Overload returns in the new year:  10-19 September 2010. Stay tuned for submission details!

Overload presents a 3 week programme of concrete, visual, sound and performance poetry at Federation Square, featuring an outstanding line-up of Australian and international artists.

Over the three weeks the upper square will be home to the dadaist signage of public (& Private) poet Richard Tipping. Tipping's iconic street and road signs satirise everyday street language. His work has gained him national and international recognition, both as a visual poet and a public artist.

A massive thank you to every single one of you who participated in the festival, helped out, blogged about us, and most of all came to the gigs!

The Overload staff are all suffering festival withdrawals and are keen to get more of this drug in their systems, so watch this space for what next year will bring.

In particular, congratulations to the winners of our Overload Awards:

Overload's final showcase is top secret and includes a surprise international guest! 

Needless to say we have saved some of our most well-loved performers for the grand finale—we might even draw in some of the festival favourites depending how loud you cheer.

Ezra Bix and IQ will present a classic Overload of beauty and mayhem. The line-up will make you sigh to your very depths then light fire works under your longing. If you've been holding back then hold back no longer. Live the Overload dream!

Today’s the day the 8th Overload Poetry Festival has been gearing up for.

Having ploughed their way through the blood, sweat and insults courtesy of the ninja during the heats, the top four Overload slammers will take on the might of the Bristol Poetry Festival in a live Skype Slam at ACMI Studio.

Cast your eyes up to either big screen in the Main Square or Atrium at Federation Square to see a selection of visual/concrete/animated poems curated by Sjaak de Jong.

They're on rotation with other content on those big screens so be patient if they're not on inmediately... a rough guide to follow is:

Atrium

1.00 pm, 2.00 pm, 6.00 pm, 9.00 pm

Main Square

11.00 am, 1.00 pm, 2.00 pm, 9.00 pm

What do you get when you place poetry into an imaginary bowl, add some hip-hop and comedy, add a dash of the spoken word and top it off with some storytelling? You get Wordplay, one of the most highly anticipated events during the 8th Overload Poetry Festival.

Sydney MC ‘The Tongue’ teams up with ace musician The Bedroom Philosopher in an awesome line-up including word-magician Tom Joyce and emerging poet Zoe Barron for Wordplay’s final hurrah!

Good news!! The scrolling text at Federation Square is up and running!! Check it out on your way home today :)