The Loudcast – Details, episodes & analysis

The Loudcast is back with a special episode for our 2024 Grand Slam Final! Host Kevin Mclean interviews last year's champion RJ Hunter about her experience of competing in 2023, emerging victorious, and the impact it's had on her career. Kev and RJ chat about this year's Slam Series so far and preview Saturday's talent-packed Grand Slam Final at the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

Tickets are now SOLD OUT for our 2024 Grand Slam Final, but keep an eye on the EIBF website or contact their box office in case of returns: https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival/whats-on/loud-poets-grand-slam-final-2024

The three poems Kev and RJ discuss are:
Susi Briggs - The Routin' Brig (performed at the 2024 South Slam Heat)
Drew Gill - Burial (performed at the 2024 Central Slam Heat)
RJ Hunter - Body Horror (performed with Jack Hinks at the 2023 Grand Slam Final)

RJ Hunter (they/she) is an award-winning performance poet and writer based in Glasgow. Known for pieces ranging from razor-sharp to delightfully silly, Hunter's blistering performances have seen them travel the UK with her debut solo show 'Stupid Sexy Poem Show' (Playing at the Edinburgh Fringe 2024 at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on 4th, 5th, 6th, 10th, 19th at 8:45pm).

Hunter’s debut collection ‘Flustercuck’ was released in 2023 and they became Loud Poets Grand Slam Champion in the same year. The following year, they were named runner-up at the Scottish Slam Poetry Finals.

The month of April is National Poetry Writing Month. Founded in the US in 2003, poets around the world join the challenge of writing poetry every day for thirty days. Here at I Am Loud HQ we did NaPoWriMo a little differently, by doing 5 poems across 5 weeks in April. 

This week host Bex Sherwood speaks with regular guests Katie Ailes, Mark Gallie and Kevin Mclean about their writing this year, discusses Grackles, and shares poems from other poets in the scene. 

Here are the links from this episode! 
Mark Gallie - Pokemon Poem: https://youtu.be/h38SiH_iQS4
Demi Anter - Clear: https://youtu.be/3gYnU6TO1l0
Katie and Authenticity: https://youtu.be/s5tQBRFUM5g
Jack Macmillan: https://jackpoetry.com/
Sam Small: https://samsmallpoetry.wordpress.com/
Rob Auton: https://www.robauton.co.uk/
Our episode on Found Poetry: https://youtu.be/pz4jX_fo9MU
The Fringe Slam on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/56662330
Colin Nelson: https://www.instagram.com/pooetryman/
Colin Nelson - The Life & Times Of A Sewer Dwelling Fatberg: https://youtu.be/OkwfcuV9PLk
What the hell is Babalon 5? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon_5
Sarah M Davies: https://www.instagram.com/fromsarahspen/
Found Poem Workshop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuZlMBtVwdM
Poetry for Cows: tinyurl.com/cowpoems 
Andrea Gibson: https://andreagibson.org/
Loudcast: https://andreagibson.org/
Lewis Brown: https://www.instagram.com/shouldhavesentapoet/
Prisoners Constraint: https://wordsverse.com/2020/05/prisoners-constraint/
May Open Mic: https://fb.me/e/2pObqaGCU
Help - Kevin Mclean: https://youtu.be/bYxt-hTfahs
Lewis Brown - The Spark: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbJhlAHutMY
Georgia Barlett McNeil: https://www.facebook.com/gbmpoetry/
Georgia Bartlett McNeil - Psalm 136: https://youtu.be/hUUBqsz6Hdk
Jack NaPoWriMo poem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUUGKcfi6LU
Sarah Grant NaPoWriMo films: https://www.instagram.com/sarahgrantcreative/
Palindrome Poetry: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOuebcLW_t4
Renga: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VP_Z0C49F8k
List Poem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qv7Pe4Z72o
Patreon: Patreon.com/iamloud
Our next SSC show: https://www.facebook.com/events/1398991120617280
Our next Away show: https://www.facebook.com/events/359034746288929
Newsletter: https://eepurl.com/dxzKIL

Follow us! 
Katie: www.twitter.com/KatieAiles || www.instagram.com/katie.ailes
Kev: www.twitter.com/KevOutLoud || www.instagram.com/KevOutLoud
Mark: www.twitter.com/MarkGallie_ || www.instagram.com/mark_gallie
Bex: linktr.ee/bexcreative

This time, we share our coming-of-age poetry as Kevin Mclean, Mark Gallie, and Bex Sherwood reflect on being 17! This challenge was set by the amazing Carl Alexandersson through our Patreon. Host Katie Ailes guides us through the poems and announces the options for our next challenge: Do you want to see us write poetry in second person or write pun poems? Vote now on Twitter, YouTube & Instagram! 

