Poetry slam in Castlemaine

Castlemaine poet, Terry Jaensch looking forward to the Poetry Slam heat

Poets, hip hop artists, outspoken wordsmiths: polish your rhymes and lyrics for the Castlemaine regional heat of the 2011 Australian Poetry Slam.
The Australian Poetry Slam is Australia's largest slam poetry competition. During October and November, the State Library of Victoria will co-ordinate heats at libraries and venues across the Victoria.
The local heat will be staged by Castlemaine Library at the Maurocco Bar in Templeton Street, Castlemaine on Wednesday, October 26, at 8pm. Hosting the event will be award-winning slam poet, Emilie Zoey Baker. "A slam is a poetry battle," says Emilie, "two minutes of on-stage fire."
The Maurocco Bar's resident Café Poet, Ann de Hugard, agrees.
"Slams are unpredictable, thrilling and enormously entertaining for the audience as well as for performers," Ann says. "They're also egalitarian as the judges are selected from the audience."
No more than 20 poets will have the chance to perform on the night. Registrations start at 7.30pm, so be sure to arrive early!
Ann recommends that entrants come along with two poems ready to perform, in case the contest comes down to a slam-off.
''We're so lucky to have Ann involved," says Alison Katona, manager of Castlemaine Library. "Last year she was runner-up of the slam at the Ubud Writers' Festival in Bali. Now, here's a chance for another local slam poet to shine on the international stage."
Two finalists from each heat will battle it out at the Victorian final at the State Library of Victoria on Friday, November 18. Then the Victorian winner and runner-up will compete at the National Final in Sydney.
The Australian Poetry Slam Champion wins a tour of China as part of the Bookworm International Literary Festival and will be invited to participate in the Ubud Festival - approximately $11,000 worth of flights, accommodation, expenses and performer's fees. All for a two-minute poem!
The Maurocco Bar is adjacent to the Castlemaine Railway Station.
For further details about the Australian Poetry Slam visit: www.australianpoetryslam.com