x-bout.com is a unit of a not-for-profit organisation called London SLAM Central, which was formed in 2001 by Agnes Meadows, Marrianne San Miguel and Nii Ayikwei Parkes.

x-bout.com started out as a stand-alone website dedicated to posting reviews about spoken word events - an aspect we felt was missing from the artform. The aim was to rely on audiences to send us reviews of events they had been to so poets would begin to take more notice of how they were relating to their audiences. Unfortunately, we had to suspend the posting of reviews in 2002 (after one year) because of the irregularity of submissions. However, x-bout.com has continued to grow.

With the collaboration of flipped eye publishing, we started an event called aromapoetry in 2001 and began to programme poets for the Borders (Charing Cross Road, London) monthly Poetry Open Mike readings. Audience figures for both events have continued to rise and they are now two of the best-known spoken word events in London.

In early 2002, we added a jazz review section to the site and began to look for an art reviewer. We finally found our woman when M joined the x-bout team in 2003.

London SLAM Central emerged as a result of the many requests we had to programme events and book poets for readings. With over 200 events under our belt, we eventually set up a not-for-profit organisation under the name London SLAM Central to book poets, musicians and artists, and help run events and workshops. We have since supported events in the United States, London, Hemel Hempstead, Manchester, Amsterdam and Lancaster. We have a growing reputation for the quality of artists we provide and the organised manner in which we co-ordinate events.

At the end of 2003 we programmed two events which have become points of reference in poetry circles in London. First was the innovative Spoken Soul which was held at the Poetry Cafe with standing room only as 10 poets read their interpretations of soul songs from the 60s and 70s. The second event was Bringing the House Down, which we were commissioned to programme for Art of Regeneration (a National Theatre initiative) and stage at the Albany in Deptford. Bringing the House Down was hands down the best-selling poetry event of 2003. Spoken Soul has since evolved into an event on its own and we are able to offer workshops in schools based on the concept. Bringing the House Down is also an annual event about to blossom into a spoken word festival.

Our newest event, is Outdooring - a show that allows novelists to read from as-yet-unpublished novels to get a feel for public reception, and also gives the public an eye into the writers' creative process.

London SLAM Central is determined to change the face of literary events mixing entertainment with information in engaging and innovative ways for adults and children. On our roster we have artists, writers, musicians, and boundless ideas. Watch us as we grow!