2009. You’ve been a pretty set of numbers... but 2010 is to be ‘The Year Of The Poet!’

I’m now a member of the PiP collective (consisting of Inua Ellams, Joshua Idehen, Musa Okwonga, Alex Gwyther,Kim Leng Hills, Catherine Martindale and Belinda Born-Free Zhawi)


Visit POEJAZZI


We are to collaborate as writers and performers to bring forth some of the best Spoken Word material London has to offer.

This also ties me into ‘PoeJazzi’, one of the biggest Spoken Word entertainment nights around.

EXCITEMENT!

I also have my first music gig as ‘Speed Camera Shy’ on the 28th January 2010 in Warrick University.

MEGA EXCITMENT!

Try Poe Try is still in the works, Dr Stewart had medical callings so first show TBC.

Sorry for the absence.

For now, over and out! x

Try Poe Try update

In February 2009, I called up a friend, only to find out he'd been hospitalized. I had met him the previous year at The Rise Festival.

I was by a small stage watching an unknown Speech Debelle and grooving with sunshine vibes, I must have been letting something off because I’d managed to draw in the amazing energy of Dr.Stew.

Once I told him I was a performance poet he laughed at what seemed to be a private joke.

We spoke about poetry, Jimmy Cliff and he told me an amusing story about a girl in a Barack Obama T Shirt.

I invited him to a Spoken Word Slam I was competing in at The Marie Lloyd Bar but he disappeared before the show finished. We spoke on the phone a few times after that and suddenly that connection was cut when his number stopped going through.

I kept consistent working up my profile as a writer and performer and many things Stew shared stayed with me throughout his absence.

I had just lost my job after an argument with my manager about shifts; I’d refused to compromise my rota with my performances. I got home and felt the only person that would understand my sacrifice would be Stew. Half expecting the call not to go through it did. A drowsy voice answered “hello?” “STEW ITS RAY MAN!”

Stew was in hospital after a serious operation, I went to visit him and we caught up. It was there in that hospital room we created what has become ‘Try Poe Try’ a night of Spoken Word entertainment (and other mad shit) and it is NOW coming to life.

Try Poe Try gets the green light and next Thursday is more than another night

Last night, something that has the potential to define my career in Spoken Word was given the go ahead.

Something called ‘Try Poe Try’ has lingered in the imaginations of myself and the legendary Dr.Stew since February 2009.

The journey that led up to yesterdays moment has been extraordinary and one day I will share that epic with you all.

But right now we have our venue and the first show of Try Poe Try will begin this November.

In the more immediate future, Thursday I’m hosting a night of Spoken Word, African Drumming, Jazz and improv performance... Same venue and night minus Wale Ojo... yay! ... I mean.. nay! ;-)