Poetry As A Tool For Campaigning & Asking Who Named The Sky? (w. Rafeef Ziadah & Rob Auton)

Spoke to Palestinian poet, Rafeef Ziadah and Rob Auton after their moving performances at Chill Pill, Soho Theatre last month. Listen to their poems 'Shades Of Anger' and 'Season Family' below, or subscribe to the indiefeed poetry podcast - http://www.indiefeedpp.libsyn.com

Rafeef Ziadah

http://ec.libsyn.com/p/c/a/1/ca1e1fb446e36d92/indiefeed_rafeefziadah_shadesofanger.mp3?d13a76d516d9dec20c3d276ce028ed5089ab1ce3dae902ea1d06c88633d5ce591715&c_id=7220812

Rob Auton

http://ec.libsyn.com/p/f/4/9/f49c9bc88e6a793f/indiefeed_robauton_theseasonfamily.mp3?d13a76d516d9dec20c3d276ce028ed5089ab1ce3dae902ea1d06c88633d5c15f64a2&c_id=7220810

Chill Pill THIS MONDAY at Soho Theatre featuring John Berkavitch & IAm1

John Berkavitch 

Describes himself as an Artist, Vandal, Poet, Writer, B-Boy, Rapper, Comic, Conceptual Thinker, Collaborator, Human-Beatbox, Educator and Surrealist. His latest one man show is called 'Shame' and is described by Kate Tempest as "one of the best Spoken Word shows ever!"



IAm1

Singer/songwriter and producer Oli Rose is at the core of iAm1's new project which will culminate in a debut album. Oli honed his songwriting and production skills living and working with Cameron McVey (Massive Attack, Portishead, Neneh Cherry) and In the last few years has been collaborating and writing with and for numerous other artists and producers.

In the past iAm1 have had great support from the likes of RWD, Digital Spy and SB.TV, and since releasing their debut EP have had radio support from BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra. iAm1 quickly established themselves on London's live circuit, selling out headline shows at many of London's key venues including Ronnie Scott's, Camden Barfly and Hoxton Bar and Kitchen, whilst also supporting artists such as Tinie Tempah and Jessie J.



Also Errol McGlashan, one of the loudest and biggest poetry movers on the London Spoken Word scene, Uncle Errol comes to uplift!


AND Cecilia Knapp

A young and very promising poet - Cecilia Knapp has been popping up around the London circuit, we're excited to present her to the Soho Chill Pill stage!

GET TICKETS NOW!

http://www.sohotheatre.com/whats-on/chill-pill/

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

Chill Pill vs Bang Said The Gun - Write Up in The Telegraph (4/5 stars)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/10168851/Chill-Pill-vs-Bang-Said-the-Gun-Soho-Theatre-review.html - 4/5 stars

In 1955, Allen Ginsberg challenged conventional writing styles with a reading of his poem Howl at the Six Gallery in San Francisco. From John Cooper Clarke to Gill Scott-Heron, performance poetry has since remained appreciated for its phonetic qualities as much as for its message.

In a small room on the third floor of the Soho Theatre, two of London’s biggest and most talked-about performance poetry nights — Bang Said the Gun and Chill Pill —­ put this into practice, as they came together in a battle to decide which event reigns supreme.

Forget your preconceptions about poetry readings: Bang Said the Gun is a raucous combination of poetry and comedy. It boasts an array of well-known names that have performed under its banner, including Phil Jupitus and Andrew Motion. Chill Pill, curated by Mr Gee, the host of Radio 4’s Bespoken Word and Rhyme and Reason, is its more laid back alternative.

The atmosphere was like a New Year’s Eve party or political rally. Upbeat music was provided by Mr Gee. Shakers, left on seats for the audience to use whenever they found something funny or inspiring, rattled throughout.

In one round, “The Headline Poem”, the performers wrote a poem inspired by that day’s newspaper headlines. The biggest crowd pleaser was the UK slam champion Adam Kammerling’s imagining of Tim Henman’s reaction to Andy Murray’s Wimbledon victory. “It’s not about the win,” said Kammerling as Henman, “or the BBC’s overdramatic coverage. It’s that mount.”

The “Classic Corner” round saw performers pick up one of the poetry books scattered across the stage. Dan Cockrill reading of “To You” by Adrian Mitchell and Raymond Antrobus’s reading of “Aren’t I a Woman” by Sojourner Truth were rare moments of clarity.