All links for this episode can be found on the YouTube video for this challenge! 

In this episode of The Loudcast we feature poet, educator, and Creative Scotland Literature Officer Dr. Alice Tarbuck! Kevin and Alice speak about the importance of accessibility in the arts world, Creative Scotland’s revised Open Fund for Individuals, and Alice’s work on magic and witchcraft. Plus, we feature fantastic poems from Joe with the Glasses, Bex Sherwood, Ciarán Hodgers, and of course Alice Tarbuck herself!

This season of the Loudcast was funded by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland.

What a crazy 14 days! We're back on zoom this week to share our Avril Lavinge-inspired "Sk8er Boi" poetry. We were challenged by our Patreon support and friend Tyrone Lewis! Katie Ailes explains the Sk8er Boi challenge as best she can, and Mark Gallie, Kevin Mclean, and Bex Sherwood shared brand new varied, and wonderful poems that were written for this challenge. Be sure to comment below for our next challenge, if you want Acrostic Poetry or Poems about being 17! Comment "Acrostic" or "17" below, or vote on our IG and Twitter polls.

All links from the episode can be found in the YouTube description for this episode 

In less than two weeks Loud Poets returns to our favourite venue, the Scottish Storytelling Centre, for the Edinburgh Fringe! To celebrate the return to live events, in this episode of The Loudcast we catch up with the SSC’s Programme & Events Manager, Daniel Abercrombie. Host Kevin Mclean chats to Daniel about curating artistic programmes as a creative act, the interactive nature of storytelling, digital programming in light of the climate crisis, Scotland’s Year of Stories, and much more! Plus, we feature fantastic poems by Esme Allman, Katie Ailes, and Stuart Kenny, and Daniel gives a wonderful reading of “Prologue” by George Mackay Brown.


This season of the Loudcast was made possible by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland.

It’s a joyous reunion this week on Happy Hour: for the first time in 18 months, all four of us were under the same roof! What a chaotic delight to get together and film this episode in person. Our challenge was writing poetry inspired by concepts and discoveries. Kevin Mclean, Mark Gallie, and Bex Sherwood shared brand new pieces, and host Katie leads the chat about this brilliant challenge. Plus, we draw our options for our next challenge: the SK8TER BOI challenge OR writing MODERN NURSERY RHYMES! Vote on our Instagram and Twitter polls.

All links from the episode can be found in the YouTube description for this episode 

What a delight to catch up with the multi-talented Carly Brown! Carly featured at our first ever show back in 2014 and has been a favourite on our stage ever since, wowing audiences with her dynamic, often hilarious performances. Host Kevin Mclean chats with Carly about bringing empathy and humour to political poetry, tailoring work to different audiences, compiling pamphlets, ekphrastic poetry, and much more. Plus, we feature fantastic poems from Mhairi McCall, Mark Gallie, Angie Strachan, and Carly herself.

This season of the Loudcast was made possible by the support of the National Lottery through Creative Scotland. 

Zombies and murderers and poetry, oh my! In this episode of Happy Hour, Kevin Mclean, Bex Sherwood, and Mark Gallie share their brand new monster poetry. Katie Ailes hosts as always, offering feedback and keeping our creepy creatures in check. Tune in for three *very different* poems, some truly unhinged chat, and even some delightful musical theatre!

For next week are you team Science or team Tenses? 

Drop a comment on our YouTube or check out our IG or Twitter to vote!!

In this episode of the Loudcast, Katie Ailes is joined by an icon of the Scottish literary scene Kevin Williamson. In this episode, they discuss how the scene can better support Scottish Artists outwith the central belt, as well as Kevin’s work on Neu! Reekie! and the upcoming Push the Boat Out festival.

Featuring poems from Janette Ayachi, Katie Ailes, Leo Glaister, and we also ask Kevin Willaimson to share some of his work.  

This season of the Loudcast was made possible by the support of the National Lottery through Creative Scotland.