What is Velvet Tongue?

Besides a slang term for a delectable oral sex practice, Velvet Tongue was the name of London's Erotic Literary Soiree between 2011-2015, the subject of many enthusiastic reviews.

Presented by Erotic Award winning poet Ernesto Sarezale, Velvet Tongue was dedicated to erotic writing and performance, with poetry, fiction, spoken word, plays, stand-up, comic strips, cabaret, monologues,…  

It featured some of the country's most exciting writers and performers of erotica together with plenty of sexy open mic slots for anyone who wanted to join in! 

Velvet Tongue kicked off on Sunday 6 February 2011 at Ten Gales gallery in Bethnal Green and then moved to Bar Kick in Shoreditch for its May edition, where it ran until 2014. In the summer 2014 we moved again, this time to The Book Club, also in Shoreditch, until March 2015.  

For a while, Velvet Tongue even had an exciting branch in the Antipodes: Velvet Tongue Australia (in Melbourne).

There were two spin-off events of Velvet Tongue in 2015: Queer Tongue and Velvet Kink.

Then, in 2017, 'Velvet Tongue' became 'Velvet Tongues' and traveled to Nottingham and Manchester.

In 2020, Velvet Tongue was back as: VIRTUAL TONGUE (one-off "new normal" edition on Zoom).

Velvet Tongue celebrates the hot, the sweet, the viscous, the carnal, the sexy, the racy, the provocative, the lustful, the voluptuous, the libidinous, the playful, the flirtatious, the teasing, the suggestive, the explicit, the cheeky, the romantic, the bold, the brash, the brassy, the flashy, the risque, the pervy, the licentious, the queer, the depraved and the downright kinky.

Keep your velvet tongue hot & viscous! 

Velvet Tongue - Autumn 2014 (pre-Halloween)

For its pre-Halloween edition, VELVET TONGUE, London's Erotic Literary Soiree, will provide a taste of the whip... and of leather .

RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/848893111795079/?fref=ts

Featuring:

Jacky Donovan + Daniel Richards + Nairobi Thompson + Jay Walker + Randolph Hott (from Boylexe)

We will hear: tales from a dominatrix, poems on chem sex and bonobos, discussions of penis size, suggestive verses on Sapphic love and... a very teasing monologue - among other dark and sensual delights.

Plus the all important OPEN MIC SLOTS.

NOTE though that - as in previous editions - the pre-booked open-mic quota for October's Velvet Tongue has already been met, which means that anyone requesting a spot after 8th August 2014 is going onto a "reserve list". There are usually drop-outs on the night, so most people on the reserve list will most likely have the chance to read/perform anyway (and will get in for free). At the last two events everyone who turned up got to read...

Doors open at 7pm; show starts at 7.30pm. £5/£3, free to participants. At THE BOOK CLUB, 100 – 106 Leonard Street, EC2A 4RH (Old St/Liverpool St tubes, Shoreditch High Street overground).

What people are saying about Velvet Tongue:
http://velvettongueuk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/reviewspreviews-and-reports.html

Velvet Tongue celebrates the hot, the sweet, the viscous, the carnal, the sexy, the racy, the provocative, the lustful, the voluptuous, the libidinous, the playful, the flirtatious, the teasing, the suggestive, the explicit, the romantic, the cheeky, the bold, the brash, the brassy, the flashy, the risque, the pervy, the licentious, the queer, the depraved and the downright kinky. And flesh exposure is always encouraged on and off the stage... As bare as you dare.

Summer VELVET TONGUE (2014) – Thanks!

It was really buzzing down at the basement of The Book Club in Shoreditch last Sunday! And sizzling hot despite the efficient air conditioning. 

I can safely say that Sunday’s Velvet Tongue was the busiest to date. On a couple of past occasions, we have been very close to the 100 mark. But last night, we clearly surpassed it. I estimate we had more than 110 punters through the door! Wow! 


Yet it’s not all about the quantity. The quality of the erotic readings and performances on the night was just spectacular. The featured speakers and the open-micers whose work I already knew not only delivered but actually exceeded my expectations. And the Velvet Tongue virgins, the newbies on stage, definitely kept the standards high. 

London's Erotic Literary Soiree just keeps getting better and better. 


But don't just take my word for it. Here's a review of the night:
http://poetrymonthly.wordpress.com/lunar-poetry-reviews-2/velvet-tongue-270714/

Thanks to everyone who graced the stage and indeed to the ever growing, ever sexy, ever welcoming audience! And thanks also to the new venue The Book Club for all the support and for providing such a wonderful space. 

