Raise the Bar's last ever open mic at The Orchard features FOUR brilliant feature acts: Evashni Linda Reddy, HJ Smith, Jan Swann & Edson Burton.

One last time before the venue closes down (and we move to a new regular venue), we are inviting poets, rappers, storytellers, lyricists, songwriters, and wordsmiths of all styles and levels of experience, whether it's your first time or your 100th, to perform on our stage. 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 18th August 2026

The Orchard Coffee & Co, 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 26th July 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.

< u>FEATURE ACTS < /u>

EDSON BURTON

Dr Edson Burton is a prolific writer of audio, live drama and poetry. Edson won the 2025 Tinniswood Prize for Man Friday an adaption of Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe. His previous audio dramas include the acclaimed R4 series Deacon starring Don Warrington. Recent live work includes the listening journey Duppy Hunter produced by Tamasha Theatre, and the theatrical promenade Destination Old Market He is the author of the poetry collections, Seasoned and Witness. He is a member of Writers Mosaic the film collective Come the Revolution, a board member of Lyra Poetry Festival and Afrika Eye Film Festival.

EVASHNI LINDA REDDY

Evashni Linda Reddy is a Freestyle Poetess, Spoken Word Artist, Movement Practitioner and Facilitator based in Bristol. She teaches creative expression workshops and coaches students in creative writing. She is currently developing a one woman poetic performance show based on her body of work. 

HJ SMITH

HJ was the ‘almost always expelled girl’ that somehow sneaked in to top set English where no one wanted to sit next to her. Regardless, she found a home there and obsessed over learning about other people’s worlds. She later studied writing and theatre at uni, and now runs a mental health consultancy business, specialising in writing to access people's emotional intelligence, meaning, and depth. She works with everyone - from global companies, prison inmates, to groups all over the world: from Australia, to Amsterdam, to Bristol. 

Both her consultancy career and her written work focuses on eradicating the walls and pretence of literature, replacing impressive words with terrifying vulnerability and truth. 

HJ’s particular passion is in women taking up space and using their voice with confidence, and to advocate for others. Her written work has been cited in medical papers, printed in wellbeing books, read aloud on BBC radio and most importantly placed on her mums fridge. 

Her next stop is world domination. Or maybe she’ll get round to writing that book…

JAN SWANN

Jan Swann is a Welsh poet living in Bristol, performing at open mics and as a featured poet at events in and around the West and Wales. She has appeared on BBC Upload and been published in various magazines such as Nuthatch Magazine, Black Nore Review, Apricot Press, Ink Sweat and Tears, Jawbone Journal and, in the anthologies, Whispered Word Poems, Bonds, Poets Walk and Red Poets Magazine. Jan has been commissioned to write and perform poetry as part of The Radical History Society’s centenary celebration of the General Strike and also for the 78th anniversary of the NHS.

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 and accessible toilets.

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