A daytime open mic, where babies are welcome and coffee is free? You bet! Daily Info's Sophia sat down with Oxford Poetry Library's Lorna Burchell to find out more about the much-loved event, which takes place on the last Friday of every month. Oxford Poetry is probably best described by its, Founder and Director Phoebe Nicholson (whom we interviewed last year here):
"Oxford Poetry Library is a volunteer-run lending library of poetry and community space which aims to be a free and open resource of books and creative writing! Our collection is currently housed in The Community Works (sharing a building with Lula’s Ethiopian Cuisine, opposite the train station) where we hold weekly drop-in library sessions on Saturdays from 12pm-3pm. During these opening hours, anyone is welcome to come and spend time in our space, read, write, borrow books, try out some poetry games, and chat to our friendly volunteer librarians! We also run regular workshops and events, including monthly open mics, sessions to get you started with writing in all kinds of forms and styles, and groups to encourage the appreciation and reading of poetry. You can find out more on our social media channels, and on our website oxfordpoetrylibrary.com "
DI: Hi Lorna, thanks so much for taking the time to talk with us. Could you tell us a little more about the format and structure of The Hip Crowd events?
LB: It's great to be talking with you! So, yes, The Hip Crowd is Oxford's first and only daytime open mic event. It's aimed at folk with babies under one (small enough to be carried on hips), but everyone is welcome. As in, you don't have to bring a baby to join us! We have a good mix of folk of all ages - parents and non parents.
The entertainment is for the adults in the room and you can find poets, musicians, singers, comedians, storytellers and other such entertainment on our stage. As performers have adults in mind, we suggest the event isn't suitable for children between 1 and 14.
DI: Why was providing a ‘parent-friendly’ format important to OPL? What first inspired the event?
LB: Sarah Thorne (Makespace UK and originator of The Hip Crowd idea) and I were keen to create an event where parents can be entertained and their babies are also welcomed. This is a rare thing indeed! At The Hip Crowd you can watch some comedy and your baby can be gurgling away and you feel relaxed because no one is bothered by it. Sarah and I both said we would have chewed off our right arms to have something like this when our children were tiny. New parenting and having a social life can be tricky.
DI: What’s a favorite memory from a previous Hip Crowd?
LB: There are so many it's hard to choose. I'd say more generally it's seeing parents get up on stage holding their babies and read poems, do comedy or sing. It gives folk a chance to express themselves. I do remember someone reading a poem about how much the Hip Crowd meant to them for this reason. That was very touching, of course. Each session has such a wonderful, warm and oxytocin filled atmosphere. We've also seen a lot of first time performers on the Hip Crowd stage because it has that supportive atmosphere that is perfect for a first foray into performing.
DI: Who is this ‘perfect for fans of’? If you had to compare the vibes of the event to anything, what would it be? (you can be as literal or metaphorical as you like)
LB: Hmmm. Good question. This is perfect for fans of walking out of a space feeling the warm, restored and honey-coloured glow of having been entertained and metaphorically hugged for an hour and a half, whilst being surrounded by cute babies, talented creative people and with a tum full of free tea and coffee. How does that sound?
DI: Besides The Hip Crowd, what other spoken word events are you excited about?
LB I always love This is Just to Say, also run by the Oxford Poetry Library. And Tina Sederholm's Everything is Working Out Poetically coming up in April at the Old Fire Station. Hot Rats is also brilliant, but more cabaret than spoken word.
DI: Finally, describe The Hip Crowd in three words:
LB: Welcoming, bright and oxytocin-fuelled
The Hip Crowd runs at The Community Works (five minutes walk from the train station) 11:30 am - 1:00 pm on the last Friday of the month, and more info can be found here.
