M/Others on the Mic - Open Mic

Join Lizzy Humber for Mothers on the Mic - a relaxed, daytime open mic. Local m/others will share songs and poetry and there will be an exciting headline set from mother/singer songwriter Holly Ebony and support from mother/poet Kate Massey-Chase. The performances are adult-centred with children very welcome too. Expect both a relaxed and lively space, where children are welcome to be themselves and performers may have children with them too.

Everyone is welcome! You do not have to be a parent/carer, a woman or have children with you to come. The voices and experiences of people who are m/others are being platformed, as often these voices are missing or not given equal opportunities to be heard.

Expect an uplifting, supportive and empowering hour and a bit – in the middle of the day! So whether you’re in need of a bit of culture, a community or just an early lunch break – you are welcome!

“There is something very unique about a relaxed, uplifting gig, that feels empowering. It really feels memorable and magical. I strongly remember each and every gig."

"These gigs are the most non-judgmental spaces I have been to with my child. No stares. No glares. No unwelcome comments about my child. I feel accepted and part of a community. In fact, the gigs feel more than “just” an event. They make me feel part of a growing community and this feeling then lives beyond the event itself."

Lizzy Humber

Lizzy is a producer, community artist, facilitator and is working on being a changemaker. Lizzy’s background is in theatre, working as an actor and producer for 10 years. Since becoming a mother she has focused her work on creating spaces for m/others to connect to their identities, voices and communities through art and culture. Since 2018 Lizzy founded M/Others Who Make Devon, Maternal Journal Devon and M/Others on the Mic and has supported hundreds of m/others to connect to their creative identity. Lizzy is currently researching daytime, parent friendly programming as part of Arts Council England’s Developing Your Creative Practice. M/Others on the Mic began in Exeter and has held comedy, songwriting and poetry courses, and welcome headline mother artists such as Hollie McNish, Fiona Allen, Fiona Benson and Shagufta K Iqbal.

Dr Kate Massey-Chase

Dr. Kate Massey-Chase is a community arts facilitator, academic, activist, and writer. She’s a lecturer at Plymouth Marjon University, where she’s leading a new MA in Arts, Health and Wellbeing, as well as teaching Performing Arts and English. Kate lives in Exeter with her wife, their energetic toddler, new baby and two cats.

Holly Ebony

Alt-Folk artist, mother and group song and nature connection facilitator Holly Ebony brings effortless cascading vocals, mellifluously heady and peaty raw as the Dartmoor landscape she hails from. Sharing songs from her 2023 debut studio album, with inclinations towards trip-hop and Americana, it conjures Curlews and Cormorants, lullabies Ash trees, scatters love-letters wending on the currents of a river and is gifted as libation to the tides. Audiences are met with gentle profundity as Holly speaks with candid humour to the worldview out of which her songs are born. This is an uplifting act of lyrical solace and creative activism that speaks to a profound love affair with life.

Open mic slots (3-5 minutes) available for m/others to share a poem, a story, stand-up routine or a song (acoustic sets only). You do not need to have taken part in the workshops, but priority spaces are given to workshop participants. Original material only. Sign up opens on 22 January, email Lizzyhumber@gmail.com

Book via Libraries Unlimited Events | Eventbrite, by telephone 01271318780 or in person at Barnstaple Library (no booking fee).