Poetry Slam prize Highland heat comes to Inverness

The Highland heat of the Loud Poets Slam Series that leads to a final with a £3000 prize, comes to the Bike Shed in Inverness on Saturday.

Several competing poets will take part, with entries now closed: Lynsey Gilmore, Jennifer Morag Henderson, Jack Hunter, Donald Kennedy, Chloe MacDonald, CC O’Hara, Gill Shaw, Sam Steele, Myra Ross, Lewie Watson and Chris Young.

Starting at 7.30pm, the night is hosted by Kev Mclean, creative director of I Am Loud Productions, and will see two rounds of three minutes each from the dozen entrants, before three poets go through to the final.

The winner of the regional heat receives a prize of £200. And both the winner and the runner-up of the slam qualify for the grand final in Edinburgh to compete for the £3000 prize.

Speaking for I Am Loud, Bex Sherwood said: “So far we have been to Inverclyde, Dumfries and Dundee and six competitors have qualified for the grand final with the Edinburgh International Book Festival at the end of August. We find that the Scottish poets are some of the best in the world and there aren’t the same opportunities there are in England for poets who are looking to do more, to make it a viable career option rather than just a hobby. We wanted to put something on that would show the level of talent in places outside Edinburgh and Glasgow. We’re going where there are already open mics and poets – and there is a regular open mic in Inverness at the Bike Shed. We didn’t want to come in as invaders from Edinburgh! But we wanted to provide a genuine opportunity on this scene.”

The event is now sold out, but the good news for anyone who hasn’t already got a ticket is that the full slam will be available to see for free here on May 29 at 3pm. The event is by Creative Scotland and the National Lottery.

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