Emma Purshouse will be MCing and performing as part of Junction Festival in Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton. A 2-hour session of spoken work will feature some of the best of local performers. Already confirmed: Morgan Birch, Saffron Hill, and Jane James. There will be plenty of open mic opportunity (strict 5 minutes). The festival happens from 5 July to 7 July.

The spoken word event will take place in the Chindit Inn, 113 Merridale Rd, Wolverhampton, WV3 9SE between 2pm and 4pm on Saturday 4 July.

Just turn up. Free event.

Priyanka Joshi will be performing as part of Sunday Best at Junction Fest from midday at the Clarendon, 38 Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton, WV3 0TN. Junction Fest is a grassroots celebration of music art and community across four venues in Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton.

FREE TICKETS HERE…

The Poetry Readers’ Group meets at the White Hart, 10, Wharfage, Ironbridge, Telford, TF8 7AW, 2-4 pm, and the theme this month is ‘city streets’. For more information contact Paul Francis: wenlockfrancis@gmail.com

Thursday July 9 : Kuli Kohli and members of the South Asian Women’s Writing Group will be performing at a special celebration of South Asian culture at the Wolverhampton Medical Institute, New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton Road, Wolverhampton, WV10 0QP from 12.30 to 1pm as part of an event taking place from 10.30am to 2pm on the theme of ‘Unity in Diversity’ sharing personal stories, experiences, and cultural perspectives, with contributions from NHS staff and inspiring members of the local community.

‘Country Voices’ with Teresa Heeks, Tom Allsopp, Marion Cockin & Jeff Phelps at the ‘All Nations, 20, Coalport Road, Madeley, Telford, TF7 5DP, 2.30-4pm.

Tickets are £5 on the door. This will be an outside event in the marquee in the garden.

Join Priyanka Joshi at the Grand Theatre’s South Asian Heritage Month. Come along for an afternoon of multi-sensory, family friendly creative escape, exploring the many wonderful sights, smells and sounds that reflect Unity in Diversity across South Asia. Take part in writing exercises, read some poetry, create a community poem and have the chance to share your creativity at the open mic! Grand Theatre, Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1DE.

No ticket required; 12-3pm.

MORE INFO…

As part of the Midlands Fringe, Offa’s poets take part in two exciting events in the upstairs space at Waterstones, 13-15 Victoria St, Mander Centre, Wolverhampton, WV1 3NP.

From 12 noon-1pm Kuli Kohli and Simon Fletcher will be ‘Hugging Trees’, sharing wonderful and accessible poems about trees and the essential part they play in all our lives. From ‘olden times’ in India to modern Britain, trees play a vital and sentimental role in all our lives. Suitable for youngsters and families. A PAYF event.

Plus the Black Country Women (Anne Babbs, Marion Cockin & Jane Salmons) will be reading to mark Black Country Day, 1-2pm. From Mary Macarthur and the chain-makers of Cradley Heath, via the ‘Wednesbury Mangle Theory’ to the more intimate realities of life today, expect poetry of wisdom, warmth and connection. A PAYF event.

FULL DETAILS OF THE MIDLANDS FRINGE EVENTS HERE…

Book Fair at Palmer’s of Shrewsbury, Baptist Church, Claremont St, Shrewsbury, SY1 1QG. 10am–3pm. A celebration of Shropshire authors and poets. Simon will be running a stall show-casing our Shropshire poets. Free entry.

Priyanka Joshi will be performing spoken word as part of the celebrations of South Asian Heritage Month in July’s edition of Friday Lates at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Lichfield St, Wolverhampton, WV1 1DU. Join us for live shop drumming, dynamic Bhangra performances, inspiring poetry readings and hands-on art workshops. Entry is free! 6-9pm.

The Poetry Readers’ Group meets at the White Hart, 10, Wharfage, Ironbridge, Telford, TF8 7AW, 2-4 pm, and the theme this month is ‘family’. For more information contact Paul Francis: wenlockfrancis@gmail.com