Len Pennie to perform in 'Worst Poets Club' gig to 'read our rubbish poems for you'

Featuring Len Pennie from Lanarkshire and led by poet Hollie McNish, The Worst Poets Club will also feature Stirling-based poet Donna Ashworth and Nikita Gill.

Announcing the event, which will take place at the Queen's Hall in October, as well as at London's Hackney Empire, Ms McNish, who has Scottish parents and lives between London and Glasgow, said: “I have dreamt of organising this gig for years now and finally, it is done!

“Inspired by years of newspaper articles and reviews crafting a new story each year about how rubbish modern poetry is, about who is the most rubbish and why we are ruining poetry for everyone, I decided to bring together four of the most common culprits.

“Two nights only together to read our rubbish poems especially for you.”

Last year, a row broke out after a review of Ms Pennie’s latest poetry book, poyums annaw, by The Times newspaper, in which the critic described her as “Scotland’s worst poet since McGonagall” - referencing 19th century writer William McGonagall, widely recognised as one of Scotland’s worst poets.

The review also claimed she might have plagiarised her poem about the doomed 1950s Soviet space dog Laika from a recent poem on the same theme by Sarah Doyle.

Her publisher, Canongate Books, later launched a legal complaint against the newspaper.

Scotsman reviewer Joyce McMillan, however, praised the volume, describing it as a “hugely entertaining and intelligent young woman’s perspective on the world we currently inhabit”.

Ms Pennie’s previous work, Poyums, written in English and Scots, is now a Scottish Qualifications Authority set text and was named Discover Book of the Year at the British Book Awards last year.

The graduate of St Andrews University shot to fame during the Covid pandemic with her daily videos of Scots words. Two years ago, she appeared on a BBC Disclosure documentary, where she discussed her experience of domestic abuse. Her ex-partner, Gregor Monson, was convicted at Dundee Sheriff Court.

Ms Pennie said: "Poetry is such a diverse art form, there truly is room in the medium for each and every poet, and I'm looking forward to celebrating artists I admire not only for their work, but also their resilience."

My work, whether it's in Scots or English, whether it's about domestic abuse, mental illness, or even the occasional glimmer or love, is at its core seeking to build connection and community, and I think this event perfectly reflects that. Being able to raise some money for charity, have fun with poetry and celebrate each other, that's what I'm looking forward to."

Ms McNish’s work has also divided critics, however actress Emma Watson has named her, alongside other poets Rupi Kaur and Sabrina Mahfouz, as having reignited her love for poetry.

Meanwhile, Ms Ashworth also shot to prominence in 2020 when her poetry about the Covid lockdown was read in a viral video to raise money for the NHS.

Half of the artists’ fees are to go to the National Literacy Trust, which Ms McNish said was “to help future writers be less crap.”

Tickets are on sale here for the event in Edinburgh on 18 October.