Brian Bilston
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Brian Bilston
@brianbilston.bsky.social
24K followers 470 following 1.8K posts
I write poems.
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brianbilston.bsky.social
I’m sorry, I didn’t do very well on that front (I’m not very good with photos). But here’s a pic of us in the dressing room - your lovely T-shirt is rather obscured, however. Will try again later in the tour (once I’ve washed it, of course).
November 13, 2025 at 12:01 PM
brianbilston.bsky.social
I’m back on the road with The Catenary Wires this Wednesday so I thought I’d write a short poem in celebration of each place we’ll be heading to this week: Worcester, Nottingham, Swansea and Bristol.

Tickets available here: brianbilston.com/events/
Tour Poems Worcester: 12th November (limerick)   There was a young writer from Worcester who hoped to pen a blockborcester. But ten pints of lager put paid to his saga and five lines was all he could morcester.   Nottingham: 13th November (haiku)   Tied up in Notts with East Midlands dominatrix and her three line whip.   Swansea: 14th November (acrostic)   Surprisingly lacking in actual swans Welsh (very) Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones was born here Not sure what to put for this one Something else beginning with S Errm … Another thing about Swansea Bristol: 15th November (cinquain)   Bristol … Saturday next – Music and poetry. Tickets are still available. Please come. Brian Bilston
November 10, 2025 at 10:38 AM
brianbilston.bsky.social
A big thank you to everyone who spurned the Celebrity Traitors final to come and see us in Brighton last night.

Next week we have Worcester, Nottingham, Swansea and Bristol in our sights for more evenings of poetry and music.

Tickets here: brianbilston.com/events/
A pic of me and the band alongside our tour dates … 30 Oct: BANBURY: Mill Arts Centre 1 Nov: LONDON: Bloomsbury Theatre 3 Nov: NORWICH: Norwich Arts Centre 4 Nov: STAMFORD: Corn Exchange 5 Nov: MILTON KEYNES: The Stables 6 Nov: BRIGHTON: Komedia 12 Nov: WORCESTER: Huntingdon Hall 13 Nov: NOTTINGHAM: Metronome 14 Nov: SWANSEA: Grand Theatre 15 Nov: BRISTOL: John Wesley’s Chapel 21 Nov: MANCHESTER: Halle St Peters 22 Nov: OTLEY: Courthouse SOLD OUT 23 Nov: CHORLEY: Chorley Theatre 24 Nov: LIVERPOOL: Royal Philharmonic 25 Nov: SHEFFIELD: The Foundry 26 Nov: GLASGOW: Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) 27 Nov: NEWCASTLE: The Pilgrim 28 Nov: POCKLINGTON: Arts Centre 4 Dec: HERNE BAY: King’s Hall Tickets here: https://brianbilston.com/events/
November 7, 2025 at 5:05 PM
brianbilston.bsky.social
A big thanks to all those who came to see us at Stamford Corn Exchange last night. What a super bunch you are.

Two more shows this week: tonight we’re at The Stables, near Milton Keynes and then onto Komedia in Brighton on Thursday.

Tickets on sale here: brianbilston.com/events/
A photo of Brian Bilston and the Catenary Wires on stage in Stamford last night.
November 5, 2025 at 9:45 AM
brianbilston.bsky.social
Here’s a list of all the places where we’ll be this month and a link to tickets …

brianbilston.com/events/
An evening of poetry and pop coming soon to a venue near you* … 30 Oct: BANBURY: Mill Arts Centre 1 Nov: LONDON: Bloomsbury Theatre 3 Nov: NORWICH: Norwich Arts Centre 4 Nov: STAMFORD: Corn Exchange 5 Nov: MILTON KEYNES: The Stables 6 Nov: BRIGHTON: Komedia 12 Nov: WORCESTER: Huntingdon Hall 13 Nov: NOTTINGHAM: Metronome 14 Nov: SWANSEA: Grand Theatre 15 Nov: BRISTOL: John Wesley’s Chapel 21 Nov: MANCHESTER: Halle St Peters 22 Nov: OTLEY: Courthouse SOLD OUT 23 Nov: CHORLEY: Chorley Theatre 24 Nov: LIVERPOOL: Royal Philharmonic 25 Nov: SHEFFIELD: The Foundry 26 Nov: GLASGOW: Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) 27 Nov: NEWCASTLE: The Pilgrim 28 Nov: POCKLINGTON: Arts Centre 4 Dec: HERNE BAY: King’s Hall
November 2, 2025 at 10:28 AM
brianbilston.bsky.social
Thanks so much to everyone who came to see us in Banbury last night. What a pleasure it was to perform our songs and read poems to you.

