Where poets speak since 1993
the story
STL
It's about the poetry
providing a platform for poets
The St. Louis Poetry Slam was started in 1989 when Marc Smith transplanted it from Chicago to the Venice Cafe, hosted by Bob Putnam. It remained there for the 1990, 1991 and 1992 season and moved to the Wabash Triangle Cafe. The Slam was hosted originally at both cafes by Bob Putnam. The St. Louis Poetry Slam would send their first team to national in 1993. Rob Templeton replaced Putnam as host, and was the host until the Wabash Triangle Cafe burned down on the morning of Friday, March 18th, 1994.
When the Wabash tragically burned down in 1994, The St. Louis Poetry Slam was void for 3 years. In 1997 Kevin McCameron, Hari Sky Campbell, Peter Sparks and David Noble rebooted the Slam on a dare from Michael O’Brian at Blueberry Hill. In 2000, The St. Louis Poetry Slam would send their first team to Nationals since 1993, with Michael O’Brian being the only poet from the 93’ team. Kareem Hameed becoming the youngest poet to join The St. Louis Poetry Slam Team at 15 yrs old. In 2003, The St. Louis Poetry Slam would become part of the programming for a new grassroot organization called “Words In Motion”. They would support the art of poetry and slam poets. The St. Louis Poetry Slam took place at venues such as- Llywellyn’s, The Red Sea, Dressell’s, and Rhythm & Brews, Legacy Cafe, and Shanti
In 2006, The Focal Point would become the permanent venue space for slam, hosted by Slam Master Kevin McCameron. In 3 years, The St. Louis Poetry Slam scene would change with poets leaving the city and starting new endeavors. In 2009, MK Stallings of the 2009 slam team would start up a second slam season to galvanize poets aspiring to be slam poets and writers. This new slam season would be called “UrbSlam”. Both slams would be hosted once a month. From 2009-2011, neither slam would send a team to national competition. In 2012 UrbSlam would send its first team to a national competition called, Southern Poetry Fried Poetry Slam in Tampa, Fl. In 2014, UrbSlam would take a team to Nationals in Oakland, CA for the first time since 2009.
In May of 2015, MK Stallings began his tenure as slammaster/coach and Kevin McCameron assumed the position of slam master emeritus. The Saint Louis Poetry Slam is now placed under Urbstetiks Inc (501)c3 non for profit as the official poetry program. In June of 2020 Sahara Sista Sols and Gregory Maurice began tenure as Co-slammaster with James “Jay Luuve” Watford becoming slam coach and MK Stallings assumed the position as slam master emeritus and continues to be the Founder and Director of Urbstetiks Inc. In 2021, Gregory Maurice became lead slam master and rebranded The St. Louis Poetry Slam after 30 seasons.
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Things we do
Poetry activities
The Saint Louis Poetry Slam will be hosting different event this season. Poetry Labs will take poets into a frenzy of creative writing. Youth poet will have an opportunity this season to hit the stage with confidence and share their young and bold words. We believe in poets having fellowship so, let get out and kick back with poets bowl event. These activities are open to poets, writers, artist, creatives and non-artist.
THe Poetry Lab
Writing Lab
TBA
How To Perform
TBA
Writing Lab
TBA
Poetry Circle: Mental Health and Poems
TBA
Writing Lab
TBA
New Poem Creation
Oct
New Poem Creation
Dec
Sidewalk poetry 2024
Delmar Loop
May
Central West End
June
Downtown-Wash Ave
July
Cherokee Street
Aug
VerbQuake Open mic
Youth Open Mic
Nov
Youth Workshop
Dec
Youth Workshop
Jan
outreach with poets 2024
Sabayet Inc.
June
Tag Poetry Inc.
Aug
Non-for-Profit
TBA
Poet Kick Backs
Flamingo Bowl
Nov
chapbook club 2024
Know How Bookshop
May
Left Bank Books
July
Spine Indie Bookstore
Sept
poetry retreat 2025
Coming Soon
2025