Up until now we've been stunned by the onset of CoronaVirus (considerable restrictions) which is no blessing for anyone, yet this doesn't change who we are, and why we do it. 

In this light and by any means, on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, we'll be sharing some of our glorious achievements and other special moments over coming weeks, at times reflecting on our truth of the matter, coming to terms with the new enemy and the barriers, and during social isolation, being absolutely flexible, as required. With so many disbelieving the mainstream narratives (which is disappointing and unfortunate), like that ancient song, we are determined that we'll overcome, but one day soon, which may mean taking matters entirely into our own hands. It's what some people do, although dying for freedoms is never what it might be.

We we're definitively raising our our profile so the timing is disastrous but we hope these few links will keep you interested. Thanks for being here.

And so, this 2020, we recently popped up at Space Sake's Well-being Fair, doing our stuff featuring avid members of the Team, Networking also on the agenda, which was well rewarding. At times, you must make the effort to go, to realise what's possible.   

Then came our 2nd Lyrically Justified 3 Book Launch @Waterstones - Bristol Galleries, which was superb, the audience, highly complimentary, which is further encouragement. Shouts to Trasi, Nell and Ben for being there to help realise this dream. People were engaged long after the showcase.
"I'm still on a High," said Subitha Baghirathan (Poet below). And we do hope excellent recorded content soon comes your way.  
BW photos - TomShot Photography
​Flyer by Michael Maestrini

From here, we collaborated with partners to deliver Speaking Up, (a Suicide Prevention event) which was most satisfying. Thankfully Bristol TV had it covered so we just need to agree on terms of use. Ideally it would be packaged as a resource.

 VITALITY (micro festival) is coming back around on the 25th April 2020, so watch out for our usual slot, which we hope will include local young people from lead-in workshops. The organisers may need volunteers, so find them on face book for more and updates.

​Then as part of the LEARNING FESTIVAL Festival, we'll present a Exhibition that uses poetic extracts to highlight the problems of Race,  with featured Spoken Word Poets - 4th April at The Greenway Centre, Southmeade.. 

We know, it's all been Bristol, Bristol, apart from the Ipswich do, which went very well. Shout out to Valantina Huxley over there.

But now drum roll... as we announce, we're planning to move on and on, via an 7-8 Town and City Tour, which may need investment to achieve the full vision. All being well, this year We (4-5 contributor poets and guests) hope to bless Hull, Leeds, Manchester, Gloucester (Festival), Bath, Frome (Festival), Cardiff, and Hay & Wye (Festival). The very idea is not short of brilliant, if it comes off, and of course we'll update you asap... Finally, you may have noticed our Logo has been redressed, so let us know what you think? (Some people really care about this stuff and rightly so!), our door is always open, if we're in at the time that is. Thanks for reading, and we'll update ya later! 

As this production part of our journey comes to an end, reaching towards our campaign to launch and promote Lyrically Justified 3, it's been complimentary having enthusiastic interns journey with us, if only for a few weeks. "Having at Harbourside Festival Poetry Tent  selling the 2nd volume of Lyrically Justified, and been reading it, it hit me that these people don’t fear expressing their own thoughts, experiences and ideas." The poetry talks about bias, racis, discrimination, love, and pride..." Sofia Casato

UNEARTHED was new territory, where Kev the Poet poeticised via his blend of upbeat tunes and slick rhymes.  Nell, Angharad & //Kabbo also performed, using movement and poetic storey telling, with Mizirie and Kalila adding to the mix.

​Yes indeed, we may be running late but we've been busy beavers preparing to unleash the 3rd anthology, with appearances contributors at Arnofini (Untold Stories), where we experienced profound and moving documentary Defiant Lives, with Rowan James and care provider poet Anndeloris Chacon. 
   At Harbourside Festival (our 3rd year involved) Lawrence Hoo and Tanya Muneera represented, two of the most powerful and plentiful performers in the UK right now.

​Kaboodle ft Lyrically Justified 3 pre-launch@Redfest 2019..
Blessing the BS5 Community, we were proud to deliver yet  another blast of superb talent, with Kev the Poet, Lawrence Hoo, Tanya Williams, Whizzdxm, Zed Regal, Jayron Dre Thomas, Callum Wensley, Mizirie, Kalila, Dante, George Francis, Nez, and Rob Mitchell, bringing unique styles and flavours, thoroughly informative as much as  entertaining. All we seem to require at this stage is for you to show your support and love, which would be significant in maintaining our pro-activity.  You can get more info and Pre-Order NOW! 

Lyrically Justified 3 on the Horizon

We’ve had the usual delays but Lyrically Justified 3 (with illustrations) is still in the making and we hope to launch soon enough, and may well need your support (Details TBC). Key contributors will be announced shortly. We’ve set a standard of which we aim to supersede. Pre-order here.  ​​

Thanks and credit to //Kabbo Ferdinand, Nell Lewis, ShotAway & Nick Clague, for photo use. We owe you... And thanks to Rebecca Kosick for LP workshop.

Oh and please leave a comment about our activities - every one counts - Thank you 

Signature collaborative event, Interpretive Art & Photography have been cooked up so far as we contemplate a busy year, hopefully enough to hit some main targets... 

Kalila & Sinairie prepare to do their thing Priness & the Hustler event - Bristol Old Vic - March 2019.

​We'd also planted some seeds back in 2018 via a collaboration with UWE (Bower Ashton Campus) which we seemed to work well and we hope will reap accordingly, in order to help a good cause - looking forward to the Online Auction.

Some of us also participated in an intriguing PHOTOGRAPHY project also based at Hamilton House (Bristol), for an exhibition due to start in the Gallery Space from 14th March and last two weeks only. This guy uses some old but not quite obsolete techniques to produce some authentic work. Javis also offers a free photo for volunteers. 

Talking past/present/future, based on the inevitable and in the name of development we're re-establishing ourselves at urbanwordcollective.co.uk, where you can now exclusively buy Lyrically Justified 1 & 2. We'll also provide various word related services, building upwards, forming new relationships with professional media producers, BOV, the police (proposing project work with young people at risk), The Radical Herbal Gathering, UWE, PEAK entertainment, The Disability Forum, Bahati Books, Kamitan Arts, Paper Arts, and others, which will help elevate UWC to the next level. Our end of year report might say "Well done, considering the barriers faced, but the learning can be crucial."

The lyricallyjustified.co.uk site remains active but focused on the how, who, where and when in relation to the anthologies.

Mainly due to persistence and tenacity we thank goodness we're finishing the year on the up, with continual prospects to help develop both established and emerging writers, and a real possibility of becoming a publisher. So lucrative looking offers and proposals are welcome. We're out to prove that with networking, interconnectivity and mutual support we can become another household brand but with credibility and authentic clout.

Other BIG NEWS involves the consideration of a 3rd Lyrically Justified anthology, and with lessons we remain ambitious as we head to a future which should see us working with old and new allies. The wonderful and conscientious Michele Curtis will feature with illustrations, enriching the product. And we now provide poetry and other creative writing workshops. Once again we thank all supporters who have helped to bring us here, and the not so helpful who have shown us light.