A event on Tuesday 20th May. The event starts at 19:30.
Raise the Bar returns with another dynamic night of live poetry at Orchard Coffee & Co. with two brilliant feature acts Cal Wensley and Addi P.
Our open mics are welcome to poets, rappers, storytellers, lyricists, songwriters, and wordsmiths of all styles and levels of experience, whether it's your first time or your 100th. If you'd like to sign up to perform, or just sit back with a beverage and listen to some of the city's finest wordsmiths, this is the evening for you.
16+ accompanied. Wheelchair accessible. Scroll down for further access and safeguarding information.
️ Tuesday 20th May
20 Clouds Hill Rd, Bristol BS5 7LA
7:00pm doors | 7:30pm - 9:30pm show (including interval)
PWYC £5 / £7 / £9 (£4 concessions)
OPEN MIC:
This will be an opportunity to try out new material in a safe, warm environment hosted by Raise the Bar's compere extraordinaire Saili Katebe.
There are 12 open mic spaces. These will become available at 10am on 23rd of April via the following link: https://linktr.ee/rtbspokenword
A number of open mic spaces are reserved for writers from the global majority, marginalised genders and sexualities, non-male writers, and writers in outlying areas of Bristol or the South West.
FEATURE ACTS
CAL WENSLEY
Cal Wensley is a writer and performer from Bristol. They have an MA in creative writing from Bath Spa, a BA(Hons) in Drama with Creative Writing from UWE. They have been running and hosting poetry events in Bristol since 2017 and are the current host of New Grounds Poetry Open Mic; Satellite of Love; and Tonic. They have also been a regular host of the Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival Slam since its inception.
Cal has spent the last five years writing and shouting about the death of their dad. Prior to the death of their dad they predominantly wrote about mental illness, family, alcoholism, and gender. It would be a fair comment to say that Cal has always been a little bit depressing with their writing, but they make up for it with a comedic flair that some* have described as, “a jarring difference from the tone of their work that makes it difficult to know when it is okay to laugh.” Cal has responded to this by saying that they also do not know when it is okay to laugh but their dad is dead so if we aren’t all laughing they will just cry on stage.
*no one has ever described Cal’s work like that, they are lying to you.
ADDI P
Songstress, rapper and producer Addi P blends philosophical flows and soulful melodies to forge her unique, soothing sound. She is unbound by genre but takes inspiration from jazz, hiphop, folk and neo-soul with poetic, often mantra-like lyricism. After honing the craft of music production in her bedroom over lockdown, she began releasing several projects and her latest EP 'Free' was released in March 2025.
Her music has received frequent airplay on national and local stations and BBC Music Introducing, where her track 'Not Finished Yet' gained a featured spot on the Robert Elms show. She has performed throughout the UK and Europe, both solo and with her band, highlights including SoFar Sounds Madrid, Bristol Beacon and the O2 Academy Islington, and festivals including Green Gathering and HowTheLightGetsIn Festival.
RAISE THE BAR
The South West's leading live poetry night, running blockbuster spoken word events in Bristol and beyond since 2014.
‘From top to bottom, one of my all time favourite shows’ – Shane Koyczan
'One of the best poetry nights in the country' – Rafeef Ziadah
'Out-loud reactions are encouraged…shaking off traditional theatre etiquette' – Bristol 24/7
ACCESSIBILITY / SAFEGUARDING
Our events aim to be as safe, inclusive, accessible and welcoming as possible.
The venue has a wheelchair accessible entrance via Cherry Orchard Lane and accessible toilets.
If you have any particular access requirements or concerns, please email [email protected] in advance.
The event may include photography and videography.
SEATING / TIMINGS
Doors open at 7:00pm, and the bar will be open with a selection of drinks (alcoholic + non-alcoholic), cocktails and bar snacks.
The show begins at 7:30pm, so please arrive and be seated promptly. The event includes a 15 minute interval. We aim to finish at 9:30pm.
Please note, there is limited seating at The Orchard. Some attendees may need to sit on the steps, in the balcony area, or in a seat with restricted viewing, so please arrive promptly if you'd like to sit at a table / downstairs.
CONTENT WARNING
Poetry events include performers sharing personal accounts which you may relate to in some way. This may include content that is potentially upsetting or triggering. We provide a general content warning at the beginning of each event, and poets may choose to provide one for their own poem if necessary. Attendees are welcome to leave the venue at any time and return when they feel comfortable, but please try to do this before/after a poem.
SAFE SPACE
Raise the Bar has a zero tolerance policy towards hate, discrimination and abuse of any kind. Our staff team will work together to ensure the space is respectful and welcoming at all times. The open mic rules include 'no punching down' and 'no nudity', and a content warning will be provided at the start of the event.
