Ranting verse sprang from punk and reggae in the early 1980s. This grassroots poetry was angry, political, sweary, boozy and funny – a predecessor of the vibrant spoken word of today.
Hear from original ranters Tim Wells and Janine Booth as they revisit their early rants and serve up new work, while young poet Emily Harrison is performing her own contemporary, sardonic working-class verse.
The evening is inspired by the Stand Up and Spit blog, which has been collating zines, reviews and interviews from the heyday of Ranting Verse, helping modern audiences to rediscover this pre-internet phenomenon.
In association with Speaking Volumes Live Literature Productions
Stand Up and Spit is funded by Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Please note, this free event requires a ticket. Please book your ticket by emailing specialedition@poetrylibrary.org.uk
2 September 2015, 20:00pm – 21:30pm, The Saison Poetry Library at Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre
More information here.