A photo of a gable end wall painted with a deisgn which reads: the future demands your participation. In front of it, orange letters spell out LUTON.
Thank you, Luton. Last night's gig was amazing. 😊
Two images of frost on a window and on trees as background. Text: IS&T FEBRUARY 2026 PICK OF THE MONTH Tim Brookes Stephen Chapell May Garner Louella Lester Rob A. Mackenzie Surmaya Talyarkhan. Bottom right: VOTE decal.
🎉🎉🎉 IS&T's February #PickoftheMonth? Choose from Tim Brookes, Stephen Chapell, May Garner, Louella Lester, Rob A. Mackenzie or Surmaya Talyarkhan. 🎉🎉🎉
inksweatandtears.co.uk/february-202...
#InkSweatAndTears
Text on a building in Luton saying 'If you can dream it you must do it'
Flying flamingo sculpture in Luton
Street art of flamingos and a sparkly sculpture in Luton.
Street art on the side of a building that reads 'the future demands your participation' and below it orange cut out lettering standing on the street reading Luton.
2/ And I LOVED Don Diego & the Good Fairy. My fellow @pandemonialists.bsky.social @bigstevepoet.bsky.social and @davethepitt.bsky.social were both brilliant.
Luton have flamingoes (so I did my flamingo poem), and they have lovely street art...
1/ I love performing at spoken word nights in different parts of the country to where I'm based as I get to see performers that I've not seen before. Utter Lutonia was splendid last night. Fantastic hosting by Lee Nelson . Great to meet and hear Karene Horner-Hughes and Cheryl Prince.
A poster with a green background. On one side is an image of a poet sitting writing in their notebook. On the other side, white text reads: Emma Purshouse poetry gigs, March and April 2026. Utter, Luton 05/3; KTeas, Wolverhampton 07/3; Stourbridge 08/3; Dudley 14/3; Ledbury 27/3; Willenhall (walkshop) 28/3; Arena Theatre, Wolves 16/4; Caffe Grande, Dudley 30/4
Want to know where @emmapurshouse.bsky.social is gigging over the next couple of months? Well, you're in luck... 😊
6th March today...so I'm sharing this poem again in memory of the girls and young women who died on this date in 1922 in a factory explosion in Dudley Port in the Black Country. I recorded the poem in 2022.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3v7...
Happy #WorldBookDayUK - it's also a year since we moved to our lovely new #Birmingham office.
Let's celebrate together, use the LOVEPOETRY code at the Nine Arches checkout for 25% off #poetry books when you spend £15+.
What's missing from your shelves?
ninearchespress.com/shop #ReadMoreBooks
A poster with four headshots. Text in a red banner reads "The Black Country Society presents... A Listen and a Loff. An hour of top-notch entertainment from local voices. Pay as you feel. Alex Vann: singer songwriter. Emma Purshouse: Black Country poetry. Jane Seabourne: Bostin Fittle, a mini talk. Hosted by Steve Pottinger. 3pm Sat 7th March, KTeas Cakes, Wolverhampton.
Coming up this weekend, it's a Saturday afternoon gig in Wolverhampton for @blackcountrysoc.bsky.social. With contributions from @alexvann.bsky.social @emmapurshouse.bsky.social and Jane Seabourne. It'll be great!
A poster for Utter Lutonia on March 5th 2026. Basement Bar, The Hat Factory, Bute Street, Luton LU1 2EY. Hosted by Lee Nelson. Featuring Emma Purshouse, Steve Pottinger, Dave Pitt, Karene Horner-Hughes, Don Diego & The Good Fairy, Cheryl Prince. Doors 7.30pm and show at 8.00pm
I am gigging in Luton this evening. It'd be great to see you if you can make it along :)
So happy to be a finalist in this year's Mslexia competition, and you can read my poem, "Osprey", in issue 109 along with all the others - congrats to the winners and all the finalists! Huge thanks to @mslexia.bsky.social and judge Liz Berry.