Entry requirements: no age restrictions
Our open mics are welcome to poets, rappers, storytellers, lyricists, songwriters, and wordsmiths of all styles and levels of experience, whether it's your first time or your 100th. If you'd like to sign up to perform, or just sit back with a beverage and listen to some of the city's finest wordsmiths, this is the evening for you.
16+ accompanied. Wheelchair accessible. Scroll down for further access and safeguarding information.
️ Tuesday 20th May
20 Clouds Hill Rd, Bristol BS5 7LA
7:00pm doors | 7:30pm - 9:30pm show (including interval)
PWYC £5 / £7 / £9 (£4 concessions)
OPEN MIC:
This will be an opportunity to try out new material in a safe, warm environment hosted by Raise the Bar's compere extraordinaire Saili Katebe.
There are 12 open mic spaces. These will become available at 10am on 23rd of April via the following link: https://linktr.ee/rtbspokenword
A number of open mic spaces are reserved for writers from the global majority, marginalised genders and sexualities, non-male writers, and writers in outlying areas of Bristol or the South West.
FEATURE ACTS
CAL WENSLEY
Cal Wensley is a writer and performer from Bristol. They have an MA in creative writing from Bath Spa, a BA(Hons) in Drama with Creative Writing from UWE. They have been running and hosting poetry events in Bristol since 2017 and are the current host of New Grounds Poetry Open Mic; Satellite of Love; and Tonic. They have also been a regular host of the Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival Slam since its inception.
Cal has spent the last five years writing and shouting about the death of their dad. Prior to the death of their dad they predominantly wrote about mental illness, family, alcoholism, and gender. It would be a fair comment to say that Cal has always been a little bit depressing with their writing, but they make up for it with a comedic flair that some* have described as, “a jarring difference from the tone of their work that makes it difficult to know when it is okay to laugh.” Cal has responded to this by saying that they also do not know when it is okay to laugh but their dad is dead so if we aren’t all laughing they will just cry on stage.
*no one has ever described Cal’s work like that, they are lying to you.
ADDI P
Songstress, rapper and producer Addi P blends philosophical flows and soulful melodies to forge her unique, soothing sound. She is unbound by genre but takes inspiration from jazz, hiphop, folk and neo-soul with poetic, often mantra-like lyricism. After honing the craft of music production in her bedroom over lockdown, she began releasing several projects and her latest EP 'Free' was released in March 2025.
Her music has received frequent airplay on national and local stations and BBC Music Introducing, where her track 'Not Finished Yet' gained a featured spot on the Robert Elms show. She has performed throughout the UK and Europe, both solo and with her band, highlights including SoFar Sounds Madrid, Bristol Beacon and the O2 Academy Islington, and festivals including Green Gathering and HowTheLightGetsIn Festival.
RAISE THE BAR
The South West's leading live poetry night, running blockbuster spoken word events in Bristol and beyond since 2014.
‘From top to bottom, one of my all time favourite shows’ – Shane Koyczan
'One of the best poetry nights in the country' – Rafeef Ziadah
'Out-loud reactions are encouraged…shaking off traditional theatre etiquette' – Bristol 24/7
ACCESSIBILITY / SAFEGUARDING
Our events aim to be as safe, inclusive, accessible and welcoming as possible.
The venue has a wheelchair accessible entrance via Cherry Orchard Lane and accessible toilets.
If you have any particular access requirements or concerns, please email [email protected] in advance.
The event may include photography and videography.
SEATING / TIMINGS
Doors open at 7:00pm, and the bar will be open with a selection of drinks (alcoholic + non-alcoholic), cocktails and bar snacks.
The show begins at 7:30pm, so please arrive and be seated promptly. The event includes a 15 minute interval. We aim to finish at 9:30pm.
Please note, there is limited seating at The Orchard. Some attendees may need to sit on the steps, in the balcony area, or in a seat with restricted viewing, so please arrive promptly if you'd like to sit at a table / downstairs.
CONTENT WARNING
Poetry events include performers sharing personal accounts which you may relate to in some way. This may include content that is potentially upsetting or triggering. We provide a general content warning at the beginning of each event, and poets may choose to provide one for their own poem if necessary. Attendees are welcome to leave the venue at any time and return when they feel comfortable, but please try to do this before/after a poem.
SAFE SPACE
Raise the Bar has a zero tolerance policy towards hate, discrimination and abuse of any kind. Our staff team will work together to ensure the space is respectful and welcoming at all times. The open mic rules include 'no punching down' and 'no nudity', and a content warning will be provided at the start of the event.
Entry requirements: no age restrictions
Tickets for similar Bristol events.
— The Trinity Centre
traditional folk
folk
singer-songwriter
poetry
food & drink
— Lakota Gardens
lgbtq+
spoken word
workshops & classes
life drawing
festival