Mark Gonzalez is down at The Hubb in Sparkbrook on Sunday, with a performance in the evening and some masterclass sessions earlier in the day. Info via muslimwritersawards.org.uk.

It was good – the place was busy, there was a nice, relaxed atmosphere and the performers were an entertainingly mixed bunch. I’ve seen Polarbear a few times and usually enjoy his stuff so it was good to catch him again. I’d heard of Byron Vincent but hadn’t expected him to be quite so funny as he was. On the musical side of things, Tom Peel was a revelation, Martyna Baker was impressive and there was a young lady called Mahalia who blew everyone’s socks off.

Everything was admirably compered by Jodi Ann Bickley and Matt Windle, who were both very good too. A good night out, all told. Keep an eye out for the next one of these (if there is one – hopefully there will be).

OLD ME is me speaking directly, warts and all about what happens when you’ve figured out what you want and where your inspiration comes from. What happens when the life you have created is a million miles from the one you grew up with? What happens when someone goes from being a single boy in Birmingham working on a building site sleeping at his moms house, to a full time artist living with his pregnant partner in the big city of London in the space of 6 months?

The rest of the EP – two duets by Jodi and Poppy Tibbetts and a solo track by each – is worth a listen but this track grabbed me.

This is on tomorrow night at the MAC. Fatima Al Matar, Jodi Ann Bickley and Matt Windle all presenting new work.

More info via Apples and Snakes.

We combine Poetry Appreciation with Football Hooligan chic. This all happens in a pub. Do you want some? Do you? If so, join the firm.

Which you can do on the Birmingham Poetry Ultras website or email them at birminghampoetryultras@gmail.com.

On 18 November the next Rhymes event, Meet the Laureate’s, is taking place at Margarett Rose Abri Cafe, Digbeth from 8pm.

Poets at this months event will be Roy McFarlane in one of his first outings as Birmingham’s new Poet Laureate and Jordan Westcarr, Birmingham’s phenomenally talented new Young Poet Laureate. Joining them will be Fatima Al Matar, Sean Colletti, and Andy Cook.

Take a look at their Youtube channel for an idea of what Rhymes is all about, tickets for this event are £5.

On 20 November the Spoken Word All Stars national tour is hitting Birmingham’s mac after launching earlier in the year at Latitude Festival.

Poet in the City and Apples & Snakes present a ‘spectacular evening of wall-to-wall words with an unflagging backbeat’, with the following selected All Star Cast…

Kate Tempest – Hellfiery powerhouse of socio-poetry
El Crisis – combines a hypnotic mixture of rap, spoken word, song and chant.
OneNess – Spoken-word Soulsista from Grenada
Kat Francois – Slamtastic, superphysical storyteller
Ventriloquist – Wordsmith wizard from the West
Jason Yarde – the King of improv Sax.

Tickets for this event are £9/ £6 and can be booked online.

For more information or to book your slam place telephone Emma 07950 165265 or email emmaasif@hotmail.com

The Drum Beat Poetry Workshop starts Tuesday 21 September, and will carry on until 14 December. Meeting Tuesdays at 4 – 6pm, the group will discuss a selected poets work, along with sharing and providing feedback for each other’s work. Poets of all levels are welcome, all you need to join in is a pen, a piece of paper, a poem and £1.

Rhymes on the Roof will be happening 24 September, from the roof of RoguePlay’s new space at The Old Fire Station, Moseley. With the usual poetry goodness and awesome Raffle, this month’s will also host a pretty view and fresh air. Starting at 8pm, bring a brolly and a jumper.

Making Poetry are responsible, they cost up to £18 per workshop (with discounts available) and the Shakespeare Memorial Room (at Birmingham Central Library) is where it’ll all happen.

This is what they’re doing:

• 17th April – Getting it Out There – Preparing work for publication, sending out, putting together a pamphlet with Jacqui Rowe
• 22nd May – Serious Play – Masterclass  with Mario Petrucci, aiming to release the imagination into fresh realms populated by the unexpected, and an incisive language with which to meet it.
• 19th June – Painting the Picture  with Jacqui Rowe.  Ekphrastic poetry, including a chance to visit Birmingham Art Gallery
• 17th July – ShadoWork – Writing and Performance as group activity. Masterclass with Mario Petrucci. Participants will explore Mario’s “co-vocal” approach to writing and performance, culminating in the performance of a short piece formulated on the day.
• 14th August – Finding the Form with Jacqui Rowe – choosing the form for a poem, including a look at some specific forms such as haiku and sonnet
• 18th September – Ideas in Things with Jacqui Rowe  and Meredith Andrea – using objects as an inspiration for poetry
• 23rd October – The Mapmaker’s Workbox  with Jacqui Rowe and Meredith Andrea – a re-run of last year’s popular workshop on the theme of maps and journeys
• 13th November – Windows and Icebergs – Masterclass with Mario Petrucci.  Observation, the senses, personal memory, reflection, imagination, other people’s work – all of these are potential paths into new and exciting writing.
• 11th December – All The Ages We Have Ever Been: writing poetry for children and adults equally -Masterclass with Philip Gross. Qualities of playfulness and sensual delight in sound and form and image, and direct access to astonishment and real emotion.

Details on the Making Poetry website.

DJ and Wordsmith Charlie Jordan, fresh from her West Bromwich Albion poetry residency, with team mates Byron Vincent, Matt Windle & Dan Cullen – refereed by Jo Bell. Live Entertainment kicks off 7.30pm.

West Brom Words is some poetry and spoken word goodness at the Library Theatre on 25 March.

Says here tickets are free and only available on the door.