First Fortnight: Sammy Copley, Raymond Antrobus, Scott McKendry & Stephen James Smith

First Fortnight returns to its Belfast home, The Duncairn, for a night of outstanding music and poetry in support of arts mental health.

Musically we welcome one of the island’s rising stars, Dublin’s Sammy Copley. 

Sammy is a singer-songwriter whose weekly videos have amassed over 30million views on social media.  As well as his virtual successes, his live performances are a joy to experience; last year he played sold-out shows in London and Dublin.  Sammy will be joined by musical friends on the night to punctuate the poetry from our guest wordsmiths.

The headline poet will be Raymond Antrobus, a British-Jamaican poet renowned for his work on identity and the deaf experience. His debut collection, "The Perseverance," won the Rathbones Folio Prize in 2019, highlighting his influence in contemporary poetry.

Scott McKendry grew up on the Shankill Road in West Belfast. His poems have appeared in publications on both sides of the Atlantic and he is a recipient of the Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award. Scott’s debut pamphlet, Curfuffle, was Poetry Book Society Autumn Choice 2019 and his first full collection, entitled GUB, comes out in February 2024.  Scott’s witty verse and deadpan delivery makes for an experience that is ‘pure Belfast.’

The night will be hosted by the national treasure that is Stephen James Smith, who quite frankly needs no introduction. A belter of a night awaits in Belfast, please do join us in support of a great cause!