Radio Laria Poetry with Irralee Jones and AJ D'Costa

Radio Laria is opening 2025 in an exciting new venue with two outstanding feature poets: Irralee Jones and AJ D’Costa. We were so sad to lose Open Studio last year, but we are so lucky that we have found a venue that is just as grassroots and community focused… the Black Spark Cultural Centre! (126A Gladstone Avenue, Northcote, VIC 3070). This place is entirely run by volunteers for the northern suburbs community and we are so pleased and proud to become a part of it. (Open Studio have announced that they will be back as a pop-up venue so please keep following them for awesome music events.)

Irralee Jones uses her unique poetic voice to re-image fairytales; and she does it with such simplicity, power, and ease, it’s as if she’s seen more deeply inside these stories than anyone else. AJ D’Costa’s poetry is infused with a sense of searching to find beauty, connection, and deeper meaning wherever it can be found. 

As well as fantastic feature poets, we are equally excited about restarting our open mic (10 spots available, 5-minute limit, sign up on the night, and arriving early is recommended for sign up). The audience is very supportive and we welcome new readers. Men are welcome to share on the open mic, but please be mindful that this is a night to promote women’s poetry and we ask that you behave respectfully.

The Black Spark Cultural Centre serves the two things that most poets love… coffee and wine! (Other options available if you don’t fit that stereotype…) You are also allowed to bring in food from outside as long as it’s not too messy. Come along and join this warm, vibrant poetry community and check out what else is going on at the Black Spark Cultural Centre!