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35 years
of performance poetry
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  • Lemn Sissay (95)
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  • Battersea Arts Centre (London - Wandsworth) (499)
  • Covent Garden Community Centre (182)
  • Rich Mix (117)
  • Albany (London - Lewisham) (81)
  • Soho Theatre (68)
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  • Horseshoe (52)
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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).

  • GLC Giroshow

    GLC Giroshow

    01 March 1985 at 
    Fulham Town Hall (1)
    A&S poets sharing a bill with The Hank Wangford Band and Microdisney. What a line-up!
  • GLC Giroshow

    GLC Giroshow

    02 March 1985 at 
    Wandsworth Civic Centre (1)
    Poets sharing a bill with Carol Grimes & Eyes Wide Open and The Hank Wangford Band.
  • Eduardo Niebla & Antonio Forcione, Pepsi Poet, Peter Campbell, Keith Armstrong

    Eduardo Niebla & Antonio Forcione, Pepsi Poet, Peter Campbell, Keith Armstrong

    02 March 1985 at 
    Young Vic (8)
  • Arts in Danger Week

    Arts in Danger Week

    07 March 1985 at 
    Diorama (1)
    Arts in Danger was a CAST New Variety initiative. This show does not occur in press adverts listing Arts in Danger Week events, but seems nevertheless to be in support of it. LKJ does not appear on the flyer, but is named (instead of Lioness Chant) in Time Out‘s listings.
  • GLC Giroshow

    GLC Giroshow

    09 March 1985 at 
    Bromley Civic Centre (1)
    An embryonic A&S tour-schedule moots Little Brother and Marsha Prescod for this bill, but the final line-up was that listed on the poster. The musical element was provided by – another great mid-eighties roll-call – The Three Johns, The Hank Wangford Band and Pink Peg Slax. Thanks to Patric Cunnane for ...
  • Skint Video, Alan Gilbey, Belinda Blanchard, Pat Condell

    Skint Video, Alan Gilbey, Belinda Blanchard, Pat Condell

    09 March 1985 at 
    Young Vic (8)
  • Grace Nichols, Alison Fell, Marsha Prescod

    Grace Nichols, Alison Fell, Marsha Prescod

    12 March 1985 at 
    Virago Bookshop (1)
  • GLC Giroshow

    GLC Giroshow

    16 March 1985 at 
    York Hall (London - Lewisham) (2)
    Show not listed on adverts for the tour; in fact they say ‘Jobs Year Team’s Weekend off’. Did this one happen?
  • John Hegley, Lindsay MacRae, Kevin Seisay, Tippa Naphtali

    John Hegley, Lindsay MacRae, Kevin Seisay, Tippa Naphtali

    16 March 1985 at 
    New Merlin's Cave (12)
  • Cabaret at the Palace Bar

    Cabaret at the Palace Bar

    19 March 1985 at 
    Palace Theatre (1)
    A lunchtime show.
  • GLC Giroshow

    GLC Giroshow

    22 March 1985 at 
    Brent Town Hall (1)
    Poets footing a very eclectic bill topped by George Melly with John Chilton’s Feetwarmers and veteran tap-dancer Will Gaines.
  • GLC Giroshow

    GLC Giroshow

    23 March 1985 at 
    Greenwich Town Hall (2)
    Another very lively bill, with our poets supporting Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames, Pete Thomas’s Deep-Sea Jivers* and The Lindy Hop Dancers. Beat that! *Not the Pete Thomas from the Attractions – this one was a sax player.
  • Gylan Kain, Joolz,  Slade the Leveller, Dizzy Heights

    Gylan Kain, Joolz, Slade the Leveller, Dizzy Heights

    23 March 1985 at 
    New Merlin's Cave (12)
  • GLC Giroshow

    GLC Giroshow

    29 March 1985 at 
    Walthamstow Assembly Hall (1)
    Topping this bill were Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry & The Upsetters and Steve Marshall’s World Service. The latter were a ‘rock, funk, jazz, soul and blues’ band who occasionally backed Perry on his forays into non-reggae territory. Marshall was the lead guitarist. See People Funny Boy: The Genius of Lee ‘Scratch’ ...
  • GLC Giroshow

    GLC Giroshow

    30 March 1985 at 
    Hayes Civic Centre (1)
    Topping the bill were The Ronnie Scott Quintet and The Gail Thompson Trio.
  • Sensible Footwear, Vi Subversa, Mark Miwurdz, Claudette Bonney

    Sensible Footwear, Vi Subversa, Mark Miwurdz, Claudette Bonney

    13 April 1985 at 
    New Merlin's Cave (12)
  • Levi Tafari & Jennifer John, Roy Hutchins, Deborah Levy, Mouthy Ranking & Busby Super

    Levi Tafari & Jennifer John, Roy Hutchins, Deborah Levy, Mouthy Ranking & Busby Super

    20 April 1985 at 
    New Merlin's Cave (12)
  • Joolz, Emile Sercombe, JD Douglas

    Joolz, Emile Sercombe, JD Douglas

    26 April 1985 at 
    Washington Arts Centre (Co Durham) (1)
  • Sharon Landau, Ian Smith, Marsha Prescod, David Eggleton

    Sharon Landau, Ian Smith, Marsha Prescod, David Eggleton

    27 April 1985 at 
    New Merlin's Cave (12)
  • Toxic Shock, Claire Dowie

    Toxic Shock, Claire Dowie

    02 May 1985 at 
    Gulbenkian Studio (Newcastle-upon_Tyne) (5)
  • Attila the Stockbroker, Desmond Johnson

    Attila the Stockbroker, Desmond Johnson

    03 May 1985 at 
    Gulbenkian Studio (Newcastle-upon_Tyne) (5)
  • Little Brother, Pat Condell, Sue May, The Dexter Brothers

    Little Brother, Pat Condell, Sue May, The Dexter Brothers

    17 May 1985 at 
    Gulbenkian Studio (Newcastle-upon_Tyne) (5)
  • Little Brother, Fran Landesman, Bet Lynch, Feud

    Little Brother, Fran Landesman, Bet Lynch, Feud

    18 May 1985 at 
    New Merlin's Cave (12)
  • Circus of Poets, The Wild Girls, Lindsay MacRae, Patric Cunnane

    Circus of Poets, The Wild Girls, Lindsay MacRae, Patric Cunnane

    24 May 1985 at 
    Young Vic (8)
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