Media Release

Wednesday, 21 October 2009

Swan Hill Regional Library Service is calling all poets, hip-hop artists and other outspoken wordsmiths to polish their rhymes and lyrics for the Australian Poetry Slam ‘09, an annual slam contest offering over $20,000 in cash and prizes.

On Wednesday, 28 October at 6.30pm Swan Hill Regional Library Service will host one of six slam heats planned across the state at the Swan Hill Town Hall and Performing Arts Centre as part of the 2009 Go North Arts Festival.

All heat contestants are given a mic, a live audience and just two minutes to impress the judges (selected at random at each heat) with their spoken word, poetry, hip hop, monologues and stories.

“The Slam inspires Australians to tell their own stories in their own way,” says Slam co-creator, Miles Merrill. “Competitors can speak, scream, howl, sing, even whisper their words.”

Two finalists from each heat will battle spoken-word style at the Victorian final, to be held at the State Library of Victoria on Thursday, 12 November.

The Victorian winner and runner-up will take home $800 and $400 in prize money, respectively, and compete for the Australian Poetry Slam ‘09 title at the national final in Sydney on 3 December. The overall winner will receive $5,000 and a gig at the Ubud Readers & Writers Festival in 2010.

“We're unearthing the best wordsmiths in Victoria and pitting them against spoken-word artists from every state and territory at the national final in December,” says Merrill.

Champion slam poet and artist Emilie-Zoey Baker (aka EZB) will host the Swan Hill heat and entertain the crowd with her own award-winning versified adventures.

Now in its third year, the Australian Poetry Slam has unearthed some amazing talent and enhanced the career opportunities of two previous winners.

2007 winner Marc Testart became the first Australian to compete in the Individual World Poetry Championships in America last December. Last year's winner Omar Musa recently released his first music video, Hemingway.

The Australian Poetry Slam is an initiative of the State Library of NSW and Word Travels, and is supported by state, territory and public libraries and festivals across Australia.

NB. Slam sign-up is 30 minutes before each heat – limit of 20 contestants per heats.