From April 19 to 29, Verses Festival of Words presents spoken word, storytelling, music, and poetry at various venues including the Wise Hall, Café Deux Soleils, Vancouver Public Library Central Branch, Annex Theatre, Native Education College Fireside Lounge, and Havana Theatre.

Presented by Vancouver Poetry House, the annual alternative literary festival showcases artists, innovators, and activists, including Buffy Sainte-Marie, Joshua Whitehead, Kitty Stryker, Janet Marie Rogers, Moe Clark, Billy Ray Belcourt, the Fugitives, Ronnie Dean Harris, Mitcholos Touchie,  Snotty Nose Rez Kids, plus reigning Canadian Slam champion Ifrah Hussein, and many more. Verses also features the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam championship, which invites 40 award-winning poets from across Canada.

Early-bird passes available for $60 until April 10; passes $75 thereafter. Tix for all events available from Brown Paper Tickets.