Open mic poets' chance

Sue Edmonds, Tracy Robinson and Judy McDonald prepare for the poetry open mic night.

Garden Place Library will be celebrating National Poetry Day 2015 with its annual poetry open mic night and poetry slam event.

The event will be held on August 28 on the second floor of the library, and more than 1000 books will be shifted to make room for the largest poetry event in the Hamilton calendar.

The event will open with a set from local performance artist, Leafa Wilson.

Event organiser Tracy Robinson said attendees must remember to arrive before 8pm, as this is when the library doors will lock.

"We will have security, and although people can leave after this time they won't be able to get back in," she said.

Unusually for the library, audiences are encouraged to bring along drinks and snacks.

"It's nearly three and a half hours of poetry, but we can't allow alcohol," Tracy said.

Poets Alive member Sue Edmonds said it was a diverse range of people who attended the event.

"They just come out of the woodwork," she said.

The poetry slam will start with the junior class (12-17 years) with the open class following on.

Tracy said adult languages and themes should be expected from the slam poetry performances.

If you would like to perform, the open mic is open to entrants on the day, but for slam performances booking is essential.

"The open mic has performers on for about two or three minutes, and we want to give everyone a chance where there's a safe and encouraging audience," she said.

The event is co-hosted with with Poets Alive and Te Ahu Rei.