'poetry, but not as you know it…amazing!' The Guardian

A brand new live laboratory creating fresh experiments at the intersection of spoken word, music and live improvisation, with featured artists, an open mic and guest musicians. Part show, part flow, all enquiry. We’re inviting in more collaborators. No lab coats required.

Tonight's debut Cube show is headlined by Dizraeli - Bristol’s favourite rapping, singing, big hearted political folk meddler.

Dizraeli is a poet, singer, multi-instrumentalist & producer whose work is grounded in social, political & environmental concerns. He has won various poetry awards including both the BBC Radio 4 & Farrago UK Slam Championships. He has been shortlisted for a Songlines Music Award and performed extensively over many years including at the Royal Festival Hall and festivals such as Glastonbury & Shambala.

Our guest artist this evening is Aish Humphreys, a queer poet, performer and curator. He has performed all over the UK and last year worked in Romania with Tongue Fu exploring the relationship between music and spoken word. They were the poet in residence for the SS Great Britain in 2022 and their first poetry pamphlet, Saints of Golden Hour, was released in February 2023 which treads soberness, girlhood, queer relationships and the gods we create for ourselves.

Hosted by Chris Redmond - poet,  musician and multi-artform hustler (BBC Radio 1-6 & Sky Arts). 

The house band for tonight's debut is a trio of celebrated stalwarts from the Bristol jazz scene.

Riaan Vosloo - Bass (Nostalgia 77, The Last Poets, Jamie Cullum)
Matt Brown - Drums (6161, Gregory Porter, Run Logan Run)
Rebecca Nash - Keys (Steve Banks, Sara Colman, Benin City)

Tongue Fu have been creating acclaimed collaborations (shows, books, films, albums) for close to two decades, playing the Roundhouse, Glastonbury, Edinburgh Festival and touring internationally everywhere from Ireland to Romania, South Africa to Brazil. Their 2020 album, Boat Building featured Vanessa Kisuule, Dizraeli, Amyra León, Anthony Anaxagorou, Joshua Idehen and more. It featured on BBC6Music,  BBC R1, 1Xtra, BBCR4’s Loose Ends, BBC Introducing and WorldWideFM.
- 'a beautiful album' - Cerys Matthews (BBC 6Music).
 
Want to Perform?
To join the open mic, email your name and a link to you/your work to info@tonguefu.co.uk — five poets selected will be contacted a week before the show. 

The audience will select a standout performer to curate the next session.

Doors 730pm. Tickets £10 advance/ £12 on the door.