Bad Language at International Anthony Burgess Foundation
Sarah-Clare Conlon, Literature EditorVisit now
Bad Language
Always double check opening hours with the venue before making a special visit.
Very exciting news! Celebrated spoken word night Bad Language is coming out of retirement for a special one-off featuring an invited roster of some of Manchester’s leading writers – plus the chance to take to the stage yourself on the open mic.
It’s all part of the Oxford Road Corridor’s week-long programme of events The Cultural Welcome, which is running 6 to 12 October (check out their website for more, including PAGES at Manchester Museum, an evening of books and beer with readings from author Rebecca Watson and others).
Hosted by Joe Daly and Fat Roland, “the complicated love children of Ant & Dec and Beavis & Butthead”, Bad Language was twice voted the UK’s Best Regular Spoken Word Night in the Saboteur Awards. It started out in the Northern Quarter’s The Castle before moving seven years later over the road to the more spacious environs of Gullivers in something like 2017 and taking leave of the scene around about the time of the pandemic. We can’t quite remember all the dates – the mists of time…
This event is being run in collaboration with the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, home of the archive of notorious author of A Clockwork Orange, and go-to for some great live literature programming, including Sleeve Notes, which celebrated Record Store Day earlier this year and featured loads of amazing writing talent including Rosie Garland, Vik Shirley, Nicholas Royle, Joe Stretch and David Gaffney (some of whom may well feature at this BL spesh!), and the regular Saturday-afternoon Poets & Players selection – next up, Sasha Dugdale, Deryn Rees-Jones and Louise Machen on 27 September.
Of this Bad Language special, Joe and Fats say: “Our line-up of poets, novelists, story smiths and word wranglers will include stars of the Manchester writing scene – and you can sign up for slots on the night if you fancy a spot under the stage lights.” Students and non-students are welcome alike, entry is free and there will be a bar.
