A glimpse into the LEAF SLAM!
Scroll down for past SLAM WINNERS!

Leaf Poetry Slammaster, James Navι (imaginativestorm.com) runs one of the best Poetry Slams in the country. Every Saturday in Eden Hall, nationally ranked Slam Poets gather for a friendly, topsy turvy, shake the stage poetry competition. The winner takes home a $1000.

SPECIAL LEAF POETRY SLAM FACT : In the past six years, the top four competitors in the final three rounds of the Leaf Slam have been nationally ranked poets. More than a few are national Poetry Slam champions like Joaquin Zihuatanejo, Roger Bonair-Agard, and Sonia Renιe.

October 2009 LEAF SLAM WINNERS!
#1 John (Renaissance) Harris • Winston Salem, NC
#2 Theresa Davis • Atlanta, GA
#3 Gayle Danley • Baltimore, MD
#4 Malika • College Park, GA
#5 Kevin Barger • Asheville, NC
#6 Graham Hackett • Asheville, NC
#7 Arhn Choi • Asheville, NC
#8 Jerri Hardesty • Brierfield, AL
#9 Felix Dowsley • St. Louis, MO
#10 Kapila McNary • Asheville, NC

LEAF Poetry

Poetry is one of the oldest arts and creative paths of expression. LEAF creates a poetic scenario to explore words and poetry in several ways: performances, slams, and interactive workshops. So speak out. The Poetry Slam has swept the nation and The Leaf Slam is one of the best. Nationally recognized poets & daring novices descend on LEAF to blaze like meteors day and night taking you on a journey. It's high energy! It's real! It's authentic! It's poetry! It's fun. Come and be part of it.

""LEAF Poetry Slam opened me up to bigger dreams- I was MONUMENTALLY INSPIRED. I sat for 6 hours in one chair toward the front and could not stop crying as i listened to 'rip your heart out' poems. I would wipe the tears from my face and wait eagerly for the next one." " ~ Terri from Atlanta  

Slammaster and Poetic Host, James Nave'

Jim Nave' brings more than twenty years of experience to the craft of presenting poetry on stage. He is one of the cofounders of Poetry Alive! and has been active of the Poetry Slam community since 1991. In addition, he has memorized over 600 poems and performed thousands of shows in the U.S. and abroad. For the past ten years, he has co-taught with Julia Cameron author of The Artist's Way. Nave' holds his MFA in poetry from Vermont College. He splits his time between Asheville, NC and Taos, NM.
thewritingsalon.net

The LEAF Poetry SLAM!
1st Place SLAM Prize $1000+ house raisin' $$ !

$34-$45 entrance fee for LEAF Slam includes SATURDAY admission to all festival events. Weekend festival pass includes the entrance fee for the Slam. Tickets do sell out. BUY your tickets in advance via 828/68-MUSIC (686-8742) or http://www.theleaf.com/tickets

Sign up at Sundance Solar Tent (former Poetry Tent) Saturday early afternoon; Qualifying Round: 3:30-5:30pm
SLAM Finals in Eden Cabaret Hall Saturday Night: 8:30-11pm (check schedule for updates/changes )
Other poetry events & featured artists such as GRAHAM HACKETT, POETIX VANGUARD, MINTON SPARKS are listed on the schedule & performers page http://www.theleaf.com/performers

Prizes include (all $$ depending on how much the house bids up & donations):

  • 1st Place: $1000 + next LEAF PERFORMER weekend pass
     
    ($220 value. Includes food. Guest is NOT included)
  • 2nd & 3rd Place: $$$ + next LEAF PERFORMER weekend pass  ($220 value. Includes food. Guest is NOT included. Fri-Sun)
  • 4th & 5th Place: $$ + next LEAF weekend pass  ($120 value. Does NOT include food/Guest. Fri-Sun)
  • 6th & 7th & 8th Place: $ + next LEAF weekend pass  ($120 value. Does NOT include food/Guest. Fri-Sun)

Youth Slam

Now in its ninth full year, with a new high record set at last spring, the Youth Slam! is looking to be another show of sound and fury, and laughs, and silence... the Youth have plenty to say about a lot of things, including where we think We're headed! come out to Kids Village Stage, and hear a piece of fortune or participate as a random audience judge!

