This workshop series is designed for new and developing writers; no experience required!

Space is limited to 15 participants, so book quickly.

Sharing work out loud can be scary, so Katie will equip you with plenty of tips to help you develop the core skills you need to perform with clarity and confidence. By the final session, you'll have an opportunity to perform your work for friends and family.

Katie will guide you from coming up with an initial idea right through to taking the stage. Using prompts, exercises, and games, you’ll write poems on a range of subjects and explore different styles of poetry and spoken word.

Want to try writing spoken word poetry?

We're hosting an eight-week workshop series with Gorebridge Community Development Trust starting Monday, April 27! Facilitated by our Dr. Katie Ailes, you'll be introduced to the basics of writing spoken word poetry.

Tickets: gorebridge.org.uk/spokenword

New video!
Watch here: youtu.be/n-HOJb04aFo

Our March 30 Open Mic feature Dev McMath shared these pieces about racism, exoticism, and growing up with mixed-race heritage.

Learn more about Dev's work: www.instagram.com/devmcmath/

Thanks to Creative Scotland for supporting our work

Josh has performed poetry features across four continents at Glastonbury Festival, Hidden Door Festival, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Josh is currently touring a new poetry album called 'my poems pay taxes; my taxes buy weapons; my weapons kill poets'.

Josh Cake is a poet from Melbourne, Australia now living in Edinburgh, with publications including Poetry Scotland: Gallus and Cordite. Josh is winner of the Peseroff Poetry Prize and was named the Most Impactful Poet by the Australian Enterprise Awards in 2024 and 2025.

Next week's Open Mic feature is Josh Cake!

Join us on Monday, April 27, from 6.30 pm at the Scottish Storytelling Centre for an evening of fist-pumping poetry.

If you'd like to perform at our June Open Mics, sign ups are open at iamloud.co/live

New video!
Watch here: youtu.be/5qe7yiWGo2g

At our Aberdeen Heat, sacrificial poet Mae Diansangu shared this poem about revolution and creating equitable futures for all.

Learn more about Mae's work: www.instagram.com/vavapoetry

Thanks to Creative Scotland for supporting our work.

New video!
Watch here: youtu.be/SpZ6CTuLbhw

At our 2026 St. Andrews Slam Heat, Aradhana Kiran performed this poem about pre-emptive grief.

Learn more about Aradhana's work: www.instagram.com/aradhana.16

Thanks to Creative Scotland for supporting our work in the Scottish Spoken Word scene.

A little peek behind the I Am Loud curtain!

Our directors Kevin Mclean, Dr. Katie Ailes, and Mark Gallie are hard at work on something very special with Loud Poets resident musician Jack Hinks 🤫

Stay tuned because we've got a big announcement coming soon! 👀

Loud Poets 2025-2026 Slam Series: Full Slams In 2025-26 we're holding our fourth annual Loud Poets Slam Series, a nation-wide tournament across Scotland and England culminating in a Grand Slam Final wit...

You can also catch up on our 2025-26 Slam Heats so far on YouTube with our full Edinburgh, Glasgow, and St. Andrews Slam Heats available now: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

Could you be our next Paisley Slam Heat Champ?

Sign ups for our next 2025-26 Slam Heat closes on Thursday, April 30! So, get your name in the draw for the chance to compete for the Paisley title, win a £200 cash prize, and qualify for our Grand Slam Final!

Sign up: forms.gle/ZtHctrQz97H5...

New video!
Watch here: youtu.be/d4dT5K19yBM

At our St. Andrews Slam Heat, Taylor Dyson shared this powerful poem about what kind of women are worth 'protecting' by conservative political groups.

Learn about Taylor's work: www.elfiepicket.com

Thanks to Creative Scotland for supporting our work.

We're also welcoming back 2024-25 Dumfries Slam Champ Culain Wood as our Sacrificial Poet and guest judge.

For more information about our Slam Series, please visit iamloud.co/slam

Photo credit: Dr. Katie Ailes

Our Dumfries Slam Heat sign ups are open!

Do you want to compete to be our next Dumfries Slam Champ?

