Literary Event: Coastal Poets Live

Coastal Poets LIVE is where words come alive! 

This brings together the Central Coast's growing community of poets, spoken word artists and lovers of language. Hosted by local poet Robert Edmonds, each event showcases a featured guest poet and an open mic, creating space for both seasoned performers and first-time readers to take the stage. 

Explore the incredible diversity of poetic expression, from slam poetry and spoken word to haiku, free verse, lyric poetry and experimental forms. Every month offers something new, inspiring and unexpected. 

Coastal Poets LIVE is dedicated to building a vibrant, inclusive and supportive poetry community on the Central Coast where all ages, cultures, identities and creative voices are welcomed and celebrated. 

Whether you're ready to perform or simply soak up the atmosphere, join us as we connect through creativity, conversation and the transformative power of poetry. 

Doors open: 2pm

Showtime: 3pm-5pm 

This month's Featured Poet: Tug Dumbly

Tug Dumbly (Geoffrey Forrester) has won the Nimbin Performance Poetry World Cup four times! He’s the current champion. He won the Borranga Poetry Prize, The Woorilla Poetry Prize and the Bruce Dawe Poetry Prize. He has two previous collections published – Son Songs and Tadpoems (Flying Islands) – and his latest is The Lyrebird Murders (Interactive Press, 2026). He’s performed extensively in venues and schools and was the resident poet on Triple J and ABC702. And he’s twice won the Banjo Patterson Prize for Comic Verse. Our last Coastal Poet’s Live Event for 2026 - not to be missed! 

Join us from 2:00pm for lunch and happy hour specials before the poetry begins. Open mic sign-ups open at 2:30pm, where you can secure a two-minute reading spot to share your work (places are limited, so get in early!). Prefer to sit back and soak it all in? You're very welcome to come along and enjoy the performances. 

The event officially starts at 3:00pm. Everyone is welcome.

Attendees under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

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