Tautly titled Can't Wait for the Festival? POETRY ON THE FRINGE Frome Poetry Cafe on Monday was generally acclaimed a brilliant night, thanks to three great guests: Carrie Etter, Alasdair Paterson and Frome's own dazzling Robbie Vane - and also to our open mic-ers, including a small explosion of performance from Liv Torc and Jesse Perrett, limbering up for the National Slam Final in Bristol next month. And Carrie held the crowded room spellbound with a profoundly moving reading of some of the superb poems in her pamphlet The Son (Oystercatcher Press). Unforgettable.

So now it's time to look beyond the fringe as Frome Festival begins in three weeks! Come Rhyme With Me is my main poetry event, but I'll be an avid audience member at Hip Yak Poetry Shack featuring Tim Clare... then there's Pub Theatre, nightly music, writerly talks, and delights for every taste... if you haven't picked up a brochure, check out the events here and book your tickets!