Word Up! 2017 Grand Final

An evening of original word-based performance by young people, in association with the Going West Books and Writers Festival. Be in the audience to hear young singer-songwriters, poets and rappers present their own original work. Yes, it's a contest, and there are prizes to be won!

The winner of Word Up! will receive:

Bragging rights as the Word Up Winner 2017!
•  A free recording session with David Atai from Neisan Mystik thanks to Crescendo Trust
• An interview and opportunity to perform live on bFM and Base FM
• An industry standard Shure microphone for your future performances
• The opportunity to perform at the Going West Readers and Writers Poetry Slam Final on Saturday 9 September
….and more!!

Entries for Word Up! 2017 are now closed. Entrants please check the email address you provided on your application as we have sent you an audition time that you MUST confirm attendance for. Best of luck! With double the entries of last year, Word Up! 2017 is going to be better than ever!

Highlights from Word-Up! 2016

Our Judges:

Marina Alefosio

Marina is a spoken word artist, rapper, mother and workshop facilitator.  As a performance poet, Marina was a member of the critically acclaimed South Auckland Poets Collective and has performed both locally and internationally at venues and events such as the Nuyorican Poets Café (New York), Te Papa Museum (Wellington), the Adelaide Fringe Festival and TEDX Auckland. She has led many performance and poetry workshops for adults and young people. 

Ken Arkind

Ken Arkind is an American National Poetry Slam Champion, Tedx Speaker, Nuyorican Poets Cafe Grand Slam Champion and published author who has performed his work in 49 States, 7 countries and at over 300 colleges and universities. He is the founding Program Director of Denver Minor Disturbance, an independent literary arts organization dedicated to helping Colorado youth find voice through the mediums of poetry and performance. Ken has recently completed his Bachelor of Creative Arts at Manukau Institute of Technology specializing in creative writing. He works as a Poet/Youth Mentor for Action Education where he teaches workshops to youth through out the country and coordinates Word the Front line, Aotearoa’s first inter-scholastic Youth Poetry Slam. 

 Bailey Wiley

Few artists come new to the game with such a fearless and complete approach to music. Bailey Wiley filters neo-soul classicism through modern, righteous and true live musicianship, the star of the show, her golden voice – both effortless and organic. She has fast gained the respect from her peers & audiences alike.

 After releasing her debut album IXL, in May 2014 to rave reviews followed by the highly anticipated SOMM EP. Which was released globally in April 2016 receiving huge praise from fans and industry peers. Bailey has already racked up an impressive amount of live performances & features, sharing the stage & collaborating with some of New Zealand most well known musical talent, Now taking that a step further and reaching out/ collaborating with international artists.