - Sabotage Reviews http://sabotagereviews.com/2015/03/11/chill-pill-canada-water-culture-space-260215/

Bunty (Championed by David Rodigan, Mark Lemar & BBC Radio 6 as one of "Brighton's Rising Stars")



Pete The Temp (Poet, teacher, activist and musician, Pete The Temp is on top form at the moment, don't miss a poet at the top of his game!)



BOOK TICKETS NOW - http://www.thealbany.org.uk/event_detail/1384/Theatre/Chill-Pill

Chill Pill Christmas Special; Luke Wright, United Vibrations, Aisling Fahey & Vanessa KIssuule at The Albany (December 18th)

Here are two powerful poems by two of our featured poets appearing at the Chill Pill Christmas Special at The Albany. I'd suggest watching these all the way through, and on your own. Then I'd remind you that the Chill Pill Christmas show will indeed be a BIG HAPPIER PARTY!

Luke Wright

“One of the funniest and most brilliant poets of his generation.”  The Independent.

Luke was a poet in residency on BBC Radio 4’s saturday live, he’s the founder of the Latitude Poetry tent, and regularly tours with John Cooper Clarke.

For this Chill Pill event he is performing a special xmas collaboration with stand-up comedian and musician Vikki Stone, and her choir

United Vibrations



Vanessa Kisuule

She is the current Roundhouse Slam Champion AND the current Hammer & Tongue national slam champion, currently based in Bristol. 



CHILL PILL TICKETS ON SALE NOW - £9 

http://www.thealbany.org.uk/event_detail/1257/Spoken-Word/Chill-Pill:-Christmas-Special

Climate Change March In London in Photos

October 2nd National Poetry Day at Southbank featuring Jean Binta Breeze, Kei Miller, Joelle Taylor & more....

I'm back at the Southbank Centre for National Poetry Day, do pass through, the quality of poets is too high to miss, and it's FREE. Details below

http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/national-poetry-day-live-86162

On 6th October I'll be attending the Complete Works II event, also at Southbank. I recommend this highly. http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/the-complete-works-85993

If you can't wait until October, Chill Pill is on Monday, 22nd September at Soho Theatre, hopefully see you then. http://www.sohotheatre.com/whats-on/so-chilled-afrovibes

Do stay in touch with what's happening at Keats House Poets Forum, myself and Simon Mole are running a workshop on Sunday October 28th. The theme is 'Our Place Within It All', join us for a afternoon of writing.

http://khpoets.wordpress.com/

Spoke Present Hackney's Midnight Run With Inua Ellams, Alex Mills, Alex Patten and more...

Last month I was one of the artists that helped lead Inua Ellam's Midnight Run, below is some of what we got up to in our walk around Hackney. Alex Mills and a regular collaborator of mine, Alex Patten (from Autistic Pieces) features.

The Water Walk Midnight Run from Inua Ellams on Vimeo.

Raymond Antrobus joins TFL's Travel Better campaign for National Poetry Day

Poetry Videos, Latitude Festival, Camp Bestival, Chill Pill & Scroobius Pip

This weekend I'll be performing a set of poems at Latitude Festival, my set time is Sunday at 1.20pm in The Poetry Arena. Come check it! - http://www.latitudefestival.com/line-up/artist/raymond-antrobus

Chill Pill are being hosted at Camp Bestival by Scroobius Pip on 1st - 4th August, which we're super excited about - http://www.campbestival.net/line-up/2013-line-up/chill-pill-in-the-satin-lizard-lounge/

Speaking of Scoobius Pip, he has a new Spoken Word video he asked me to share with you all.



Pianist, film maker and nudist Karim Kamar teamed up with poet Benjamin Hayes to deliver this rather moving poetry film.

Ben can be seen at the next Chill Pill at Soho Theatre on August 19th alongside Bristol poet Sally Jenkinson, Sarah Perry and topical singer-song writer YoB - see below

Bang Said The Gun VS Chill Pill (8th July at Soho Theatre)

Chill Pill clutching the Bang Throne behind enemy lines

Witness the coming together of two of London's finest poetry and Spoken Word nights. 

A celebratory Slam incorporating all your favourite elements from Chill Pill & Bang Said The Gun. The night will see all five poets from each night testing themselves at various word based disciplines. 

Will Chill Pill overdose? Will Bang shoot themselves in the foot? 

The teams:

Chill Pill
A laid-back club night where up-and-coming poets share the stage with some of the finest Spoken Word acts in the UK, is curated by Mr Gee (host of Radio 4’sBespoken Word and Rhyme and Reason), Raymond Antrobus, Deanna Rodger, Simon Mole and Adam Kammerling.

Bang Said the Gun
"stand up poetry" that’s "not pornography but still pretty good", curated by Daniel Cockrill, Rob Auton, Peter Hayhoe, Martin Galton and Sarah Redington. www.bangsaidthegun.com

BOOK £5 ADVANCE TICKETS HERE - http://sohotheatre.com/whats-on/chill-pill/

Chill Pill at Freeway Poets & The Big One (Spoken Word Show at The Albany) May 23rd - BOOK NOW

Chill Pill performing in Bournemouth on 14th May 

Freeway poets has had acts such as Scroobius Pip, Dizraeli, Glen Maxwell, Kate Tempest and Dead Poets step onto their stage so Chill Pill are honoured to be following the step on the 14th May 2013.

