Raise the Bar returns with another dynamic night of live poetry at Orchard Coffee & Co. , with two brilliant feature acts Samatar Elmi and Yellatone.

Our open mics are welcome to poets, rappers, storytellers, lyricists, songwriters, and wordsmiths of all styles and levels of experience, whether it's your first time or your 100th. If you'd like to sign up to perform, or just sit back with a beverage and listen to some of the city's finest wordsmiths, this is the evening for you.

16+ accompanied. Wheelchair accessible. Scroll down for further access and safeguarding information. Tuesday 21st July 2026

20 Clouds Hill Rd, Bristol BS5 7LA 

7:00pm doors | 7:30pm - 9:30pm show (including interval)

PWYC £6 / £8 / £10 (£5 concessions)

OPEN MIC:

This will be an opportunity to try out new material in a safe, warm environment hosted by Raise the Bar's compere extraordinaire Saili Katebe.

There are 14 open mic spaces. These will become available at 10am on Sunday 21st June via the following link: http://linktree.com/rtbspokenword

10 performers will be selected in advance from this form. The remaining 4 spots will be drawn on the night from a hat, which will include names from walk-ups and anyone who signed up here but wasn’t selected in advance. 

A number of open mic spaces are reserved for writers from the global majority, marginalised genders and sexualities, non-male writers, and writers in outlying areas of Bristol or the South West.

FEATURE ACTS

YELLATONE

Yellatone (@yella_tone) is a poet, Rapper, and visual Artist whose work is influenced heavily by the music of his formative years (Drum & Bass, UK Rap). After writing an entire solo Album, produced by DJ Frenic, he is due to release his second studio album, ‘Square One Cycle’, this summer.  

SAMATAR ELMI

Samatar Elmi is an award-winning writer, musician and educator. His debut pamphlet, ‘ Portrait of Colossus ’ (flipped eye press, 2021), was selected as a PBS Pamphlet Choice. His stunning debut collection, ‘ The Epic of Cader Idris ’ (Bloomsbury, 2024), includes the 2021 Geoffrey Dearmer Prize winning poem. Poems have appeared widely including in Poetry, Prairie Schooner, Poetry Review, Poetry Wales, Magma, and Iota and anthologised in More Fiya, Filigree, After Plath, and The Echoing Gallery. Elmi is an Obsidian Fellow, flipped eye press associate poetry editor, and is a specialist tutor in ' Neurodiversity and the Creative Process '. He is currently touring nationally throughout 2026, reading from a pair of collections ( Agen Bien Fou , Kulvert Books, 2026; and Reclamations: Disregard Prior Prompt , Aout Fecit, 2026). 

As Knomad Spock, his debut album, ‘ Winter of Discontent ’ was critically acclaimed in print (Clash Magazine, Afropunk, GoldFlakePaint, Equate Magazine) and radio (BBC 6 Music, BBC Wales, Amazing Radio, Radio X). His recent albums ‘ A Darker Light ’ and ‘ Through the Walls ’ are available on Bandcamp. He raps under his own name and has recorded with UK hiphop luminaries, Jesht and Chester P.

RAISE THE BAR

The South West's leading live poetry night, running blockbuster spoken word events in Bristol and beyond since 2014.

‘From top to bottom, one of my all time favourite shows’ – Shane Koyczan

'One of the best poetry nights in the country' – Rafeef Ziadah

'Out-loud reactions are encouraged…shaking off traditional theatre etiquette' – Bristol 24/7

ACCESSIBILITY / SAFEGUARDING

Our events aim to be as safe, inclusive, accessible and welcoming as possible.

The venue has a wheelchair accessible entrance via Cherry Orchard Lane.

If you have any particular access requirements or concerns, please email [email protected] in advance.

The event may include photography and videography.

SEATING / TIMINGS

Doors open at 7:00pm, and the bar will be open with a selection of drinks (alcoholic + non-alcoholic), cocktails and bar snacks.

The show begins at 7:30pm, so please arrive and be seated promptly. The event includes a 15 minute interval. We aim to finish at 9:30pm.

Please note, there is limited seating at The Orchard. Some attendees may need to sit on the steps, in the balcony area, or in a seat with restricted viewing, so please arrive promptly if you'd like to sit at a table / downstairs.

CONTENT WARNING

Poetry events include performers sharing personal accounts which you may relate to in some way. This may include content that is potentially upsetting or triggering. We provide a general content warning at the beginning of each event, and poets may choose to provide one for their own poem if necessary. Attendees are welcome to leave the venue at any time and return when they feel comfortable, but please try to do this before/after a poem.

SAFE SPACE

Raise the Bar has a zero tolerance policy towards hate, discrimination and abuse of any kind. Our staff team will work together to ensure the space is respectful and welcoming at all times. The open mic rules include 'no punching down' and 'no nudity', and a content warning will be provided at the start of the event.

Entry requirements: 16+, any under 18s accompanied by 21+ adult 1:1 ratio — Read more — Read less