King Ink

St Patrick’s Day Craic-tacular (March 2023)

All right? We hope you enjoyed your St Patrick's Day as much as we did at King Ink. Many of our poets brought a wee piece of Ireland with them this month, and as usual, the craic was mighty.
In this episode, we have six poems for you: Choose Tory by Mandy Maxwell, an untitled piece by Steve Urwin, Black Diamonds by Risaria Langley, The Price of Bus Fares by Mel McAvoy, Abandoned by Hester Dowling, and a heartfelt tribute to King Ink's founder, Patrick Shannon, by Barrie West.
As always, thanks to all of our contributors. Next month, we're back to our regular second Thursday of the month slot.
King Ink is hosted by Helen Wilko and produced by James Whitman. This season is supported by Your Art funding from the Cultural Spring.

J Archer Avary (February 2023)

All right? We have a home-grown headliner for you this month (via Albuquerque): former TV weatherman (and current darling of the Metro), J Archer Avary!
We've an almighty ten poems in this episode: Little Boy by Phil Wardle, Meet You on the Picket Line by Gillie Harrison, Summary Justice by Kevin Robson, an untitled poem by Lian Maltas, Smart Phone by Gary the Hat, Kelly Dances in the Kitchen by Helen Wilko, plus Cactus Daddy, Prime Seat in the Beer Garden, Poem Written the Night Before a New Job and Tales of Near Death by J Archer Avary.
As always, thanks to all of our contributors, and keep your eyes on the socials for the date of next month's event.
King Ink is hosted by Helen Wilko and produced by James Whitman. This season is supported by Your Art funding from the Cultural Spring.

Alistair Robinson (January 2023)

Happy New Year! We had another packed Pop Recs for our first King Ink of 2023, and a mint headline set by Alistair Robinson.
We've included six poems in this episode: An Education by Helen Wilko, I Dream of Chocolate by Aaron Wright, Pearl by Liz Dean, Class by Stephen McGowan, plus The Tyneside Type and Hurry by Alistair Robinson.
As always, thanks to all of our contributors, and to everyone who helped us kick off the year in style.
King Ink is hosted by Helen Wilko and produced by James Whitman. This season is supported by Your Art funding from the Cultural Spring.

Pauline Plummer and Mel McAvoy (December 2022)

For our festive King Ink, we signed off the year with a bang. We had two fabulous headliners, Pauline Plummer and Mel McAvoy, fifteen open mic poets, and a packed house!
We've included five poems in this episode: The Devil's Shoes in the Back Home Shop by Pauline Plummer, Is a Dream by Philip Wardle, Death of Civilised Society Averted by a Bus Wave by Iain Rowan, Leveling Down by Sharon Milley, and Read Poems as Prayers by Mel McEvoy.
Thanks to all of our contributors, and everyone who braved the winter chill to make our last event of the year so special. Seeya in 2023!
King Ink is hosted by Helen Wilko and produced by James Whitman. This season is supported by Your Art funding from the Cultural Spring.

A Blunderbuss of Perverse Verse (November 2022)

In this episode of King Ink, we have Remembrance Day satire by James Whitman, introspective poetry from Hannah McGregor, a poem from a war inspired sequence by Steve May, something for the Mackem wokes from Lian Maltas, a childhood reminiscence by Pauline May (with music from her son, Sam), some cheeky chimney sweep craic from Malcolm Barnes, and an absolute blunderbuss of perverse verse by AJ McKenna.
King Ink is hosted by Helen Wilko and produced by James Whitman. This season is supported by Your Art funding from the Cultural Spring.

What Would John Cooper Clark Do? (October 2022)

For our maiden episode of King Ink, we have a poem from the late Patrick Shannon, some poetic instruction from Stephen McGowan, contemplative prose by Steve Urwin, a Lakes-inspired poem by Helen Wilkinson, advice for young poets from Chris Hodgson, pandemic poetry by J. Archer Avary, a poem with bite by Sharon Milley and onanistic oration by Gary the Hat.
King Ink is hosted by Helen Wilko and produced by James Whitman. This season is supported by Your Art funding from the Cultural Spring.