Greetings, friends and neighbours!
We hope you enjoyed the April edition of Speakin Weird as much as we did. We’d also like to apologise for the postponement and any issues it caused - unfortunately this was out of our hands. We’d also like to apologise to the last couple of folk who had to perform sans microphone as a result of the amplifier’s batteries finally giving up the ghost - you did so well to power on despite it, and we’ll have fresh amplifier batteries from next month. The postponement of proceedings also left us sans Esmond this month as he was away, but we’ll see him next month. Meanwhile Aron and Hannah presented on the open mic sets.
This month was a little quieter on the open mic than the previous two, but we were still delighted to have a great range of performers with us, as well as a lovely and receptive audience.
The set list for April, with some required edits. We had four first timers this month.
We were also so chuffed to have four first time performers, including a mother and son team. Headlining was the wonderful Fiona Robertson, our regional Loud Poets slam champion. She’ll be off to the nationals in August, but until then we’ve been really honoured to be given a solid demonstration of why she was such a deserving winner. She last headlined for us in June 2022, coincidentally as part of a collaboration with Loud Poets during the Spin days (which feels terribly long ago now). It was nice then to have her back under her own steam. Incidentally the full Aberdeen heat can be viewed here - you’ll not only get to experience Fiona’s amazing set but performances from some of our other regulars and previous headliners including Mae Diansangu, Sid Ozalid and Lucy Beth - and of course our amazing co-host and resident DJ Aron. Meanwhile here’s a gallery of photos from this month courtesy of our in-house photographer, Dáibhí Armitage. These will also be available in a photo carousel on our front page.
Marina and Bear-ard Way adhering to our mask policy.
Aron on compere duty. He also rounded off the evening with a reading.
Judy Taylor reading
Rachael Beedie reading
Sid Ozalid reading. Dáibhí is especially proud of this photo.
Mike Falconer reading.
Ricky, the first of this month’s first timers, reading his work to us.
Fiona treating us to a headline set.
Hannah taking over as compere for part two, where she also read some new work.
Duncan, fast becoming a regular of ours, reading his work.
Our next first-timer, Seamus.
The third first timer - Seamus’ mam, Donna.
And our final first timer - The Red Wizard.
Our next event will be on the 11th of May, where we will have local rapper Jackill headlining. We’re really looking forward to that set and we hope you are too.
If you’re still looking for poetry events this month, head to the Common Sense Cafe on Union Terrace at 1pm on Sunday 26th April for the Poetry in the Park NuArt special. Hannah, Aron and Dáibhí will be among a number of poets reading as part of it. On the 30th of April, Poetry at Books and Beans will begin at 6:30pm at Books and Beans, with Sharon Black and Jo Gilbert headlining.
Take care and we’ll catch you next month.
Hannah, Aron and Esmond