Return to the Boston Poetry Slam presents…

NorthBEAST Regional Poetry Slam

“NorthBEAST” was a term originally coined by the Providence, Rhode Island Brave New Voices youth slam team to describe and cheer on the fearsome writers and performers of the New England youth region. It has since come to stand for the entire New England community of performance poetry. Please see the 2024 Northbeast Regional Page for the most current information!

The original NorthBEAST Championship took place in Providence, R.I. in 2006. The event has since become an annual two-day competition designed for the dual purposes of bringing the New England poetry community together and completing official regional slams to qualify local teams for the National Poetry Slam. Boston Poetry Slam Curator Simone Beaubien was served the event’s Tournament Director since 2007-2011. The event was then revived in 2023 by the staff at the Boston Poetry Slam.

Past individual NorthBEAST Champions and teams:

  • 2023 in Cambridge, Mass.: Providence wins overall team competition
    Participating teams: Boston Poetry Slam (Cambridge, MA)
    Lizard Lounge (Cambridge, MA)
    Last Chance Team (Cambridge, MA)
    ProvSlam (Providence, RI)
    Slam Free or Die (Manchester, NH)
    Mill City Speaks (Lowell, MA)
    We Were Here (Pick-up team!)
    PV What’s Next (Albany, NY)
  • 2011 in Worcester, Mass.: Matt Gallant (Manchester)
    8 slams represented: Lizard Lounge, Portland, Jersey City, Manchester, Providence, Mill City, Worcester, Cantab
  • 2010, Manchester, N.H.: Seth Walker (Worcester)
    8 slams represented: Cantab, Manchester, Providence, Worcester, Hampshire, Portland, LoserSlam, Jersey City
  • 2009, Manchester, N.H.: Megan Thoma (Providence)
    8 slams represented: Cantab, Manchester, Providence, Worcester, Hampshire, Portland, LoserSlam, Steel City
  • 2008, Cambridge, Mass.: April Ranger (Cantab Lounge)
    12 slams represented Cantab, Lizard, Manchester, Providence, Worcester, Portland, Hampshire, White Plains, LoserSlam, Urbana, Nuyorican, PhillyFUZE
  • 2007, Cambridge, Mass.
    8 slams represented Cantab, Lizard, Manchester, Providence, Worcester, White Plains, DelaWhere, LoserSlam
  • 2006, Providence, R.I.: Omoizele Okoawo (Lizard Lounge)