For the first time ever at Cherry Poets, Lauren Williams is back!

'Well that doesn't make sense' I hear you mutter. 'Hah, says you!' says I. Because Lauren was one of the most beloved members of the Dan Poets community, so it feels exactly like she's back. And that makes us very happy indeed.

And there's open mic, so you can be back too. Sign up for the open mic starts at 1pm and the gig kicks off at 2pm. Now it's on to the bio...

BIO

A veteran of Melbourne’s live poetry scene, Lauren discovered it by chance in 1982, and was active in it for the next 25 years, before relocating to central Victoria in 2007.

She has performed Australia-wide and internationally at poetry festivals and events large and small; reviewed for Australian Book Review; worked in the legendary bookshop Collected Works, taught poetry, briefly and controversially, at RMIT; was an associate editor with Going Down Swinging; Poet-in-Residence for Radio National; and convened La Mama Poetica for several years. Prior to and throughout her poetic career, Lauren sang in many bands, and was Australia’s first gigging female rapper, back in 1989-90.

Prizes include the 1992 Launceston Poetry Cup (Australia’s oldest slam format prize), the 2000 Melbourne Writers Festival Poetry Slam, and the Melbourne Poets Union International Prize in 2003.

Lauren’s work has appeared in many journals, magazines, and anthologies, with collections published by Penguin Books, Five Islands Press, Picaro Press, and Soup Publications. Her most recent book is Cleanskin Poems (2016, Island Press Co-operative).

In the mid-2000s, her focus shifted to songwriting. She performs and records under her full name – Lauren Lee Williams. Her 2nd album, She Blew Into Town, was released in 2022 and is available on Bandcamp. Books, CDs & download cards will be for sale at the gig

COST: Free

ACCESSIBILITY NOTES: Step up to access to venue. Staff can assist with entry for wheelchair users. Toilets may be too narrow for wheelchair access.