Controversial stories through spoken word and the sounds of Queensland Symphony Orchestra – what a combo! Slam Poet and renowned wordsmith Luka Lesson will team together with the incredible Queensland Symphony Orchestra – for a one night only as part of the 2018 WAVE Festival on Friday 20 April 2018.

An Australian poet of Greek heritage, Luka Lesson has a way with words and will apply his unique blend of performance poetry and lyricism, dissecting the legacy and effect left by Major General Lachlan Macquarie on the Australian communities, in a collaboration with acclaimed composer and music-maker Gordon Hamilton (the composer-conductor behind the smash hit collaboration of Tom Thum + Queensland Symphony Orchestra).

Who is Luka Lesson?
Luka Lesson is an Australian writer, spoken word performer and cultural changemaker of Greek heritage with seven years of international touring, 15 Writers Festivals, 10 years of workshop experience and over a decade of writing under his belt. As a performer he embodies the lineage of oratory performance, captivating audiences with a musicality of storytelling, and earning accolades from some of the world’s most respected poets and speakers.

Is there anything he can’t do?
We forgot to mention that when he isn’t spreading his genius spoken word on the stage, he is working with young people to develop their confidence and encourage them to use spoken word as a tool of empowerment and improve self-determination.

Wait, there’s more…
Luka Lesson holds First Class Honours in Indigenous Studies and has taught alongside academics at Monash University. He also holds a Masters of Sound Design from the Victorian College of the Arts, University of Melbourne.

If the incredibly talented Luka Lesson isn’t enough to get you to the Brisbane Powerhouse on Friday 20 April – listen to this… In her first collaboration with Queensland Symphony Orchestra and kicking off the night is a brand new work by classically trained, rock star composer Heather Shannon; who is known for her ARIA award-winning work with hit music sensation The Jezabels. Wrapping up this phenomenal night out is American composer John Adams’ contemporary classic Chamber Symphony, written back in 1992.

This musical brilliance and cultural combination is guaranteed to be filled with controversy, character and damn good music – something not to be missed.

Luka Lesson with Queensland Symphony Orchestra – Part of the 2018 WAVE Festival
Brisbane Powerhouse
Friday 20 April 2018 – 7pm
www.brisbanepowerhouse.org

QPF aims to inspire, entertain, challenge, and embrace the wide possibility of poetic expression in all of its forms – page poetry, readings, slam, spoken word, performance, music, ekphrastic poetry, collaborations, installations, cross-platform creations, film, and more – to a wide audience. QPF is the flagship poetry and spoken word festival in the country, and an important part of Australia’s annual literary calendar, with an established reputation for excellence and innovation amongst audience, artists and industry worldwide.

With an annual four-day festival plus satellite events held in the last week in August, QPF also curates and administers the following signature projects: Arts Queensland Poetry Awards, Arts Queensland Poet in Residence Program, Indigenous Poet in Residence, Brisbane Poetry Map, SlammED! Schools program, Queensland Heats & Final of the Australian Poetry Slam, and regional tours & events.

QPF partners with various organisations and individuals throughout the year to host a year-long program of launches, workshops, and other events, including the Riverbend Poetry Series and Couplet at Brisbane Square Library which is held on the first Friday every month.

Queensland Poetry Festival 2017
24-27 August 2017
Various locations around Brisbane
www.queenslandpoetryfestival.com

From the simmering shores of “Polynesia” to the Bogan streets of Australia, from Africa and Asia, to the life of a single mother who happens to be a DJ, Hot Brown Honey undress sticky topics with side-splitting humour.

Join a carefully selected assortment of brown, black and mixed beauties in an explosion of colour, culture and controversy. Fighting the Power never tasted so sweet.

Hot Brown Honey
Wednesday 16 to Saturday 26 September
Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts
www.judithwrightcentre.com

50+ sessions featuring interstellar guests Les Murray, Quan (Regurgitator), Mayda Del Valle (US), Angela Meyer, MacGillivray (Scotland), Michael Farrell, Ivy Alvarez (NZ), Omar Musa, C.R. Avery (Canada), David Brooks, Krissy Kneen, Ryan Van Winkle (Scotland), Hope One (NZ), Justin Stephenson (Canada), Damian Cowell (TISM), and the 2015 Arts Queensland Poet in Residence Kate Durbin (pictured).

Plus special in-flight features the 2015 Poetry Awards, Australian Poetry Slam – QLD Final, SlammED! school slam final, HELLO SELFIE live project, black&write! session, and #wanderingcloud transmitting cycles of rain to the stage.

Queensland Poetry Festival 2015
Friday 28 to Sunday 30 August 2015
Performance Space and Shopfront, JWCOCA
www.judithwrightcentre.com