Sign up for our Slam Heat in partnership with Arts D&G for the chance to be in this year's competition for the title, a £200 cash prize, and the opportunity to qualify for our Grand Slam Final!

Poets performing in order of appearance:
Emma Atkin: www.instagram.com/atkine96/
Hannah McGregor: www.instagram.com/hannahmcgreg...
RJ Hunter: www.instagram.com/rjhunterpoet...
Alain English

New video!
Watch here: youtu.be/Gah6Qs7rox4

A selection of Open Mic performers from the Loud Poets Open Mic at the Scottish Storytelling Centre and our February Showcase Open Mics in Glasgow and Aberdeen.

Thanks to Creative Scotland for supporting our work in the Scottish Spoken Word scene.

The Loud Poets Open Mic is tonight!

And we're welcoming open mic regular, Louie Gardiner, as our featured poet, alongside our excellent open mic-ers. Doors are at 6.30 pm at the Scottish Storytelling Centre.

For more information: scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:64...

New video!
Watch here: youtu.be/y7S2OK_7FRU

Our 2026 St. Andrews Slam Champ, Q, shared this piece about migration, what we carry with us, and the dangers of choosing a new home.

Learn more about Q's work: www.instagram.com/q.ueering/

Thanks to Creative Scotland for supporting our work

LIVE — I AM LOUD I Am Loud Productions presents Loud Poets showcases, slams, open mics, and special events across Scotland.

If you want to see more poetry in Edinburgh, our next Showcase is at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on April 30, and features touring poet Jasmine Gardosi, Bad Betty Press’s Jake Wild Hall, and Natalie Elizabeth and Beth Rose.

Get more information about our showcases at iamloud.co/live

We appreciate all the people who bought tickets for this show and are sad to announce we are unable to go ahead. We are coordinating with Summerhall about refunds and they'll be in touch with ticket holders soon.

If you have any questions about refunds, contact: boxoffice@summerhallarts.co.uk

To quote Shane: ‘I am heartbroken to announce that due to unexpected Visa issues, I am not able to enter the country for my upcoming tour. We are exploring new dates and hope to have more information soon.’

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT:

Due to an unexpected visa issue Shane Koyczan is unable to come to the UK for his April tour.

Unfortunately, as a result we have to cancel Loud Poets presents: Shane Koyczan on Friday, April 24.

Want to get involved?

We'll be hosting open mic sections for local poets to share their poems at our Aberdeen Showcase. Sign ups will be open on the day, so come down early to secure a spot!

We'll be in Aberdeen with Aberdeen Performing Arts on Saturday, May 2!

Join us at the Lemon Tree, where Jasmine will share the mic with current Scottish and World Slam Champion Biff Smith, and Loud Poets 2023 Aberdeen Champ Jo Gilbert.

Get tickets: www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/whats-on/lou...

Taylor Dyson: www.elfiepicket.com

Kevin Mclean hosted this slam. Learn more about his work: bsky.app/profile/kevo...

Jack Hinks provided musical accompaniment for the poets in the final round. Learn more about Jack's work: www.jackhinks.co.uk

Thanks to Creative Scotland for supporting our work

Lizzy Adlam: www.instagram.com/e.a.adlampoe...
Mark Richardson: www.instagram.com/_mark_richar...
Mary Kalinski: www.instagram.com/mary.kalinski
Mike Yuill: www.instagram.com/mikeyuill
Natalia Roguz: www.instagram.com/natalia.karo...
Q: www.instagram.com/q.ueering

The slammers, in the order in which they performed in the first round, were:
Anisha Jaya Minocha: www.instagram.com/roots.foe
Aradhana Kiran: www.instagram.com/aradhana.16
Cece: www.ceceallentuck.com
Degna Stone: degnastone.com
Drew Gill: www.instagram.com/drewgillcreate

Our St. Andrews Heat took place at the Byre Theatre! Kevin Mclean hosted the event and our Sacrificial Poet was 2025 St. Andrews Slam Champion Doroti Polgár.

Our judges were Doroti Polgár, Amelie Prevost, and Dr. Katie Ailes.