On 5 March it’s World Book Night, and as the nation prepare to give away 1 million books, Birmingham Central Library and The Birmingham Poetry Ultras are holding a couple of celebratory events, with a line up of writers, storytellers and poets.

Birmingham Central Library

From 6.30pm – 8.45pm, at Birmingham Library Theatre, three of the city’s best-selling writers RJ Ellory, Mike Gayle and Catherine O’Flynn will be joining readers and book givers to celebrate books, libraries and reading.

Free tickets for this are available from the Box Office on (0121) 303 2323 or from Central Library reception.

Saturday Night Reader then takes outside Central Library place from 9 – 10pm, as literary fans are invited to join Birmingham Poet Laureate, Roy McFarlane, former Young Poet Laureate Matt Windle, storyteller Katrice Horsley, and local writer Paul McDonald for an hour of rambunctious storytelling, poetry, laughs and free books.

Birmingham Poetry Ultras

Hosting an evening of poetry appreciation and discussion, Birmingham Poetry Ultras will be in The Old Moseley Arms, Balsall Heath, from 8pm.

They’ll also be giving out free copies of their selected book, Seamus Heaney’s “New Selected Poems 1966-1987”, on a first come first served basis.

On 18 November the next Rhymes event, Meet the Laureate’s, is taking place at Margarett Rose Abri Cafe, Digbeth from 8pm.

Poets at this months event will be Roy McFarlane in one of his first outings as Birmingham’s new Poet Laureate and Jordan Westcarr, Birmingham’s phenomenally talented new Young Poet Laureate. Joining them will be Fatima Al Matar, Sean Colletti, and Andy Cook.

Take a look at their Youtube channel for an idea of what Rhymes is all about, tickets for this event are £5.

On 20 November the Spoken Word All Stars national tour is hitting Birmingham’s mac after launching earlier in the year at Latitude Festival.

Poet in the City and Apples & Snakes present a ‘spectacular evening of wall-to-wall words with an unflagging backbeat’, with the following selected All Star Cast…

Kate Tempest – Hellfiery powerhouse of socio-poetry
El Crisis – combines a hypnotic mixture of rap, spoken word, song and chant.
OneNess – Spoken-word Soulsista from Grenada
Kat Francois – Slamtastic, superphysical storyteller
Ventriloquist – Wordsmith wizard from the West
Jason Yarde – the King of improv Sax.

Tickets for this event are £9/ £6 and can be booked online.