Hammer & Tongue Hackney, Tuesday June 5th, The Victoria, Dalston

We kick off the Hammer & Tongue summer with touring poet, Andy Craven Griffiths, singer with Leeds-based Middleman, but also a poet who has that rare ability to capitivate. His poetry is personal, often focussed on his family and the relationships between himself and the large group of brothers he grew up with in Leicester, but still manages to make you feel like you were part of it. Nobody lives the same life as another, and yet, his poetry seems to say, all individual lives are a part of our common humanity.

Alongside him will be Becky Fury. Filthy in a good way – in that she is unashamed of saying it, rather than simply trying to shock or titillate, Becky is a great laugh and a good poet too with a little bit of punk-dirt under those literary fingernails. She’s preparing for a long stint at Edinburgh with her new show. Catch her here first!

Plus, as always, they’ll be the open mic slam, 8 slots available: up to 3 minutes 30 seconds, judged by 5 randomly selected members of the audience, it’s an open opportunity to show off your work on a proper stage and perhaps to win a place to show off even more in the Hackney Slam Final.

Show starts at 8pm, doors are 7pm where we’ll be hearing tunes from DJ Kit Caless (NTS), eating The Victoria’s excellent West African food and drinking their new ale. Arrive early for slam sign-up. First come first served on the night.

The Victoria, 451 Queensbridge Road, Dalston. E8 3AS