Next up is some place called London on Saturday night. We’re at the Bloomsbury Theatre and incredibly there are still tickets left.

brianbilston.com/events/
Sound checking in Banbury last night. A poster for our London gig on 1st November at the Bloomsbury Theatre.
October 31, 2025 at 12:02 PM
brianbilston.bsky.social
Given that it’s Halloween, here are some haiku horrorscopes.
Haiku Horrorscopes   Aries    That decision not to believe in poltergeists comes back to haunt you.   Taurus You are invited to a skeleton party but meet nobody.   Gemini Weary from worry, you feel wary of werewolves and their whereabouts.   Cancer Murderer at large. Eat your cornflakes with caution. Cereal Killer.   Leo The world is a blur. You wish you hadn’t been Bourne. Possessed by Damons.   Aquarius Evil ghostwriter forces you to read his book – Life of Michael Gove.   Virgo You let a vampire into work. Boss furious. Get it in the neck.   Libra The worst day ever. Chased by flesh-eating zombies. Meet Nigel Farage.   Scorpio Your luck starts to change There’s someone new in your life – dark handsome strangler.   Sagitarrius Island invites you to be their guest of honour at wicker craft fair.   Capricorn Aargh! You’re buried alive with your phone but you don’t know the Wi-Fi password. Pisces Morrissey’s ghost calls and he’s massive – some ghouls are bigger than others. Brian Bilston
October 31, 2025 at 10:31 AM
brianbilston.bsky.social
I think this may be the finest thing I have ever written.
This is not a poem   more a desperate attempt to bring your attention to our gigs in Banbury tonight and London on Saturday, for which there are tickets left   similarly, why not come along to Norwich next week, Stamford or Milton Keynes – or even Brighton for that matter –   but on no account come to see us in Chelmsford, birthplace of the Britvic range of soft drinks, because that is not a city we shall be visiting on this tour   Brian Bilston
October 30, 2025 at 1:25 PM
brianbilston.bsky.social
Today’s Halloween poem is called ‘Come, take this hand in yours’.
Come, take this hand in yours   Come, take this hand in yours –   bury it beneath the trees,   while I go and get the rest of him   out of the deep freeze. Brian Bilsto
October 30, 2025 at 9:37 AM
brianbilston.bsky.social
Today’s Halloween-based poem is called ‘Pumpkin’.
Pumpkin   was what she called him because she knew he’d always held a candle for her   that his head was huge, fleshy and orange were further contributory factors Brian Bilston
October 29, 2025 at 10:00 AM
brianbilston.bsky.social
As excitement mounts for the Brian Bilston and The Catenary Wires tour (starting on Thursday), we’ve produced this short video explaining the exclusive tat/merch available at each show.
October 28, 2025 at 10:13 AM
brianbilston.bsky.social
With Halloween approaching, I thought I’d share a few spine-chilling poems.

Today’s is called ‘The Heebie Bee Gees’.
The Heebie Bee Gees   He danced like a man possessed one fevered Saturday night. He gave me the heebie bee gees so I left the floor in fright. Some blamed it on the Boogieman but it was a John Travoltageist. Brian Bilston
October 28, 2025 at 9:38 AM
brianbilston.bsky.social
Calling all people in the general area of Oxon… this Thursday sees the start of my tour with the wondrous Catenary Wires, at Mill Arts Centre, Banbury.

There will be poetry. There will be music. There will be seating.

Tickets here: www.themillartscentre.co.uk/shows/brian-...
Hope to see you there.
A poster advertising our Banbury gig on Thursday.
October 27, 2025 at 5:43 PM
brianbilston.bsky.social
We’re in London a week today at the Bloomsbury Theatre. Come and join us for an evening of poetry and music.

Tickets available here: www.ucl.ac.uk/event-ticket...
A pic of the band looking thoughtful.
October 25, 2025 at 2:30 PM
brianbilston.bsky.social
Happy World Pasta Day to all those who celebrate.
Remembrance of Things Pasta She blew her fusilli, my pretty penne, when she found me watching daytime tagliatelle.   Je ne spaghetti rien, I responded in song, but she did not linguini for long,   just walked out without further retort: a hard lesson to be tortellini, orzo I thought.   And so here I am, on my macaroni, and now my days feel cannelloni. Brian Bilston
October 25, 2025 at 8:27 AM
brianbilston.bsky.social
WARNING: some shows may contain poetry (and music).

