Inky Fingers (Press Release)

I don't even like poetry that much - slam poetry might be okay, because it might be a bit like watching rappers. I do like Inky Fingers, though, on principle. They stage live readings and offer plenty of workshops... they are lively and do a great deal to challenge the stereotypes that make me think 'I don't even like poetry that much...' Here are some facts about the number four: Four is the smallest composite number, its proper divisors being 1 and 2!  Four is the second square number, and the second centered triangular numbe! 4 is the smallest squared prime and the only such even number in this form! It has an aliquot sum of 3 WHICH IS ITSELF PRIME! And Inky Fingers is now entering its fourth year of events! We're welcoming you back with a MEGA OPEN MIC. On National Poetry Day, October 3rd, we'll be hosting all the all and all the sundry from 8-11pm, welcoming in a new season of our flagship open stage. Later on in the month, we're hosting the Luminate Poetry Slam on October 13th, and the READeasy Writers' Group returns on October 20th. Coming later in the year, as well as our monthly events, we'll be making a day of poetry happenings for the History Festival, and we've also got the return of the rise of the revenge of the son of the Dead Poets Slam. For all these and also surprises, keep an eye on the events diary, and read on for the details of the next two wonderful things. NATIONAL POETRY DAY OPEN MIC 8 – 11pm, Thursday 3rd October The Forest Café, 141 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh FREE We’re launching the fourth year of Inky Fingers events on National Poetry Day, with a mega open stage! We want to hear from everybody. We want your poems, your rants, your ballads, your short stories, your diaries, your experimental texts, your heart, your mind, your body. We want the essay on your summer holidays you wrote when you were four, your adolescent haiku, and extracts from your eventually-to-be-completed epic fantasy quadrilogy. We want to hear your best new work as well. And we want people to care about the way words are performed. Open Mic slots are five minutes long; e-mail inkyfingersedinburgh@gmail.com to sign up and be sure of a slot, and check our website. Sunday 13th October, 7.30-11pm, Ghillie Dhu LUMINATE POETRY SLAM w/ HOLLIE MCNISH a special slam for the festival of creative aging free, booking essentialInky Fingers is proud to present, in conjunction with Age Scotland, the second Luminate Poetry Slam! The hugely popular Luminate Slam celebrates Scotland’s unstoppable poetry scene and will be compered by Jenny Lindsay, winner of the 2012 BBC Slam and one of the vibrant cabaret duo Rally and Broad. The judges will be Eleanor Livingstone, director of StAnza Poetry Festival; Peggy Hughes, recently appointed to run the Dundee Literary Festival and Michael Pedersen of Neu! Reekie! renown. We are also delighted to announce that the evening will feature a guest performance by acclaimed performance poet Hollie McNish. Slam veterans know to expect any style and any subject from hilarious to heart-rending, political to philosophical and much more. Poets compete for a potential place in the final and a well-earned prize. So, come along to compete or to relax and enjoy the evening as a member of the audience. You, the audience are a vital ingredient in the judging mix. Luminate Slam is a FREE event but booking is essential and tickets are available NOW. To book your ticket: phone the Traverse Box Office 0131 228 1404 or go to the Traverse, Cambridge Street, in person. Participants! The Luminate Slam is now open for entries. Please email inkyfingersedinburgh@gmail.com byFriday 13 September with ‘ FAO Luminate Slam’ in the subject line if you wish to be a participant. Places are limited, and successful participants will be notified by Sunday 15th September. However, there will also be TWO wildcard places drawn on the night – so if you are unsuccessful the first time, come along on the night and take your chances!