Michael has been described as ‘the patron saint of Melbourne’s Poetry’ and is much loved by poets around Melbourne. He grew up in Geelong but is a mad Hawthorn fan. He started reading at the Dan in 1999 and currently runs Passionate Tongues at the Brunswick Hotel every second Monday night. He has done a lot for everyone, encouraging new poets to continue having a go on the open mic, and giving many of us our first features. He released a chapbook through Melbourne Poets Union called ‘Upon finding a chair in the forest’ in 2008 which has had four reprints since then. His work jumps out at you for it’s careful use of language and the hilarious word play poems. Michael is also known for his photography and many of his photo’s have been used to advertise and promote poets all around Melbourne and serve as a record of the history of the poetry scene.

Hear young, talented poet Robbie Coburn read brand new poems from a collection he is currently working on as well as some in-depth discussion about his poetic process, his influences and how he got started. We also take a closer look at particular poems and Robbie reveals how poetry saved him: “I 100% believe that I would be dead without poetry.” With musical excerpts by Lou Reed and Bob Dylan www.robbiecoburn.com.au

Heather Ellis reads from her just released book Ubuntu: one woman's motorcycle journey across Africa Heather was a fin de siècle journalism student  at James Cook University, Cairns, and awed everyone with her quiet tales of travelling across Africa solo by motorbike during the nineties. Heather, you are the spirit of 'ubuntu'. For more details visit: www.heather-ellis.com http://motorbikewriter.com/one-womans-epic-african-motorcycle-journey/ To follow on FaceBook seach Ubuntu: One Woman's Motorcycle Odyssey Across Africa Buy the book at: http://www.blackincbooks.com/books/ubuntu KEYWORDS: Ubuntu, motorcycle travel, motorcycle adventure, Africa travel, women adventurers, travel memoir, motorcycle journey, solo travel, Yamaha TT600

Barry reads the poem that inspired his love of poetry as a primary school kid in Keon Park. He also discusses his upcoming play on the Sydney anti-development activist, Juanita Neilsen. Barry Dickins is a much published poet, playwright, novelist and commentator.

Santo Cazzati performs Part One of his autobiographical spoken word oratorio, covering the first 12 years of life, from 1961-1972.

‘Wow! What a presence!’ ‘You didn’t just pop out of a flower, did you!’ These are some of the responses that Lady Longdrop (aka Kendra Keller) has been receiving, as she claims her place on stages and at campfires around the country. But the feed-back she likes best is an electric silence. Her sensuous surreal poetry is a delicate weave of themes and images that will make you fall in love with the moon. ‘Hey Moon!’ – her début collection of poems - has been described as ‘serious poetry’ and ‘pure magic’.

Listen to Peter Godforsaken Matthews (stage name of author and journalist Peter Salvatore Matthews) share his excitement for Australian history through poetry. He really makes it come alive in performing his ‘short epic’ Vandemonian in its entirety, on the programme. Also learn more about this talented writer and his interesting writing background. It’s a cracker of a programme, sure to intrigue.Musical except by David Jones and Friends.If you would like to find out more about Peter Godforsaken Matthews / Peter Salvatore Matthews, find him on facebook for check out his blog at https://loljournalism.wordpress.com/Programme presented and produced by Ela Fornalska.

Norman Jensen, Steve Smart, Lish Skec and Patrick Boyle read poetry.The last three poets read live at tribute to late Patrick Alexanderhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Alexander_%28poet%29 Produced by Peter davis

Barry Dickins is guest on Spoken Word, interviewed by Di Cousenshttp://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A21819 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barry_Dickins https://www.goodreads.com/author/list/53278.Barry_Dickinshttp://dailyreview.com.au/picture-this-barry-dickins/9205

SISTA ZAI is a storyteller who uses spoken word to explore the political through her personal and lived everyday experiences. Zai’s social justice work takes place within the Stillwaters Women’s Storytelling Collective, which she founded in 2011 with the intention of making diverse and underrepresented voices and issues heard in the mainstream. Sista Zai is also a radio announcer on 3CR’s Hip Sista Hop show (Monday @ 1pm on 855am), where she showcases music by women and indigenous Australians and a spoken word segment featuring live readings from local poets.JAMIE KING-HOLDEN's first book of poetry, Chemistry, was published by Whitmore Press in 2011. Her poetry has appeared in Antipodes, Capsule, Cordite, Dotdotdash, Eureka Street, Ekleksographia, Mascara Literary Review and Verandah. She was shortlisted for the Gwen Harwood Poetry Prize in 2010 and was guest emerging writer for the Mildura Writers festival in 2011.