ABSTRACT
This chapter investigates the group of poets commonly referred to as the New October Poets which variously and loosely featured Kim Trusty, Dreadlockalien, Grizzly Bear, Moqapi Selassie, Maxwell Golden and others. The particular focus point for this study is the New October Poets’ oppositional and celebratory positioning of spoken word as a tool of identity and a way of celebrating their often unseen and unheard peers from across the West Midlands region (Warwickshire/Birmingham/Coventry). The group also established some early poetry slam networks, sometimes with or in spite of Apples and Snakes support work. Although loose, this influential group also laid some of the foundations for other independent minded groups to emerge – like Birmingham’s BeetFreeks (Amera Salah, et al.).
