Words on Tap

Open Mic Event

Contact: wordsontap@email.com

A celebration of spoken word and booze, featuring short story writer SJ Bradley, poets Julie Mellor, Peter Wright and Tony Boltini, and troubadour Martin Christie. Plus, limited open mic slots.

Julie Mellor

Julie Mellor was born in Penistone, where she currently lives with her partner and her most treasured possession: her dog.

After doing various jobs, including working in a shoe shop on London’s Oxford Street, and as an au pair in Sicily, she gained a degree in English at the University of Huddersfield. She went on to do an MA in Writing at Sheffield Hallam, followed by a PhD, which she completed in 2003.

Her poems have appeared in magazines and anthologies including Brittle Star, Mslexia, The Rialto and Smiths Knoll. The poem, 'What I Know', from which the title of her pamphlet, Breathing Through Our Bones, was taken, was a runner up in The Elmet Open Poetry competition, and voted best Yorkshire entry.

Breathing Through Our Bones was a winner in the 2011 Book & Pamphlet Competition, chosen by Carol Ann Duffy.

She won the 2012 Barnet Open Poetry Competition, judged by Martyn Crucefix, and was awarded 'Best Yorkshire Poem' in the 2012 York Open Poetry Competition.

She enjoys walking, camping in fine weather and, on winters’ evenings, a glass of sloe gin.

Martin Christie

Musician, guitarist, accordion player, writer and creator of things. Lead singer with Old Man Pie. Solo, Martin is Poet & the Loops with a mix of electronic music and sung spoken word. Martin is also a writer, author of Open Mic Travels which is available on Amazon along with some of his other written work. He has just finished a new book called 'The Bacon Wall'. Martin also works on internet animations which can be found on you tube (check out Dry Stone Walling by Old Man Pie).

SJ Bradley

SJ Bradley is one of the organising party behind non-profit DIY writers' social Fictions of Every Kind. Her work has appeared in various journals and anthologies, and she was selected as one of Untitled Books' New Voices in 2011. Recently, she was shortlisted for the Willesden Herald International Short Story prize. Her blog is at www.sjbradleybooks.blogspot.com.

Peter Wright

Peter R White lives in Leeds. He spent some time as a child before embarking on a 50-year career as a building services design engineer and consultant. Fearing boredom in retirement, he signed up to study something completely different with the Open University and six years later was awarded a BA(Hons) in Literature. Through these studies he was reborn as a writer and poet. Successes with his poems include first prizes in the Milton Keynes Speakeasy and NAWG Formal Poem competitions. He also paints the occasional picture and enjoys meandulating on foot in the countryside in the hope of revisiting childhood with the benefit of experience.

Tony Boltini

Lancashire-born poet writes both baffling and beautiful verse from his home in Guiseley. He is a competition winner and a regular on the Yorkshire performance poetry circuit - known to travel as far as Harrogate for a gig.

Entry: FREE

Time: 7:30pm