The Scream launches this year’s festival with a conceit: well-known poets will take the stage with the work of notable younger poet in hand. In a rare homage to the next generation of poetic talent, these established performers will highlight up-and-comers by reading published and unpublished work by a new poet of their choosing:

• Stuart Ross reads Evie Christie
• Priscila Uppal reads Jason Guriel
• Kevin Connolly reads Gabe Foreman
• Ken Babstock reads Michael Lista

Emily Schultz, author of the Trillium nominated Songs for the Dancing Chicken, will also read the winning poems of this year’s EYE WEEKLY Poetry Contest. The night will also feature the introduction of two new Scream-savvy web projects: The Scream Archive and Joyland: A Hub for Short Fiction.

UPDATE: Check eyeweekly July 3rd to see the poetry contest winner!