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35 years
of performance poetry
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Artists & Shows

Thirty-five years of Apples and Snakes poetry shows: a lot of shows, a lot of artists.

There are still a few gaps, but we're gradually uploading details of them all. Search away, using the boxes on the left. You can search by year (maybe you want to trace your first ever Apples and Snakes gig), by artist (from Dirg Aaab-Richards to Zk the Poet) or by venue (what was the name of that place with the really narrow staircase?).

You'll see that there are some artists we don't know much about - maybe they did one gig for us in 1983 - and we'd therefore welcome any information that you might have. Even better, you might be that artist - and we'd be delighted to renew our acquaintance with you.

And if you have details of any A&S shows that seem to be missing, we'd very much like to hear from you. Especially '80s and '90s; the last few years we've got covered (probably).

  • Attila the Stockbroker, Pete Murry, Ian Reid, Glenn Smith, Outbar Squeek

    Attila the Stockbroker, Pete Murry, Ian Reid, Glenn Smith, Outbar Squeek

    Sat 2 Oct 1982 at 
    Adams Arms (London - Camden) (16)
    The first Apples and Snakes show. Headlined by probably the then-best-known name on the live poetry circuit, supported by various alumni of Worthless Words, the writers’ collective that spawned A&S in the first place. Glenn Smith later performed under the name Markus Jahn.
  • Benjamin Zephaniah, Belinda Blanchard, Emile Sercombe, Take It

    Benjamin Zephaniah, Belinda Blanchard, Emile Sercombe, Take It

    Sat 9 Oct 1982 at 
    Adams Arms (London - Camden) (16)
    The second A&S show, and the first to feature the already-established Zephaniah. Also the first to feature Belinda Blanchard, who was destined to be something of an early A&S favourite; and Emile Sercombe, a member of the pre-A&S collective Worthless Words and another cornerstone of these early bills.
  • Fran Landesman, Patric Cunnane, Berni Cunnane, Sonia Pascall, Martin Brown

    Fran Landesman, Patric Cunnane, Berni Cunnane, Sonia Pascall, Martin Brown

    Sat 16 Oct 1982 at 
    Adams Arms (London - Camden) (16)
    Contrary to the wording of the flyer, the Cunnanes were not performing as a Carpenteresque brother-sister act. They did separate sets.
  • Staunch Poets & Players, Chris Cardale, Julian Pearce

    Staunch Poets & Players, Chris Cardale, Julian Pearce

    Sat 23 Oct 1982 at 
    Adams Arms (London - Camden) (16)
  • Controlled Attack, Mark Steel, In and Out

    Controlled Attack, Mark Steel, In and Out

    Sat 30 Oct 1982 at 
    Adams Arms (London - Camden) (16)
    This is the Mark Steel. He was a member of Worthless Words, the precursors of Apples and Snakes. Controlled Attack included later A&S solo performer Alan Gilbey.
  • Kevin Coyne, Owen O'Neill, Spartacus R, Sheri Laizer

    Kevin Coyne, Owen O'Neill, Spartacus R, Sheri Laizer

    6 Nov 1982 at 
    Adams Arms (London - Camden) (16)
    Apparently a memorable night, thanks to a typically frenetic performance by Kevin Coyne.
  • Joolz, Patrik Fitzgerald, Michael Belbin, Slade the Leveller

    Joolz, Patrik Fitzgerald, Michael Belbin, Slade the Leveller

    Sat 13 Nov 1982 at 
    Adams Arms (London - Camden) (16)
    Debuts by future A&S regulars Joolz and Slade, and a welcome appearance by punk maverick Fitzgerald.
  • African Dawn, Tilt, Knife in the Light

    African Dawn, Tilt, Knife in the Light

    Sat 20 Nov 1982 at 
    Adams Arms (London - Camden) (16)
  • Seething Wells, Little Dave, Anne Clark, Kevin Hewick

    Seething Wells, Little Dave, Anne Clark, Kevin Hewick

    Sat 27 Nov 1982 at 
    Adams Arms (London - Camden) (16)
  • Heathcote Williams, Tongue Circus, Rory McLeod