And Thanks! to John Fraser for the pix and everything.

Contributors in order of appearance were:

Ernesto Sarezale (the host, in cutting edge swimwear), Immani Love, Pat Cash, Silk Worm, Susana Medina, Ruck, Janine Evans-Pollard , Primoz Junez, Rene L'Amour, Greg London, Captain of the Rant, Roberta Francis, Joe Walker, David Turner, Open Mind, Tara Fleur and Keith Jarret.

See a picture of each participant below (in order of appearance):

(more pictures at:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152180331221401.571036400&type=3 
and - with some NSFW content - at:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sarezale/sets/72157645637617069/)

Autumn Velvet Tongue 2013: Thanks!

All Velvet Tongues so far have been very pretty babies and the last one was no exception. OK. I know it is not the role of a promoter to show any favouritism, but I must say that the last Velvet Tongue of 2013 was really special. In spite of the somewhat stressful technical glitches I experienced just before the night kicked off, I thoroughly enjoyed the Autumn Velvet Tongue - from beginning to end! The amazing array of thought provoking naughtiness, tenderness, tease, humour, explicit talk, visceral words and gutsy performance that filled the night was very special indeed. Thanks a lot to all the writers and performers, who contributed to such an astounding night. And to the the audience, who just seems to be getting sexier and sexier (as well as welcoming and receptive as ever). Thanks also to Pippa, John and Bar Kick for the continued support.

Velvet Tongue will be back on 10 March 2014.

Here is a report on the night by contributor Carl Chamberlain:
http://velvettongueuk.blogspot.com.es/2013/12/carl-chamberlains-facebook-note-on.html

A writeup (in Spanish) in El Ibérico:
http://velvettongueuk.blogspot.com/2013/12/velvet-tongue-en-el-iberico.html

A review in QX magazine:
http://www.qxmagazine.com/feature/velvet-tongue/

Contributors in order of appearance were:

Pippa (on the door), Ernesto Sarezale (pre-Chritmasy host), Long Horn, Cathy Flower, Kass Man, Ivor Dembina, Sunshine Faggio, Steve Rushton, Ashlee Christoffersen, Nic Argent, P s Artiste, Pat Cash, Rene L'Amour, Antonio Karezza, Paul Ebbs, Graham Buchan, Carl Chamberlain, Gideon K, Martin Sanderson. 

See a picture of each participant below (in order of appearance):

(more pictures - including NSFW images - at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarezale/sets/72157638415414374/

and

https://www.facebook.com/calmcarl/media_set?set=a.10152099737392053.1073741996.576977052&type=1

Also:

https://www.facebook.com/ernesto.sarezale/media_set?set=a.10151757101441401&type=3)

 

Velvet Tongue: Autumn 2013

The last Velvet Tongue of 2013 will be hosted at Bar Kick in the late autumn, on 2nd December, stranded between Halloween and Christmas, when the days are dark and the nights are long... Doors open at 7pm; show starts at 7.30pm. £5/£3, free to participants. 

RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/293114770830110/

Featuring:

IVOR DEMBINA: with an extract from his solo comedy show about fetishism and sex through Jewish eyes, 'SadoJudaism' 
(http://www.thinkbeforeyoulaugh.com/)

SUNSHINE FAGGIO: with ‘Humans’, a piece combining spoken word, music and visceral live art
(http://www.chicasinwonderland.blogspot.co.uk/)

KATIE SARRA: with poetry about Tantra, body image, intimacy, pleasure and conscious sexuality
(http://katiesarra.com/performing/writing/)

Plus a few surprises and the usual OPEN MIC slots. Remember that the open mic slots are 5 minutes (FIVE MINUTES) long.

NOTE: The pre-booked open-mic quota for this month's Velvet Tongue has been met, which means that anyone requesting a spot after the 21st of October will go onto a "waiting list". There are usually drop-outs on the night, so many of those on the waiting list will probably have the chance to read/perform anyway (and will get in for free).

Velvet Tongue is dedicated to erotic writing and performance, with poetry, fiction, spoken word, plays, stand-up, comic strips, cabaret, monologues,… 

Hosted by: Ernesto Sarezale (http://www.sarezale.com/)

Velvet Tongue celebrates the hot, the sweet, the viscous, the carnal, the sexy, the racy, the provocative, the lustful, the voluptuous, the libidinous, the playful, the flirtatious, the teasing, the suggestive, the explicit, the romantic, the cheeky, the bold, the brash, the brassy, the flashy, the risque, the pervy, the licentious, the queer, the depraved and the downright kinky. And flesh exposure is always encouraged on and off the stage… even in December. 

