Cerddi yn Cwrw: Martin Daws

Since 2010, P&P@theQ was a regular monthly spoken-word open-mic event held in Carmarthen, Wales. On Monday 23 March 2020 write4word was set to celebrate its tenth anniversary “Poems and Pints at the Queens” event. On 23 March 2020 Wales went into lock-down in response to the covid-19 pandemic.

By 30 March, write4word had moved their event to an online format using the digital platform ZOOM. Subsequent online spoken word events took place every two weeks during lock-down with over 25 readers at each event participating live from Wales, England, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Colombia, the USA, Canada, Greece, India, Serbia and New Zealand. By 27 April P&P@theQ had officially merged with a Swedish spoken-word event called Pilsnerpoesi and the events were jointly hosted by write4word in Wales and Kultivera in Sweden. On Monday 3 August 2020 this partnership established their first hybrid event incorporating a series of readings at a physical stage into the digital event.

On Monday 3 May 2021 the community was once again allowed to meet in a public venue in line with Welsh Government covid guidelines. The new home for the physical venue is Cwrw, a music bar and community arts venue in Carmarthen. The event is re-branded as “Cerddi yn Cwrw” and write4word have committed to maintaining the international connections and the accessibility afforded by the hybrid format.

In November 2021 write4word launched the PRESS SPEAK NOT DELETE project with the support of the Arts Council of Wales and the Postcode Community Trust.

Short films are made from recordings of the special guest readers at each event.

Martin Daws' compelling performances embody Spoken Word Poetry, Hip Hop Lyricism, Storytelling and Kalimba playing. Over two decades of writing and performing Spoken Word, Martin has progressed from open mics and Slams to acclaimed feature slots and collaborative touring shows, playing numerous national and international events and festivals (Pen Writers NYC, Bet Lahem Live Palestine, First Fortnight Dublin, National Theatre Wales' Big Democracy Project Cardiff).

Author of two Spoken Word Poetry book/albums 'Skintight the Sidewalk' (2008) and 'Geiriau Gogs' (2016) and Contributing Editor of collaborative book/album 'Wales Bird:Aderyn Rhiannon' (2017). An accomplished creative educator, Martin was honoured as Young People's Laureate Wales 2013-16.

“One of the UK's Top Performance Poets”
— Square Magazine