Bards & Brews

Next Friday, June 5, in collaboration with Ferus Artisan Ales in the Trussville Entertainment District, the Birmingham Public Library is hosting a special open mic poetry tribute to the late Brian "Voice Porter" Hawkins, longtime former host of our popular monthly spoken word poetry/craft beer series Bards & Brews.
Hope you can make it & help us spread the word about this tribute to Voice-see details in this blog below

Birmingham Public Library Presents Bards & Brews Open Mic Tribute Honoring the Legacy of Voice Porter on June 5 at Ferus Artisan Ales What: BPL’s Bards & Brews Open Mic Tribute to Voice Porter When: Friday, June 5, 2026 | 6:30–8:30 p.m. (doors open for open mic sign up a...

Scenes from the Bards & Brews Poetry Slam held on May 1 at the downtown Birmingham Public Library. Special congrats to our 3 winning poets: BeShaun Leavell, 1st place winner of $250; Jenoa Sundiata Tmbuktu, 2nd place ($150) and 3rd place Aarvi Shah, winner of $100. The next Bards & Brews will be an Open Mic held at Ferus Artisan Ales in the Trussville Entertainment District just off Highway 11. Bards & Brews is sponsored in part by a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts given to the Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library. In its 16th year, Bards & Brews is a spoken word poetry/craft beer event held every 1st Friday by the Birmingham Public Library

Poets, $500 is on the line tomorrow at downtown Birmingham Public Library: $250 1st place ,$150 2nd, $100 3rd. $5 entry fee open to 1st poets to sign up
What: Bards & Brews Poetry Slam
When: Friday, May 1, 2026 | 6:30–8:30 p.m. (Poet registration begins at 6:00 p.m.)
Where: Birmingham Public Library’s Central Location,
2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203

🔥 Poetry. Competition. Crowd Energy. 🔥Some of Birmingham’s top spoken word artists are hitting the stage THIS Friday night at the Birmingham Public Library for the Bards & Brews Poetry Slam; $500 in cash prizes is on the line! 💰
🎤 Hosted by Thed Weller
🎶 Featured Artist: Saxual Healer
This isn’t just a show. The audience is part of the action:
👏 Cheer for your favorite poet
😤 Boo the judges if you don’t like their scores
🔥 Feel the energy of live, competitive spoken word 🎤
🗓 Friday, May 1, 2026
⏰ 6:30 PM (Doors open at 6:00 PM)
📍 BPL Central, 2100 Park Place
✅ Free admission (18+)
🍺 Beer samples available for 21+
Come witness the passion, the creativity, and the raw talent that makes Bards & Brews so special. Supported by the Alabama State Council on the Arts.

Birmingham Public Library (BPL) invites the community to experience some of the metro area’s top spoken word artists competing for a combined $500 in a Bards & Brews Poetry Slam happening Friday, May 1 at the Central Library downtown.
Ten poets will go head-to-head in a fast-paced, three-round poetry slam. First place wins a $250 check, second place $150 and third place $100. With audience members serving as judges, every performance counts and getting the crowd on your side matters. Thed Weller will serve as host. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., with live music by saxophonist Saxual Healer beginning at 6:30 p.m., followed by the poetry slam. The competition is limited to the first 10 poets who register on-site and pay the $5 entry fee.
Admission is free and open to the public; you must be 18 or older to enter and 21 or older to drink beer samples. Yellowhammer Brewing will serve as the beer sponsor for the evening. Bards & Brews is sponsored by the Alabama State Council on the Arts.

Speak Loud, Win Big: $500 on the Line at Bards & Brews Poetry Slam May 1 at Central Library The Stage Is Set for BPL's Bards & Brews Poetry Slam on May 1: 10 Poets. 3 Rounds. One Champion. BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Birmingham Public Libr...