Ok it’s 8 days really but I’m already too excited! I’ve been obsessively checking the weather report, reading up on all The Churnups theories, and listening to Elton John’s entire discography for the last few days now and I am feeling more than prepared. There are still a bunch of incredible poets to tell you all about though, so let’s dive in!
Sami Rhymes
Sami Rhymes is an Award-Winning Spoken Word Artist, Poet, Author and Creative from London, UK. She also works in Project Management.
Sami has performed and headlined at a number of public and private events in London, nationally and abroad in Malaysia. She has also won international slams virtually and in person in London.
2022 saw Sami pick up “Best Female Spoken Word Poet” , perform nationally and also marked the release of her Debut EP Triple Threat where she fused spoken word and rap with vocal percussion. She has featured on a number of local radio stations including BBC Radio London. Sami has also appeared on ITV news, S1:E3 of the BAFTA winning Sky Arts commissioned TV show Life & Rhymes and Islam Channel to name a few.
Sami started writing young and had her first poem published at the age of 9. She released her debut collection 20 Something in 2020 and has contributed poems to other publications since.
Sami uses rhyme as a means of release and therapy and through her spoken word inspires people in her community to speak up and take action. Her poetry touches on everything from identity to relationships to mental health, injustices and day to day experiences. She also facilitates workshops, ghostwrites and takes on commissions for bespoke requests.
Sami continues to create and perform for various platforms. Her next book and EP is in progress.
Rebecca Cooney
Rebecca Cooney is a journalist and performance poet whose poetry explores themes of feminism, home, mental health, folklore and empire.
She is fascinated by the collision of the magical and the domestic, and the power that storytelling and human connection have to heal, liberate and transform.
She was a Hammer & Tongue National Slam 2018 finalist and is a multiple-time winner of the Hammer & Tongue Cambridge Poetry Slam, Farrago Slam, Genesis Slam and Poetry At Your Place Slam. She has also featured at poetry nights across London and the south east.
Rebecca’s poems have been published in the Spoken Word London Anti-Hate Anthology, The Dear Damsels Annual 2018 and the anthology Let Me Know When You’re Home. Her poem ‘This Is How to Forget Your History’ was longlisted for the 2020 Outspoken Poetry Prize.
She is the producer and co-host of Dead Darlings, a monthly podcast dedicated to spoken word poetry and the community that comes with it (available wherever you get your podcasts).
Expect shape-shifting women, dementia wolves and beard appreciation.
Eleanor Dillon-Reams
Elle Dillon-Reams is an award winning writer and performer from Brighton.
Her debut poetry book ‘Maladaptive’, was published by Verve Poetry Press.
After winning Genesis Poetry Slam, Hammer and Tongue Hackney Slam, and the Imperial College Nature Slam, she is going ahead to the National Poetry Slam finals at the Royal Albert Hall this year.
Her debut spoken word solo show ‘HoneyBEE’ won the Three Weeks Editors award for excellence as well as ‘Best Newcomer’ from The Scotsman. Elle will be taking both ‘HoneyBEE’ and her new show ‘MEAT’ up to the Edinburgh festival this year in August.
For the late night bunnies, you can also find Elle down the rabbit hole this year in Glastonbury…
Luke Wright
After a quarter of a century on stages across the world Luke Wright is a poet and raconteur at the top of his game.
Both brazen and elegiac, Wright’s poems pull on the tidy hem of responsible existence to unravel the frustrations of the family, politics and masculinity in 21st century Britain.
He marries his inventive writing with breath-taking performance skills to take audiences on an incredible emotional journey. He’s the regular tour support for John Cooper Clarke and often MCs shows for The Libertines. He’s a regular on Radio 4 and has won a Fringe First for writing , a Stage Award for performance, and four Saboteur Awards.
“His performances rumble with rage, passion and humour.” Guardian
“extraordinary and eloquent.” Scotsman
“Hitting his stride as a cultural figurehead.” Telegraph
“Cool Poems” Patti Smith
“Fierce, wistful, romantic and witty… Sensational.” The Stage
“Please don’t hurt me.” John Cooper Clarke
Poetry&Words at Glastonbury Festival 