Tal Salinger (AKA T.S. IDIOT) is a self-taught poet who honed their craft on the underground punk and queer circuits of the UK and have since produced work for UNESCO, BBC Arts and Natural England. They perform poems in English and Hebrew as well as collaborating with musicians, dancers and actors in their live work. Their debut collection Back to the Fuchsia was released in December 2024, following their move to the North West and local performances with Kunst Site, Wordsmithery and A Lovely Word. They write and shout about queerness, class and the shreds of hope we find in each other.

Featuring emerging young poets. Plus our regular open mic performance slots.

A Lovely Word is really excited to be partnering once again, with The Roundhouse London as one of their regional heat venues for their annual Poetry Slam 2025. This prestigious event is for young poets (18 – 25)

The Liverpool heat is one of 5 locations across the country which will be showcasing the original work of emerging young poets and spoken word artists from across the North West. After the heats, the top ten poets from across the country will take part in the Slam Final at the Roundhouse iconic Main Space on Thursday 17 April, as part of Roundhouse Three Sixty Festival. The winner will receive: a cash prize of £2,000, a professional performance or commission opportunity via the Roundhouse, professional development support from the Roundhouse and mentoring from an award-winning poet.

As well as having the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful Slam event we will also be offering our A Lovely Word poetry regulars the opportunity to sign up for an open mic slot (email unusualartsourcingcompany@gmail.com to sign up)

Come down for a great night of poetry – All for free!

In 2008, a Spike Milligan anthology and the tiny book of Che Guevara sat beneath a Christmas tree. At this moment, a little left-wing left-field loudmouth was born.

Combining hard hitting poetry and side splitting comedy, coopsie_xoxo loves chatting bollocks. Winner of the Geet Muckle Slam 2023, 3rd at the England Slam Championships 2023, and 2nd runner up at FeltNowt NAOTY, Cooper has a trophy that says ‘good at using his mouth and that’ (ask ya ma).

With more meter than Mo Farrah, more nonsense than a sapling touching Tolkien-tree, and spouting more shite than a government coastal policy, Cooper Robson is a gobshite from Heaton.

Quotes:

“Cooper has a talent for holding any crowd in the palm of his hand, winning over poetry nonbelievers and captivating anyone lucky enough to listen. Hilarious but also with heart and grit and purpose. A true talent and a credit to the toon”

Antony Szmierek – Poet & Musician, BBC Radio Artist of the Year 2023

“I’m pretty sure Cooper Robson is a Viking. And not just because of the beard. Like them, he praises his people in lyrical odes. His work is a battle cry, an unflinching attack on a decade of Neo-Thatcherism. This isn’t poetry for quiet readings in the backs of dusty old libraries. This is poetry for crowded mead halls, packed full of angry rebels.”

Rowan McCabe – Poet

Bradley Taylor is a poet born and based in Birmingham. He is the winner of the Roundhouse Poetry Slam 2024, the night of which was the biggest poetry slam in history. Bradley hosts The Big Gay Poetry Night fellow poet and partner in crime M. L. Walsh, which has featured poets such as Joelle Taylor, Kandace Siobhan Walker & Sanah Ahsan. He has appeared at the Hay Festival, Cheltenham Literature Festival, The Inspirational Youth Awards, Verve Poetry Festival, on BBC News and on BBC Radio 6 Music as part of Craig Charles’ Way With Words ‘Class of 2024’; spotlighting the most exciting voices emerging in poetry. In April 2025 Bradley will release his debut collection ‘You Missed The Best Part’ with Verve Poetry Press, which collects spoken word pieces from the first years of his career. He writes for, and about, people.

M. L. WALSH is a queer performance poet and musician specializing in comedic absurdism. She has headlined venues such as the Birmingham Glee Club and the Wardrobe Theatre in Bristol. Her debut collection, MY DOG HAS NEVER READ THIS was released in March 2025, alongside a promotional UK tour covering locations including the Roundhouse theatre in London. WALSH has also established herself as an events organiser and host. Her co-founded event: The Big Gay Poetry Night, debuted at the Heath Bookshop Literature and Music Festival, and featured at the Birmingham Hippodrome as part of the Verve Poetry Festival in February.

As featured in CTV, CBC, and London,ON Free press, Fauzia Agbonhin is a 23-year-old Nigerian-Canadian slam poet and author of I Never Truly Hated You. Currently residing in the UK, back in Canada Fauzia was the local one mic stand slam champion, and has represented her home town in two national festivals and was ranked fourth place in Canada at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word Poetry 2019. She has performed for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2022 and is a recipient of the 2023 Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award.