Poetry Not Poverty! An evening of poetry and beer in Albert Square

A host of talented and eclectic spoken word acts and musicians will take to the MFDF stage on Wednesday 5 October for a special evening of verse, music and laughter.

It’s all in aid of StreetSmart, the campaign which supports Manchester’s homeless charities and organisations, whereby some of Manchester’s best restaurants add a voluntary £1 to the bill for the festive months of November and December. Then in January, 100% of the monies collected are given to local homeless shelters and projects such as The Booth Centre, Mustard Tree and The Well Spring.

Throughout the evening, guests will be invited to make donations and 50p from every pint sold will go to the charity throughout the evening.

The line-up includes Mike Garry, best known for poems like St Anthony and God is a Manc, award-winning comedy poet Marvin Cheeseman, whose published work includes Full Metal Jacket Potato, Making Prawn Sandwiches for Roy Keane and We Hate It When Our Ex-Lodgers Become Successful, and Lucy Hope’s Gypsy Band with a fusion of non-purist Django Reinhardt-inspired gypsy jazz interspersed with French yéyé and chanson classics.

So expect an exceedingly different, enjoyable night out of poetry and great beers. As MFDF, Mike Garry and friends say – Poetry Not Poverty!

The event will take place at the Festival Hub on Albert Square on the City Life Stage in the in the midst of the 100 Greatest Beers Festival and starts at 6pm.