The Talisman Poetry & Spoken Word Open Mic Feat. Maithreyi Hughes

The Talisman is back at Down By Here on Thursday 26 November, with Maithreyi Hughes as the featured poet. It's Swansea's longest-running poetry and spoken word open mic, curated by Rebecca Lowe, and it runs on the last Thursday of every month at the High Street venue.

If you've never been, the format is pretty straightforward: it's an open mic, so the night is built around whoever turns up. Anyone can sign up from 7.30pm, and the readings get going at 8pm. Alongside those open slots, there's usually a featured poet hosted for the evening, and this time it's Maithreyi Hughes. The mix of the two is what gives the night its shape — you'll hear a curated set from the feature act and then a run of poets from across the city, some reading new work, some returning with old favourites, and some stepping up for the first time.

Because it's an open mic, the line-up changes every month. You'll get a range of voices and styles on the same bill, and the order is decided by who signs up on the night. It's as much about the people who show up to read as it is about the people who come to listen, and that's what keeps it running as a regular part of the city's spoken word scene.

It runs from 7.30pm to 10.30pm at Down By Here, 210 High Street, Swansea, SA1 1PE. Sign-ups open at 7.30pm, and the readings start at 8pm.