Poetry with a Punch: CanberraSlam’s APS Heat is here

Posted on 15 July, 2025

As winter settles in, Canberra’s poets are heating up for one of the most electric nights of the year: the ACT heat of the Australian Poetry Slam Championship.

Set to take place on Thursday 24 July as part of the regular CanberraSlam open mic night, the event promises fierce voices, raw emotion, and a whole lot of heart.

Now held at Verity Lane Market, CanberraSlam is a monthly spoken word event where first-timers and seasoned performers alike take to the mic to share their art. The vibe? Think less quiet library, more buzzing community hall where the audience is encouraged to click, cheer, and respond mid-performance. It’s poetry, but not as you know it.

However, the night doesn’t end there. Following the open mic, the audience is treated to a featured poet: a special guest invited to share a longer set from their published works. These artists often travel from all over the country and represent some of the strongest, most compelling voices in contemporary poetry. Past headliners have included national legends like Rob Waters, Sara Mansour, Rudy Francisco, and Yleia Mariano—names that are as bold on stage as they are on the page.

Unlike traditional readings, poetry slams thrive on connection. As Filipino-Australian poet Yleia says, “My first time at CanberraSlam, I didn’t know anyone or what I was doing on that stage—but by the end of that first night, I had friends.”

That openness—to both emotion and identity—is at the core of CanberraSlam’s appeal. Moments like these reveal what keeps people coming back—something bigger than performance, grounded in shared experience, whether through laughter, rage, grief, or catharsis. Themes can range from heartbreak to climate change, queer joy to migrant identity, absurdity to hope. It’s a space where all stories are welcome, and the rawer, the better.

Canberra Slam_Indigenous poet and APS 2024 champion Rob Waters.

As Andrew Cox, CanberraSlam’s host and manager, puts it: ‘CanberraSlam is a melting pot of culture, of shared vulnerability over and over again. There’s something addictive about it; people are hungry for authenticity, and we exist for these people who need us.’

It’s this atmosphere of authenticity and celebration that’s helped CanberraSlam quietly grow into one of the ACT’s most beloved creative events. What began as a small gathering now books out each month, with newcomers stepping up to the mic and seasoned performers returning like it’s home. Andrew makes it clear that ‘you don’t have to be a good poet to be celebrated here. All stories are welcome.’

For many performers, the mic becomes more than a platform; it’s a place to reclaim culture and language, to speak across generations. It’s a sentiment Yleia shares.

”Slam poetry is a way for me to continue my legacy in my own way. My poem “Balagtasan” echoes the traditional Filipino poetic debate taught to me by my dad.’

This month’s event, however, raises the stakes. The July CanberraSlam event doubles as the Australian Poetry Slam ACT heat that will see competitors battle it out for a place in the APS National Final. And the twist? The audience are the judges. With just two minutes to impress, each poet must bring their best. Expect a full house, a raucous crowd, and a night that promises to stir something deep.

Whether you’re a die-hard poetry fan or just poetry-curious, CanberraSlam open mic nights are a must-see local gem. Grab a drink, pull up a chair, and let yourself be moved. Because in this room, everyone’s voice matters—and sometimes, those two minutes on stage can change everything.

CanberraSlam lights up Verity Lane Market every month, but if you’ve been meaning to check it out, this is the night to do it. The once-a-year APS ACT heat is your chance to see the stakes (and the energy) go up a notch. Follow @CanberraSlam on Instagram for dates, sign-ups, and all the latest.

Feature image: Poet Yleia Mariano performing at CanberraSlam. Supplied.