We had a wonderful night at our Belfast Book Festival poetry slam last night, with a packed audience there to enjoy some excellent live poetry and honour the memory of a Belfast poetry pioneer, Brian Bailey.

After three high-quality and close scoring rounds, one person emerged victorious... congratulations to David Braziel, our Slam Champion 2017 and inaugural winner of the Brian Bailey Memorial Cup!

David saw off fierce competition in the final round from Patricia Devlin-Hill, Nathan Armstrong and Anthony Ferguson, who each put in a brilliant display over the three rounds.

A big thank you to our receptive and loving audience, our guest judges Peter Francis Fahy, Charmain J Porter and Bill Jeffrey, along with Jane Bailey and Fred Van't Sand for their moving tributes to Brian on the night. Many thanks also to the amazing, hard-working festival team at Crescent Arts Centre for all their support and assistance!

The Belfast Book Festival is almost upon us, and once again, Poetry NI is presenting the annual Book Festival Poetry Slam.

This year, in addition to being crowned Slam Champion and receiving the inaugural Brain Bailey Memorial Cup, we are delighted to announced that Poetry NI will also consider a pamphlet-length manuscript by the winning poet to be released by our publishing wing, Pen Points Press. So that's just one more reason to book your ticket and enter!

In additional, many thanks to everyone who attended our workshop and showcase reading for the NI Mental Health Arts and Film Festival. Poet Peter Adair, who read at the event, has done a recap of the readings for Lagan Online.

Poetry NI proudly presents The Belfast Book Festival Poetry Slam
Friday 9th June, Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast, 9pm (£4 entry)

Open to all poets, we invite you to take the mic and enter our annual poetry slam competition. Share your work in front of a lively and appreciative audience, with new readers always welcome.

To enter, just register at the start of the night; names will be drawn out at random, with each poet invited onstage to read, competing to become Slam Champion 2017!

This year, the winner will receive the inaugural Brian Bailey Memorial Cup, in tribute to the much missed poet and pioneer of the Belfast live poetry scene. Poems in tribute to Brian will also be read out on the night.

For full rules, click here.

Check out our Facebook event page, book tickets via the Crescent Box Office or purchase on the night.

Many thanks to all our readers and listeners who came down to our open mic on a sunny May evening!

In orderof names drawn out of the hat, our readers were:
Linda McKenna, Mark Brownlee, Daryl Fletcher, Helen Hastings, Patrick Taggart. Thomas Elliott, Ross Thompson, Peter Adair, Joe Neal, Siobhán McCafferty, Ray Givans, Anthony Haughey, Geraldine O'Kane, Nathan Elout-Armstrong, Carla McG, Gareth Osborne, Samantha Patrick, and Sean Fitzsimmons

Our next event is the Belfast Book Festival Poetry Slam on Friday 9th June at 9pm, the winner of which will receive the inaugural Brian Bailey Memorial Cup. More details soon...

Poetry NI presents presents two special events for this year's NI Mental Health Arts & Film Festival at the EastSide Visitor Centre (402 Newtownards Road, Belfast) on Saturday 27th May.

Both events are free. Readers so far include Lara Sunday, Patrick Taggart, Willetta Fleming, Tory Campbell, Vincent Creelan, Geraldine O'Kane and Colin Dardis, with more to be confirmed soon.

Here it is... our special Mix Tape of audio poems for Poetry Day Ireland!

In collaboration with Lagan Online, we present 29 poets from across Ireland, with 45 minutes of auditory allegories, sonorous stanzas and versified voices.

Co-editor Geraldine O'Kane: "It was more than a pleasure to listen to so many wonderful submissions, and to put voice to many names I've read over the years. May you enjoy your Poetry Day Ireland in as many mediums as is possible!"

All the tracks are available to stream and download for free from Lagan's Soundcloud page. Happy listening!