""I was at the Poetry Slam this weekend at LEAF. I was SO impressed by all of those young poets!
Thanks!
" ~ Emily

LEAF Poetry SLAM Winners!
"Superb, excellent, top quality poets." - Sharon

May 2009 LEAF SLAM WINNERS!
#1 WINNER Jonida “Gypsee Yo” Beqo • Kennespaw, GA
#2 Joaquin Zihuatanejo • Dento, TX
#3 Theresa Davis • Atlanta, GA
#4 Carlos Robson • Cashiers, NC
#5 Jonthan Brown • Charleston, SC
#6 Chris August • Baltimore, MD
#7 Baraka Noel • Wheaton, MD
#8 Jim Dwyer • St. Petersburg, FL
#9 Mike
#10 Chris Wilson • Baltimore, MD
#11 AJ • Greensboro, NC
#12 Alex Allan • Brimingham, AL
#13 Kapila • Asheville, NC
#14 Natasha Carrizosa • Fort Worth, TX
#15 Dusty Rose • Medford, OR
#16 John Perry • Blacksburg, VA
#17 Jerri Hardesty • Brierfield, AL
#18 Sam Pedisich • Asheville, NC
#19 Sildag-John Starino • Lexington, SC
#20 Justin Blackburn

OCTOBER 2008 LEAF SLAM WINNERS!
#1 Kane Smego (Novakane) • Carrboro, NC
#2 Twain Dooley • Baltimore, MD
#3 Boris Rogers (Bluz)
#4 Chris August • Baltimore, MD
#5 Ryan Mergen • Ellicott City, MD
#6 Theresa Davis • Atlanta, GA
#7 CJ Swift • Carroboro, NC
#8 Coert Ambrosino • Asheville, NC
#9 C.P. Maze • Charlotte, NC
#10 Quentin “Q” Talley • Charlotte, NC
#11 Sherry Cole (Black Swan) • Charlotte, NC
#12 Jonathan Brown • Charleston, SC
#13 Kapia Mcnary
#14 Jerri Hardesty • Brierfield, Al
#15 Jon Jones • Asheville, NC

MAY 2008 LEAF SLAM WINNERS!
#1 "Bluz" Boris Rogers • Charlotte, NC
#2 Joined “Gypsee Yo” Beqo • Kennesaw, GA
#3 Theresa Davis • East Point, GA
#4 Sherry Cole (Swan) • Charlotte, NC
#5 Jillian Buckley • Asheville, NC
#6 Jonthan Brown • Charleston, SC
#7 Quentin Talley (Q) • Charlotte, NC
#8 Tavis Brunson • Charlotte, NC
#9 Mariaangela Mihai • Marietta, SC
#10 Jerri Hardesty • Briefield, AL
#11 Kapila #12 Antonion Lovo • Charlotte, NC

OCTOBER 2007 LEAF SLAM WINNERS
#1 Twain Dooley • Baltimore, MD
#2 Jonida Beqo (Gypsee Yo) • Kennesaw, GA
#3 Boris Rogers (Bluz) • Charlotte, NC
#4 Sherry Cole (Swan) • Charlotte, NC
#5 Q • Charlotte, NC
#6 C.P. Maze • Charlotte, NC
#7 Tavis Brunson • Charlotte, NC
#8 Theresa Davis • East Point, GA
#9 Chris August • Middle River, MD
#10 Copperhead Red • Knoxville, TN
#11 Jerry Hardesty • Briefield, AL
#12 Heather Aletha • Scotch Plains, NJ

MAY 2007 LEAF  SLAM WINNERS
THE WINNER!!  Joined “Gypsee Yo” Beqo  • Kennespaw, GA  
#2  Bluz Boris Rogers • Charlotte, NC
#3 Chris August • Middle River, MD  
#4  Alvin Lau  • Chicago, Il  
#5  Joanna Hoffman • Gaithersburg, MD
#6  Carlos
#7 Theresa Davis • East Point, GA
#8 Dave Schein  • Timonium, MD
 #9 Black Swan  • Charlotte, NC
#10 Tavis Brunson • Charlotte, NC
#11 Reah Scruggs • Knoxville, TN
#12 Chris Wilson  • Whiteford, MD
#13 Mariangela Mihai  • Clemson, Sc 29631
#14 Alicia Best • Durham, NC
 
