By Julia Mullins, Design Lead and James Lewis, SciTech Deputy Editor
Sharpen your pencils and listen up, because Lyra – Bristol’s Poetry Festival is back with a programme of over 30 events across ten days from April 24 to May 4.
This year’s theme is ‘Weird and Wild’ where attendees are encouraged ‘to explore Bristol’s natural landscapes through innovative themed readings, workshops, and walking tours’.
Epigram are excited to be partnering with Lyra this year to share what we’re most looking forward to. Here are the events that have caught our eye.
New Lyrical Ballads: Coleridge and Wordsworth
These two giants of Romanticism (with a big R) met right here in Bristol, 230 years ago. This FREE event, in association with Bristol Poetry Institute, will invite the audience to listen to a panel of experts in the field of big R. Professor Ralph Pite, from the University of Bristol’s English department, and Dr Jessica Fay, currently researching and teaching at the University of Birmingham will be on a panel alongside alongside two poets who have responded to Coleridge and Wordsworth’ collaborative verse experimentation, Lyrical Ballads. You can catch the event on 25 April at the Galleries’ Waterstones.
Get your FREE ticket here
Harry Baker: Wonderful 2.0
Harry Baker studied Maths and German in Bristol before taking on the world of poetry and becoming the youngest World Poetry Slam Champion. He’s since gone on to create a series of successful performances for TED that have been viewed over five million times. With several collections of published poetry under his belt he now boasts nearly 250,000 followers on Instagram. Just off the back of his sold-out tour, Wonderful, he’s bringing an exclusive 2.0 version to St George’s Bristol (just off Park Street) on 26 April.
Dis Poetry: A Tribute to Benjamin Zephaniah
A name you might remember from your GCSE English class. The Brummy Bard had a deep connection with Bristol; In 1983, he performed his ‘Poem for St Pauls’ on the BBC, while walking the streets of the Bristol neighborhood. Renowned for his snoot-free poetry, Zephaniah defied poetic convention, blending Jamaican dialect and Birmingham English to bring the form to a wider, more inclusive, audience. Zephaniah passed away in December 2023. In tribute, Lyra have organised an evening of readings, talks and some personal stories from Benjamin’s friends and family members on 27 April at St George’s Bristol.
Brian Bilston
The Banksy of poetry, some have said. Brian Bilston is the definition of the modern poet. He started his career tweeting lines of verse, experimenting with form—including using a Venn diagram—his muse is the absurdity of modern life. Brian’s show, in the Main Hall of St George’s Bristol on 26 April, will include readings from his past and future collections. You’ll also have the chance to ask Brian any burning questions and take home a signed copy of one of his collections.
Satellite of Love: Open Mic
Anyone can put their best verse forward at this open mic night at Loco Klub on 30 April. Satellite of Love are a Bristol based organisation that help facilitate new and emerging poets get recognition in the city. If you feel up to the challenge, you can sign up at the door to take part in their extended open mic night for Lyra. The Bristol poet, Bertel Martin, will be performing the headline set. Make sure you don’t miss it.
Wild Poems: Pascale Petit, Fran Lock, Susie Wilson
The theme for Lyra this year is ‘Weird and Wild’. Pascale, Fran and Susie’s work celebrates and embodies it. With poetry collections titled: ‘Beast’ ‘Hyena’ and ‘Skin the Rabbit’ these three are more than qualified in both the weird and the wild. Hosted by Vanessa Kisuule, in the Glass Studio at St George’s Bristol, on 26 April. Join the four acclaimed poets to hear a selection of readings in celebration of our natural world and all the weird and wild things in it.
The South West Poetry Showdown
Whoever said poetry wasn’t competitive? Watch teams from Bristol, Weston, Clevedon and last year’s champions Exeter battle it out on stage. Like any showdown, this event will demand an audience willing to match the energy of it’s performers (jeering encouraged). Join the hopefuls at The Wardrobe Theatre on 28 April and cheer for your local wordsmiths.
Lyra Bristol Poetry Slam 2025 | Grand Finals
Poetry is subjective, right? This competition hinges on the audience’s responses to inform the judges’ decision. 10 of Bristol’s best poets will go head-to-head to land the coveted prize at Lyra’s headline event. Held at the iconic Arnolfini on 4 May, the event will be ‘raucous, energetic and passionate’ as you watch the finest at their craft vie for your applause. The event will also feature poetry from last year’s Champion, Jo Eades, internationally acclaimed poet, Arielle Cottingham, and UK Poetry Slam champion, Toby Campion. Students can get their ticket at the discounted price of £8: make sure you don’t miss it.
Lyra is hosted across a variety of venues championing the arts in Bristol, including a favourite of ours, Watershed. Every venue is wheelchair accessible and the programme includes BSL and captioned events. Lyra is an organisation putting into practice their commitment that ‘Poetry is for everyone’.
And for those still at home over the Easter break, fear not, Lyra really does mean ‘everyone’ so you can catch the events via livestream instead.
The full programme, ticket information and accessibility information is available at www.lyrafest.com
Featured image[s]: Arnolfini, Lyra - Bristol Poetry Festival and Watershed
