Showcasing the very best, fresh and calcium-enriched poetry from around the UK and featuring a handpicked selection of some of the most exciting and eclectic LGBTQ+ voices.
Lovingly curated by Milk Poetry and hosted by Tom Denbigh. Rainbow Milk is in turns touching, funny, rallying and empowering. Come along to a celebration of queer identities and lives.
Featuring our incredible headliner Hannah Ledlie with support from Ifẹ Grillo, and previous Milk slam winner Cal Wensley.
We also have some precious open mic slots for the evening, featuring some of Bristol’s best (that means you!) so please message us if you identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community and would like to perform.
Hannah Ledlie
is a writer interested in queer futures, both dystopian and utopian. Originally from Edinburgh, she is currently completing her MSt in Creative Writing at the University of Oxford. In 2015 she was shortlisted for the BBC Young Writers’ Award, and as a member of the University of Birmingham’s poetry team she won the national competition UniSlam in 2018 and ’19. In 2019 she won Penguin’s ‘Platform Pride’ spoken word competition. Hannah’s work has featured in Ambit, Gutter, Porridge and Magma.
Ifẹ Grillo
is an award-winning writer, campaigner, producer, performer, and educator based in Bristol. Their work focuses on unpacking what it means to be human in an innovative and engaging way. Ifẹ is a Hammer and Tongue National Poetry Finalist, a Roundhouse Youth Slam National Finalist, and won the UK University National Poetry Championships in 2020. Their one-man poetry/theatre show, Ode to Heros, was part of the UK Young Artists Festival in 2019. Ifẹ’s work has been featured in places like BBC Arts, Watershed, BBC Ideas, The University of Bristol, Tinder, and Shado Magazine. In 2021, they were one of the Co-Authors of Penguin’s Black Joy Anthology and were included on RIfe Magazine’s 30 Under 30 list.
Cal Wensley
is an event host, spoken word artist, and professional yeller-of-stuff. They’re also a master of creative writing thanks to the money the student loans company gave to Bath Spa University. Cal writes about grief, mental health, and family. They use humour to move through pain and encourage you to laugh and or cry along with them depending on your preference. They help to run Bristol’s Tonic, a monthly poetry and music scratch night, and Satellite of Love, a monthly poetry open mic. They have performed at and hosted numerous stages at poetry and music fesitvals, including Lyra Bristol Poetry Festival, Shindig, and Valley Fest. They are also a member of the Swordforge Collective.
