SAY Owt Slam is bringing a "very special guest" to its 12th poetry clash in The Basement, at City Screen, York, on November 12, namely Vanessa Kisuule.

"Vanessa’s CV reads like a where’s where of festivals," says event co-host Henry Raby. "She’s smashed Glastonbury, Lounge On The Farm, Secret Garden Party, Wise Words, Wilderness and Shambala, while guesting at gigs from Bristol to Birmingham.

"She’s also won a swathe of slams, such as The Roundhouse Slam 2014 and Hammer and Tongue National Slam 2014; represented the UK in two European Slam Championships in Sweden and Belgium and supported the likes of Linton Kwesi Johnson and Kate Tempest."

Vanessa's debut poetry collection, Joyriding The Storm, was published in April 2014 by Burning Eye Books. "She has spoken passionately at the TEDxVienna conference about art and creativity in schools, has recorded a piece for the BBC and was featured in the Telegraph in a piece on young female spoken-word artists," says Henry.

"Not only a powerful performer, her poetry is full of tenderness and sharp observations, as well as passionate bite. Not one to miss."

Since October 2014, Say Owt has been running high-energy slams where poets pit their words and wits against one another. "This isn’t the poetry of stuffy classrooms, it’s raw, passionate and live," says Henry.

"Poets get three minutes each to perform their finest, fieriest, funniest and frankest poetry and the audience will judge on their favourite winner. The poet who finishes in second place will receive £15, but the winner will get £30 plus bragging rights."

The 7.30pm slam will be compered as ever by Henry Raby and Stu Freestone and admission is £7. During the late-afternoon, from 4pm to 6pm in The Basement, Vanessa Kisuule will lead a workshop; participation costs £5. More information can be found at sosyork@hotmail.com