Events such as these have heralded the growth of performance poetry in Britain over the past few years: more than 50,000 people have viewed Dean Atta’s poem “I am Nobody’s N-----” on YouTube; George the Poet performed at the Royal Albert Hall; Inua Ellams took his one-man play to the National; and in March this year, Carol Ann Duffy presented the Ted Hughes award for innovation in poetry to Kate Tempest for “Brand New Ancients”, an hour-long “spoken story”, complete with orchestral backing.

The performance was funny, ridiculous and serious all at the same time. In the end, nobody won: the judges were as much part of the performance as the acts themselves. But what was most exciting was the uncertainty. Here is an art that remains fresh and undefined. And you can never be sure just what you’re going to get.

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 back at SOHO THEATRE! October 15th

http://www.sohotheatre.com/whats-on/so-chilled-2012/

We're featuring the brilliant Francesca Beard at the next Soho Theatre, Chill Pill show on October 15th.

www.francescabeard.com

Francesca Beard was born in Malaysia and spent the 70's growing up in Penang, an idyllic island paradise. Since then, quite frankly, life has been down-hill all the way, but with occasional slow climbs... a bit like mowing a sloping lawn. After a spell in real jobs, she gave it all up to become a fictional character and now exists as a London-based poet, performing spoken word to lucky audiences all over Britain and the World.

After Adam toured Ireland with us this summer we couldn't live without him, we now welcome Adam Kammerling to the Chill Pill family.




www.adamkammerling.com

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.

Chill Pill - June 25th at Soho Theatre (Going IN)

These are two of London's hottest Spoken Word Artists of the next generation....

George The Poet (20 Years Old)



SGB (17 Years Old)



These poets will feature on June 25th, CHILL PILL at Soho Theatre along side these two (slightly older) superstars.

Luke Wright endorses John Osborne's face

John Osborne, author of Radio Head and The Newsagent's Window, both published by Simon&Schuster. Radio Head was broadcast as Radio 4's Book of the Week and described as 'captivating' by The Guardian, 'funny, perceptive and charming,' by The Daily Telegraph, and 'a warm, uplifting read. It made me go out and buy a new radio, too,' - Tim Key. 

First collection of poetry, What if men burst in wearing balaclavas? published in 2010 by Nasty Little Press. Have had poetry published in The Guardian, The Spectator, Rialto and The Big Issue. Performed poetry at Glastonbury, Latitude, Port Eliot and the Edinburgh Fringe.

Kat Francois models her forearm

Kat Francois, BBC3 TV poetry slam champion 2004/world poetry slam champion 2005. A well-known performance poet on the London Poetry scene. Resident poet at The Theatre Royal, Stratford East, London, where she hosts and organises monthly poetry and music nights, WORD4WORD and WORD4WORD SLAM.

Of course as well as all that you get to see the Chill Pill Poets - Mista Gee, Raymond Antrobus, Deanna Rodger & Simon Mole.

BUY TICKETS HERE - http://www.sohotheatre.com/whats-on/so-chilled-2012/ (ONLY £5)

3 Things You Need To Know If You're Into Spoken Word (See Saul Williams, Kate Tempest, John Osborne plus more)

In December 2011, Christopher Logue passed away, a shamefully under-known poet. A man who helped reawake the world to the fact that the writing and performance of poetry are two parts of the same process.

Fortunately, a number of an excellent poets will be gathering at The Wreck, near his old home of Camberwell, to celebrate the man, his poetry and his legacy. These include:

John Hegley
Kate Tempest
Angry Sam
Raymond Antrobus
Curious

There will be personal reminiscences from Logue's widow, the literary and cultural historian, Rosemary Hill, and from Rick Stroud, writer and TV director;

There will be a raffle, where members of the audience can read random pages from Prince Charming, Logue's autobiography;

And there will be sick tunes from Bobby Gandolf and Xahdrez.

BOOK TICKETS - http://sohotheatre.com/whats-on/so-chilled-2012/

Chill Pill is back at Soho Theatre on June 25th!

as well as the Chill Pill poets (Mista Gee, Deanna Rodger, Raymond Antrobus, Simon Mole) we'll be hearing from BBC Radio regular, poet 'John Osborne' and BBC 3 Slam Champion Kat Francois.  

