Stand Up and Spit at Ropery Hall

Back before hip hop made its way from across the pond, young, angry, working-class youths took to poetry to address politics, fascism and boredom. Accessible, protesting, diverse, inclusive, political, working-class, humorous, yet also deadly serious, Ranting poetry appeared in the late 1970s and early ‘80s. Platforming young rowdy writers with something to shout about, it was closely allied with punk and reggae and was the vibrant precursor of today’s spoken word. Far from the literary establishment, ranting was beer-soaked, spit-stained and real … and Stand Up and Spit is bringing it back, inspired by poet and original ranter Tim Wells.
7.30pm