Poetics, Politics and Pleasure – An Open Mic Event

AFLO. the poet invites you to join us for an evening of punchy poetics that promise to queer the status quo of the spoken word landscape.

Featuring local poets Mally and noah sumptions, as well as our national headliner, Birmingham’s multi-award-winning Poet Laureate, Jasmine Gardosi, this open mic is the perfect way to close the first full day of The Coast is Queer 2024.

For the opportunity to showcase your work alongside a stellar line up, please register. Please note, you will not be able to sign up on the night. Please register here for the chance to be selected for open mic night. We have a limited number of spaces. We aim to let all participants know by October 3rd. If you haven’t heard back by then please assume that you have not been allocated a space. Places will not be allocation on first-come first serve basis.   Applications for the Open Mic night have now closed.

AFLO. the poet is an award-winning Brighton-based spoken word artist, activist and academic who embraces creative expression to disrupt the status quo and inspire social change. From protests on the streets of Brighton, to celebrations in hills of Jamaica, AFLO. has shared her rhythmic rhymes far and wide and has no intentions of stopping.
Her highlights from 2024 so far include continuing her residency at Brighton Dome, featuring in Verve Poetry Festival, and heading to the magical fields of Glastonbury to share her work and host the open mic on the Poetry & Words stage.

Mally is a multifaceted creative navigating my flow in this world. My passion for words drives everything I do—whether it’s through poetry, acting, or singing. Poetry, in particular, has been a powerful tool in helping me find my voice and empowering others to express their emotions. For me, it’s an outlet that fosters connection and healing. I’m dedicated to creating spaces where individuals can embrace their vulnerability, especially in a time when society often discourages it. I believe that vulnerability is not only essential but also transformative. 

Jasmine Gardosi is the Birmingham Poet Laureate and Honorary Doctor of Letters. She is a multiple slam champion, beatboxer, winner of the Out-Spoken Prize for Poetry and winner of the Saboteur Award for Best Spoken Word Performer 2023. Her work exploring identity, LGBTQ issues and mental health has appeared on Button Poetry, at the Tate Modern, Glastonbury Festival, Symphony Hall and BBC. She was featured on Sky Arts’ BAFTA-winning show Life & Rhymes and her poem about the pandemic, filmed on a rollercoaster, was broadcast across America on PBS. She has performed and run workshops across Europe, including at Romania’s Transylvania International Spoken Word Festival, and Estonia’s historical, first-ever queer poetry slam for Baltic Pride.

noah sumptions is a queer, trans poet hailing from the north (the midlands is definitely the north) with a penchant for diving deep into the messy, sometimes unspeakable parts of the human condition