🫧🎙Event Review🎙🫧Oldham Open Mic #2 at the Soul Cafe🎙🫧

#event #review

The second Oldham Open Mic took place on Thursday, 13th June at the Soul Cafe on Yorkshire Street in Oldham. This charming, well-equipped venue is a lovely space in which to perform spoken word poetry. The event was hosted by Commnword/Cultureword, the long standing Manchester based group who offer help and support to writers.

The lovely Ella was as always a wonderful host and this time shared a poem with us too. Definely something she should repeat in the next Open Mic.

The atmosphere was warm and supporting as each poet was invited to the microphone to read/perform. There were many poets, yours truly included, but here I will tell you about just five of them.

Shak Mill who had so impressed me at the first Open Mic, started us off with an intimate poem about his Grandma. Shak needs no notes or phone as he commits to memory and then makes it look so easy, as if the words have just occurred to him. He draws you into his poetry with his warm tones and you are left with the feeling that you have just shared a very special moment.

The irrepressible Chris Husband had to find his piece of paper, or get the poems up on his phone before he was able to finally start. Brought up in the same era as me, I can really identify with his poetry. I love the humour and double entendre that his poems convey.

Michael Holme's poetry conveyed the different 'selves that make up the whole of a person in a lifetime.
Reading from his book, published by Lulu and called, "What is my Essence?" I really felt the intensity of his words.
https://www.lulu.com/shop.

James who he tells me, is a teacher, entertained us with his word gymnastics which I found so entertaining. He has a gentle sense of humour and a wealth of experience to write about!

Finally, I have to mention Geli who wowed us with her poetry and singing! Geli comes from a very eclectic background and this is revealed in both her poetry and songwriting. She is a born story teller. She runs the Storytelling Across Culures Group called "Around The Fire" and invites you to come and share your story upstairs at
The Fox & Pine, Greaves Street, OLDHAM OL1 1AD on the third Thursday of each month, 6 - 8pm

I thoroughly enjoyed all the poets and do hope that if you would like me to write about you ( yes, Claire Barrow) and promote your books & groups you will ask me for my card and tell me a bit about yourself. Now don't be shy! or email me here:
carolyncrossley6@outlook.com
with the word PROMOTION in the subject line. Also a 50 word bio and photo if possible.Thank you all for a lovely evening.