Upcoming events
Say Owt Slam featuring Maureen Onwunali - 17th April 2026
Bad Betty Press Showcase - 29th April 2026
Luke Wright - 21st May 2026
Harry Baker - 17th June 2026
Bad Betty Press Showcase - 29th April 2026
Luke Wright - 21st May 2026
Harry Baker - 17th June 2026
shane koyczan
12th April 2026
Unfortunately due to Visa issues, this April tour has been cancelled.
We hope to postpone until later this year. All ticket-holders will be notified, with the option for a refund - but all tickets will be valid for the rearranged date.
Shane says: "I am heartbroken to announce that due to unexpected visa issues, I am not able to enter the country for my upcoming tour. We are exploring new dates and hope to have more information, soon.”
Unfortunately due to Visa issues, this April tour has been cancelled.
We hope to postpone until later this year. All ticket-holders will be notified, with the option for a refund - but all tickets will be valid for the rearranged date.
Shane says: "I am heartbroken to announce that due to unexpected visa issues, I am not able to enter the country for my upcoming tour. We are exploring new dates and hope to have more information, soon.”
SAY OWT SLAM
featuring maureen onwunali
17th April 2026
Doors 7.30pm
The Crescent, 8 The Crescent, York, YO24 1AW
Tickets available here. £8 or £13 in advance. £15 on the door
Say Owt Slam is a raucous evening of poet vs poet in a fun night of verse. Poets have three minutes to wow YOU the audience. Expect poetry with humour and heart, comedy and charisma, stories and sizzling spoken word! Hosted by the loveable Say Owt gang celebrating 11 years of performance poetry!
Featuring Maureen Onwunali, a Dublin-born Nigerian poet and a two-time national slam champion. Her work has been featured by various musicians, radio shows, and organisations, including BFI, Pearson, Penguin, BBC, Roundhouse, TEDxMilton Keynes, Apples and Snakes, Obsidian Foundation, and the Poetry Society. Maureen will be running a performance poetry workshop before the show 6-7pm. Tickets are £5 + booking fee, available here.
“What the Say Owt crew have built and cultivated is an event that feels simultaneously welcoming and inclusive, whilst pushing standards to levels of top quality entertainment. Loved it.” – Polarbear
Fancy taking part in the Slam? Slots open 1st Feb 2026. Email [email protected].
(We prioritise people living in York and the surrounding villages).
Doors 7.30pm
The Crescent, 8 The Crescent, York, YO24 1AW
Tickets available here. £8 or £13 in advance. £15 on the door
Say Owt Slam is a raucous evening of poet vs poet in a fun night of verse. Poets have three minutes to wow YOU the audience. Expect poetry with humour and heart, comedy and charisma, stories and sizzling spoken word! Hosted by the loveable Say Owt gang celebrating 11 years of performance poetry!
Featuring Maureen Onwunali, a Dublin-born Nigerian poet and a two-time national slam champion. Her work has been featured by various musicians, radio shows, and organisations, including BFI, Pearson, Penguin, BBC, Roundhouse, TEDxMilton Keynes, Apples and Snakes, Obsidian Foundation, and the Poetry Society. Maureen will be running a performance poetry workshop before the show 6-7pm. Tickets are £5 + booking fee, available here.
“What the Say Owt crew have built and cultivated is an event that feels simultaneously welcoming and inclusive, whilst pushing standards to levels of top quality entertainment. Loved it.” – Polarbear
Fancy taking part in the Slam? Slots open 1st Feb 2026. Email [email protected].
(We prioritise people living in York and the surrounding villages).
29th April 2026
Doors 7.30pm, show starts 8.30pm
Bluebird Bakery, 201 Acomb Rd, Acomb, York YO24 4HD
Tickets £10 (£5 concessions) available here (plus booking fee)
Called the 'The epitome of bold independence' by The Big Issue, Bad Betty Press is an award-winning independent publisher of new poetry, and curator of live literature events taking place across the UK.
This vibrant showcase in York will feature an incredible line-up of poets and spoken word artists, including Hannah Silva, Keith Jarrett, Desree and Say Owt Slam Champion The Chubby Northerner.
Hannah Silva is a writer and performer working in sound poetry, radio and experimental non-fiction exploring love and queer single parenting, woven into surreal and funny contributions by an early, open source large language model, and a toddler.
Keith Jarrett is an international slam champion and was selected for the International Literary Showcase as an outstanding LGBT writer. He has appeared in Benjamin Zephaniah’s BAFTA-winning show Life & Rhymes and in documentaries on Black and queer history.
Desree is an award-winning writer, spoken word artist, educator and producer based in London and Slough. An alumna of Born::Free Writers’ Collective, Jerwood Arts Poetry In Performance Programme and the Obsidian Foundation, Desree was Poet in Residence at Glastonbury Festival 2022 and Slough’s EMPOWORD.
The Chubby Northerner, is a poet and playwright whose work blends humour, heart, and Northern honesty. His poetry has travelled from grassroots stages to global platforms including opening the 2021 UEFA Champions League Final and he is the most featured poet on BBC Radio Manchester’s BBC Upload.
Doors 7.30pm, show starts 8.30pm
Bluebird Bakery, 201 Acomb Rd, Acomb, York YO24 4HD
Tickets £10 (£5 concessions) available here (plus booking fee)
Called the 'The epitome of bold independence' by The Big Issue, Bad Betty Press is an award-winning independent publisher of new poetry, and curator of live literature events taking place across the UK.
This vibrant showcase in York will feature an incredible line-up of poets and spoken word artists, including Hannah Silva, Keith Jarrett, Desree and Say Owt Slam Champion The Chubby Northerner.