Tickets here: brianbilston.com/events/
An evening of poetry and pop coming soon to a venue near you* … 30 Oct: BANBURY: Mill Arts Centre 1 Nov: LONDON: Bloomsbury Theatre 3 Nov: NORWICH: Norwich Arts Centre 4 Nov: STAMFORD: Corn Exchange 5 Nov: MILTON KEYNES: The Stables 6 Nov: BRIGHTON: Komedia 12 Nov: WORCESTER: Huntingdon Hall 13 Nov: NOTTINGHAM: Metronome 14 Nov: SWANSEA: Grand Theatre 15 Nov: BRISTOL: John Wesley’s Chapel 21 Nov: MANCHESTER: Halle St Peters 22 Nov: OTLEY: Courthouse SOLD OUT 23 Nov: CHORLEY: Chorley Theatre 24 Nov: LIVERPOOL: Royal Philharmonic 25 Nov: SHEFFIELD: The Foundry 26 Nov: GLASGOW: Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) 27 Nov: NEWCASTLE: Pilgrim 28 Nov: POCKLINGTON: Arts Centre 4 Dec: HERNE BAY: King’s Hall
October 22, 2025 at 5:08 PM
brianbilston.bsky.social
Thank you, Dublin, for braving the rain and my poetry last night. What a wonderful audience you were.

Halfway through my mini-tour of Ireland. Tonight, it’s Limerick before ending in Derry on Monday night. Tickets available here: brianbilston.com/events/
A pic of me and my cat, alongside my Irish dates: 17 Oct: BELFAST: Mandela Hall 18 Oct: DUBLIN: Ambassador Theatre 19 Oct: LIMERICK: Lime Tree Theatre 20 Oct: DERRY: Millennium Forum
October 19, 2025 at 9:00 AM
brianbilston.bsky.social
Some news! I have a new book coming in April: ‘How to Lay an Egg with a Horse Inside’.

It has 100+ new poems, and also serves as a guide to reading, writing & enjoying poetry.

An EXCLUSIVE signed edition is available through indie bookshops, with a bonus poem. Pre-order at bio.to/howtolayaneg...
A picture of the cover of How to Lay an Egg with a Horse Inside. It’s a lovely yellowy-gold colour and has an illustration (by Joe Berger) of a man who is looking at a horse who appears to have a giant egg inside it. A poem from inside the book: MISSED CALLING Geoff was a poet but he didn’t know it and so he spent his life working as a heating engineer in the Dagenham area. A picture of the cover of How to Lay an Egg with a Horse Inside. It’s a lovely yellowy-gold colour and has an illustration (by Joe Berger) of a man who is looking at a horse who appears to have a giant egg inside it. This picture plugs the exclusive indie bookshop edition.
October 17, 2025 at 9:11 AM
brianbilston.bsky.social
My short tour of Ireland starts tomorrow night in Belfast. 300 tickets sold, with 100 still up for grabs for anyone who’s nearby and fancies it.

After that, it’s Dublin, Limerick & Derry.

Tickets here: brianbilston.com/events/

PS I have some book news to share with you tomorrow.
A pic of me and my cat, alongside my Irish dates: 17 Oct: BELFAST: Mandela Hall 18 Oct: DUBLIN: Ambassador Theatre 19 Oct: LIMERICK: Lime Tree Theatre 20 Oct: DERRY: Millennium Forum
October 16, 2025 at 7:12 PM
brianbilston.bsky.social
I’m off to Ireland later this week for my final solo poetry shows of the year.

Incredibly, there are still tickets left – especially for the Dublin show (I hope my performance there last year hasn’t put you off from coming again) – so please spread the word!

