By John Bruce. JPF – John Peter Frederick – Goodman 16/3/1960 to 7/9/2023 I’m sure there are people reading this who knew JPF far longer than I did, and who know more about him, but these are my reflections on a friend and poet who died recently. We met...
Poetry
Winchester Poetry Festival and Hampshire Cultural Trust launch Hampshire Young Poets Competition 2023
Winchester Poetry Festival and Hampshire Cultural Trust have opened the Hampshire Young Poets Competition 2023 for submissions. This year the theme is ‘home’ and aspiring young poets, living or studying in Hampshire, are invited to write a poem of no more than 14 lines exploring what ‘home’ means to...
Review: Southampton Literature Festival, MAST Mayflower Studios, March 10-12
by Anita Foxall. Southampton has a Literature Festival, and it was brought to the MAST Mayflower Studios by ArtfulScribe, with the support of Arts Council England and University of Southampton. The festival took place between the 10th and the 12th of March and was organised by ArtfulScribe’s poet/producer Antosh...
Reader reviews: Mo’s Forte poetry night, March 5
Mo’s Forte is a poetry open mic, with guest act to close, held on the 1st Sunday of each month from 6pm-8pm at the Hatch (Forte Kitchen), in Parchment Street, Winchester. The 5th of March 2023, was the debut night of Mo’s Forte, with Winchester based musician Blind Z...
Review: February Words at Whiskey poetry evening, featuring Benjin
by Andy Buchanan This is a relatively new monthly poetry night held at the Whiskey Blue bar in London Road, Southampton but it is organised by local poet Issa Loyaan Farrah-Kelly (pictured top). You may know Issa as the face of Southampton City of Culture’s bid, but Issa has...
Southampton’s Interesting Wallpaper release debut EP
by Anita Foxall. March 2020 was certainly unforgettable for us all. But this is also the date that marked the beginning of Interesting Wallpaper, a Southampton based band who have now released their first EP. Pete Harvey, the lead singer and song writer, explained they started as a trio,...
Poem: Who’s up for a New Year’s Day walk?
by Katie Isham. Who’s up for a New Year’s Day walk? Blow the cobwebs away Start the new year afresh Fill the lungs with January air Who’s up for a New Year’s Day walk? …Mum Whatsapped the family group, alongside a boot emoji, A circuit...
Local poet Estelle Phillips’ debut collection published
Described as “beautifully brutal” by The John Hansard Gallery (Hannah Cox), “Motherhoodlum” is performance poet Estelle Phillips’ debut collection, and comes some two years after publisher Jawbone Collective saw her perform, recognised her as “an important and fresh voice” and thought, “we should publish her”. Estelle represented Southampton in the...
Preview: poet and performer Leyla Joseph at The Bookshop Alehouse, Southampton
Critically acclaimed poet and performer Leyla Josephine is bringing an evening of fearless words and home truths to The Bookshop Alehouse, Southampton, on Wednesday, November 16, with support from local poet Kat Sinclair. In Public / In Private: poetry with Leyla Josephine is a live poetry performance in which...
Write a Note Poetry October: Andy Buchanan, Deborah Gearing & Panda-monium
by Anita Foxall. Here’s your monthly review of Write a Note, a spoken word open mic, which takes place at MAST Mayflower Studios, Southampton. This was another wonderful evening of poetry, fairy tales and pandas. Yes, you read that right. These were two of the brilliant poets who attended...