Bad Language

A vibrant live literature night which celebrates open mic slots for new and established writers alike. Bad Language is held typically on the last Wednesday of every month at Gullivers in the Northern Quarter from 7.30pm. Entry is free.

The night goes under the same name as the organisation behind it. Bad Language was founded to promote and encourage new writing and is run by Joe Daly and Fat Roland in Manchester, Nicola West and Daniel Carpenter in London. They’ve worked with the likes of Manchester Museum, Kendal Calling, Literature Across Frontiers and many more to increase the profile of new writing.

Bad Language live night in Manchester is typically an energetic occasion, self-described as a ‘ridiculous riot of word-wrestling’. It’s hosted by either one of the Manchester founders, with ten writers taking to the stage for a four-minute reading slot.

There is also a headliner at each event,with icons in the past including Beth Underdown – one of The Observer’s New Faces of Fiction 2017 – Jackie Hagan (author of the collection ‘Some People Have Too Many Legs’ by Flapjack Press) and Mark Pajack and Kim Moore of The Manchester Writing School.

Readings of both poetry and fiction are welcome, with five of the ten total slots on the night reserved for new writers. If you want to take part, make sure to book a slot by emailing [email protected] from the 10th of the month onwards.

Bad Language has grown bigger in recent years. It was Winner of Best Regular Spoken Word Night at the Saboteur Awards 2016. Hosted at the Castle Hotel for six and a half years, Bad Language officially moved across the road to the larger venue of Gullivers in July 2017. They also hold special events at different venues which in the past have included locations like Elizabeth Gaskell’s House and the International Anthony Burgess Foundation.

You can visit their facebook page here or their website here