[caption id="attachment_2134" align="aligncenter" width="250" caption="Poetry Slam host Miles Merrill will be at Grenfell"][/caption]

The 2012 Grenfell heat of the Australian Poetry Slam on June 9th is run in conjunction with the Grenfell Henry Lawson Festival of Arts as a feature event on the program. The festival is thrilled at the prospect of continuing to develop its connection with Word Travels front man and Performance Poet Miles Merrill. This will be the third consecutive year the Henry Lawson Festival has proudly hosted a heat in the Poetry Slam. Miles will co host the Grenfell Henry Lawson Festival Australian Poetry Slam heat with Sydney based Writer, Story Teller and Performance Artist Candy Royalle.

To be part of this word phenomenon we invite you to join us to compete in the Grenfell heat of the Australian Poetry Slam. Imagine two minutes in the spotlight. No props. No Music. Judged by the audience. Just you and your story. We can see you there!

Alternatively you can come along and take your possible place as a randomly chosen audience member to partake in judging the unparalleled competition on the day. The Poetry Slam has been held at the Railway Station in the past but this year it moves to a new larger venue to provide more shelter from the elements and to expand on it's increasing audience. This event promises to be a show stopper.

Date: Saturday, June 9th, 2012 Time: 3pm - 5pm Location: Uniting Church Hall, Camp Street, Grenfell Cost: Entry By gold Coin Donation

www.australianpoetryslam.com

Coordinator Information Carly Brown p. 02 6343 1248 e. poetry@henrylawsonfestival.com.au For more details about the Henry Lawson Festival at Grenfell to: http://www.henrylawsonfestival.com.au/events-and-entertainment/events-and-activities/poetry-slam

[caption id="attachment_2135" align="aligncenter" width="160" caption="Storyteller Candy Royalle performs"][/caption]

Pictured Candy Royalle Photograph Courtesy: Nicola Bailey Photography.

A packed Sydney Theatre chose Luka Lesson (pictured) to be Australia's Slam Champion on Sunday 27 November. Two poets from each state and territory bound onto the stage. They poured out their wit, substance and powerful emotions in a competition judged by randomly selected audience members. A crowd of over 400 offered wild screams, applause and people leaping to their feet shouting, "yeah, that's right". Reminder: this is at a poetry event. We heard an 85 year old woman from Launceston discuss her online relationship with a Mr. N. Large Ment, an ode to a female parking inspector, a brilliant assessment by an indigenous woman of issues in Alice Springs, moving rant on the fate of Palestine and two strong pieces from runner-up Nadine Browne, a school teacher from Perth. Congratulations to Luka "Lesson" Haralampou. Australia's Poetry Slam Champion! Check out http://australianpoetryslam.com/ for youtube clips of Poetry Slam performances!

The Australian Poetry Slam NSW Final went well with Ted Webber (of Young) from the Forbes heat, performing well on the night. There was a Slam Off for 2nd place between Greg North from Katoomba and Zohab Khan from Wagga Wagga, which made things very exciting! Greg North won the Slam Off and was Runner Up with Chris Wright from Glebe winning the NSW Final! Check out the Australian Poetry Slam Facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Australian-Poetry-Slam/171818636212729 for pics.

Next is the Australian Poetry Slam 2011- National Final - Write A Revolution! After dozens of heats and finals around the country, with almost 1000 writers performing their words for hungry audiences, the Australian Poetry Slam climaxes at Sydney Theatre. Two of Australia's top wordsmiths from each state and territory take to the Main Stage of Sydney Theatre on Sunday November 27 at 5pm. Tickets are $30 by calling (02) 9250 1999.

Visit the Australian Poetry Slam website for more details: http://australianpoetryslam.com/

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

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 her role and like all the judges on the day did a brilliant job.

Jane Bennie did a wonderful job hosting the enchanted forest at the Festival. The Reading and Writing Tree featured leaves with opening lines from Classic novels - just beautiful.

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 start 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

Imagine two minutes in the spotlight. No props. No music. Judged by the audience. Just you... and your story.

The Australian Poetry Slam is not a poetry reading. It's more like a howling literary campfire with verbal voodoo, breathless rhythms and sweat breaking nerves. Think Hilltop Hoods mashed with Obama, a line of Paul Kelly, a few pinches of Judith Lucy, and a test tube of Les Murray all vying for audience love.

Writers need to perform well in their regional heat and place in their state final. Two finalists from each state and territory will meet in Sydney to battle with their words on the main stage of the Sydney Theatre for the Australian Poetry Slam Final National Final. One will be crowned Australia's Slam Champion.

