The Motley Open-Haus
Welcome to the Motley Openhaus! A space to let your heart bleed and words run. An inclusive, encouraging space for writers of all experiences to come up and read whatever they've been working on. Long form, short stories, haikus, spoken word, if you wanna say it, we wanna hear it! Every Wednesday evening, 7:30 start. Free entry
Vagabond Press Naarm/Melbourne Launch 2025
Vagabond Press is thrilled to launch six new poetry titles including two debut collections:
The Abandoned Room by Paul Carter, As If I’m Really There by Emilie Collyer, màthair beinn by Eartha Davis (debut), How to Emerge by Jill Jones, Too Much Night by Laurence Levy-Atkinson (debut), DOGHOUSE by Holly Friedlander Liddicoat. Join us to celebrate on Thursday 18 September from 6pm with official proceedings at 6.30pm. Hosted by LK Holt with readings by many of the launching poets.
Bad Flaneur #7
Hello! You are invited to join us for the 7th edition of Bad Flâneur on the 18th of September. We are excited to host such a wonderful & impressive cast of readers! Please join us upstairs at Bar Open to hear the work of:
~ π.O.~ Kat Capel ~ Holly Friedlander Liddicoat ~ Melinda Bufton ~ Robert Skinner
Poetry from Agitation Hill (ONLINE ONLY)
Please join us for a night of great poetry with our special guest. Online only.
Zoom link posted on https://www.facebook.com/ross.donlon.58 by Thursday prior.
Cherry Poets
Feature: TBD
Open mic? You know it. Sign up from 1.30pm, show kicks off at 2pm.
Your Stage: Blackwood Open Mic
Whether you're a seasoned performer or a first-timer with a song in your heart (or a poem in your pocket), Your Stage is the place to share it. Expect an open-hearted crowd, good vibes, hot drinks, and maybe even a surprise duet or two.
All styles welcome—music, poetry, storytelling, comedy, performance. Come to share, or just come to listen and be part of something beautiful.
The Last Outpost of Poetry
St Kilda's weekly poetry & spoken word open mic, hosted by Danksta Downunder, in Claypots seafood restaurant @ 213 Barkly Street. Bar snacks & drinks available to whet your appetite for words that may or may not rhyme, let alone make sense &/or nonsense!
Be Fearless Poetry with Helen Child
Tucked in behind Sydney Road in Houdini Lane is Brunswick's best hidden secret... Red Betty. and the third Monday of each month is a poetry open mic where poets can Be Fearless!
Hello everyone, Monday the 22nd of September is Be Fearless Poetry night. And the feature performer is Helen Child.
Spoken Word @ Bar Oussou
Hosted by MC Danksta Downunder, the format is OPEN MIC for all to join!
No-one knows what will happen on the night! All languages are welcome here. 100% survival rate for first-time performers guaranteed. Spoken Word @ Bar Oussou has a long history within the Melbourne poetry scene - come and join in every Tuesday
Chaotic Musings: Poetry Open Mic
A fortnightly open showcase of spoken word, poetry & all other language arts. Hosted at Creatures of Habit, Fitzroy.
Smooth talkers, slick walkers, gather round for a night of linguistic subtlety and sultry word play. Vibe Union presents: Chaotic Musings; with the guidance of poet & MC Jason Voss, we'll be talking a journey through words and experiences. Whether you’re a rapper, poet, spoken word enthusiast who put words to the page but never performed, this stage is for you. All skill levels are welcome and encouraged!
Wild Words
Wild Words is an evening where poetry and spoken word come alive—voices rise, emotions stir, and words weave from page to stage. Set in the relaxed atmosphere of Archies Creek Hotel, this welcoming event invites seasoned poets, first-timers, and curious listeners to connect, share, and celebrate through stories, rhythm, or rhyme. Sign up on the night and join the conversation.
The Motley Open-Haus
Welcome to the Motley Openhaus! A space to let your heart bleed and words run. An inclusive, encouraging space for writers of all experiences to come up and read whatever they've been working on. Long form, short stories, haikus, spoken word, if you wanna say it, we wanna hear it! Every Wednesday evening, 7:30 start. Free entry
Cherry Poets
Feature: TBD
Open mic? You know it. Sign up from 1.30pm, show kicks off at 2pm.