John Osborne

Kat Francois

 Myself and poet Dzifa Benson have been coaching eight young poets to become Slam Champions for this Cultural Olympia project 'Shake The Dust'. This Saturday is the regional final at The Albany. Below is more Shake The Dust events you MUST SEE! 

Kate Tempest

National Shake the Dust Weekend 

Thursday 5 – Saturday 7 July | Southbank Centre

Three unmissable days of spoken word, featuring some of the most celebrated spoken word artists performing today, including Saul Williams, Kate Tempest, Lemn Sissay, Dizraeli and the Small Gods and many more. Plus films, music, FREE events and the UK ‘s biggest ever youth poetry slam! The Shake the Dust Champions, young poets from across the UK, will join forces with Southbank’s London Literature Festival to share a stage with top spoken word artists. 


shakethedust.co.uk / southbankcentre.co.uk

Saul Williams

Chill Pill @ Soho Theatre Featuring Salena Godden & Adam Kammerling (plus band)

Book Tickets Online - https://sohotheatre.ticketsolve.com/mobile/shows/126516029/events

"IMAGINE IF YOU HAD TO LICK IT!"

Jamaican and British poet 'Salena 'Saliva' Godden' joins us on the Chill Pill rug at Soho Theatre on May 7th. She has a new pamphlet of poems published by Nasty Little Press and has regularly made appearances on BBC Radio and at Literature Festivals across the world. She's the producer and host of Book Club Boutique which is a Literary and music night worth checking out. Expect stories and poems written after sex in bed with a bottle of Rum and lots of cigarettes.

"There is no escape from cake"

Adam Kammerling is the 2012 National Hammer & Tongue Champion. He made his debt appearance at Chill Pill last year. This year he's back with his band to prove poets are the rock stars of the 21st Century. His poems are full of quirky observational narratives from working as a baker in New York to living between Brighton and London. Expect charm, wit and humour which always hints at a darker side.

Other acts on the night - Poet and story teller Mrst Morrison heading up from Birmingham as well as London based J.J Bola, recently back from his travels in Burkina Faso and of course the Chill Pill poets - Mista Gee, Deanna Rodger, Simon Mole and Raymond Antrobus.

Doors - 7.30pm - 9.30pm
(£5) Tickets BOX OFFICE  
020 7478 0100 

What You Missed If You Weren't At Chill Pill

Thanks To Chill Pill ninja Kim-Leng Hill's for these videos of Chill Pill last week.

Jon Sands & Ken Arkind Featuring At Chill Pill (20th Feb - Soho Theatre)

This is the amazing line up for Chill Pill's next show at Soho Theatre, 20th Feb 2012.

BOOK NOW - http://sohotheatre.com/whats-on/so-chilled/

London bound New York poet 'Jon Sands' comes to Chill Pill as part of his UK tour. Jon is a celebrator of life - perfect for a funeral! He's also a Teacher, Slam Champion, Published Poet (Write Bloody Publishing) and makes better Tuna Salad than anyone you know.
                                                       http://www.jonsands.com/

Ken Arkind is poor and he likes puppies. Born in Colorado, Ken has been a major name in the US Slam Poetry realm for the past five years. He's also a Teacher of performance arts and poetry. Expect humour, profundity and beat boxing.

Singaporean born, Stephanie Dogfoot is a kind of surrealist storyteller poet. Her poems have won her stuff and we at Chill Pill are impressed... You will be too! http://stephdogfoot.wordpress.com/

Our only London born Poet on the bill with a wikipedia page. Bridget is part of 'The Roundhouse Rubix Collective'. A raging feminist & grammar nazi that likes words and running and food and politics and music and film. http://bridgetminamore.blogspot.com/

Oh' and a Extra Chair for Brighton raised, London based Chill Pill poet Simon Mole who will be previewing his exciting and new one man show coming up at The Albany.

Check that out here - http://www.thealbany.org.uk/event_detail/754/Spoken-Word/Indiana-Jones-and-the-Extra-Chair

Myself, BBC's Mista Gee and Deanna Rodger are also stepping onto the rug!

Chill Pill's Soho Theatre Oct 4th Line Up Confirmed

Anthony Anaxagorou @ The Gallery Cafe from Sweet Potato Pictures on Vimeo.

I've done a few shows with Anthony Anaxagorou this year including this rather brilliant sell out show featured in the video above.

