Joelle Taylor is a poetic force to be reckoned with. Her first book, ‘Holding Out’, was released in 1987, and since then Taylor has spent the decades touring on international stages, using poetry as a tool to educate and heal young people, and publishing widely in anthologies and collections. Now, with her book ‘C+nto and

Zaffar Kunial has long been established as one of the UK’s most essential voices in contemporary poetry. A guide across countries and cultures, histories and memories, Kunial is a Faber poet who not only anchors his readers to the earth, but sets them flying high, too. Andrés N. Ordorica’s poetry has exploded into the Scottish

If Jay-Z can confidently say that rap is poetry, then why can’t everyone? The line between the two has been steadily greying in contemporary times, as writers and critics begin to understand the artform that is rap. Slowly, we are acknowledging great writing where great writing takes place, no matter if it’s on the page

A beginner-level workshop on writing raps! This workshop will take participants through the basic building blocks of crafting written raps, learning how to use tools like rhyme, flow, punchlines, and rhythm. The vast majority of this workshop will involve sitting down and writing fun, lyrical exercises with a pen and paper, so there’s no pressure

Roger Robinson is one of the UK’s most-celebrated poets. After his success with the T.S. Eliot Prize-winning ‘A Portable Paradise’ in 2019, he’s now publishing the revolutionary ‘Home Is Not A Place’, a new book of poetry and photography, co-authored by photographer Johny Pitts. The book follows Robinson and Pitts as they tour the UK

Poets Seán Hewitt and Michael Pedersen come together in this event to talk about their recently released, and stunningly poetic, new memoirs. The texts are powerful creations by the authors, each delving deep into the poets’ experiences. In ‘Boy Friends’, Pedersen pays tribute to friendship, and a beloved and departed friend in particular, while in

Join Scotland’s leading literary magazine for an hour of poetry and writing with their friends from Scotland’s tenant union: Living Rent. Some of Scotland’s most exciting writers will share work that explores the poetry and politics of landlordism and leaky flats, and how where we live shapes our lives. Featuring Raman Mundair, Joey Simons, Oliver

Many wouldn’t think of poetry and football as likely pals, but Scotland has long been a country which celebrates the two side-by-side. In this panel event, we have some of the country’s most infamous football poets: Julie McNeill, who is the Makar for The Scottish Women’s National Football Team Poets Society; Hamish MacDonald, the Bankies

The UK’s poetry criticism landscape is often rife with rifts, challenges, and, of course, criticism. Who can forget the divisive and notorious article, ‘The Cult of the Noble Amateur,’ written by Rebecca Watts in the PN Review, 2018, where Watts begins by asking ‘Why is the poetry world pretending that poetry is not an art

Push the Boat Out has commissioned seven innovative poets to reimagine some of Scotland’s most famous and infamous mythical beasts for this event, A Poetry Feast of Mythical Beasts. Continuing a rich, global tradition of new writing which retells traditional takes of old, these fresh and dynamic perspectives pull our selkies and fairies into the

From award-winning and bestselling authors Amy Jeffs (‘Storyland’; ‘Wild’) and Seán Hewitt (‘Tongues of Fire’; ‘All Down Darkness Wide’), we present an hour of original songs, music and poetry inspired by the myths and landscapes of Britain and Ireland. We’ll roam through deep woods and glens, journeying through bitter winds and rain, moving across the

Brian Bilston is digitally appearing at Push the Boat Out in this highly anticipated, audacious poetry gig. He will be sharing work from his new, brilliantly funny and sharp collection, ‘Days Like These’, in which the Poet Laureate of Twitter guides his reader through 366 poems of wit, mundanity, Matt Hancock, and much more. Each

A riotous and loud tour-de-force of a multi-artform gig, showcasing international hip hop, rap, and poetry. Globally recognised Malaysian-Australian poet and rapper, Omar Musa, takes to the stage with a power of poetic words, while Cardiff born-and-bred singer/rapper, Niques, promises to deliver a raucous set with her 90s era inspired tunes. Dunbar’s all-girl rap band,

Join poet Roger Robinson for an invigorating Sunday morning seaside walk along Portobello Beach. At this event, Roger will talk about his new book of writings and photography, Home Is Not A Place, co-authored by Johny Pitts. He will share some of the encounters and anecdotes the duo gathered when they, in their little red

Open to Black writers and writers of colour An in-person, indoors writing workshop on ecopoetics and poetics of place, in collaboration with Scottish BPOC Writers Network. All participants, facilitator and host must adhere to Scottish BPOC Writers Network’s Safer Spaces policy. Please take a lateral flow test within 24 hours before the event. Please bring

Hannah Lavery is a poet, playwright, short story writer, and currently Edinburgh’s Makar, with a list of writing awards longer than any arm. Her poetry lilts from the page, speaking with a gentle urgency on issues like racism, cultural identity, and belonging. Having quickly become one of Scotland’s most-loved writers, her debut collection ‘Blood Salt

In this panel event, poets Ifor ap Glyn, Juana Adcock, and Peter Mackay discuss exactly what it says on the tin: is it time to reject English? Why, when we have so much bilingualism amongst us, do UK-based poets automatically revert to writing in this colonising language, rather than celebrating the written word in other

Poetry is often a place we go to for rest, reflection, and rejuvenation. For poets, writing a poem can be a moment of stillness; a brief and welcome time to pause and examine or explore. A reader can go to the artform and find their lives suspended for the duration of the poem and, in

Anthony Ezekiel (Vahni) Capildeo and Luke Kennard are two poets infamous and celebrated for turning reality on its head: bringing a surreal, dream-like quality to the page and wandering between what we see in front of us and what lies beneath the surface. They remake and reinterpret the world to be just that little bit

Open Book Reading organise and run creative writing groups in community settings across Scotland, in languages including English, Gaelic, Scots and Arabic. Push the Boat Out are delighted to partner with Open Book for a second community showcase, following on from the sold-out success of last year’s event! This showcase performance features poetry written by

Unfortunately Brian Bilston is recovering from covid and will be unable to travel to the festival this weekend. However, we are delighted to say our live events will go ahead; we invite our audience to join us in our Red Lecture Theatre with Bryan Burnett live, and with Brian Bilston appearing via video link at

‘More Fiya’ is a celebration of the remarkable and blistering work of Black British poets in the UK today. Edited by the poet and DJ, Kayo Chingonyi, this anthology is a wondrous spiritual follow-up to Lemn Sissay’s seminal, ‘The Fire People’ and, like Sissay’s text, ‘More Fiya’ burns brightly with talent. Contributing poets Dean Atta,