Poetry Slammers Jacqui and Robyn

Poetry Slam host Miles Merril entertained the audience with his sound effects and poetry

Winter by Megan Roweth

Warm woolly jumpers covered in snow,

Bonfires burning bright,

Frosty white, cold at night,

Heaters a burning light.

Reading Banjo by the fire,

Pretty soon I start to tire,

Trickling away like sand and dirt through your fingers.

(Written & performed by Megan at Banjo Paterson Festival Poetry Slam, reproduced here with permission)

We opened up our Banjo Paterson Festival Poetry Slam to people of all ages on Saturday afternoon at the CWA Hall. Spoken word artist and host Miles Merrill performed his own brand of poetry for the fantastic audience who thoroughly enjoyed the spirit of the competition.

Four performers bravely took to the stage – Jason, Megan, Jacqui and Robyn – and impressed the judges chosen from the audience with their wonderful performances. The scores were very close – Jason was placed 4th with “Castlereagh”, Jacqui was 3rd with a poem about Spiders, Megan came 2nd with “Winter” and Robyn took out first place with her amusing poem about shopping. In a wonderful gesture, Robyn gave her prize of a $100 gift voucher to Megan, aged 6 years, for her standout original performance on the day.  The crowd burst into loud applause for this act of kindness. Jacqui also entertained everyone with a spontaneous second performance called “Cockroaches” which involved audience participation and had everyone laughing. Thank you both performers and audience for a great afternoon of entertainment.

Unleash your Banjo inspired words in this unique Poetry Competition. You have 2 mins to impress the judges selected from the audience. We need people aged 18 and under to get up and perform and people of all ages to be in the audience. It all happens at the CWA Hall, Robertson Park, on Saturday 15th February at 4pm. Talented spoken word artist Miles Merrill is your poetry slam host.

There will also be a workshop before the Slam from 2 – 3pm. See you there!

Enjoy some more pictures from the Poetry Slam at the Forbes Kalari-Lachlan River Arts Festival:

Ros and Bronwyn from Central West Libraries at the Reading and Writing Display beside Lake Forbes.

Poetry Slam host Miles Merrill at the workshop helping poets prepare for the Slam.

One of the judges randomly selected on the day was Ruby who loved the role.

Jane Bennie did a wonderful job hosting the enchanted forest at the Festival. The Reading and Writing tree features leaves of opening lines from classic novels.

Miles Merrill performed in front of a huge crowd during the Slam.

To hear a podcast from the Poetry Slam go to the ABC Radio website:
http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2011/09/07/3312004.htm?site=centralwest

What a great way to start Poetry Week – with a Poetry Slam in Forbes! Congrats to
Keith Rawsthorne, of Forbes, and Ted Webber, of Young, (pictured wearing a hat) the two winners from the Australian Poetry Slam held at Forbes as part of the Kalari-Lachlan River Arts Festival on Sunday. Host Miles Merrill is pictured announcing Keith as the winner. Keith was quite modest in his acceptance speech joking that his grandchildren were judges in the audience.

Five poets performed their works on the Festival's Main Stage in front of large audience on the Lake Forbes Foreshore.

Judges, selected at random from the audience during the afternoon, scored Keith first place with Ted not far behind for their bush poet inspired performances.

The scores were very close for the other three contestants, Glenn Couchman, of Orange, Dulcie Mclean of Orange, and young Marisha Downey, of Forbes. Miles is pictured with Ted, Dulcie, Glenn, Marisha, and Keith.

Both winners now have the opportunity to compete in the Australian Poetry Slam State Final to be held at the Sydney Theatre Company, Walsh Bay, Sydney on Friday 4th November, 2011.

Host Miles Merrill also had a great time performing and was impressed by the poets and enthusiastic audience. And Ted did an encore performance of another bush poem about farm machinery (pictured). Stay tuned for more images from the Festival. Loud applause and cheers to all involved.

Poetry Slam is coming to Forbes and you're invited!

In the lead up to the Poetry Slam we will be hosting a free workshop with Miles Merrill and there are still places available. It is part of the Kalari-Lachlan River Arts Festival:

Australian Poetry Slam Free Workshop at 11am in the Reading and Writing Tent, Lake Forbes Foreshore. Please book your place at Forbes Library on 6852 1463

Then it is all action and fun for the Australian Poetry Slam. It is not a poetry reading though. It's more like a howling literary campfire with verbal voodoo, breathless rhythms and sweat breaking nerves. Anyone can get up and have a go or be in the audience and you could be a judge!

***Please note new time***

Australian Poetry Slam Forbes Heat – Main Stage 12 noon, Sign up 11.30am
Lake Forbes Foreshore along Buck Bentick Walk, via Lachlan Street, Forbes

Check out www.riverartsfestival.org.au
and www.australianpoetryslam.com