Local Poets to Compete for Nationals

has been in full swing since September, and on Friday, performance poets will gather for a grand slam event that could send them to a national competition.

Steel City Slam Off, Pittsburgh’s biggest slam poetry event, is this Friday at the Union Project in East Liberty.

The slam poetry season runs from September through April. At the end of the season, the top 12 poets are chosen to participate in the Grand Slam. The top five Grand Slam winners compete in nationals, which are held in Charlotte, North Carolina this year.

“That Grand Slam is kind of the biggest poetry event of the year, because it sends us to nationals against all the other cities,” said Tera McIntosh, a Steel City Slam poet who lives in Brookline. “We’re the only registered slam poetry league in the City of Pittsburgh.”

Usually between 10 and 12 poets compete at each slam event, which are held about once a month leading up to the Grand Slam event. McIntosh said between 60 and 70 poets compete throughout the season.

Between performances by adult league members on Friday, members of , a newly formed youth slam poetry league. Members of Young Steel are from Brookline and surrounding communities throughout the South Hills, and into Washington County.

A comedian also will perform at Friday’s event.

For more information, see the Steel City Slam and Young Steel Facebook pages, or The Union Project website.

If you’re going:

• What: Steel City Slam Off.
• When: Friday, May 4 at 8 p.m.
• Where: The Union Project, 801 North Negley Ave., Pittsburgh
• Cost: $10
• Extras: BYOB, with limited free beer available. Donations will be accepted. Age limit is 18 and older, and identification will be checked at the door.