PoetiCas at the Coolroom
PoetiCas has been hosting regular poetry gatherings in Castlemaine since 2015, following on the tradition of Ross Donlon's poetry readings in the decade prior. It has grown into a wonderful community and their monthly events are beloved by many.
The usual format brings a featured reader to share their work, as well as an open section for the community to share their own original poems in a warm and supportive space, MC'd by a local poet and publisher . All are welcome to attend, to read or just to listen.
The Last Outpost of Poetry
St Kilda's weekly poetry & spoken word open mic, hosted by Danksta Downunder, in Claypots seafood restaurant @ 213 Barkly Street. Bar snacks & drinks available to whet your appetite for words that may or may not rhyme, let alone make sense &/or nonsense!
Spoken Word @ Bar Oussou
Hosted by MC Danksta Downunder, the format is OPEN MIC for all to join!
No-one knows what will happen on the night! All languages are welcome here. 100% survival rate for first-time performers guaranteed. Spoken Word @ Bar Oussou has a long history within the Melbourne poetry scene - come and join in every Tuesday
The Motley Open-Haus
Welcome to the Motley Openhaus! A space to let your heart bleed and words run. An inclusive, encouraging space for writers of all experiences to come up and read whatever they've been working on. Long form, short stories, haikus, spoken word, if you wanna say it, we wanna hear it! Every Wednesday evening, 7:30 start. Free entry
Poetry Bauhaus ft. TBD
Poetry Bauhaus is a fabulous gig set in West Gippsland, Warragul.
Feature TBD
Plus a popular open mic, where poets vie for the much coveted Bauhaus Poetry Cup, also a support feature in our next gig.
Convened by Yvette Stubbs,
supported by Baw Baw Arts Alliance..
The Last Outpost of Poetry
St Kilda's weekly poetry & spoken word open mic, hosted by Danksta Downunder, in Claypots seafood restaurant @ 213 Barkly Street. Bar snacks & drinks available to whet your appetite for words that may or may not rhyme, let alone make sense &/or nonsense!
Radio Laria and Girls on Key Poetry Unite to Celebrate Anke and Kathryn Ross
So why do we unite? Well, Girls on Key has recently published: "Dreams at the Crossroads" by Anke and "Askerisks in the Pond" by Kathryn Ross. Two exciting new books by two fantastic poets. Anke is a generous-spirited poet, artist, lyricist and animator who convenes the much-loved Perc.U.lations poetry gig in Dandenong. Kathryn Ross is an enthralling poet whose words convey haunting, and striking meanings. Over the years, both women have been such positive listeners, contributors and supporters to Girls on Key and Radio Laria; and we are thrilled to celebrate their books together.
Chamber Poets #115 - Andy Jackson & Rachael Wenona Guy
Chamber Poets #115 - Andy Jackson & Rachael Wenona Guy
With a hearty open section, great original live music from Black Forest Smoke and good value RSL food and drinks. 1pm for a 115pm start..
Cherry Poets
Feature: TBD
Open mic? You know it. Sign up from 1.30pm, show kicks off at 2pm.
Ballarat Spoken Word
Our monthly Spoken Word gathering. Optional prompt for one of your pieces. 5 minute time slots. All welcome.
The Last Outpost of Poetry
St Kilda's weekly poetry & spoken word open mic, hosted by Danksta Downunder, in Claypots seafood restaurant @ 213 Barkly Street. Bar snacks & drinks available to whet your appetite for words that may or may not rhyme, let alone make sense &/or nonsense!
Be Fearless Poetry
Tucked in behind Sydney Road in Houdini Lane is Brunswick's best hidden secret... Red Betty. and the third Monday of each month is a poetry open mic where poets can Be Fearless!
This will be where poetry will be explored as an art form. Any kind of poetry is welcome, including the experimental and surreal. Musicians, hip hop artists, anyone who is willing to push poetic boundaries. It's all about enjoying art in a fun, safe, supportive space. Where you can perform that piece you thought you never would. Where you can Be Fearless.