Hannah Silva is a writer and performer working in sound poetry, radio and experimental non-fiction exploring love and queer single parenting, woven into surreal and funny contributions by an early, open source large language model, and a toddler.
Keith Jarrett is an international slam champion and was selected for the International Literary Showcase as an outstanding LGBT writer. He has appeared in Benjamin Zephaniah’s BAFTA-winning show Life & Rhymes and in documentaries on Black and queer history.
Desree is an award-winning writer, spoken word artist, educator and producer based in London and Slough. An alumna of Born::Free Writers’ Collective, Jerwood Arts Poetry In Performance Programme and the Obsidian Foundation, Desree was Poet in Residence at Glastonbury Festival 2022 and Slough’s EMPOWORD.
The Chubby Northerner, is a poet and playwright whose work blends humour, heart, and Northern honesty. His poetry has travelled from grassroots stages to global platforms including opening the 2021 UEFA Champions League Final and he is the most featured poet on BBC Radio Manchester’s BBC Upload.
LUKE WRIGHT: LATER LIFE LETTER
21st May 2026
Doors 7.30pm, show starts 8.30pm
Bluebird Bakery, 201 Acomb Rd, Acomb, York YO24 4HD
Tickets £15, available here
Luke Wright is one of the UK's most acclaimed poets, having performed at festivals, theatres and in pubs up and down the country. He's regular tour support for John Cooper Clarke and often MCs for The Libertines. Later Life Letter tells the story of Luke Wright’s adoption – the life he leads, and the one he might have done.
Wright navigates his audience through a warm and honest hour of poems and stand-up with the wit, pathos, and silliness that has made him one of the most popular live poets in England.
Expect raucous laughter, tear-stained cheeks, and a little smattering of drum n bass.
“His poems shoot arrows through the heart, or leave you dazzled by their virtuosity” ★★★★★ List
“A highly original idea, expertly carried out.”
John Cooper Clarke
Plus support from Bobby Olley, a poet and dramatist from York. His work draws on his working class youth, mental health, the wickedness of luck, and the strength in all of us. He is a regular performer around the city and loves sharing and hearing stories.
Doors 7.30pm, show starts 8.30pm
Bluebird Bakery, 201 Acomb Rd, Acomb, York YO24 4HD
Tickets £15, available here
Luke Wright is one of the UK's most acclaimed poets, having performed at festivals, theatres and in pubs up and down the country. He's regular tour support for John Cooper Clarke and often MCs for The Libertines. Later Life Letter tells the story of Luke Wright’s adoption – the life he leads, and the one he might have done.
Wright navigates his audience through a warm and honest hour of poems and stand-up with the wit, pathos, and silliness that has made him one of the most popular live poets in England.
Expect raucous laughter, tear-stained cheeks, and a little smattering of drum n bass.
“His poems shoot arrows through the heart, or leave you dazzled by their virtuosity” ★★★★★ List
“A highly original idea, expertly carried out.”
John Cooper Clarke
Plus support from Bobby Olley, a poet and dramatist from York. His work draws on his working class youth, mental health, the wickedness of luck, and the strength in all of us. He is a regular performer around the city and loves sharing and hearing stories.
Harry baker: tender book tour
17th June 2026
Doors 7.30pm
York Theatre Royal, St Leonard's Pl, York YO1 7HD
Tickets available here, £15 + booking fee.
As in ripe for the taking.
As in a heart swelled to twice its size.
As in soft. As in delicious. As in ready.
World Poetry Slam Champion Harry Baker brings his characteristic warmth, wit and wonder to new parenthood. From introducing his baby to a horse for the first time, to trying to work out if the GP really did drop them on purpose to test their reflexes, Tender contains poems from the first hundred days of new life and celebrates all of the euphoria, panic and vulnerability that come with it.
Following on from the last two years’ 40-date sellout runs of Wonderful and Wonderful 2.0, he’ll
even slip in some non-baby bangers too. Expect more laughter and tears than ever.
“Harry Baker’s intricate, quick-fire rhymes have always been on the impressive side of mind-blowing” - The Scotsman
“Spectacularly Witty” ***** (Whatsonstage)
“Blistering wordplay” ***** (Threeweeks)
“Not one syllable out of place” ***** (The Wee Review)
“The Spell Over The Audience Is Tangible” ***** (Broadway Baby)
“Simply put... The greatest performer on earth” ***** (BBC Radio 1)
Doors 7.30pm
York Theatre Royal, St Leonard's Pl, York YO1 7HD
Tickets available here, £15 + booking fee.
As in ripe for the taking.
As in a heart swelled to twice its size.
As in soft. As in delicious. As in ready.
World Poetry Slam Champion Harry Baker brings his characteristic warmth, wit and wonder to new parenthood. From introducing his baby to a horse for the first time, to trying to work out if the GP really did drop them on purpose to test their reflexes, Tender contains poems from the first hundred days of new life and celebrates all of the euphoria, panic and vulnerability that come with it.
Following on from the last two years’ 40-date sellout runs of Wonderful and Wonderful 2.0, he’ll
even slip in some non-baby bangers too. Expect more laughter and tears than ever.
“Harry Baker’s intricate, quick-fire rhymes have always been on the impressive side of mind-blowing” - The Scotsman
“Spectacularly Witty” ***** (Whatsonstage)
“Blistering wordplay” ***** (Threeweeks)
“Not one syllable out of place” ***** (The Wee Review)
“The Spell Over The Audience Is Tangible” ***** (Broadway Baby)
“Simply put... The greatest performer on earth” ***** (BBC Radio 1)