A spoken word event in London, Spit Nights, is actively engaging audiences with immersive poetry experiences that blend improvisation and live music. This initiative addresses the decline in literary reading as more consumers turn to short-form content on social media and streaming services.

Read More

Spit Nights offers unique poetry nights featuring improvisational elements and crowd interaction. While primarily hosted in London, the collective is expanding its reach with events in Brighton and a successful debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2026.

The collective’s growing popularity is bolstered by social media exposure, accumulating over 77 million views across platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which has driven attendance at events in renowned UK venues such as The Jazz Cafe, Roundhouse, and Ministry of Sound. The choice of traditional concert spaces aligns with their goal of transforming spoken word performances into lively gig experiences.

Co-founder CeCe Kutevu expressed their aim to attract audiences who might not typically attend poetry events. She noted, “We are trying to bring audiences in who wouldn’t ordinarily attend a poetry night,” emphasizing the hybrid nature of their shows, which integrate poetry with improvised jazz. Kutevu added, “Music is much more accessible to people; everybody wants to go out and listen to music.”

During performances, poets collaborate with the band by providing a general theme or sound direction, such as a ‘dark indie movie soundtrack’. This leads to a dynamic experience where the live instrumentation enhances the poetry, creating an unpredictable soundscape.

Kutevu highlighted the spontaneity of the performances: “No two shows are the same – even if you’re seeing the same act again – because of the element of improvisation with the band. I think that’s why people keep coming back.”

In addition to musical performances, Spit Nights also presents pure spoken word events, which are made engaging by a charismatic MC. The host encourages audience support, ensuring a warm atmosphere where even first-time performers receive enthusiastic applause.

By transforming traditional poetry recitals into energetic communal gatherings, Spit Nights is reshaping poetry for a contemporary audience, creating an environment that is cathartic and creatively inspiring. Kutevu remarked, “It’s a night out, it’s cathartic, it’s creative, it inspires people to go home and do something creative themselves.”

Featured image credit: Zahra Hanif.