Its official. I’m the newbie at Word Travels, the amazing performing literary organisation behind such exciting events as the Australian Poetry Slam.
We have a bucket-load of cool stuff coming up for the Sydney Writers’ Festival, and the best thing is, most of it is FREE. So what are you waiting for? Get on your bike and head over to the Rocks or Parramatta, and come along and say Hi to me!
Troubadours and Minstrels FREE
This is my pet fave. Explore the Rocks Pied Piper style and discover historic laneways and nooks with live poetry and music.
Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 May, 12-1 pm, feat.
Scott Sandwic /: Jade Oldfield / Tug Dumbly / Catherina Behan / hosted by Candy Royalle
The Rocks Square
Sunday 26 May, 12-1 pm, feat.
Anis Mojgani (USA) / Eleanor Jackson / CJ Bowerbird / Jo Sri / hosted by Miles Merrill
The Rocks Square
This is a free event, however bookings are essential!
Book now at tandm.eventbrite.com.au
Mouth to Mic FREE
International spoken wordsmiths Kate Tempest and Anis Mojgani join Australian Poetry Slam Champion CJ Bowerbird trading samples of powerful poetry before discussing the whys and hows of their craft with Miles Merrill. These guys seriously know their stuff!
Friday 24 May 4.00pm-5.00pm
Philharmonia Studio, Pier 4/5, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay
Festival Club Friday – Spoken Four
Join us in the Festival Club, featuring Sydney’s most exhilarating new and established writers alongside various personalities and musicians, all taking their turn at entertaining you with their stories. This is the only one that costs money, and its only a measly ten bucks!
7-8.30 pm: Spoken Four
Four of the best wordsmiths from around Australia and the world pour their passion into the mic and ignite the audience’s imagination. One of the most popular festival events, this year featuring CJ Bowerbird (Canberra), Eleanor Jackson (Brisbane), Anis Mojgani (USA), and Kate Tempest (UK), hosted by Word Travels’ Creative Director Miles Merrill.
9-10 pm: The Chaser’s Empty Vessel
The Chaser’s Empty Vessel returns to lower the tone of Sydney Writers’ Festival for another year. Join Chris Taylor and Julian Morrow for more lively, irreverent and freewheeling discussions with some of the biggest and/or longest names at the Festival. Tonight’s dazzling guests will include Cheryl Strayed, Dermot Healy and Eli Horowitz.
10.30-11.45 pm: SWF Up Late
HEDTalks: Achieving a lot by doing nothing at all* Twitter. Connectivity. PowerPoint. Dynamism. Buzzwords. Come along for a very special evening of talks. Celebrating 50 years of the most world-shattering ideas from the world’s most important leaders in world thinking. Here at HEDTalks we are determined to make this a better planet, one infograph at a time. With Max Lavergne, Eddie Sharp, Andrew Denton and others.
Friday 24 May from 7.00pm
Pier 2/3 Club Stage, Pier 2/3, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay
The Rumble Youth Slam FREE
Rap, poetry, story, monologue . . . Whatever you do with words. No props. No music. Just a mic in the spotlight. Young poets from Western Sydney battle it out with eloquence and wit representing their communities while competing for audience love and a grand prize. Featuring DJ/Poet Scott Sandwich, Jo Sri and Miles Merrill.
Pesented with Word Travels and supported by the University of Western Sydney, Arts NSW and Parramatta City Council.
Saturday 25 May 1.00pm-2.00pm
Riverside Theatres, Parramatta, Corner of Church and Market Streets, Parramatta
Kate Tempest and Anis Mojgani FREE
Performance poets Kate Tempest and Anis Mojgani are both described as ‘fierce’ and ‘genius’ – a potent combination. Londoner Kate is a published playwright, poet and respected recording artist. American spoken word poet, visual artist and musician Anis has been characterised a ‘geek genius’ with ‘fiercely hopeful word arias’. Here in Sydney, their worlds and words collide. Chair: Miles Merrill.
Presented with Word Travels and supported by the University of Western Sydney and Parramatta City Council.
Saturday 25 May 2.30pm-3.30pm
Riverside Theatres, Parramatta, Corner of Church and Market Streets, Parramatta
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qDtHdloK44]Q-Poetics FREE
What are you waiting for? Q-poets come to you who queue. Wordsmiths travel through the lines delivering literary relief to dedicated festival-goers hanging out for the next big session. Featuring CJ Bowerbird, Jo Sri, Eleanor Jackson, Scott Sandwich, Skye Loneragan and more! Presented with Word Travels. Created by Skye Loneragan.
This free event will take place at the Walsh Bay Precinct for the duration of the Festival.
Kate Tempest and Anis Mojgani FREE
Performance poets Kate Tempest and Anis Mojgani are both described as ‘fierce’ and ‘genius’ – a potent combination. Londoner Kate is a published playwright, poet and respected recording artist. American spoken word poet, visual artist and musician Anis has been characterised a ‘geek genius’ with ‘fiercely hopeful word arias’. Here in Sydney, their worlds and words collide. Chair: Miles Merrill.
Presented with Word Travels. Supported by Belgiovane Williams Mackay.
Sunday 26 May 2.30pm-3.30pm
Sydney Dance Lounge, Pier 4/5, Hickson Road, Walsh Bay