Come and find out what it is all about at the Australian Poetry Slam Workshop:

Kalari-Lachlan River Arts Festival, Reading and Writing Tent, Lake Forbes Foreshore along Buck Bentick Walk, Sunday 4 September at 11am, Please book your place at Forbes Library on 6852 1463.

Then perform your poem, story, hip hop or whatever at the Australian Poetry Slam Forbes Heat:

**Please note new start time** Kalari-Lachlan River Arts Festival, Lake Forbes Foreshore along Buck Bentick Walk, Sunday 4 September, 12 noon on the main stage, please sign up from 11.30am, Hosted by Miles Merrill.

Check out these sites for more details: www.australianpoetryslam.com and/or www.riverartsfestival.org.au

Get along to Grenfell Railway Station on Saturday 11 June from 9.30am for sign ups and 10am start. Enjoy the Walk up Bush Poetry delivered to you by the people. As always there will be an ensemble of poetry readings and recitations of favourite or iconic poets, like Henry Lawson (pictured), through poets own pieces they wish to share.

Poems are to last no longer than 8 minutes and a maximum of three pieces is permissible but cannot be read consecutively. For more details go to www.grenfell.org.au/henrylawson festival or phone 0447 498 412.

Then join in the Poetry Slam hosted by Miles Merrill

and Bravo Child

on Saturday 11 June at 3pm. Think you know what poetry is all about? Think again. Theatre, hip-hop, spoken-word, lyrics or whatever else you call it, Words Travels rips the label off the poetry jar. You have just two minutes to speak, howl, whisper, even sing your original poem. Poetry Slam promises to be a live electric event where the audience is the judge. Sign up for this on the day. This is a heat in the NSW Australian Poetry Slam with adult and under 18 categories. Free event, prizes to be won at Grenfell Railway Station. Call 0447 498 412 for more details.

Imagine it's just you and your words for two minutes with a mic in the spotlight. Orange City Library is calling all poets, hip-hop artists and other outspoken wordsmiths to polish their rhymes and lyrics for the Australian Poetry Slam.

On Thursday 22 July - at 6pm for poets to sign up and from 6.30pm to perform - Orange will host one of 8 slam heats planned across the state. Winners from the Orange heat will go on to perform at the regional final and a chance to perform in the State final.

Host Tug Dumbly (pictured) is one of Australia's greatest spoken-word artists and he will host this electric live event.

An initiative of the non-profit literary arts association, Word Travels and State Libraries, the Australian Poetry Slam is the nation's largest and richest poetry slam with cash and a gig at Ubud Writers & Readers Festival in Bali up for grabs.

The Orange heat offers a $100 prize for the winner. And four heat finalists will go on to perform at the regional heat to be held in Bathurst on Saturday 7 August at 8pm as part of Cabaret Kite at the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre.

All contestants have just two minutes to impress the judges (selected at random at each heat) with their spoken word, poetry, hip hop, monologues and stories. We need people to get up and have a go and for others to be in the audience - so come along for a fun night out.

Grenfell's Henry Lawson Festival of Arts June Long Weekend (starts Tuesday June 8 to Monday June 14)and includes Poetry - Performance, Exhibitions, Heritage, Street Parade, Music, Circus, Sport and Community events. A full program of events is available from: www.grenfell.org.au/henrylawsonfestival

Festival highlights this year are: Poetry by Firelight, Tuesday June 8, 7.30pm, Dramatic Society Rooms.

Wallangreen Sculpture Garden Open Thursday-Monday, afternoons.

Art Exhibition Opens Thursday June 10, 7.30pm, Grenfell Art Gallery.

Photography Exhibition Friday-Monday, Upper Main Street Grenfell.

Festival Concert With local bands, folk musicians, Melissa Robertson,Miranda Foster and Bush Poet Geoffrey Graham. Friday June 11, 7.30pm, Henry Lawson High School, Book at Louisa's Locker 02 6343 1577.

Poetry on the Boards Saturday June 12, sign up from 9.30am, Railway Station.

Poetry Slam with Miles Merrill - come and compete in the heats of this state-wide comp on Saturday June 12, 3pm, Railway Station.

Grenfell Dramatic Society The Man in the Bowler Hat and The Dilemma of Deidre Dearheart, Sunday June 13, 7.30pm & Monday June 14, 2pm, Rose St Rooms tickets CJ Anderson 02 6343 1610.