The Last Outpost of Poetry
St Kilda's weekly poetry & spoken word open mic, hosted by Danksta Downunder, in Claypots seafood restaurant @ 213 Barkly Street. Bar snacks & drinks available to whet your appetite for words that may or may not rhyme, let alone make sense &/or nonsense!
The Last Outpost of Poetry
St Kilda's weekly poetry & spoken word open mic, hosted by Danksta Downunder, in Claypots seafood restaurant @ 213 Barkly Street. Bar snacks & drinks available to whet your appetite for words that may or may not rhyme, let alone make sense &/or nonsense!
Poetry Bauhaus ft. TBD
Poetry Bauhaus is a fabulous gig set in West Gippsland, Warragul.
Feature TBD
Plus a popular open mic, where poets vie for the much coveted Bauhaus Poetry Cup, also a support feature in our next gig.
Convened by Yvette Stubbs,
supported by Baw Baw Arts Alliance..
The Last Outpost of Poetry
St Kilda's weekly poetry & spoken word open mic, hosted by Danksta Downunder, in Claypots seafood restaurant @ 213 Barkly Street. Bar snacks & drinks available to whet your appetite for words that may or may not rhyme, let alone make sense &/or nonsense!
Chamber Poets #116 - Lish Skec & Paul Skec
Chamber Poets #116 - Lish Skec & Paul Skec
With a hearty open section, great original live music from Black Forest Smoke and good value RSL food and drinks. 1pm for a 115pm start..
Ballarat Spoken Word
Our monthly Spoken Word gathering. Optional prompt for one of your pieces. 5 minute time slots. All welcome.
Radio Laria Poetry
For women and gender diverse poets, writers and story tellers to gather, be heard and to inspire.
Chamber Poets #117 - PiO & Sandy Callow
Chamber Poets #117 - PiO & Sandy Callow
With a hearty open section, great original live music from Black Forest Smoke and good value RSL food and drinks. 1pm for a 115pm start..
To The Ends Of The 'Verse September
To The Ends of the 'Verse is a casual poetry night for people to share their works or the works of others. Sharing very new or rough drafts is certainly encouraged and no prior poetry experience is required. Our band, O'Stanger-Tang! offer up freestyle jams and improvised vocals, this night is very welcoming and wholesome 🙂. See listing details for open mic signup.
Spoken Word @ Bar Oussou
Hosted by MC Danksta Downunder, the format is OPEN MIC for all to join!
No-one knows what will happen on the night! All languages are welcome here. 100% survival rate for first-time performers guaranteed. Spoken Word @ Bar Oussou has a long history within the Melbourne poetry scene - come and join in every Tuesday
The Last Outpost of Poetry
St Kilda's weekly poetry & spoken word open mic, hosted by Danksta Downunder, in Claypots seafood restaurant @ 213 Barkly Street. Bar snacks & drinks available to whet your appetite for words that may or may not rhyme, let alone make sense &/or nonsense!
Ballarat Spoken Word - ‘Collage’
Our monthly Spoken Word gathering. Optional prompt for one of your pieces. 5 minute time slots. All welcome.
Perc.U.Lations ft. Gerard Lewis-Fitzgerald (at Vespertine Gardens!)
Our Poetry and Spoken Word events are held on the second Saturday of the month at 3 p.m., with a Poetry Writing Workshop running from 2 to 3.
***Please take note of the new venue: Vespertine Gardens, 6 Cadle Street, Dandenong 3175 Vic.
Do be in touch with Anke should the weather report indicate rain, etc.
Our feature this September is Gerard Lewis-Fitzgerald
Ross Donlon and Tric O’Heare @ Cherry Poets
‘Two authors, two poetic forms, a necklace of free association: this is an innovative concept for a new collection of poems in which two people’s memories correspond and bounce off one another, poem by poem, so that the whole becomes a richly imagined chain of response.’
