If the South’s poets are as good at lyricism as they are battering catfish and blending roux, then that may explain why the nation’s second largest poetry competition takes place in New Orleans this week. The 21st Annual Southern Fried Poetry Slam hosts 32 teams of five poets and 16 solo poets over the course of four days in a series of preliminary rounds, all culminating in the Southern Fried Poetry Slam Finals at Ashe Cultural Center on Saturday, June 8 at 6 p.m.
21st Annual Festival in New Orleans June 5-8
Hundreds of poets from across the country will visit New Orleans June 5 – June 8, and while the festival primarily highlights the South’s poetic gems, festival organizer, local poet and visual artist, Kaatalyst Alcindor reports that several competitors are coming from as far away as Brooklyn, NY and Honolulu, HI this year. Teams and individuals will compete in the daily bouts, winners taking the state at Saturday evening’s final performance. In addition to the commemorative Moon Pies and RC Colas of Southern Fried tradition, this year’s champions will receive over $7,000 in cash and prizes. Participating venues for the festival include Café Istanbul inside the New Orleans Healing Center and the Cathedral Creative Studio on Julia Street, among others.
Yet, Southern Fried Poetry is not just about the growth of the competing poets. The festival also provides an opportunity for all visiting poets to give back to the city. This year, poets will visit children at the Children’s Hospital of New Orleans, for example. Additionally, poets will host free writing and performance workshops for performers and the community over the course of the four-day event. There will also be workshops designed for young, aspiring writers who are curious about becoming a spoken word artist. Time to warm up the fish grease!
21st Annual Southern Fried Poetry Festival & SLAM
Date: Wednesday, June 5 – Saturday, June 8, 2013
Location: Various
Tickets Here
Complete Schedule and More Info: www.southernfried2013.com
