The LEAF Festival Poetry Slam Competition
A Lyrical Revival in Eden Hall
October 21, 2023, 8 p.m.
Click HERE to buy your pass to the LEAF Festival, which includes The LEAF Poetry Slam.
Dive Deep
Dive deep into the world of spoken word at the iconic LEAF Festival Poetry Slam, one of the country's longest-running Poetry Slam events, which rose from the thriving 1990s Asheville Poetry scene.
Imagine an electric LEAF performance stage where poets grapple with language, juggling words, emotions, and narratives, judged in the style of a diving contest by five judges arbitrarily chosen from the audience.
Passionate Poems
The LEAF poets have three minutes per round to deliver their passionate poems in an exuberant dance of words. Spread across five rounds, including an improvisational challenge, 12 poets vie for the first place prize, immersing themselves and the audience in a euphoric blend of competition, sweetness, soul-bearing storytelling, and vibrant poetic preachings.
Having hosted 56 LEAF Poetry Slams over 28 years, your emcees, James Navé (or just "Navé" to those who know him) and Kirk Hardesty, ensure every LEAF Poetry Slam is more than just an event—it's a poetic revival.
Judges and Scores
Sure, judges award scores, but the real win is the roar of applause, the peals of laughter, and the emotional waves that ripple through Eden Hall and cascade off Lake Eden. As poet Allan Wolf said, "The points are not the point; the point is poetry!"
While the essence of the LEAF Festival Poetry Slam is its heart, truth, and love, let's not forget: there's a cool thousand dollars up for grabs, drawing the crème de la crème of performance poets from all corners.
How the Slam Started in 1984
Coined by Marc Smith in 1984, inspired by baseball's Grand Slam, the term "Poetry Slam" poses a compelling question: Can a poet emotionally connect with the audience so powerfully that the audience erupts with the same unbridled enthusiasm baseball fans feel when their home team wins the World Series with a Grand Slam home run? At the LEAF Poetry Slam, the answer resounds: Absolutely! Yes! Definitely!
Whether you're a spoken word aficionado or a curious soul, the LEAF Poetry Slam promises an unforgettable three hours of poetic glee. It's not just a show; it's a symphony of words, emotions, and vibrating collective consciousness. Witness the magic and be part of the legacy. See you there!