What people are saying about Velvet Tongue: reviews.

Velvet Tongue, 3rd June 2013 (Spring edition)

Now that spring has finally kicked in (or so it seems), we are ready to announce the details of this season's Erotic Literary Soiree in London! 

FEATURED authors and performers for SPRING 2013 are: 

• SEASON BUTLER

• SHAUN LEVIN

• AMY NEILSON SMITH

• MICHAEL DARLING 

…and a special appearance by VAN ROBERTS, all the way from Australia

Plus the usual 5min Open Mic slots.

NOTE: The pre-booked open-mic quota for this month's Velvet Tongue has been met, which means that anyone requesting a spot after the 2nd of May will go onto a "waiting list". There are usually drop-outs on the night, so most of those on the waiting list will probably have the chance to read/perform anyway (and will get in for free).

VELVET TONGUE at Bar Kick, 127 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JE, London. Entry: £5 / £3 conc. / free to participants. Doors open at 7pm; show starts at 7.30pm.Hosted by Erotic Award winning poet, Ernesto Sarezale (http://www.sarezale.com/)

THINGS PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT VELVET TONGUE:

"Velvet Tongue had the perfect mix of engaging and mesmerising wordplay and pure hilarity" Thisiscabaret.com"I was really impressed with the night in total. I feel like I expanded my mind, took in some culture and best of all got inspired." thingsipickedupontheway.blogspot.co.uk/

"For literature really laid bare, poet Ernesto Sarezale’s Velvet Tongue in Shoreditch is just the titillating ticket." metro.co.uk"Fun, diverse and so sexy!" (Five stars) Remotegoat.co.uk

"Whether you're a performer, a poet, or just like listening to other people's fantasies, Velvet Tongue offers a place to hear and be heard." Erotic Review Magazine

"Velvet Tongue is the word-spinning sister of the burlesque revival that has stormed London - humorously titillating with tongues very firmly in cheeks" "...a wonderfully entertaining way to spend the night" thisislondon.co.uk

"...exploratory literary night of performance and poetry with a raunchy edge" Time Out 

“It's the perfect place to try new work and show off your talent with a room buzzing full of writers and fans of poetry and word. It's not simply readings though, the performers that it attracts are hands on, hansom and props and interaction with the audience often occur...” eroticmeet.net

Velvet Tongue is dedicated to erotic writing and performance, with poetry, fiction, spoken word, plays, stand-up, comic strips, cabaret, monologues,… Velvet Tongue celebrates the hot, the sweet, the viscous, the carnal, the sexy, the racy, the provocative, the lustful, the voluptuous, the libidinous, the playful, the flirtatious, the teasing, the suggestive, the explicit, the cheeky, the bold, the brash, the brassy, the flashy, the risque, the pervy, the licentious, the queer, the depraved and the downright kinky.

VELVET TONGUE, 25 FEBRUARY 2013

London's Erotic Literary Soiree will be back in February 2013 - a few days after Valentine's - for some romantic eroticism. 

At Bar Kick, 127 Shoreditch High Street, E1 6JE, London. Entry: £5 / £3 conc. / free to participants. Doors open at 7pm; show starts at 7.30pm.

Hosted by Erotic Award winning poet, Ernesto Sarezale 
(http://www.sarezale.com/)

RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/417035618366071/?fref=ts


OUR FEATURED AUTHORS AND PERFORMERS FOR FEBRUARY 2013 ARE:

• Coffee+Sponge
• Steven Pottle
• René L'Amour
• Roz Kaveney

NOTE: The pre-booked open-mic quota for this month's Velvet Tongue has been met, which means that anyone requesting a spot after the 3rd of February will go onto a "waiting list". There are usually drop-outs on the night, so many of those on the waiting list will probably have the chance to read/perform anyway (and will get in for free).

Velvet Tongue is dedicated to erotic writing and performance, with poetry, fiction, spoken word, plays, stand-up, comic strips, cabaret, monologues,… Velvet Tongue celebrates the hot, the sweet, the viscous, the carnal, the sexy, the racy, the provocative, the lustful, the voluptuous, the libidinous, the playful, the flirtatious, the teasing, the suggestive, the explicit, the cheeky, the bold, the brash, the brassy, the flashy, the risque, the pervy, the licentious, the queer, the depraved and the downright kinky. 

