The 29th Annual Festival presents a diverse mixture of regional writers whose aesthetics are often experimental, curated by Chris Funkhouser (WGXC's Poet Ray'd Yo host). Performers include Celia Bland, Kenning JP Garcia, Anne Gorrick, Nancy O. Graham, Shiv Mirabito, Fred Moten, John P. O’Grady, Marianne Shaneen, Alan Sondhein, Azure Carter, Jasmine Dreame Wagner and others.