Independent magazines on stage

One of the highlights of my year was our spoken word event, which we held in the basement of The Queen of Hoxton in June. We invited along a group of independent magazines and asked them to read stories from their recent issues, and it was fantastic. The funny bits were really funny, the sad bits were actual tear-jerkers, and people stayed around for ages afterwards, talking and having a drink.

I’ve wanted to do it again ever since that first night, but I wanted it to be a bit of a step up. The basement was a great starting place, but it would have been even better if the fridge wasn’t clicking on and off in the corner, and I did feel bad for some of the people who had to sit on the floor. It’s not easy to find good, central venues in London that can fit a decent number of people and don’t cost an absolute fortune, but I’m really excited that the St Bride Foundation has invited us to do it all again as part of their programme of events.

It’s all happening on Thursday 5 February, from 6pm, and this time we’ll be listening to stories from Die Quieter Please, Dispatch, The Fence, and Piscine. Each magazine with present two stories, read by the people who wrote them, and abridged where necessary to make sure that each story clocks in at a punchy 10 minutes or less. We’ll be in the lovely main hall, and not only will everyone have a seat, we’ll also have a proper interval, and a separate bar area, and we’re leaving plenty of time for hanging around and chatting afterwards.

It’s all being run as a fundraiser for the St Bride Foundation, so head over to their ticketing site to reserve your place (£6.50 plus booking fee). They’re a fantastic resource for anyone interested in print, design and the history of journalism, and I’m really pleased that we’re able to support what they’re doing by bringing together this excellent group of independent publishers.

There’s more information on all the magazines below – it’s going to be a great night out so I hope I’ll see you there!

Die Quieter Please
An independent literary magazine based in London, Die Quieter Please publishes short fiction and poetry in biannual issues that are based around open, abstract themes. Their third issue, themed ‘Silent Mass’, was published a few weeks ago, and it includes some brilliantly weird storytelling.
diequieterplease.co.uk

Dispatch
Launched earlier this year, Dispatch is a digital magazine that publishes two stories per week, reporting from the world’s peripheries. That could mean a trip to the the longest-running inhabited peace camp in the world, or an encounter with the amateur shamans promising salvation on one of Ireland’s ayahuasca retreats. I’ve read some superb stories from them this year, and I’m really looking forward to seeing them in the flesh.
dispatch-media.com

The Fence
This one probably doesn’t need much of an introduction. “The UK’s only magazine” is doing some outstanding work, publishing excellent, characterful writing within its gorgeous two-colour layout. The Fence is the only magazine that’s returning from our first spoken word event, and you know they’re going to be great again.
the-fence.com

Piscine
The youngest magazine on the bill, the first issue of Piscine launched in Glasgow last month. Its editors work full-time in the city’s bars and restaurants, and the magazine is dedicated to promoting the best new arts and culture coming out of Scotland, while also complaining about the evils of working in hospitality. I think lots of people are going to love this one when they get their hands on a copy.
instagram.com/piscinemag

Book your tickets for our independent magazine night at the St Bride Foundation