Robin Ince

London

Host at The Infinite Monkey Cage

Writer at The Big Issue

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Articles

This pharmacy prescribes words and poems to cure your tattered soul

1 week ago | bigissue.com | Robin Ince

Robin Ince visits Shropshire's book shops and graveyards Clare Ferguson-Walker and I arrive on the perfect day to perform at The Poetry Pharmacy in Bishop’s Castle. The Pharmacy is deservingly quite legendary. It is a beautiful shop selling prescriptions of poetry, some in book form, some rolled up tightly and placed inside pill casing, ready to be cracked open to cure your tattered soul. It would be a fine place to visit at any time, but we are staying over during the yard sale weekend.
Crying in public is nothing to be ashamed of

1 month ago | bigissue.com | Robin Ince

Robin Ince is on tour, sharing stories and vulnerabilities I am sitting on a bench outside a church in Steyning, talking to a man in a fetching corduroy hat. An elderly couple approach with their daughter and son-in-law. “Remember us? We lived in Chenies.” They introduce themselves and it comes flooding back. I have not seen them for 50 years. Their daughter Lois is the reason for my first scar. It is on my left hand.
We are all the same age inside a library – curious and young

1 month ago | bigissue.com | Robin Ince

Robin Ince is back on the road touring his new book, and finding joy in libraries, village halls and churchyards I am back to my traditional regime of touring around village halls, deconsecrated churches and public libraries. Despite usually performing in two to three towns a day, I always hope to arrive at my destination early enough to explore.
At Laugharne, I'm reminded there is no room for complacency when love is our goal

2 months ago | bigissue.com | Robin Ince

Plus, Gary the tin plater fends off a bar fight with his big, duck-headed stick. Scroll down for Robin's poem in tribute You won’t find me in a jacuzzi. I’m not made for the Jackie Collins life. But last week, the rarest of exceptions occurred, because I was at the Laugharne Weekend – everything is different there. Four left-wing comedians spoke of the revolution as the bubbles bubbled and my trunks were bleached by the germ-free water. Champagne socialism?
Douglas Adams loved much about life and the universe – unlike Elon Musk

Mar 27, 2025 | bigissue.com | Robin Ince

Douglas Adams inspired the young Robin to look to the stars; Elon Musk's obsession with Mars has had the opposite effect I tried hitchhiking once. I stood in a lay-by near Bristol with a sign saying ‘London’ for an hour – and then gave up and took the bus, thus exhausting my paltry fee for the gig the night before. I am rich enough now to take the train.
I went to Leicester to punch melons and tomatoes for science. No, seriously

Feb 27, 2025 | bigissue.com | Robin Ince

A bit of friendly chatter opens doors, and biscuit jars, on tour On the last train from Ludlow, I notice that one of my knuckles is squeaking. I know why. The day before I punched eight melons (galia, honeydew, water), a cabbage, a lettuce, a coconut and three tomatoes. It was for scientific and slapstick research.
Why you should never underestimate the spirit of towns left behind by industry

Feb 5, 2025 | bigissue.com | Robin Ince

When Robin Ince announced a show in Llanelli, some said, 'Why bother?' He found a community teeming with art and creativity, hopeful for change I am pretty much always on tour. It’s not the kind of tour with a big poster and a load of dates from Penzance to Arbroath, it is far more chaotic than that. It is made up of saying yes to almost anyone who gets in contact with me and says, “Hey, fancy a gig in my town?” Some places are confused as to why you are there.
An appeal to the Edinburgh Fringe: Stop pricing out the working class

Jan 15, 2025 | bigissue.com | Robin Ince

January is the time for looking at the year ahead, so I'm asking how we can make the Edinburgh Fringe more affordable for the people who make it Before I get to my main point, allow me to ask a favour: Please do not spend the month of January complaining that it is going “so slowly”. Same every year… whining that time isn’t moving fast enough, followed by February and the rest of the year teaching you a lesson by moving at a speed that carries you through to next Christmas.
The unparalleled joy of a mobile library

Dec 4, 2024 | bigissue.com | Robin Ince

Libraries provide more than just reading material. They are an essential means of connection for many I am not usually up to watch the sunrise. Decades of working nights has given me an aversion to the dawn chorus. But here I am, looking at a reddening and purpling sky as I change trains at Milton Keynes Central. I have been lured to a 6am alarm call by the offer of a day on the road with a mobile library.
How I survived a giant crab attack

Nov 14, 2024 | bigissue.com | Robin Ince

Robin Ince is in Margate to perform at the Crab Museum, where he finds a community working together to elevate others Chas & Dave are hammering away in my head as I am going “down to Margate”. Few towns have anthems filled with such joy and laughter. And they were right. You can keep the Costa Brava, I’d rather be in Margate too, especially as my destination is THE CRAB MUSEUM – an exhibition of crab biology, history, myth and legend with some socialism placed between the lines.