Queensland Poetry Slam State Final – winner announced

Brisbane slammer Benedict “Zennabomb” Coyne was crowned Queensland hottest slam poet after a spectacular war of words at the Australian Poetry Slam State Finals on Saturday night.

Taking out the runner-up prize was 12-year-old Chelsea Just, from Barcaldine with her wild tale of pig hunters gone feral.

After months of battling it out in slam heats across the state, 16 of Queensland top slam poets had two minutes with the mic to dazzle the audience with their words and wit.

Slam coordinator David “Ghostboy” Stavanger was blown-away at the calibre of talent on display and said it was a hotly contested battle with a mere 0.6 between first and third place.

“At the end of the night, two slammers reached the dazzling heights of the spoken word mountain and planted their flags with pieces that were immediate, funny, electric and engaging,” said Ghostboy.

Zennabomb and Chelsea will now head to Sydney in December to compete for that national title and $5,000 at the at the Sydney Opera.

Twisted word scores Victorian poet first national slam title & Opera House gig

8/12/07

Marc Testart from Victoria won the first ever national poetry slam competition – the Australian Poetry Slam 07 – at the State Library of NSW in Sydney last night.

Marc secured the title, $5,000 and a gig at Sydney Opera House after ‘out-rhyming’ 16 talented spoken word artists, unearthed via the national competition.

According to NSW State Librarian & Chief Executive. Regina Sutton: “Marc blew everyone away with his playful poem about spirituality.”

“I thought I was born 300 years too late, and this contemporary poetry competition gives me hope I was born right on time,” said Marc.

A sell-out crowd gathered at the State Library of NSW to witness the two top poets from each state and territory (three from Queensland due to a tie) battle spoken-word style.

The national finalists had just two minutes to impress the judges (selected at random from the audience) with their original spoken word, poetry, hip-hop, monologues and stories.

The Australian Poetry Slam 07, an initiative of the State Library of NSW, saw more than 600 emerging poets and spoken word artists compete via 45 heats held in regional areas and city centres in every state and territory.

The competition was coordinated via state and public libraries, with state-based professional spoken-word artists hosting the heats and running workshops in schools, libraries, pubs and theatre spaces.

“The Australian Poetry Slam 07 has been a great success for the State Library of NSW, and I’m personally thrilled that state and public libraries are collectively driving this highly creative and dynamic art form at the national level,” says Mrs Sutton.

The Australian Poetry Slam 07 winner will perform in the Night Words Festival at the Sydney Opera House, The Studio, from 6 to 8 March 2008. For details: http://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/whatson/Nightwords.aspx

Spoken word artist and Slam co-organiser, Miles Merrill, and winner Marc Testart are available for interviews.

MEDIA INQUIRIES:
Vanessa Bond 02 9273 1566, 0411 259 898
Deborah McBurnie 02 9273 1768, 0400 208 896

Northern Territory
Noodle String
Finn O’Branagain

Western Australia
Dosh Luckwell
Vivienne Glance

Queensland
Nathan Pursey
Gudrun Philipp
Glen Tannock

Tasmania
Elise Taylor
Yvonne Gluyas

South Australia
Morgan Taubert
Alice Sladdin

ACT
Omar Musa
Dennis Wild

NSW
Kathy Edwards
Greg North

VIC
Marc Testart
Steve Smart

Australian Poetry Slam 07 National Grand Slam

Friday 7 December
6 pm for 6.30 pm start
Macquarie Street Foyer, State Library of NSW
$15
Bookings essential (02) 9273 1770, bookings@sl.nsw.gov.au

Australia’s first national slam has unearthed the best spoken word talent in the country.The 17 finalists fought off over 600 competitors via 45 heats and eight state and territory finals for a coveted spot in the national grand slam. All contestants are given a mic, a live audience and just two minutes to impress the judges with their original word artistry. The title, $5,000 cash and a gig at the Sydney Opera House is up for grabs. Hosted by Miles Merrill, spoken word artist and Slam co-organiser.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding & advisory body.