-Sarah Day
Chamber Poets #114 - Ian Gostelow & Talon Gostelow
Chamber Poets #114 - Ian Gostelow & Talon Gostelow
With a hearty open section, great original live music from Black Forest Smoke and good value RSL food and drinks. 1pm for a 115pm start..
Mother Tongue Poetry September 2025: Sevgi Boga
This in one of our bi-monthly events with a Feature Artist and 8 open mic spots. Mother Tongue is a place for Passionate, Powerful, Vulnerable and Honest performance; it stands aside from most Spoken Word events in its depth and authenticity.
Simba Sessions Presents: Luke Howard, Madeliene Cope & Tony Blaine
Come join us for a warm candlelit night of music, poetry and story. The Simba Sessions is a intentional monthly event, curated around a theme. As our artist offer their own stories, we review our own.
Doors open 7pm. All welcome.
Food and drink available.
Yarra Valley Spoken Word September 2025 - Mandy Segal
Welcome to our Yarra Valley Spoken Word Community.
We meet at The Dreaming Space Academy at Yarra Valley ECOSS, Wesburn on the second Friday of the month and welcome you to join us and share your musings.
Feature: Mandy Segal
Naked Poetry
Hosted by Nathanael Wright, each session shall see a collection of men set to enthral you with their poetic insights. Each night of this masculinity-focused, tear-jerking smorgasbord promises to stimulate the mind, touch the heart, and celebrate the beauty of vulnerability.
And also the poets will be naked.
The Motley Open-Haus
Welcome to the Motley Openhaus! A space to let your heart bleed and words run. An inclusive, encouraging space for writers of all experiences to come up and read whatever they've been working on. Long form, short stories, haikus, spoken word, if you wanna say it, we wanna hear it! Every Wednesday evening, 7:30 start. Free entry
Chaotic Musings: Poetry Open Mic
A fortnightly open showcase of spoken word, poetry & all other language arts. Hosted at Creatures of Habit, Fitzroy.
Smooth talkers, slick walkers, gather round for a night of linguistic subtlety and sultry word play. Vibe Union presents: Chaotic Musings; with the guidance of poet & MC Jason Voss, we'll be talking a journey through words and experiences. Whether you’re a rapper, poet, spoken word enthusiast who put words to the page but never performed, this stage is for you. All skill levels are welcome and encouraged!
Café Philosophique: The Past
Café Philosophique runs the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Bridge Hotel in Werribee, exploring the hidden forces that shape our lives through music, poetry and conversation.
Feature: Amanda Anastasi
Spoken Word @ Bar Oussou
Hosted by MC Danksta Downunder, the format is OPEN MIC for all to join!
No-one knows what will happen on the night! All languages are welcome here. 100% survival rate for first-time performers guaranteed. Spoken Word @ Bar Oussou has a long history within the Melbourne poetry scene - come and join in every Tuesday
Slamalamadingdong! ft. Parth Rahatekar
Since 2011, Slama has been a space where spoken word Poets celebrate intersectional community and encourage each other to bring their absolute best work to the stage.
After a two month hiatus, we’re back! This time with an exciting collaboration with the City of Literature’s Slamovision and a feature like peanut butter mac, interstellar banana split with a chocolate covered cherry on top!
Parth Rahatekar is a performance poet and writer from Pune, currently based in Naarm/Melbourne. Their practice is focused on conjuring vivid, pluralistic evocations and imagery that extend beyond systems of violence, trauma and identity.
Naked Poetry
Hosted by Nathanael Wright, each session shall see a collection of men set to enthral you with their poetic insights. Each night of this masculinity-focused, tear-jerking smorgasbord promises to stimulate the mind, touch the heart, and celebrate the beauty of vulnerability.
And also the poets will be naked.
The Last Outpost of Poetry
St Kilda's weekly poetry & spoken word open mic, hosted by Danksta Downunder, in Claypots seafood restaurant @ 213 Barkly Street. Bar snacks & drinks available to whet your appetite for words that may or may not rhyme, let alone make sense &/or nonsense!
Floriography | Kyile Supski
In FLORIOGRAPHY, photographer Kylie Supski explores the idea of nature as a silent storyteller—where flowers act as metaphors, and each bloom carries a meaning beyond its petals.
