Luke Wright, Byron Vincent, Tim Clare, Molly Naylor and Henry Raby will be among those performing at venues and on the streets at Release The Hounds, a new poetry and performance festival in the North Yorkshire town of Knaresborough from 13-15 September. The organisers say they want to encourage young people “to engage with the arts of the 21st century and show that a successful festival can be put on in an area that tends to float under the cultural radar. We want to give people hope, inspiration, and above all, belief in their small town.” They have been helped by Harrogate theatre, and by Homes Together, which provides care homes for young adults with learning difficulties and visual impairments. More details

 

AUGUST

Arran, McLellan arts festival, 30 August – 8 September 

 

SEPTEMBER

Callender poetry weekend, 6-8 September

Release The Hounds, Knaresborough, 13-15 September

Wise Words festival, Canterbury, 13-15 September 

Brighouse arts festival, 14-21 September

St Ives festival, 14-28 September

King’s Lynn poetry festival, 21-23 September 

Wakefield Lit Fest, 21-30 September

Durham book festival, 24 September - 29 October 

Wigtown book festival, Dumfries and Galloway, 27 September - 6 October 

Exeter poetry festival, 30 September - 6 October 

 

OCTOBER

Durham book festival, until 29 October 

Essex poetry festival, 2-5 October

Swindon poetry festival, 3-6 October 

Cheltenham literature festival, 4-13 October 

Ilkley literature festival, 4-20 October, 

Morley literature festival, Leeds, 5-13 October

North Wales international poetry festival, Clywd theatre, 7 October ,

Manchester literature festival, 7-20 October 

Marsden poetry jam, jazz festival, Huddersfield, 11-13 October

Sheffield Off the Shelf festival of words, 12 October- 2 November 

Chester literature festival, 13-27 October 

Ryedale book festival, Malton, North Yorkshire, 19 October 

Torbay festival of poetry, 24-28 October

 

NOVEMBER

Aldeburgh poetry festival, 8-10 November 

 

Organisers, send us links to your festivals at news@writeoutloud.net, and we will endeavour to list them here, if they include poetry events. You can also upload individual festival events yourselves on our renowned Gig Guide.