Announcing Full Verses Lineup
We’re thrilled to announce the full schedule for the 15th annual Verses Festival of Words!!!
The festival theme is “Amplify,” focusing on uplifting artists with a long history of community building and raising awareness of social issues. As always, we look forward to presenting 10 days of incredible spoken word, including events featuring Tony Award-winning spoken word poet, Beau Sia and Order of Canada poet, Sheri-D Wilson, as well as collaborative showcases, workshops, and the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam (CIPS) which will determine the 2025 poetry slam national champion!!
Verses Festival of Words provides an opportunity to hold communion with our communities and do what our practice does best: amplify the voices that most need to be heard. This year’s program is all about creating space for folks to gather and listen.
This year’s edition will be headlined by the world-renowned poet Beau Sia, who will perform a feature set after the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam finals on April 19. Another highlight from this year’s festival program is the April 15 book launch of Sheri-D Wilson’s second volume in her three-book epic narrative poem The ONEIRONAUT ∅2, which celebrated poets C.R. Avery, Billeh Nickerson, and Anjalica Solomon.
On April 14, Native Hip Hop Society, WordSmith, and Soul Stories will celebrate Indigenous, Black, and poets of colour in the collaborative showcase Oral Traditions. The evening event will be led by local poet Sonya Littlejohn. The Canadian Individual Poetry Slam will take place over three days: two preliminary rounds on April 16 and 17, followed by the finals two nights later. On April 18, longtime festival partners Mashed Poetics will have us rocking loudly and listening intently as they celebrate The Tragically Hip’s “Fully, Completely”!
And, as always, we’ll kick everything off with the dynamic and fearless voices of youth poets from across BC, at Hullabaloo, running April 10-12 at Vancouver Film School (151 W Cordova) and The Post at 750 (750 Hamilton)!
You can catch it all for ONLY $50 when you buy a festival pass here. Check the full festival lineup below or our events page for ticket links for individual events.
VERSES FESTIVAL OF WORDS: 2025 PUBLIC FESTIVAL PROGRAM
At Vancouver Film School (151 W Cordova St)
Spoken Word Jamboree | Thu, Apr 10 at 6:30 PM | Free
Gathered Hullabaloo teams introduce themselves with zany, hilarious and/or awkward 1-minute poems, then enjoy a showcase from festival alumni!
All Star Showcase | Fri, Apr 11 at 12:30 PM | Buy tickets
King Kimbit, Spin El Poeta and Jozy dazzle and delight in a showcase of super powered spoken word! On a workshop-style stage, the Hullabaloo All Stars present poems in conversation for an energetic and attentive audience!
Hullabaloo Preliminary Rounds 1-4 | Fri, Apr 11 at 6:30 PM | Free
All Hullabaloo teams in Hullabaloo perform a mix of individual and group performances in poetry slam competitions! Poetry presented with gusto and the enthusiastic support of all attending teams!
At The Post at 750 (750 Hamilton St)
Hullabaloo Preliminary Rounds 5-8 | Sat, Apr 11 at 1:30 PM | Free (RSVP here)
All Hullabaloo teams in Hullabaloo perform a mix of individual and group performances in poetry slam competitions! Poetry presented with gusto and the enthusiastic support of all attending teams!
Hullabaloo FINALS feat. Donna-MIchelle St. Bernard | Sat, Apr 11 at 7:30 PM | Free (RSVP here)
At Chill X Studio (2270 Manitoba St.)
Oral Traditions | Mon, Apr 14 at 8 PM | Buy tickets
An evening that amplifies diverse voices with a focus on oral traditions. This year, led by Sonya Litteljohn, Oral Traditions will be a collaborative showcase with partners: Native Hip Hop Society, WordSmith, and Soul Stories. This event will celebrate Indigenous, Black, Poets of Colour from across the region.
Write Bloody North Presents: The Launch of The ONEIRONAUT ∅2 | Tue, Apr 15 at 8 PM | Buy tickets
Come celebrate as we launch the second volume in a three-book, one-story fantasy trilogy written in the beguiling words of poet Sheri-D Wilson — who will be joined by legendary poets: C.R. Avery, Billeh Nickerson, and Anjalica Solomon.
Canadian Individual Poetry Slam (Preliminaries: Round 1) | Wed, Apr 16 at 7:30 PM | Buy tickets
Also streamed online at youtube.com/@PoetryLabTV
The first round of competition begins as 24 of the best poets across Canada begin the tournament that will determine the 2025 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Champion. In back-to-back slams, poets will compete with 2-minute and 3-minute poems.
Canadian Individual Poetry Slam (Preliminaries: Round 2) | Thu, Apr 17 at 7:30 PM | Buy tickets
Also streamed online at youtube.com/@PoetryLabTV
The second round of CIPS narrows down the competition to determine the 2025 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Champion. In back-to-back slams, poets will compete with 4-minute and 1-minute poems.
Stage to Page Workshop | Fri, Apr 18 at 1 PM | Buy tickets
Stage to Page returns for a public workshop where poets will explore ways to collaborate with music and other disciplines. Industry experts from across artistic disciplines and sectors offer tips and feedback to poets on their works, culminating in a musical jam session.
Poetry Jam | Fri, Apr 18 at 4 PM | Register
An open-mic jam where attendees can sign up when they arrive to share poems. Always a fun event that offers opportunities for folks passionate about poetry to share work in a supportive environment.
Mashed Poetics: “Fully, Completely” by The Tragically Hip | Fri, Apr 18 at 9 PM | Buy tickets
A longtime friend of Verses Festival, Mashed Poetics returns with a showcase that brings music and poetry together. Poets are invited to create work inspired by a song, artist, or album. Then in true concert style, Mashed Poetics performs covers of the songs, sharing the stage with the poets who have shared their creations. This year, Mashed Poetics celebrates The Tragically Hip!
Masterclass Workshop with Beau Sia | Sat, Apr 19 at 3 PM | Register (LIMITED SPACE)
Poet of honour and legendary spoken word poet Beau Sia returns to the Verses Festival of Words to offer a masterclass that offers coaching, tips, and feedback to poets interested in performance and writing compelling work.
Canadian Individual Poetry Slam (Finals), feat. Beau Sia | Sat, Apr 19 at 8 PM | Buy tickets
Also streamed online at youtube.com/@PoetryLabTV
After an intense preliminary competition, the top 10 poets compete to crown the 2025 CIPS champion in this ultimate flagship event. The finals also offers the incredible opportunity to see Beau Sia, this year’s poet of honour, who will perform a feature set.
