Featuring award-winning poet Gabriella Salmon, just back from a European tour, this is your chance to perhaps become Australia’s next poetry slam champion.

Poets will compete for the Sunshine Coast crown with the top two poets going on to Queensland Poetry Festival’s poetry slam championships at Brisbane’s Judith Wright Centre on August 26 and possibly the Australian Poetry Slam national titles in Sydney in September.

The event, proudly presented by words@play, features sound artistry musician and orator Herb Fenn from Cooloolabin, teenage singer-songwriter Murray Law from Nambour – plus 20 performance poets vying for the Sunshine Coast poetry slam championship crown. Hosts Wendy O’Hanlon, Robin Fleming and Bazza The Bush Balladeer will also share a poem or two.

For the audience: Enjoy an evening of innovative performance poetry – laugh, cry, wonder. Plus the amazing talents of our entertainers Herb Fenn (ever heard a spring sing?) and Murray Law. Be inspired and amazed and come along to support your favourite performance poets and immerse yourself in this growing creative Sunshine Coast scene.

For the contestants: A free two-hour workshop will be held at the “home” of words@play – the cool Foxy On Coolum Cafe at Beach Road, Coolum – from 2pm to 4pm on the afternoon of the championships, Thursday, August 9. Hosted by Gabriella Salmon, this workshop will help give you the confidence and skills to perfect your championship performance. Bookings are limited. Register at:

enjoy@sunshinecoastreadersandwritersfestival.com

or Contact: Wendy O’Hanlon 0435 877 617