Saturday 1 September 2007, 2pm-8pm
New Islington Festival, Ancoats, Manchester

Literature Northwest have got a huge event coming up in Manchester on Sat 1st Sept: Fans of film and literature can catch Manchester's finest writers, filmmakers and indie publishers gathered under one roof, in a celebration of the city's rich urban culture.
With headline sets by legendary performance poets Anthony Joseph and Lemn Sissay (a long-awaited homecoming gig), and premieres of specially commissioned films from 15 of Manchester's most exciting young filmmakers, Spoken Image promises a sensory feast of image and text.
Spoken Image also hosts the Manchester Book Market - a chance to get your hands on the best novels, magazines, poetry collections, comics and graphic novels courtesy of the region's thriving independent presses.

Live performances by: Lemn Sissay, Anthony Joseph, Dave Gaffney, Akiel 'Scorcha' Chinelo & Anwen Lewis (on cello), Ben Mellor, Frisko, Michelle Green, Tony Curry, Michelle Scally Clarke, Gaia Holmes, Martyn Bedford, David Barnett, Martin Stannage, Anna Tuck, John Hall, Zahid Hussain, Neil Campbell, and Zoe Lambert, plus many more, compered by the wonderful Chloe Poems.
      Short film premieres by: Sharon Keighley, Adam Barker, Scott Davenport, Gwen Osmond, Charlotte Caetano, Tom O'Grady, Rob Dunne, Sarah Eyre, James Fisher, Kate Jessop and Gwen Osmond. Visuals by VJ Deyan Raykov (Manchester & Sofia).

Though Verberate is having a sabbatical, a holiday, and the future for verberate holds what? who knows? Verberate is still suporting the occasional event (for the monthly night, check out www.myspace.com/reverberateliterature - Verberate's helpers are continuing with the baton for spoken word and literature in manchester). Anyway, while avoiding my phd work (4 months of funding left, that's all) I've helped Citizen 32's John Hall organise an event in tandem with a worldwide series of nights called Love Poetry Hate Racism (check out www.myspace.com/lovepoetryhateracism). So, for poetry and music with a political edge, come down to The Briton's Protection on monday 16th April.

x zoe

This is the last week of Verberate...alas there is too little time, so Verberate is having a sabbatical. But there is a double festival bill. We have teamed up with the Manchester Lit Festival's Blog Awards for a night on Access and Voice. Showcasing poets who have overcome different kinds of barriers. There's poetry and performance from Cheryl Martin, Avaes Mohammad, Conor Aylward, June Craven, Becky Virgo and Ruth Malkin.

As part of the Manchester Comedy Festival, there will be a very special Verberate on Thursday 19th October at Matt and Phreds Jazz Club, 64 Tib Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester, from 7.30-9.30pm. And it's FREE as per usual - however, reserved tickets to make sure you get in will be available from Ticketweb shortly. A link to the site will be posted here. It costs pittence to reserve a ticket or two.

The show will be slightly different from other Verberate's, and will have three acts performing 20 minute sets each, with a compere.

So here's who's on, as it will be listed in the Manchester Comedy Festival Brochure:

"Established Manchester poetry and literary group, Verberate, present a comedic poetry special at the coolest, most atmospheric venue in town for FREE!

Join Jo Dakin (One of the most innovative and exciting acts on the national circuit XS Malarkey), Tony Walsh (You could have heard a pin dropas moving a theatre experience as you can imagine Guardian correspondent), Julian Daniel ('A hilarious comic and poet, who you can watch time and time again' BBCi) and compere Cat Davies (Shes special Cats mum) for an evening of fantastic cerebral comedy, with added live music from Irving and Jay."

It's a must-see event!

The star of The Chorlton Art's Festival's Verberate had to be Dave Maass and his ode to crooked teeth. After that it was my Verberate anniversary Flapjacks.

This month, we're back at Trof Cafe, Fallowfield for a Fiction Special. (No Poetry allowed). With guest writers from Pulp Net: Rajeev Balasubramanyam, Tariq Mehmood, and Lane Ashfeldt. Slotted between the stories there will be songs from Najia Bagi, Abiodun Idovu and Adam Irving. That's 8pm 26 June. What else can you do on a monday night?