Anthony will be featuring with his band at the next Chill Pill at Soho Theatre on Oct 3rd alongside myself, Sabrina Mahfouz (her one woman show Dry Ice got rave reviews at this years Edinburgh Fringe Festival) . Also more from the Chill Pill Poets (Mista Gee, Simon Mole, Deanna Rodger) and poems from respected emerging London poets Sonority Turner and Anna Le (organiser of the brilliant poetry show 'Sage & Time).

New Poetry Video Pending Channel 4 Transmission

Have You Heard? from Adam Docker on Vimeo.

Chill Pill At Soho Theatre 1st June

Created by Mista Gee (host of Radio 4’s ‘Bespoken word’ and ‘Rhyme and Reason’), Raymond Antrobus, Deanna Rodger, Simon Mole, and Kim-Leng Hills, Chill Pill is at the cutting edge of underground poetry.

After a hugely successful first outing at Soho Theatre, this night of word based entertainment is back.

Show kicks off at 7.15pm.



As well as the Chill Pill poets, the night will feature:

TSHAKA Campbell is an established spoken word poet. Recognised as an accomplished artist and performer, Campbell was voted one of the 25 people to know in San Francisco. He has toured internationally, and has performed at a variety of venues from the legendary Apollo Theatre in New York to the Poetry Café in London.



The LEANO - Folk/Hip-Hop Band Based in London. After appearing at Chill Pill's Scream Bar shows last summer and completely blowing EVERYONE away we HAD to welcome them back to our space.



ADAM Kammerling - Brighton Spoken Word Slam Champ.

Equally at home in the furnace of a Rap Battle as he is on a poetry stage, Adam’s verbal arsenal and range is very impressive. Whether exploring serious ethical issues or illustrating the frustrations of working in a cake shop when you’re hungry, Adam writes with a lyrical rhythm, rhyme and humour that complements his naturally relaxed delivery and amply showcases his poet's eye for the important absurdities and minutiae of urban life.



Jessie Disco Biscuit - 18 year old Cambridge based Slam Poet.

Jessie Disco Biscuit is a name you want to google as soon as you hear it. She's been rocking poetry nights in Cambridge and word got out to us that she's "the next Kate Tempest". Making her official London debut at Chill Pill - We bring her to you LIVE!



ADVANCE TICKETS ONLY £5 - http://www.sohotheatre.com/pl2169.html

Pics from the last So-Chilled Show featured Tim Clare, Harry Baker, Greeds, Keith Jarret & The Chill Pill poets - http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150146942686650.290610.168665641649

Chill Pill RELAUNCH - 30th March - Soho Theatre

Chill Pill created by Mista Gee (BBC Radio 4 - Bespoken Word, Rhyme & Reason host) Raymond Antrobus, Deanna Rodger, Simon Mole and Kim-Leng Hills.

A night of Word based entertainment. Due to Chill Pill's major success after a run at Scream Bar, Chill Pill is relaunching at Soho Theatre on March 30th.

Doors - 7.30pm

PRE-BOOK Tickets (£5) - http://www.sohotheatre.com/pl2063.html
LINE UP

Tim Clare is a writer, stand-up poet and musician. His autobiographical book about having one last shot at your dreams, We Can’t All Be Astronauts, won Best Biography/Memoir at the East Anglian Book Awards 2009. It is out now from Ebury Press. He has written for the Guardian, the Times and the Independent, and has appeared on BBC2, Radio 1, 2, 4 and 6. In 2005 he presented the Channel 4 series ‘How To Get A Book Deal’.




Greeds (with Key notes) G.R.E.Ed.S (Generating Rhymes to Engage the EnlighteneD Soul) A performer, a poet, an entertainer with a love for music. Poetry provides him with a therapeutic space that has no boundaries where he can create his own pace, and tell his story his way. His journey is taking a new twist... Follow him as he shares this with you.



Harry Baker is a phenomenal 18 year old performance poet and winner of the online European Slam. Harry says he's on a whirlwind adventure since winning the poetry slam at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2010.



Vanessa Kisuule is a performance poet and was a regular at Chill Pill, consistently burning the place down. Don't worry Soho have fire exits.








Keith Jarret is a national and international Slam Champion. A Chill Pill favourite. Camden based poet, teacher and short story writer.