Venue: Spin, Little John Street, Aberdeen
Host: Orla Kelly
Entry Fee: £3 (£2 for students)
Date of the event: 13th November 2019.
As soon as you enter Spin you see it is a small venue, but an intimate one. The tables are all gathered closely around each other and the seats fill up quickly. The performances usually begin at 19:30, so it is recommended to head down early to get a drink and claim your seat for the evening.
The tables, adorned with candles, are all facing towards the low stage, with a black backdrop and overhead lights pointing towards the mic. It feels cosy, the atmosphere is lively yet friendly, and as you settle down you can’t help but feel excitement build for what you are about to experience.
Orla then went up on stage to introduce Speakin’ Weird and explain a little about the event. On this particular night, there were 20 performers, four of which were first-time performers braving the stage.
The poetic content was varied, some discussed love and sexuality, while others discussed death, mental health, and other social issues such as homelessness and racism. There really was something for everyone.
John Bolland was the headlining act and he came to the stage after the first break. He completely captured the audience; they were laughing and clapping as he recited a poem about doric language “nae bor is the gateway drug to doric” he claimed. He also performed more somber pieces such as one about the Piper Alpha disaster of 1988.
After his set, there was another break before the rest of the performers had their chance to entertain, allowing for the crowd to get a refill from the bar which has quite a rich selection for the size of the venue.
Scottish Word spoke to members of the audience about what they think of Speakin’ Weird.
Charlotte tries to attend Speakin’ Weird every month. She said she enjoys attending because, “Speakin’ Weird is a night of escapism, where anyone and everyone is made to feel welcomed. The atmosphere is full of friendliness and encouragement, there’s always something for everyone. Speaking Weird enables a safe space for artists to project their work and passion.”
Rory also attends the event regularly and he explained why, “I think it's probably the good mix of accepting management of the event, relaxed and fun format and the variety of people that attend. Artists come for complex poetics and ideas from which to draw inspiration, writers for strong prose excerpts and delicate narrative weaving, comedy hopefuls for a stand out space between what can often be quite serious topics. Of course, it attracts plenty of societies from AU too, and anyone who wants to have a drink and sit and listen to some nice entertainment comes along, you often meet interesting people.”
First-time goer, Rebecca, said of the event, “It was an eye-opening experience into the creative world found within Aberdeen. The performances were profound, intimate and emotional. I got to see some - that I believe - are up and coming talents in the poetry and comedy scene. It was a really immersive and comfortable space to be in.”
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