In a rare event for Hobart, renowned spoken word and hip-hop poet Omar Musa will be delivering a skills-based workshop followed by a raw, edgy performance and open mic night on Saturday, March 28.
The workshop and performance is presented by the Tasmanian Writers’ Centre in partnership with the Tasmanian Poetry Festival, and will be held at the new arts space the ARTS Factory in South Hobart.
The Malaysian-Australian rapper and poet from Queanbeyan is the former winner of the Australian Poetry Slam and the Indian Ocean Poetry Slam (see his winning piece on Youtube here). He has released three hip hop albums, two poetry books (including Parang), appeared on ABC’s Q&A and received a standing ovation at TEDx Sydney at the Sydney Opera House. He is currently working on a play, Bonegatherer. His first novel, Here Come the Dogs, was published in August 2014.
Omar will appeal to a wide range of audiences and the events have been priced to be accessible to everyone – only $30 for the workshop and $10 for the performance. Anyone is welcome to join in the open mic section of the night and deliver their own brand of street poetry.
“Omar is so inspiring and has a well-deserved and commanding following throughout the contemporary Australian poetry and writing scene. I encourage you all to mark the date in your diary,” Tasmanian Writers’ Centre director Chris Gallagher said.
Tasmanian Poetry Festival director Cameron Hindrum said Tasmania was a rich landscape for urban poetry to spring from.
“Tasmania has a great energy for edgy arts – it won’t be long before street poetry catches on here as a way that young people express themselves,” he said.
Tickets are selling fast through Eventbrite for the workshop and performance.