Tickets here: brianbilston.com/events/
A pic of me and my cat, alongside my Irish dates: 17 Oct: BELFAST: Mandela Hall 18 Oct: DUBLIN: Ambassador Theatre 19 Oct: LIMERICK: Lime Tree Theatre 20 Oct: DERRY: Millennium Forum
October 13, 2025 at 8:21 AM
brianbilston.bsky.social
It’s Bookshop Day so here’s a poem in celebration of all those amazing bookshops out there.
Never Judge a Bookshop by its Cover   It may call itself a bookshop, but don’t be fooled by that. There may be books in the window, on the tables and shelves, but really, it’s a travel agent selling all-immersive holidays, weekend breaks, first-class tickets to other worlds, with a low carbon footprint. It’s a pharmacy as well, dispensing medicines, pick-me-ups, balms: if symptoms persist, please consult your local bookseller; it’s a tailor’s, offering a made-to-measure service to achieve the perfect fit;   and a hardware store, with a range of empowering tools to fix you up, recharge your batteries, switch on lightbulbs. Its walls are lined with treasure as precious as any jeweller’s, and twice as bright. Spines shine gold, silver, sapphire, emerald;   there are diamonds amongst them. It’s a garden centre, a place where ideas get planted and a thousand stories bloom, and a greengrocer, selling fresh, locally-sourced produce, as vital as your five-a-day and more readily consumed. It’s a multiscreen cinema. Peek behind the curtain of each jacket and you’ll find a movie waiting silently to begin. A stationer’s supplying notepads, reams of paper, with the words conveniently filled in   to save you both the time and bother. A wholefood store and a fast-food joint. A cosy haven from the cold. A friendly, family restaurant: Today’s special will revive a flagging spirit and restore a lagging soul.   It’s a tourist information centre equipped with maps and helpful guides to steer us on our way. A busy square in which a whole town gathers or just a place to hold the world at bay   for a few untroubled stolen minutes. It’s itself, and yet it’s something larger, a universe so vast you could spend ten thousand lifetimes there – it may call itself a bookshop, but don’t be fooled by that. Brian Bilston
October 11, 2025 at 7:11 AM
brianbilston.bsky.social
I’ll be at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London next month with the wondrous Catenary Wires for an evening of poetry (me), music (The Catenary Wires), and poetry and music (me and The Catenary Wires).

Tickets on sale now at brianbilston.com/events/.

It would be smashing to see you there.
A poster of me and the Catenary Wires with details of our London gig at the Bloomsbury Theatre on 1st November.
October 10, 2025 at 1:00 PM
brianbilston.bsky.social
I’m coming back to Ireland next week.

Please note that attendance is compulsory unless an absence note is provided in advance.

Tickets available from some places on the internet.
A pic of me and my cat, alongside my Irish dates: 17 Oct: BELFAST: Mandela Hall 18 Oct: DUBLIN: Ambassador Theatre 19 Oct: LIMERICK: Lime Tree Theatre 20 Oct: DERRY: Millennium Forum
October 7, 2025 at 1:01 PM
brianbilston.bsky.social
Coming soon … an evening of poetry and pop at a venue near you*.

Tickets here: brianbilston.com/events/

* if you live near one of the venues on this list, that is.
A pic of the band alongside our tour dates … 30 Oct: BANBURY: Mill Arts Centre 1 Nov: LONDON: Bloomsbury Theatre 3 Nov: NORWICH: Norwich Arts Centre 4 Nov: STAMFORD: Corn Exchange 5 Nov: MILTON KEYNES: The Stables 6 Nov: BRIGHTON: Komedia 12 Nov: WORCESTER: Huntingdon Hall 13 Nov: NOTTINGHAM: Metronome 14 Nov: SWANSEA: Grand Theatre 15 Nov: BRISTOL: John Wesley’s Chapel 21 Nov: MANCHESTER: Halle St Peters 22 Nov: OTLEY: Courthouse SOLD OUT 23 Nov: CHORLEY: Chorley Theatre 24 Nov: LIVERPOOL: Royal Philharmonic 25 Nov: SHEFFIELD: The Foundry 26 Nov: GLASGOW: Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) 27 Nov: NEWCASTLE: The Pilgrim 28 Nov: POCKLINGTON: Arts Centre 4 Dec: HERNE BAY: King’s Hall Tickets here: https://brianbilston.com/events/
October 4, 2025 at 10:00 AM
brianbilston.bsky.social
Here’s another poem for National Poetry Day. This one is called ‘A Brief History of Modern Art in Poetry’.
A Brief History of Modern Art in Poetry 1. Impressionism Roses sway in softened reds, Violets swim in murky blues, Sugar sparkles in the light, Blurring into golden you. 2. Surrealism Roses are melting, Violets are too. Ceci n’est pas le sucre. Keith is a giant crab 3. Social Realism Roses are dead, Violence is rife. Don’t sugar coat This bitter life. 4. Abstract Expressionism Are and. Violets roses so. You sweet blue. Are are red is sugar 5. Pop Art Roses go BLAM! Violets go POW! Sugar is COOL! You are so WOW! 6. Conceptual Art Roses are red, Coated in blood: A deer’s severed head Drips from above
October 2, 2025 at 11:31 AM