Speaking of which - Have you got your tickets to THE BIG ONE at The Albany yet?

BOX OFFICE NUMBER 020 8692 4446
or book online - http://www.thealbany.org.uk/tickets/926/Spoken%20Word/Chill-Pill:-The-Big-One

Chill Pill is celebrating it's 3rd birthday at The Albany in style. There'll be music, rhymes & good vibes as we pay homage to the organisers behind some of the leading nights on the London Spoken Word scene. Benin City - Front man Joshua Idehen is a host and organiser of one of the strongest poetry & music nights around, 'Poejazzi'. If you haven't heard of Benin City I have no idea where you've been!? Here's what's been said of them - “Woah nelly….incredible! ….they make me want to be young again!” – Mark Lamarr, BBC Radio 2 “I love this band!…They’re tearing the roof off!” – Craig Charles, BBC 6 Music “Charming, funky, and very funny!” – The Independent “Refreshing, exciting and completely unique.” – Soweto Kinch “Benin City mash up experience, fun and wisdom into a melting pot of afrobeat, hip hop and jazz that will make you laugh and cry while shaking your booty…Have dazzled as guests on my Xfm X-Posure show.” - John Kennedy, XFM Latest sing - My Love "every muscle my love has - it flexes for you" Feature Poets Chris Redmond - Host of Tongue Fu, one of the more upmarket Spoken Word events around where featured poets improvise their poems with The Tongue Fu band. They now run nights at The Royal Albert Hall as well as Rich Mix in East London. Kat Francois - Host of Word4Word in Stratford. A popular Open Mic night which is held down by a true master of the Spoken Word, you wouldn't argue with a World Slam Champ, right? thought not. Dean Atta - Host of Come Rhyme With Me. One of the most talked about poets in London after his controversial poem, 'I Am Nobody's Nigger' went viral and was featured in The Guardian and BBC Radio. Recently, Dean released a book of poems by the same title. Anthony Anaxagorou - Host of 'Outspoken', probably the biggest new poetry night to hit London. Anthony has released seven books of poetry and his notable poem 'What If I Told You' is one of the most talked about poems around.

Chill Pill Poet 'Adam Kammerling' Don't Flop battle / Chill Pill updates

Speaking of Chill Pill, we're piloting a live radio show, showcasing Spoken Word at The Roundhouse on 13th February. Be part of our audience!

BOOK NOW
http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/whats-on/productions/chill-pill-connects

We also have a mega line up for our next Albany show on 28th February which includes David J, Chicago poet Kristiana Rae Colón and Ross Sutherland, as well as six open mic slots.

BOOK NOW -
http://www.thealbany.org.uk/event_detail/916/Spoken-Word/Chill-Pill

Pre-Order Shapes & Disfigurements Of Raymond Antrobus (Poetry Collection)

Pre-Order Your Copy Here - http://burningeyebooks.wordpress.com

“…all you need / are the right words,” writes Raymond Antrobus, but as this all-too-brief collection, Shapes and Disfigurements, demonstrates, the best poets need also compassion, insight, craft, taste, and a pitch-perfect ear to the cadence and tones of the human voice and mind. Antrobus has these gifts in buckets—his monologues are stunning studies of voice and substance, and his lyric poems are graceful and finely crafted. Yes, he is a poet to watch, for sure - 

Kwame Dawes (Poetry Professor at South Carolina University & author of Wheels)

"truth resonates throughout this work, whether it is giving voice to the voiceless through experimenting with monologue, dialogue and duologue in a poetic container or using the right pitch, tone and language to create beautiful eloquent lyrical poetry that 'interrogates depression' with poise delicacy and a precision that leaves the reader wonderfully moved." -
Malika Booker (Poet & Author of Breadfruit)


"'This is a poetry of conversations and chance encounters.  Raymond Antrobus gives everyone a hearing and he weaves their voices into astonishing poems of grace, generosity and compassion.  In 'One Night at Zulu Bar in Cape Town' a girl cries out 'This music is so good it hurts', the same could be said of this collection.  Buy it and cherish it.'' -
Professor Sean Eliott (Poet & Creative Writing Professor at Birkbeck University, Author Of Waterhouse & The Tempest)

The reason that Spread the Word tries to support writers like Raymond is because of collections like this. Raymond's poetry is vivid and emotional, raw at times or just plain funny. This honest and engaging first collection takes the poetry of the everyday global encounter, and speaks it vividly onto the page.

