Changing the wor(l)d, verse by verse!

Bankstown Poetry Slam is proud to present the second annual National Youth Poetry Slam. You will be mesmerised by the realest rhymes and mic-drop worthy metaphors as the passionate young poets battle it out for the coveted NYPS crown and a sweet $1000 cash prize. Join us for this evening of inimitable poetic storytelling with some of the most passionate storytellers hailing from all over Australia!

Doors open at 6:30 pm for a 7 pm start.

ABOUT OUR FEATURE:

Luka Lesson is a poet, rapper and educator of Greek heritage born in Meanjin/Brisbane. His work crosses between the history of his family homeland, the fiercely political and the vulnerably self-reflective. A former Australian Poetry Slam Champion (2011), Luka has featured at the mecca for slam poetry: the Nuyorican Poet's Cafe (NYC) multiple times, performed with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and toured with respected UK rappers Akala & Lowkey. Luka has released two collections of poetry independently: The Future Ancients (2013) & Antidote (2015) and two poetic rap albums: Please Resist Me (2012) & EXIT (2014).

Luka's work has also been featured in publications such as: Southern Sun: Aegean Light (2011, ASP), Poems From A Green And Blue Planet (2019, Hachette UK), and Solid Air (2019, UQP). Luka has been a poet-in-residence at the Scottish Poetry Library, appeared at the Edinburgh Literature Festival, Sydney Writers' Festival, Hong Kong Literature Festival, Ubud Writers' Festival and many more. Luka has also taken the stage with his band at festivals such as Splendour in the Grass (Byron Bay), 4E Hiphop Festival (Sydney) & OneBlood Festival (South Africa).

Luka has always used poetry and rap writing workshops as a form of activism, helping young people to articulate and perform their work for the past 15 years in education centres worldwide, amplifying countless marginalised voices in the process. Luka's poems and rap verses are being studied on official school curriculums throughout Australia, and unofficially by rebellious educators worldwide.

ABOUT BPS:

Bankstown Poetry Slam is Australia’s largest regular poetry slam. Since 2013, BPS has been giving a platform to diverse artists and sharing the power of poetry via a number of award winning programs and events.

The National Youth Poetry Slam is proudly supported and sponsored by Western Sydney Airport and the State Library of NSW!