What happens when you put a bunch of artists on stage together who have never met, and ask them to collaborate, with no rehearsal?
At Tongue Fu, poets, writers and storytellers take to the stage to perform live, amplified by the quick-witted improvisers of the Tongue Fu band.
One of the the UK’s leading spoken word and music shows for eighteen years, led by poet, musician and founder, Chris Redmond (BBC Radio 1, 2, 4, 6 and Sky Arts), Tongue Fu features musicians whose credits include playing for Jamie Cullum, The Last Poets, and Massive Attack.
Part gig, part experiment; a high energy, big hearted show with a wide appeal.
“Poetry, but not as you know it…amazing” – Guardian
“…one of the most solidly entertaining, energetic and talented performances” – ★★★★★ Exeunt Magazine
Tongue Fu has played the Roundhouse, Glastonbury, Edinburgh Festival, Dublin, Cape Town, Rio and has a residency at Romania’s JazzX festival, with features on Sky Arts and BBC R2’s Arts Show with Jonathon Ross. Previous collaborators include Kae Tempest, Irvine Welsh, Akala, Nick Mulvey, Salena Godden, Ty, Lemn Sissay, Hollie McNish and Stephen James Smith.
In 2020 Tongue Fu released their studio album, Boat Building – a collaboration with Vanessa Kisuule, Dizraeli, Amyra León, Anthony Anaxagorou and more. It featured on BBC6Music, BBC R1, 1Xtra, BBCR4’s Loose Ends, BBC Introducing and WorldWideFM.
“A beautiful album” – Cerys Matthews (BBC 6Music)
“…easily one of the best Spoken Word albums in recent years” – Raymond Antrobus .
Tongue Fu also runs artist development programmes and courses – previously for the Roundhouse, BBC1Xtra, the British Council and St Mary’s University, London. They lead an annual residency programme called Strada Fara Nume, for poets and musicians in Romania.
“…impossible not to get caught up in the magic…the most remarkable spoken word event going” ★★★★★ – Informed Edinburgh