Monkey Poet: spoken word, Spoke'n'Heard and Dulcimer all dayer

Matt Panesh, aka Monkey Poet, is a poet with a plan. He is seeking to refresh old-fashioned preconceptions about spoken word as a dull and forgotten art form by curating a series of monthly nights at Gulliver’s in the Northern Quarter.

They are events organised in his own image, showcasing an infusion of comedy, poetry recital and dramatic performance all hinged around rhythmic complexities and linguistic delights. Even the title, Spoke'n'Heard, is an indicator of his penchant for puns.

The next opportunity to experience this will be on 18th April, where Kate Fox and Tony Walsh – of Radio 4’s Saturday Live and Glastonbury Poet Laureate fame, respectively – will take on the task of entertaining the upstairs room at Gulliver’s, armed with only a microphone and their arsenal of articulation.

His own show can be seen at an all day event on Easter Sunday at Dulcimer bar in Chorlton, as compere at a showcase of live acoustic, folk and spoken word co-promoted by Now Then Manchester and Imploding Inevitable.


Known for his raucous performances and rhythmic wordplay, Matt will recite some of his own work between curating a line-up of other local poets and introducing open mic slots scattered across the billing. Any poets keen to be involved should contact ian [at] nowthenmagazine [dot] com.

Elsewhere on the day, there’ll be an array of live musicians, including David A Jaycock who will headline as part of his current North West mini-tour. His second album of a few years back, The Coleopterous Cuckoos Collude, was released via Manchester label Red Deer Club Records and is an all-encompassing crossover between darkly delivered instrumental stories and finger-picked folk, à la Rick Tomlinson of Voice of the Seven Woods and Voice of the Seven Thunders. Its darkly psychedelic edge caught the attention of Sheffield’s Blackest Rainbow record label – home to Manchester’s Gnod amongst other acid-folk and psyche-rock talents – who have subsequently aired his latest two records.

As compere for the day, Panesh will have a busy Bank Holiday Sunday with nine more musical acts to introduce in addition to extended spoken word slots.

Words: Ian Pennington
Now Then poster art: Hattie Lockwood
Spoke’n’Heard posters: courtesy of Monkey Poet

The Now Then Imploding Inevitable All Dayer will take place at Dulcimer in Chorlton on Sunday 8th April from 1pm until 11.30pm. Tickets are available here or from the venue.

Spoke’n’Heard continues every month on the third Wednesday at Gulliver’s. Click here for more information.