This immersive projection-based show reframes photography as a way of expressing felt experiences, rather than simply capturing memories. Inspired by the belief that nature speaks in its own poetic language, Supski’s work invites viewers to see flowers as verses in an ongoing, wordless dialogue between nature and its observers.
Luke Patterson: A Savage Turn
Gamilaroi author and Next Chapter fellowship recipient Luke Patterson launches his electrifying debut poetry collection, A Savage Turn.
A Savage Turn is the searing debut from Gamilaroi author and poet, Luke Patterson. With biting wit and refreshing insight into modern and traditional life, Patterson takes readers to forest billabongs, to prisons and into nightmares of the not-so-distant past.
Rebecca Louise-Clarke @ Cherry Poets (2PM Feature!)
Feature: Rebecca Louise-Clarke is a poet, essayist and artist. Her work has been published in the form of 2 books, journal articles, digital stories and exhibitions.
NOTE: Feature will start at 2PM SHARP
Open mic as well.
Poetry From Agitation Hill ft Claire Gaskin
Poetry from Agitation Hill, on Djaara Country, Castlemaine presents Claire Gaskin, Friday September 6th 6-7pm EST. Please join us for a night of great poetry exclusively via zoom courtesy Ross Gillett, across Australia.
Claire Gaskinwill read for 20 minutes, followed by the popular QnA, involving the on line audience, concluding with her encore.
Jennifer Mackenzie: The Wallace Line: A Poem
Launch of Jennifer Mackenzie’s The Wallace Line: A Poem. Presented by Transit Lounge Publishing, with Gig Ryan launching.
The Motley Open-Haus
Welcome to the Motley Openhaus! A space to let your heart bleed and words run. An inclusive, encouraging space for writers of all experiences to come up and read whatever they've been working on. Long form, short stories, haikus, spoken word, if you wanna say it, we wanna hear it! Every Wednesday evening, 7:30 start. Free entry
Spoken Word @ Bar Oussou
Hosted by MC Danksta Downunder, the format is OPEN MIC for all to join!
No-one knows what will happen on the night! All languages are welcome here. 100% survival rate for first-time performers guaranteed. Spoken Word @ Bar Oussou has a long history within the Melbourne poetry scene - come and join in every Tuesday
The Last Outpost of Poetry
St Kilda's weekly poetry & spoken word open mic, hosted by Danksta Downunder, in Claypots seafood restaurant @ 213 Barkly Street. Bar snacks & drinks available to whet your appetite for words that may or may not rhyme, let alone make sense &/or nonsense!
Headless Poetry
Poetry begins with a head and must end headless": A new poetry event taking place at Red Betty, Sydney Rd., first Monday of every month.
featuring
Lucy Van / Claude Kempen / Juniper Maffescioni / Edith Mina Lyre
OutLoud Slam! 2025 Finals
Hosted by acclaimed poet and educator Emilie Zoey Baker, the OutLoud Slam is a vibrant celebration of young voices and original storytelling.
Think of it as the Eisteddfod of English class – a high-energy, heart-filled showcase where school teams perform three original poems, created individually or collaboratively, across two divisions: Years 7–9 and Years 10–12.
Udaan Presents Gaadi Bula Rahi Hai
Gaadi Bula Rahi Hai is Udaan’s debut show — a celebration of Hindi-Urdu storytelling, poetry, and music. Spoken Word & Theatre: Heartfelt monologues, stories, and performances about love, loss, hope, and memory. Live Music: Beautiful melodies blending classical sounds with contemporary soul. Poetry: From timeless ghazals to modern verses that move, heal, and inspire. A Visual Journey: Lights, props, and visuals that create the feeling of a shared journey.
slamtidote! Cuffing Season Poetry Party
To really celebrate the last legs of the winter a.k.a the "Cuffing season", we figured we'll give you the classic Slamtidote energy, another month in a row!
With the loose theme: "Cuffing season" (totally optional, just in case a poem comes to your mind; come enjoy two rounds of poetry open mic and two musicians, (musicians yet to be announced!!!)