The 14th annual Verses Festival of Words presented by Vancouver Poetry House comes to venues around the city from April 18–27, 2024. Canada’s largest spoken word festival brings together generations of poets under this year’s theme of “Learning and Remembering.”
The Festival’s program, a mix of in-person and streamed content on POETV, highlights education, lineage, and the passing of knowledge, fortifying bonds between emerging and established poets through workshops, performances, talks, and the annual Canadian Individual Poetry Slam (CIPS).
“Spoken word is a thrilling art form with deep roots connecting age-old oral traditions to contemporary performing arts,” says Johnny Trinh, artistic director of Vancouver Poetry House. At the Verses Festival of Words, audiences can witness artists creating works that ripple into other genres of art. This influence is what partially lends to the urgency of spoken word — the impact is what makes the form feel tangible and real.”
This year’s featured artists were selected for their commitment to education and community, such as CR Avery, Patrick DeBelen, Erin Dingle, Kimmortal, and Christopher Tse. Lillian Allen, the 7th poet laureate of Toronto and considered a godmother of spoken word, will provide a keynote address on the festival’s closing day, April 27 at 3pm. Allen’s distinctive brand of Canadian reggae earned her JUNO awards for her groundbreaking solo album Revolutionary Tea Party (1986) and Conditions Critical (1988). A trailblazer in spoken word and dub poetry, her recordings integrate the aesthetics of old and new sounds in music.
April 24-26 at 7pm, the annual Canadian Individual Poetry Slam will bring together 24 poets in a head-to-head, double elimination-style tournament. These poets will represent every province from across Canada. Each poet has three minutes to perform, then five randomly selected judges in the audience will choose the winners — an inclusive format that aligns with the vision that CIPS champions are named by fellow community members, without hierarchy.
Additional programming includes Hullabaloo, a three-day festival for youth where teams of poets learn from internationally acclaimed spoken word poets and compete together in a poetry slam.
For more information about the festival line up visit vancouverpoetryhouse.com/about-verses
Tickets start from $15 and are on sale now at vancouverpoetryhouse.eventbrite.ca. A pay what you can option is also available.