Welcome back to the LoudCast! New host, RJ Hunter, brings the Loud Poets Podcast back with a BANG with an in-depth chat and slam analysis with former host and I Am Loud Creative Director, Kevin McLean! Expect conversations about the company, the changes and accomodations that had to be made in response to Scotland's cultural landscape, and of course a whole lotta raving about the Loud Poets Grand Slam Series.

You can follow Kevin's work through his Instagram account, @kevoutloud.

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

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