Ottawa’s collective celebration of the written and spoken word is in full swing.

VerseFest runs until Sunday, March 17 and features performances from local poets and artists, including a collaboration between queer performers Luna Allison and Glenn Nuotio.

Nuotio and Allison, who is an Xtra contributor, take to the stage tonight at 7pm. Allison says she is also excited to perform alongside hip-hop artist Lady Katalyst.

“VerseFest is always a blast,” Allison says. “I’m doing a couple of comedic poems and some more serious stuff, including a number of jazz and blues-infused pieces to go with the theme for tonight: music in-fusion.”

First staged in 2011, VerseFest is an initiative of Verse Ottawa. The organization is made up of various poetry organizations, and the membership changes each year. The 2013 festival includes the Dusty Owl Reading Series and AB Series.

Allison at VerseFest 2011