THINGS PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT VELVET TONGUE:

"For literature really laid bare, poet Ernesto Sarezale’s Velvet Tongue in Shoreditch is just the titillating ticket." metro.co.uk

"Fun, diverse and so sexy!" (Five stars) Remotegoat.co.uk

"Whether you're a performer, a poet, or just like listening to other people's fantasies, Velvet Tongue offers a place to hear and be heard." Erotic Review Magazine

"Velvet Tongue is the word-spinning sister of the burlesque revival that has stormed London - humorously titillating with tongues very firmly in cheeks" "...a wonderfully entertaining way to spend the night" thisislondon.co.uk

"...exploratory literary night of performance and poetry with a raunchy edge" Time Out 

“It's the perfect place to try new work and show off your talent with a room buzzing full of writers and fans of poetry and word. It's not simply readings though, the performers that it attracts are hands on, hansom and props and interaction with the audience often occur...”  eroticmeet.net

More reviews here:
http://velvettongueuk.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/reviewspreviews-and-reports.html

Velvet Tongue: pre-Halloween autumn edition

London's Erotic Literary Soiree is back this autumn at Bar Kick just two nights before Halloween. This month Velvet Tongue explores the darker side of desire,  celebrating supernatural erotica and the intimate links between death, sex and pain... Click here to join us on facebook. Hosted by Erotic Award winning poet, Ernesto Sarezale. This autumn, our featured writers are: - K. D. Grace (novelist) - S. P. Howarth (poet) with special appearances by: Rubyyy Jones (literary burlesque) & Anthony Howell (writer and performance artist) Plus the usual open mic slots and other surprises still to be confirmed.  To get one of the (5 mins) open mic slots: email Ernesto (ernesto [at] sarezale.com). Velvet Tongue is dedicated to erotic writing and performance, with poetry, fiction, spoken word, plays, stand-up, comic strips, cabaret, monologues,… with some of the country's most exciting writers and performers of erotica and plenty of sexy open mic slots for anyone who wants to join in! Things people are saying about Velvet Tongue: "Fun, diverse and so sexy!" (Five stars) Remotegoat.co.uk "Whether you're a performer, a poet, or just like listening to other people's fantasies, Velvet Tongue offers a place to hear and be heard." Erotic Review Magazine "Velvet Tongue is the word-spinning sister of the burlesque revival that has stormed London - humorously titillating with tongues very firmly in cheeks" "...a wonderfully entertaining way to spend the night" thisislondon.co.uk "...exploratory literary night of performance and poetry with a raunchy edge" Time Out “It's the perfect place to try new work and show off your talent with a room buzzing full of writers and fans of poetry and word. It's not simply readings though, the performers that it attracts are hands on, hansom and props and interaction with the audience often occur...” http://eroticmeet.net/birthday

Summer Velvet Tongue 2012: Olympic edition - Thanks!

It looks like Velvet Tongue is just getting better and better!


Ernesto Sarezale would like to thank everyone who contributed to that spectacularly exhilarating, Dionysian experience that was the Olympic Velvet Tongue on the 30th of July 2012.


The writers/artists/performers were stellar; the packed audience, gorgeous; the Olympic flesh, beautiful.


Many photos from the night can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarezale/sets/72157630884581878/

As Steven Pottle put it on facebook: "Beautiful performances, grrrrrreat poetry, teasing flesh, Olympian cock rings, strawberries and screams and the best damn looking audience!" 


And this is a report by Jane Fae: http://janefae.wordpress.com/2012/07/31/on-the-boards-again/

Or as Lou Psyche, an admirer of contributor S. P. Howarth, wrote (also on facebook):

"this was the strangest night ive been to in a long time. A lady with her bare breasts out took my money at the door... then 3 compleatly naked people got on stage and anounced the next act...which was SP himself... SP was amazing as usual... Infact I would say he was the best turn that night so elequently describing the beauty of a fresh rosy cunt!.. tho I did enjoy the guy who masturbated at 8 years old , and the bewildering couple with the spooky hoods and strwaberries who basicaly jjust smothered themselves in crushed strawberry and red wine whilst rubbing themselves off and exposing thier tits and fanny! cool banannas..i must visit again ....I was totally sober too!"


See a few more photos from the night below. 

The contributors were (in order of apperance): Sina Shamsavari (artwork on screen), Ernesto Sarezale (the host, escorted by two beautiful nude living statues), S. P. Howarth, Jane Fae, James Hollands, Mmmmm (Luna Montenegro and Adrian Fisher), Andrew Fiver, Rene L'Amour,  Amy Neilson Smith, Graham Buchan, Becky Fury, The Hanging Gardener of Babylon, Steven Pottle, Stav B, Giles Abbot, Tonny A., Stephanie Chan, Philip Herbert.