Jeff Phelps review of 'Unsung' by @emmapurshouse.bsky.social takes stock of this embodied collection which responds with love and attention to Wolverhampton's history and people.
Read it here: inksweatandtears.co.uk/jeff-phelps-....
#InkSweatandTears #PoetryReviews #Wolverhampton
Image of a coffee cup on a window sill with the sun rising between city buildings. Text: Scavengers I loved the tales Luke told me of starving writers, and the sacrifices they made following their hearts. Mark Czanik ©
A reflective, moving, witty and nuanced view of a writer's life, its loneliness, frustrations – and wonders – in Mark Czanik's 'Scavengers'.
inksweatandtears.co.uk/mark-czanik-4/
#InkSweatandTears #ThisWritingLife
Delighted with this review. Thank you to @inksweatandtears.co.uk for publishing and Jeff Phelps for writing it.
This Sunday! 😊
Thank you for using some of my poetry S. That's really lovely. xx
I am now putting the finishing touches on Saturday's Stanza session. We are doing a five month 'Everything All At Once' poetry course. I will be using poetry on Saturday by @imcmillan.bsky.social, @kimmoorepoet.bsky.social and @emmapurshouse.bsky.social and hope their poetry ears burn as a result :P
An image of a black book cover with yellow lettering. Text reads: snapshots from the fall of home. Steve Pottinger.
If you're scrolling this site wishing you were reading poetry, and you've got a few quid burning a hole in your pocket, I'm here to help. 😎 ignitebooks.co.uk/product/snap...
A pink-and-yellow poster, with images of three poets. Text reads: The Great Western, Wolverhampton. Yes, We Cant, featuring Sandra Bond, Mogs, Willis the Poet. PAYF event. Sunday 1st March, 7.30pm.
One week today we're bringing you not one, not two, but THREE feature poets at Yes We Cant. Come and join us for some of the best in spoken word! 😊
Sign-up for our TRIPLE ONLINE LAUNCH
Tuesday 21st April, 7pm
Featuring #poetry from @jennywcreative.bsky.social @betarish.bsky.social and @kymdeyn.bsky.social as they celebrate these wonderful new books.
Pay what you can: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/triple-onl...
Another White Rabbit emerges! Considering jacket, waistcoat and glove colours as we speak #needlefelting #needlefeltartist
Hannah and Zack having a selfie
Final weekend. One last push.
This is about whether you want local plumber Hannah Spencer or the extreme Reform candidate.
It's hope vs hate.
It's Greens vs Reform.
Hope can win.
I've had some bloody awful jobs in the past so sympathise.
I do manage to make a living from it...and some years it's even enough to pay a bit of tax. 😁
Next Friday...
More of this, please.
And you can book tickets for Verbalise here: www.breweryarts.co.uk/event/verbal... Open mic spots also available, I believe.... 😊
Tickets for Friday are on sale here: theherontheatre.com/whats-on/pot...
Poster advertising two fringe shows being performed by Emma Purshouse and Steve Pottinger both being performed at Heron Theatre, Beetham LA7 7AS on the evening of 20th February at 7.30pm Book your seats at theherontheatre.com
If you'd like to see two shows for the price of one, and are anywhere near Beetham...or indeed if you know anyone in that neck of the woods who might like this then the information is on the poster. Do share far and wide if you can. We'd love to see you there.
Tomorrow (20th February 2026) I'm performing a 50 minute fringe show about being the poet laureate of the 5th worst city in the world. Steve Pottinger will also be performing his show about being a roadie/stage manager which debuted at Wolverhampton Literature Festival a couple of weeks ago.
Poster advertising two fringe shows being performed by Emma Purshouse and Steve Pottinger both being performed at Heron Theatre, Beetham LA7 7AS on the evening of 20th February at 7.30pm Book your seats at theherontheatre.com
If you'd like to see two shows for the price of one, and are anywhere near Beetham...or indeed if you know anyone in that neck of the woods who might like this then the information is on the poster. Do share far and wide if you can. We'd love to see you there.
