An event on Thursday 22nd October. The event starts at 19:30.
Raise the Bar brings another dynamic night of live poetry to The Pickle Factory, with an extended open mic section + two brilliant feature acts, Keith Jarrett and Lucy English!
Lucy English will launch her brand new poetry collection Dream Time, and Keith Jarrett will read from his most recent collection Hide Me Under the Blood and I Shall Be Satisfied (shortlisted for the 2026 Forward Prize for Best Poetry Collection).
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.
Presented in association with Bad Betty Press. Thursday 22th October 2026 The Pickle Factory, Easton, All Hallows Rd, Easton, Bristol BS5 0HL, UK
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 Saili Katebe.
There are 14 open mic spaces. These will become available at 10am on Sunday 20th September 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 ⭐
⭐ KEITH JARRETT ⭐
Keith Jarrett is an international slam champion and was selected for the International Literary Showcase as an outstanding LGBT writer. His poem, ‘From the Logbook’ was projected onto St Paul’s Cathedral. His play, Safest Spot in Town, was performed at the Old Vic and aired on BBC Four.
His work has been widely anthologised across poetry, fiction and essay forms. He has appeared in Benjamin Zephaniah’s BAFTA-winning show Life and Rhymes and in documentaries on Black and queer history.
Keith is a Lambda Literary and an Obsidian Fellow, and holds a PhD from Birkbeck University, where he was awarded the Bloomsbury Studentship. He currently teaches at NYULondon. His collection, Hide Me Under the Blood and I Shall Be Satisfied is a PBS Spring recommendation, and is shortlisted for the 2026 Forward Prize for Best Poetry Collection.
⭐ LUCY ENGLISH ⭐
Lucy English is a poet, writer and Professor of Creative Enterprise at Bath Spa University. Her work explores memory, identity, family, place and the complexities of contemporary life. She is the author of two poetry collections and co-director of the Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival. Her latest collection, Dream Time, is published by Burning Eye Books. She is also a leading practitioner and researcher in poetry film, working across writing, performance, film and immersive technologies.
⭐ RAISE THE BAR ⭐
The South West's leading live poetry night, running blockbuster spoken word events in Bristol and beyond since 2014.
“One of my absolute favourite poetry nights” - Hollie McNish
'One of the best poetry nights in the country' – Rafeef Ziadah
“Raise the Bar is one of the most professionally run and dynamically curated events in the country, poetry or otherwise” - Harry Baker
‘From top to bottom, one of my all time favourite shows’ – Shane Koyczan
'Out-loud reactions are encouraged…shaking off traditional theatre etiquette' – Bristol 24/7
♿ ACCESSIBILITY / SAFEGUARDING ♿
The main hall, cafe and garden, where Raise the Bar takes place, are all accessible to wheelchair users, with an accessible toilet on the same floor.
If you have any particular access requirements or concerns, please email [email protected] in advance.
The event will include photography and videography. You can speak to our photographer on the night, or a member of our team, if you do not want to be included in any publicity materials.
⏱ SEATING / TIMINGS ⏱
Doors open at 7:00pm, and the bar will be open with a selection of drinks including beers, wine, non-alcoholic beers, teas and soft drinks.
The show begins at 7:30pm, so please arrive and be seated promptly. The event includes a 15 minute interval. We aim to finish by 9:30pm.
⚠ 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.