    Heathcote Williams, Tongue Circus, Rory McLeod

    Sat 4 Dec 1982 at 
    Adams Arms (London - Camden) (16)
  • Michèle Roberts, Michelene Wandor, Barbara Beckmann, Ana & the Allsorts

    Michèle Roberts, Michelene Wandor, Barbara Beckmann, Ana & the Allsorts

    11 December 1982 at 
    Adams Arms (London - Camden) (16)
  • Little Brother, Andy P, Pete Zero, Stace the Face

    Little Brother, Andy P, Pete Zero, Stace the Face

    18 December 1982 at 
    Adams Arms (London - Camden) (16)
  • Mark Miwurdz, Benjamin Zephaniah, Alèv, The Missing Airmen

    Mark Miwurdz, Benjamin Zephaniah, Alèv, The Missing Airmen

    8 January 1983 at 
    Roebuck (51)
    We’ve lost our flyer for this one (it possibly went into the same skip as Billy Bragg’s demo tape). Can anybody help?
  • Son of Man, Belinda Blanchard, Glenn Smith, Mark Steel

    Son of Man, Belinda Blanchard, Glenn Smith, Mark Steel

    15 January 1983 at 
    Roebuck (51)
  • Roger McGough, Christopher Cardale, Sonia Pascall, The Reckless Pedestrians

    Roger McGough, Christopher Cardale, Sonia Pascall, The Reckless Pedestrians

    22 January 1983 at 
    Roebuck (51)
  • Seething Wells, Angelika Joyce, Nick Toczek, Pete Murry, Ana & the Allsorts

    Seething Wells, Angelika Joyce, Nick Toczek, Pete Murry, Ana & the Allsorts

    29 January 1983 at 
    Roebuck (51)
    The first A&S slot by ranting stalwart Nick Toczek, and a second-time appearance from Seething Wells.
  • Adrian Mitchell, Chand Sharma, Jenny Lecoat, Ferenc Aszmann

    Adrian Mitchell, Chand Sharma, Jenny Lecoat, Ferenc Aszmann

    5 February 1983 at 
    Roebuck (51)
  • Ghosts of Individuals

    Ghosts of Individuals

    12 February 1983 at 
    Roebuck (51)
    Time Out says ‘surprise guest performers may include Jacky Leven from Doll By Doll, but this is not confirmed. (What is?)’. Doll By Doll were a critically ignored new wave band with psychedelic overtones.  
  • Attila the Stockbroker, Belinda Blanchard, Little Dave, Slade the Leveller

    Attila the Stockbroker, Belinda Blanchard, Little Dave, Slade the Leveller

    18 February 1983 at 
    Clockhouse Community Centre (6)
  • Tom Pickard, Peter Campbell, Rory McLeod, City Lines

    Tom Pickard, Peter Campbell, Rory McLeod, City Lines

    19 February 1983 at 
    Roebuck (51)
  • Joolz, Don Carroll, Emile Sercombe, The Newtown Neurotics

    Joolz, Don Carroll, Emile Sercombe, The Newtown Neurotics

    26 February 1983 at 
    Roebuck (51)
    Quintessential mid-’80s line-up of goth superstar, socialist punk band, A&S cornerstone and newcomer.
  • Spartacus R, Pat Condell, Alèv, Sister Sharon, D Ranks

    Spartacus R, Pat Condell, Alèv, Sister Sharon, D Ranks

    5 March 1983 at 
    Roebuck (51)
  • Roy Hutchins, Jenny Éclair, Keith Jefferson, Outbar Squeek, Dave Martin

    Roy Hutchins, Jenny Éclair, Keith Jefferson, Outbar Squeek, Dave Martin

    12 March 1983 at 
    Roebuck (51)
  • Seething Wells, Emile Sercombe, Mark Steel, Berni Cunnane, Rory McLeod

    Seething Wells, Emile Sercombe, Mark Steel, Berni Cunnane, Rory McLeod

    18 March 1983 at 
    Clockhouse Community Centre (6)
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Latest comments
  • Bella on Contact usThe Spoken Word Archive is an amazing wealth of knowledge and history! It's so great to be able to track the progress of one's poetic heroes from grassroots to where they are now :) Thank you!
  • Fiona Marie on Lydia TomkiwThis is fascinating! It's sent me down an Algebra Suicide / Lydia Tomkiw researching wormhole.
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