Spread The Word

Blistering. Raymond's verse have sharpened tremendously in last few months. And in his 'A Conversation With...' pieces he's found his own voice. And what a moving voice it is too. - Poejazzi

'Imagine what a sentient creature must feel seconds before facing its death in the slaughter house. Imagine dying from heart break but having to still remain alive. Indeed that is from where Antrobus lives to write - those places that are forever hurting while quietly begging for grace - 

Anthony Anaxagorou (poet, author of A Difficult Place To Be Human) 

''If aliens came down to earth and asked me to provide them with a document on humankind, I think I would give them Shapes and Disfigurements of Raymond Antrobus. And hope they read English. Because unlike a lot of people, Raymond listens. He listens so well. And he scribbles and he remembers and I think there is something so special about a poetry book which contains one voice but so many people’s stories. So many poetry books ignore people, this one gives their words the pedestal society won't.

My first time hidden in the back of the Poetry Café in London, scared to read my own pieces, I saw a young guy approach the stage. Cool, calm, book in hand. And I still cannot believe the passion that broke from his lips when he parted them. I had never seen anything like it…and still haven’t. I haven’t forgotten that moment, the point when poetry was thrown into the air and blown out into the audience like a sweet scented hurricane that reached me right in the back corner. This man has so much to say, not because he likes his own voice, but because he likes words, poetry, people and sharing all of these observations with us. And no matter how many times I now see Raymond perform, I can never catch everything in one reading. I am madly happy that now the notes in his hand I saw years ago in that dimlight room in London have found the credit they deserve. I have now read this book nine time this evening and still haven’t caught it all yet. Thanks goodness. What a perfect collection.'' 

- Hollie Mcnish (Author of Paper & Multi Slam Champion)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! New Animated poem (Autistic Pieces)

Special thanks to the amazing Armand Cordero for the animation.

Autistic Pieces is a collaboration project between musician, singer-song writer Alex Patten & poet Raymond Antrobus. Their first EP can be purchased for only £4 below.

http://autisticpieces.bandcamp.com/album/autistic-pieces-ep

The Coloured Experience Exhibition At The Albany / For The Woman I Met Today Who Told Me What She Would Wish For (Poem)

                    The Coloured Experience Exhibition at The Albany (1st - 7th October)

For The Woman I Met Today Who Told Me What She Would Wish For

Give me a wish

and I will take it where the sky takes care

                                                        of everything,

I’m old enough to remember the world quieter,

    so give me another wish and I’ll be younger,

always with enough sleep and tickets in pockets

                                                   to take me onward,

beyond woods through days that are green before

they’re black

                       and I got no yellow on my spine.

             

Another wish and birds will envy

the smells I carry of other places,

they will envy the warmth

                                    in my air,

they will envy the view I found of our city

and the route

            I took to whatever it is I love.

Another wish and I won’t get my mouth

                                              out of her kiss,

the girl from the stars that fell to earth

     to discover

                       the planet I am.

Photos of June 25th Chill Pill at Soho Theatre & Chill Pill heading to Ireland

"One of Chill Pill's strongest shows yet, what great variety of styles and proof that the poetry scene in London is very much alive. GO CHILL PILL!" - Audience Member.

We packed out Soho Theatre on a Monday night with a poetry show and thanks to Patrick Rosalba, here's some photos from the night. Also, Chill Pill's silent ninja 'Kim Leng Hill's' filmed some highlights (coming soon).

Deanna Rodger

Simon Mole & Raymond Antrobus

Mista Gee

John Osborne

Kat Francois

George The Poet

Belinda Zhawi

Chill Pill audience get poems & jokes.

What's next for Chill Pill? well... We're going to IRELAND to provide poetry at The Liss Ard Festival - http://www.lissardfestival.com/

Then we're back in London for the Live & Unamplified Festival (UK's first Festival without amps) 3rd and 4th September - http://www.liveandunamplified.com/

Then we're back at The Albany Theatre for a very special show on September 27th.

See you then.

This Week In Pictures (On Eating)

To Eat.

To Eat With A Man With A Signed Copy Of Allen Ginsberg's Collected Poems.

To Eat A FishFinger Sandwich In Newcastle.

To Eat Your Mate Who Is A Massive Cake Of The Week.

To Eat And Shut Em' Down, Open Up Shop!

To Eat & Forget.

To Eat & Not Know What It Will Cost.

Conversation With An Ex-Hackney Resident On Broadway Market

It’s a catwalk this place. You come here just to be seen here. I mean, look at that knob with the feathers and the top hat; he’s wearing bloody high heels. And them gals that walk around with them rollers in their hair and rags tied around their head, looking like my nan cleaning the house. Blimey, if I see another handlebar moustache I’m gonna throw some bricks! There was a bloke who owned a shop here called Spirit, he’s Rasta I think, sold west Indian foods. He got run out the area by these property developers. I mean, his name was fucking spirit, that’s a metaphor if there was ever one! That pub on the corner, I used to drink there with a bunch of cockneys and some Jamaican mates. Sometimes Irish blokes would walk in and wanna fight ya, we’d knuckle out and they’d wanna buy you a drink afterwards. Nowadays that pub is selling crab burgers and lobster soup to poofs with handlebar moustaches! Funny how this place felt more like home when there was a chance I’d get robbed in the street. Living in Tottenham now... someone might rob me there instead.


NOTE: The guy with the top hat and high heels turned out to be the bassist from The Killers.