Sunshine Coast Spoken Word

15/06/2026

A GOODFEST STORY TO WARM THE COCKLES OF YOUR ART

The pics below are of two NImbin good ol' boys, in the NIM FM Community Radio Studio 25 years ago. The guy on the left with the shocking in-between short-to-long period of hair is the local real estate agent (me), and the other spivvy-lookin' desperado is Andy Kavasilas, the Sleek Sheikh proprietor of the Oasis Cafe, well-known to international travellers, and the spiritual home of poetry in that part of the world. They are fu***ng around on Archie's Ego Trip, an infamous Nimbin radio show in the early oughties. Archie sold his successful real estate agency 5 years later to chase the big bucks as a writer and performance poet, and Andy sold the cafe to become a very significant pioneer in nutritional, medicinal and industrial h**p, as well as continuing his prominent role in drug law reform.

Both were friends of Irish Joe Lynch, who is the spiritual heart of GOODFEST. Andy was the first person I approached for sponsorship for the festival.
"How much do you want? Coupla grand?" he said.
"No, muthaf**ka, I want you to be our main sponsor, and it'll cost you five grand."
My gracious and artful response was rewarded.
"When do you want it? Now?"
I practically had to hose him down, such was his burning commitment to our little venture. So, thank you Andy, my old friend. This couldn't happen without you. And I love a sponsor with a great product and a commitment to the arts, which he’s had long before he became very successful in business, especially his current venture, Hempscape Building Supplies as the leading supplier of h**p building materials on Australia’s east coast. Check out his website at h**pscape.au See less

10/06/2026

LET'S CRANK GOODFEST! PLEASE SHARE😁

31/05/2026

WHY YOU SHOULD GO TO GOODFEST
(Gathering Of Oral Delights Festival)
MALENY JULY 31 - AUGUST 2

1. It's fantastic entertainment provided by brilliant poet/storytellers. These buggers not only write, they deliver their words with passion, skill and authenticity to stimulate all your emotions across the whole gamut of human experience. You will laugh, you will cry, you will be inspired, marriage proposals will (probably) occur. Many of you will start writing poems. Or intend to. 😇

2. GOODFEST is inspired by, and honours the legacy of, the late Irish Joe Lynch, a much-loved and respected icon of the Maleny community, and a legendary poet/storyteller on the Australian festival circuit.

3. There's a smorgasbord of entertainment beginning with the GOODFEST Poetry Slam—which will be a high octane fun event—on Friday night in Maleny Lane, heats, semis and final of The Joe Lynch Memorial Cup in the Maleny Community Centre throughout the weekend, and the Charity Gala Showcase on Saturday night. There's a $7000 prize pool and kick-ass trophy at stake, so everybody's bringing their A-game.

4. All profits from the Charity Gala Showcase go directly to the Maleny Hospital Auxiliary for their little palliative care unit that looked after Joe so beautifully. So, let's make this a sold-out event to raise thousands for a brilliant local cause. The Showcase offers 4 world-class spoken word acts in the first half, followed by two pulsing musical features. THERE WILL BE DANCING.

5. In an often dark and sh*tty world, take the opportunity to enjoy the light, laughter, love and inspiration the event offers. It's all about providing community, connection and entertainment in a beautiful mountain village teeming with funky shops, galleries and cafes, talking to friendly strangers, making new friends, maybe a walk in the rainforest at Mary Cairncross Park 5 minutes out of town. It's party time, people, in one of Australia's most beautiful locations. You know you want it, so treat yourselves.

6. You can buy a Festival Pass for $80 which gives you entry to all 9 events. Be quick because they're limited. Other tickets range in price from $10 to $30 and you can get them online for separate events. EVERY EVENT WILL BE UNIQUE—there is no repetition of content so see as many as you can. Link at bottom of this post.

7. Our magnificent sponsors so far are Hempscape Building Supplies, Mountain View Cafe at Mary Cairncross Park, Maleny & Hinterland Real Estate, Tranquil Getaways in Maleny and the Maleny Hotel. We need more to achieve budget, so rather than donate to a generic fund, sponsor a very tangible, community event and let us spruik your generosity like the electric wordsmiths we are through our wide-ranging social media, and throughout the event.

8. GOODFEST is the joint brainchild of Nick Grivas of Liquid Lyrics and Robin Archbold (Archie) of Sunshine Coast Spoken Word, and we are nice guys with CVs that guarantee a helluva festival. We can provide wonderful references not written by our mothers. 😁

https://events.humanitix.com/goodfest-gathering-of-oral-delights

01/05/2026

So this is what Nick Grivas of Liquid Lyrics and I have been cooking up. Click on the poster, peeps. Follow GOODFEST. We'd love your support. 😘

GOODFEST — Gathering of Oral Delights

A festival where voices become atmosphere.

Three days of spoken word, slam poetry, live music and storytelling in the heart of the Maleny hinterland. GOODFEST brings together poets, performers and audiences from across the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and beyond — a convergence of expression, connection and raw human truth.

At the centre of the festival is the Joe Lynch Memorial Cup, a major spoken word competition honouring one of Maleny’s most beloved poets. Across the weekend, voices rise through the ranks — from the opening slam to the final showdown — culminating in a powerful celebration of story, courage and craft.

With a total prize pool of $7,000, the stage is set for something special.

What’s On

Friday — Opening Night Slam
An intimate evening at Maleny Lane.
Poets step up, words hit deep, and the festival begins in a room alive with energy, connection and the unexpected.
Cash prizes up for grabs.

Saturday — Joe Lynch Memorial Cup Heats
The competition ignites.
32 poets take the stage across four heats, each bringing their truth, their fire, their moment. Only the strongest voices move forward.

Saturday Night — Charity Gala Showcase
A night of live music, feature performances and celebration.
A carefully curated lineup of guest poets — with artists to be announced — coming together in a space where art meets purpose, with all profits supporting a cancer charity.

Sunday — Semi Finals
The field narrows. The stakes rise.
The remaining poets bring everything they have, each performance a step closer to the final.

Sunday Night — Grand Final
The culmination.
The final voices. The final words.
One poet will take home the Joe Lynch Memorial Cup and a $2,500 prize, but every voice leaves its mark.

GOODFEST is more than a festival — it’s a gathering.
Of stories. Of people. Of moments that linger long after the final line lands.

Come for the poetry.
Stay for the feeling.

For Poets

Opening Slam: 3 minutes

Cup rounds: 7 minutes

Original work only

No props — just you and the mic

Progressing poets perform different sets

Full rules and registration details provided prior.

30/04/2026

SUNSHINE COAST HINTERLAND WRITERS FESTIVAL
STARLIT SHOWDOWN POETRY SLAM THIS SATURDAY NIGHT

I am so going to this! And I'm gonna do stuff. Any gig run by Nick Grivas, Liquid Lyrics ringmaster, is always filled with fun and inspiration, sometimes profound, sometimes funny and fluffy as f**k, and always a great way to connect with those around you and in front of you.
Words start at 6.30am, but get there early for eats and drinks and conviviality.

The brilliant Andrea Kirwan is doing a music feature that will pop your hearts and minds.

Tickets are $25 .Here's the link, and they should be available at the venue as well. See you there. 😁

https://events.humanitix.com/starlit-showdown-poetry-slam/tickets

26/04/2026

Liquid Lyrics monthly slam theme was Soul Searching on Saturday night. Venue was Coolum Uniting Church, and I am not one to resist the temptation to deliver a sermon. 😁.

The Church of R Souls