Standing room only at the first ever Rhymes and Records Event

Jacaranda, Liverpool
13th January 2016

By Natalie Romero
Photographs by Andy Sunley

The first ever Rhymes and Records poetry open mic enjoyed a hugely successful debut as organisers began to worry they’d have to start turning people away.

The event took place in the upstairs space of the Jacaranda pub on Slater Street in Liverpool. The moderate space was jam packed with writers and appreciators of poetry, either wanting to perform or soak up the literary steam thick in the room.

The air was charged with excitement as more than 40 spectators and 22 performers, some seasoned in the art of rhetoric and some first timers, anticipated the start of the evening.

Lyndsay Price (Instagram: @saltwaterpoetry) kicked things off with some deep thinking verses on how we perceive others and its affects on them. A serious topic delivered with conviction, however, the fruit of the night was hugely diverse and ranged from sonnets to freestyle stanzas and a touch of music too.

Paul Pike recited a uniquely disturbing and hilarious story entitled “Pizza Onesie”, while Matt ‘Del Boy’ Delaney stuck with the nights theme of ‘New Beginnings’ with two poems of love, heartbreak and starting again.

The David Bowie tributes did not end with David Subaccii’s “Sonnet For Bowie” but it did have listeners captivated in memory of the Starman, while first time open mic performer Amina Atiq left the crowd equally speechless and thunderous in applause at her creation “Skin and Bones”, detailing her experiences, and reactions and thoughts about on goings in the Middle East, with such compassion and emotion in her voice that no one was left untouched.

The lyrical acrobatics of Mark Mace Smith were a true highlight to the evening, his unique style matchless in the room and had listeners in raptures. (markmacesmith.wordpress.com and see YouTube)

Liverpool writer and actor ,and this month’s R&R headliner, Bradley Thompson finished the evening with some of his best works, including “No Signal” from his original YouTube film and a brand new offering performed with his guitar, the just now entitled “4:20”.

Every month, an emerging artist will be chosen to be top of the bill in an attempt to bring to light more underground artists who may not have ever had the chance to headline before.

This was an event for many old friends and new faces to pour their collections of words together, so they might be enjoyed in different ways, with individual meanings for everyone there.

And what better place (if it weren’t for the lack of space!) than Jacaranda Records: record store, vinyl lovers’ haunt and one of the only bars this writer has come across with turntables built into the tables!

The next Rhymes and Records will take place in the larger basement of The Jacaranda on February 10th at 7 pm. If you’re a writer of anything at all and want to come perform or just listen, get in touch on the Facebook group ‘Rhymes and Records’, tweet to @RhymesnRecords or email the organiser lyndsaywritespoems@gmail.com.

All performances were filmed and will be added to Jacaranda Records’ YouTube channel. You can also see Twitter for video clips of many of the performances on the night!

Thank you to all who performed: Lyndsay Price/ Ian Wignell/ Izzy Sowley/ Paul Pyke/ Liz Fraser/ Joy France/ Susan Fagan/ Tina Ford/ Megan Bagnall/ Natalie Romero/ Matty ‘Del Boy’ Delaney/ David Subaccii/ Amina Atiq/ Megan Bagnall/ Tom George/ Julie Hills/ Mark Mace Smith/ Sharon Lowe/ George Melling/ Ruthie Adamson/ Jimbob James/ Bradley Thomson

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Sorry Comments Closed

Comment left by colin serjent on 15th January, 2016 at 18:06
As well as Andy Sunley other photographs were taken by Adam Johns and Christina Ford. Thanks for all your contributions.