The heart of Oxford’s live spoken word scene for over a decade, delivering glittering performances sandwiched by acclaimed feature artists, such as Simon Munnery, John Hegley, Elvis McGonagall, Luke Wright, and Kate Tempest.

Each month also features the Open Poetry Slam where eight up and coming poets have three minutes to dazzle the audience with their performance skills. Judges chosen from the audience score them and the winner goes through to the grand final. Sign up for the slam on the door (free entry for slammers).

“Hammer & Tongue has reinvented the poetry medium for the hip hop generation.” - The Guardian

“The best live poetry is to be found at the Hammer & Tongue slams” - The Sunday Times

“It’s poetry, but not as you know it, it’s raucous and democratic, with random audience members deciding which performers rise to the top. At its best, Hammer and Tongue gives you surprising or uproariously funny performances…with sets lasting a maximum of three minutes, there’s no time to get bored either.” - Daily Info, June 2015