Mind Over Matter: Hearts & Minds

Doors Open / Open Mic Sign Up @ 7pm

Show starts @ 8pm - 10:30pm

DJ until doors close @ Midnight

Join us at The Fiddlers Elbow on Tuesday 25th September as we discuss mental health through Spoken Word & Hip Hop. Headlined by Birdspeed and Benny Diction with a very special appearance from Natalie Stewart, better known as....The Floacist :-)

The Floacist

The creative writer, actress and performance poet, Natalie Stewart, is most popularly known as ‘The Floacist’, the originator of the Floetic ethos of ‘Poetic Delivery with Musical Intent and founding member of the legendary multiple Grammy nominated Neo Soul duo, Floetry.

With 3 critically acclaimed Floetry albums, 3 solo projects and another solo album on the way, Floacist returned to her poetry roots to start FLO; a monthly spoken word vortex held every first and 3rd Thursday of the month at Hideaway in Streatham. Flo provides a platform where spoken word artists can step into the Vortex and share their Flo

https://www.instagram.com/floacist/
https://www.instagram.com/flovortex/

BirdSpeed

Birdspeed is a storyteller, spoken word artist, writer, dancer/ choreographer, rap artist and activist. Born in London, raised in Barbados, Birdspeed is dedicated to uplifting, empowering and inspiring people through cultural integrity, especially marginalised and disadvantaged communities.

Though she was only introduced to the spoken word scene late 2016 she emerged a year later as a force to be reckoned with. Her unique style of storytelling, featuring tales from her past and social commentary, has been captivating and impressing audiences across England and New York so much so she has been consistently dubbed “The Firebird.” Her most notable spoken word appearances this year include performing at the Bristol Old Vic and WOMAD festival.

https://www.instagram.com/birdspeedfirebird/
https://soundcloud.com/birdspeed
www.birdspeedthefirebird.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnSc3JFf1S1_ryAEuQt3YCA?view_as=subscriber

Benny Diction

Both solo and with crew, Benny has torn down stages at festivals and club nights across the UK and beyond, including Dragonfly Festival (Sweden), Urban Moves (Norway), Passauer Kunstnacht Festival (Germany) and Howler (Australia).

Along the way, he has opened up for the likes of Teebs (Brainfeeder), Homeboy Sandman (Stones Throw), Statik Selektah, Souls of Mischief and Pharoahe Monch, as well as making it to the 2013 End Of The Weak UK finals. After moving to the capital in 2009, he also hosted London hip-hop nights Fat Gold Chain and Holdin' Court.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wh231a-qB6I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdYpAiQs-A0

Promoted Organisation - Hearts & Minds

All donations on the night will go to Hearts & Minds to help with the work they do.

Please read more about this amazing organisation below!

Hearts & Minds is a Peer Support charity for young people, aged 14-25 experiencing mental health difficulties.
Set up by director, Beth, as result of her own experiences of the lack of mental health support available to young people, Hearts & Minds is entirely Peer-Led, meaning all the staff and volunteers are young adults with their own lived experience of mental health problems.

Hearts & Minds provides regular Peer Support groups and 1 to 1 mentoring sessions for young people, particularly offering safe spaces for those who feel isolated or unable to access traditional mental health services because of circumstances such as caring responsibilities, gang involvement, agoraphobia or discrimination. The support they provide also purposefully crosses over the 18 age gap as young people who are between the ages of 17 and 23 often find themselves, unable to access CAMHS or Adult Mental Health Services.

At it’s core Hearts & Minds is a diverse community of over 40 young people, based in South West London. It’s 4 core values are Peer Support, Collaboration, Creativity & Progress.
https://www.instagram.com/HeartsandMindsCIC
https://www.facebook.com/HeartsandMindsPS

Open Mic Guidelines:

The open mic is hosted by our partner, Miss Yankey. Founder of Poetry Prescribed.

Doors open at 7pm. Sign up on arrival. 20 slots available.

1. Acappella or backing track. Both welcome.
2. ONE piece or a MAXIMUM of THREE minutes
3. State name, then piece