Texas 2 London

In London

Matt Black
Matt Black writes poems for adults and children, has lived in Sheffield for 25 years, and has 2 grown-up children. His collections are Swimmer, Goblin In The Fridge, Footsteps and Fuddles (Derbyshire Laureate poems), and The Owl and the Pussycat and the Turtles of Fun (prequel and sequel to The Owl and the Pussycat). He has set a World Record (unofficial) performing in 50 venues in 5 hours on a tandem bicycle. He invented the world’s first Poetry Jukebox which he uses regularly at festivals and schools, and created (with Jonny White, sculptor) the Fanti-Elastical ZingZong Poetry Imagination Machine.

Agnes Meadows
Agnes Meadows is a London-based award-winning poet/writer, who has toured nationally and internationally, giving readings, workshops, and residencies all over the world, and was a featured poet at the Austin International Poetry Festival for 10 consecutive years. Agnes has five collections of poetry (Flipped Eye/Waterways), with a new collection coming out in early 2015. She also runs Loose Muse Women’s Writers night in central London, which celebrated its 10th birthday last September, and which has regular satellite events in other parts of England. Agnes has also advised Chanel 4 on poetry, and is a board member of the Poetry Book Society.

Kayo Chingonyi
Known for his captivating performances, Kayo Chingonyi was born in Zambia in 1987, and moved to the UK in 1993. His poems have been published in a range of magazines and anthologies and in a debut pamphlet entitled Some Bright Elegance (Salt Publishing, 2012). In 2013 he was awarded a writing residency at Cove Park (Scotland) as well as the Geoffrey Dearmer Prize from the Poetry Society. He is a fellow of the Complete Works programme for advanced Black and Asian Poets and has been invited to give readings and performances around the world.

In Austin, Texas

Hosted by James Jacobs and Thom the World Poet.

Element615
Director of the 2015 Austin International Poetry Festival, Element615 (Joe Brundidge) is a regular on the Texas spoken word circuit, performing and hosting at poetry and slam events, Austin's EXSE Spoken Word Showcase, and African American Book Festivals. His words are sensual and unpretensious, soulful stanzas hovering somewhere between Coltrane and Cyrano.

Teresa Y Roberson Teresa Y Roberson is a maths/science teacher, published fiction writer, spoken word poet, and organiser of the Austin Writers' Roulette. She wears different wigs, depending upon the event theme. Roberson’s writing draws on her survival skills honed through working and traveling internationally, her love of theoretical physics and ethnic food, and battling against society’s preconceived box for women.

Dave Weber (Mr Dave) Dave Weber lives in Austin, Texas. He has been publishing poetry since he was 8 years old, and is the 2014 AIPF slam poetry champ. Currently, Mr Dave is very busy trying to do all the things, and wishes that you all would do the same.