"The poetry slam finals absolutely BLEW ME AWAY!   This year took it to a new level.  There were so many national caliber slammers that some of them didn’t even make the finals.  I heard people say that this year's LEAF slam was better then the national championship.  Whatever you are doing to bring these people in, keep it up.  More, more, MORE!  Thanks for the incredible slam."  ~ Cat

LEAF SLAM OCTOBER 2006!!

  • #1 WINNER Rhonda T
  • #2 Ryan Mergen Nottingham, MD
  • #3 Tavis Brunson Columbia, SC
  • #4 Chris August Middle River, MD
  • #5 Joanna Hoffman Baltimore, MD
  • #6 Renaissance / John Harris Winston-Salem, NC
  • #7 Ed Mabrey Groveport, OH
  • #8 Maze Forever
  • #9 Twain Dooley Baltimore, MD
  • #10 Jon Brown Greenville, SC
  • #11 Meisha
  • #12 Swan


MAY 2006 LEAF SLAM WINNERS!!

  • #1 Chris August Middle River, MD
  • #2 Gail Danley Baltimore, MD
  • #3 Black Falcon , Lexington, KY
  • #4 Ryan Mergen, Nottingham, MD
  • #5  Jerri Hardesty, Brierfield, AL
  • #6 Renaissance / John Harris, Winston-Salem, NC
  • #7 Twain Dooley , Baltimore, MD
  • #8 J.T. Bullock , Birmingham, AL
  • #9 Mariangela Mihai, Clemson, SC
  • #10 Joanna Hoffman, Gaithersburg, MD
  • #11 Ed Robson, Winston-Salem, NC
  • #12 Alicia Best, Durham, NC

YOUTH SLAM
October 2008 Winner
Deanna Gilmore
won with her poem "Seemingly Seamless"
READ Winning Youth Poem - click here














May 05 Results

  1. Carlos Andrés Gomez
    NY, NY
  2. Chris August
    Baltimore, MD  
  3. DaMinister
    Columbia, SC
  4. Queen Sheba
    Chesapeake, VA  
  1. Terry Creech
    Charlotte, NC
  2. Exodus Smellwood
    Columbia, SC  
  3. Bluz Rogers
    Charlotte, NC  
  4. Carrie Gerstmann
    Asheville , NC
  1. Black Falcon
  2. Jonathan Brown
    Charleston, SC
  3. Sonya Renee
    Baltimore, MD
  4. Jerri Hardesty
    Briesfield, AL
  5. Jus Cause
    Greer, SC

Fall 04 Results

  • Jerri Hardesty (26.9)
  • Kimberly Zisa (27.1)
  • BG (27.2)
  • MazeForever (27.8)
  • DaMinisat (27.8)
  • Mekkah (27.8)
  • Bluz (28.0, 28.3)
  • Black Falcon (27.9, 28.9)
  • JB (28.1, 29.4, 28.1, 28.8)
  • NAM (28.2, 29.1, 29.1, 29.5, 29.0)
  • Christopher August (28.7, 29.6, 29.9, 29.7, 29.7)
  • Sonya Renee (28.7, 29.0, 29.0, 29.1, 29.8)

Youth Slam Fall 2004 Winner: Chelsea Sokolow

"I have attended LEAF for the last 10 or so years. Over the years I have come to love the poetry slam. It's really one of the central reasons that I come to LEAF. Thank you for creating and maintaining LEAF. it's one of my favorite places/times in the whole world!" - Sasha

Just wanted to let you know that the Poetry Slam was AWESOME this year! Last year was the first year at LEAF for us and we really loved the Poetry Slam. We came back this year just for this event – and we just moved to PA so the drive was 12 hours to get there! We weren’t let down – the Slam was even better than last year and well worth the trip. Thanks so much for such and incredible festival, but especially for the Poetry Slam. -R