King Ink

James Whitman

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A home for Sunderland’s hidden poets.

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J Archer Avery (September 2025)

In September 2025, we were joined by the Cactus Daddy himself, J Archer Avery. Joey has been a regular at King Ink for some time, and his performances are always memorable. On this occasion he was launching a collection of his short stories, entitled Prick. We also have debut performances from new and exciting open mic poets, and a poem from the King Ink Archive. From the open mic, there’s an untitled piece by Charlotte Feather, Pink by Levi Hart, Backhouse Park by Laurie Crow and Mackem by Sunderland Lit & Phil’s Auburn Langley. And from Joey’s collection we have Angry Little Man and Platonic Pancakes. Thanks to Joey for looking us all in the eyes when we applaud for him, to our incredible open mic poets, to everyone who turned up on the night, and to Pop Recs for keeping us warm and dry (and lubricated). Until next time, toodle-oo! King Ink's podcast is hosted by Helen Wilko and produced by James Whitman. ----- Facebook | Instagram | Etsy
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Amy Langdown (August 2025)

In August 2025, the wonderful Amy Langdown came to town. Amy is the host of Newcastle’s Out Of Your Head spoken word night, and their poetry is informed by their queer, disabled and neurodivergent activism. And the way they say “tatters” is the purest expression of the Geordie accent we’ve ever heard! Alongside Amy in this episode, we’ve got some of our longest-serving, and some of our newest open mic poets. There’s The Times Have Changed by Jack Wallace-Hunter, Wise Woman Wicca by Sharon Milley, The Scenic Route by Hester Dowling and Day by poet / rapper, Vinci. And from Amy, we have If You Can Work, You Should, the slightly sillier The Day You Deserve and a hymn to the North, Where We Are. Thanks to Amy for an inspiring headline set (and for recording in our luxurious ground floor podcast studio—there’s a throne and everything), to all our open mic heroes, to everyone who made this a proppa mint night, and to Pop Recs for hosting us. Until next time, toodle-oo! King Ink's podcast is hosted by Helen Wilko and produced by James Whitman. ----- Facebook | Instagram | Etsy
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Kirsten Luckins (July 2025)

In July 2025, we were joined by the glorious Kirsten Luckins. She read from her (then) new collection, Offworld, a beautiful ekphrastic experiment in sci-fi storytelling published by local press, The Braag. From our open mic, we’ve got The Artist by Liam Stokoe, A by Brogan Brannan, Born to Grout by Gaeran Southern and Frenzied by our Community Director, Sharon Milley. And from Kirsten, we have The Art of Delicate Resistance, Seafood Handbags and Earth and Sea. Also, some gulls. Thanks to Kirsten for sharing Offworld with us, to our constellation of open mic performers, to everyone who made this such a wonderful night, and to our long-serving hosts, Pop Recs. Best venue in the city. Until next time, toodle-oo! King Ink's podcast is hosted by Helen Wilko and produced by James Whitman. ----- Facebook | Instagram | Etsy
-6 j · Bonus

Bonus Episode: Born Lippy x King Ink

In June 2025, we travelled to the second of two collaborative events with Born Lippy. Three brave poets, and a bunch of our regulars, took the Metro to the other place. And what a night we all had! From Born Lippy, we’ve got You’re Beautiful by Rasheeda, Nowt In by Cooper Robson, and Cigars are the Cigarettes of Fascists by Out Of Your Head’s Amy Langdown. And from our lot, we have Lotus by Lian Maltas, The Ungrim Reaper by John Appleton, and Please Click Yes To Show You Accept the Terms and Conditions by the perpetually magnificent Helen Wilko. Plus, we have bonus performances from 90Br0 and Max Gavins. Thanks to Donald Jenkins, and everyone at Cobalt Studios and Born Lippy for making us feel welcome, to all eight of our featured poets, and to the travelling legion of King Ink regulars for showing Newcastle what we’re all about! Until next time, toodle-oo! King Ink's podcast is hosted by Helen Wilko and produced by James Whitman. ----- Facebook | Instagram | Etsy
12 mai · Bonus

Bonus Episode: Poetry Soup

All right? From September 2025 into January 2026, you might have spotted James hanging out at Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen. As part of a Cultural Spring Nibbles commission, he spent several months working alongside the volunteers and guests, trying to find some hidden poets. In this episode, we’ll hear from Andrea, the Soupie’s CEO, along with some of the poems we wrote together. Massive thanks to everyone who took the time to chat with James, and especially to Andrea and the hidden poets we met who shared their poetry with us. This special podcast episode was made possible by The Cultural Spring. You can find out more about the Nibbles programme on their website. ----- The King Ink podcast is produced by James Whitman, and this episode included the voices of Andrea Bell, Helen Wilko, and GillOtters.
17 mars

Mackem Pride (June 2025)

All right? In June 2025, we celebrated Pride month in glorious style. This episode includes poems from the four feature sets that night, including On Being a Thing and Northern Lights by Scotters, Me, They, Them and My Sundered Land by Just Think Phil, What Do You Mean, Bill? and Tuesdays by Auburn Langley, and Esther’s Baby and Love Song For a Moderate by AJ McKenna. Thanks to all of our fabulous featured poets, to everyone who celebrated Pride on the open mic with us, and to Pop Recs for giving us the run of the place again. Legends all. Until next time, toodle-oo! King Ink's podcast is hosted by Helen Wilko and produced by James Whitman. ----- Facebook | Instagram | Etsy
13 mars

Rue Collinge (May 2025)

In May 2025, the wonderful Rue Collinge shared some poems from her collection, How to Train Your Dragon (published by Verve Poetry Press). Our open mic was as superb as ever. This episode features I Didn’t Know by Bobby Darling, The Emperor’s New Glucose by Pip McDonald, Eulogy for a Wealthy Monarch by The HellPoet, and Genital Inspectors by that James Whitman. And from Rue’s headline set, we have Body Language, It's Better for the Environment, and the properly gorgeous Moon Cakes. Thanks to Rue and Verve Poetry Press for choosing us for this cheeky pre-launch, to our glorious open mic heroes, and to Pop Recs for hosting our shenanigans every month. Until next time, toodle-oo! King Ink's podcast is hosted by Helen Wilko and produced by James Whitman. ----- Facebook | Instagram | Etsy
22/08/2025

King Ink x Born Lippy (April 2025)

In April 2025, we hosted the first of two collaborative events with Born Lippy. Three poets from each night went head to head, and the winners...? Poetry! From Born Lippy, we had Hold Thoughts by Lydia Bruce, Back in Blyth by Tommy23, and Blackouts from the irrascible Donald Jenkins. And from King Ink, we had Entrails by Helen Rogers, Willem Dapoem by The Hellpoet, and Penelope, Bearer of Great Enmity by our very own James Whitman. Thanks to everyone who came out to make this such an electric event - the atmosphere was pure buzzing all night. Thanks to all of our featured poets, and to our hosts with the most poets packed into medium size venue I've ever seen, Pop Recs! Until next time, toodle-oo! King Ink's podcast is hosted by Helen Wilko and produced by James Whitman. ----- Facebook | Instagram | Etsy

Tout afficher (41)

A home for Sunderland’s hidden poets.

Création

James Whitman
Années d’activité

2022 - 2026
Épisodes

41
Classification

Contenu explicite
Copyright

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King Ink