There’s a wealth of poetry lined up at Manchester literature festival, taking place from 6-19 October. Kate Tempest, shortlisted for the Mercury prize, will be showcasing work from her forthcoming collection, Hold Your Own, at the Contact theatre on Saturday 18 October. Also on the festival bill are Simon Armitage, Jackie Kay, Daljit Nagra, Patience Agbabi, Tom Pickard, Alan Gillis, Faber New Poets Rachael Allen, Will Burns, Zaffar Kunial and Declan Ryan, “northern poets” Helen Burke and Andrew Forster, and Tara Bergin and Caoilinn Hughes reading from their debut collections. More details 

PHOTOGRAPH: NIAMH CONVERY

 

SEPTEMBER

Wakefield Lit Fest, 18-30 September

King's Lynn poetry festival, 26-28 September

Exeter poetry festival, 29 September - 5 October 

 

OCTOBER

Exeter poetry festival, until 5 October 

Warwick Words festival of literature and spoken word, 1-5 October

Swindon poetry festival, 2-5 October

Birmingham literature festival, 2-11 October

Cheltenham literature festival, 3-12 October 

Havant literature festival, 3-12 October

Ilkley literature festival, 3-19 October

Durham book festival, 6-18 October

Manchester literature festival, 6-19 October

Essex poetry festival, Chelmsford, 11 October 

Write Out Loud poetry jam, Marsden jazz festival, 12 October

Teesside poetry festival, Middlesbrough, 16-20 October

Tears in the Fence festival, Dorset, 24-26 October 

Ted Hughes festival, West Yorkshire, 24-26 October

Black Huts film and poetry festival, Hastings, 29 October - 2 November

 

NOVEMBER

Black Huts film and poetry festival, Hastings, until 2 November

Wimborne literary festival, 1-9 November

Aldeburgh poetry festival, 7-9 November

Reading poetry festival, 7-9 November