Pighog, one of Brighton’s longest-running poetry nights, is heading to Bristol for the first time—bringing its sideways look at the world, three standout poets from indie press tall-lighthouse, and an open mic for anyone up for it.

ABOUT PIGHOG

Founded in 2002, Pighog is an award-winning publisher and live poetry events organisation based in Brighton and the United States. Under the banner of literary US press, Red Hen, we publish original work from a diverse range of regional, national and international voices. We are known for discovering new talent and for our unique and distinctive publications. Our aim is to present high-quality work through high-quality presentation – in print, online and live.

“Pighog gets it spot on.” – Colin Bell
“The most welcoming, diverse, and exciting poetry night anywhere, ever!” – John Davies
“Pighog rocks!” – Annie Freud

Sonya Smith is a poet published by tall lighthouse. Born in Bath in 1973, she grew up in a rural area and, after a short spell in France, completed an Art Foundation in Bath, before attending Falmouth College of Arts to study illustration. She eventually moved to Brighton and in later years, and before her daughter was born, studied creative writing at Sussex University. After a reading in Brighton, Sonya was the subject of a bidding war between (two blokes at a bar) local publisher Pighog and London-based tall lighthouse. The result was her debut pamphlet, Old Panic Undressed, 2009. Her debut collection, Every Robin I Never Quite Saw, came out in 2021, from which her poem ‘Telharmonium 1906’ was selected as The Telegraph’s ‘Poem of the Week’. Sonya also has a degree in Speech Therapy and continues to live in Sussex, working on her next collection.

Caleb Parkin, Bristol City Poet 2020 – 22, has featured in The Guardian, The Rialto, The Poetry Review, He was guest poet on BBC Radio 4’s Poetry Please and the Poem of the Week on Radio 3 Breakfast. His debut collection This Fruiting Body (Nine Arches, 2021) was longlisted for the Laurel Prize.

He’s published three pamphlets: Wasted Rainbow (tall-lighthouse, 2021); The Coin (Broken Sleep, 2022); and collected City Poet commissions, All the Cancelled Parties (2022). His second collection, Mingle (Nine Arches, October 2024) investigates toxicity, intoxication, and toxified ideals.

Caleb has featured at literary festivals including Poetry in Aldeburgh, Lyra Fest and Push the Boat Oat. He tutors for Arvon, Poetry Society and Poetry School and holds an MSc in Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes from Metanoia Institute.

From 2023 – 2026, he is a practice-based PhD researcher at University of Exeter with RENEW Biodiversity, exploring human/nonhuman communication and creaturely voices in poetry.

Mark Wynne’s poetry has been widely published in magazines and on-line and following the publication of two pamphlets (frank&stella / point bolivar light) we are pleased to publish his debut full collection self-portrait in blue jacket ‘A marriage of shadows, framed by the conduct of others. Nerve endings, questioning celestial bodies, tied to the focus of life via the encounter of painting and literature. A gracious path through pain.’ – Michael March

tall-lighthouse, established in 1999, was an independent poetry press that published over 100 titles from more than 70 poets, 3 anthologies, 1 CD & 1 DVD.

Les Robinson, who started the press in 1999 handed the keys over to Gareth Lewis in 2011. Sadly Gareth died in 2016 and the press returned to Les for a new chapter tall-lighthouse-redux which saw the continued publications of some ‘bloody good poetry’ from Brendan Cleary, Caleb Parkin, Christopher Horton, Jazzman John Clarke, Joe Duggan, Joshua Calladine-Jones, Julie Morrissy, Marc Swan, Mark Wynne, Sadie McCarney, Sarah Shapiro & Sonya Smith.