Velvet Tongue is back in 2020 as VIRTUAL TONGUE, one-off "new normal" edition on Zoom:
Wednesday, 19 August 2020
Virtual Tongue
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).
Friday, 5 September 2014
Velvet Tongue - Autumn 2014 (pre-Halloween)
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://
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.
Wednesday, 30 July 2014
Summer VELVET TONGUE (2014) – Thanks!
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.
and - with some NSFW content - at:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/sarezale/sets/72157645637617069/)
Tuesday, 31 December 2013
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/
Wednesday, 23 October 2013
Velvet Tongue: Autumn 2013
RSVP on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/293114770830110/
IVOR DEMBINA: with an extract from his solo comedy show about fetishism and sex through Jewish eyes, 'SadoJudaism'
(http://
SUNSHINE FAGGIO: with ‘Humans’, a piece combining spoken word, music and visceral live art
(http://
KATIE SARRA: with poetry about Tantra, body image, intimacy, pleasure and conscious sexuality
(http://katiesarra.com/
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,…
What people are saying about Velvet Tongue: reviews.
Thursday, 2 May 2013
Velvet Tongue, 3rd June 2013 (Spring edition)
FEATURED authors and performers for SPRING 2013 are:
…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.bl
"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.
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
VELVET TONGUE, 25 FEBRUARY 2013
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:
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
Wednesday, 5 September 2012
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/ |
Tuesday, 31 July 2012
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/
See a few more photos from the night below.










































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