7:00pm – 9:00pm

Late Night Lit

$25 + booking fee (beverages and food optional extras)

Sink into an evening of spoken word, poetry, literary readings and other surprises at Late Night Lit. Together, we can celebrate some very special authors all with a trademark Bar Toto cocktail in hand. What’s not to love?

Joining us for this festival edition is Wiradjuri poet and artist Jazz Money (how to make a basket and Mark the Dawn). We have been inviting Jazz to join us for Late Night Lit since it began, so to say we are excited is an understatement! Tyree Barnette will share his experience as an African American in Australia as captured in Stolen Man on Stolen Land. And Lebanese-Australian journalist Antoun Issa will take us beyond the headlines with his mother’s true experiences of love, heartbreak and new hope during the violence of civil war in Beirut, 1974.

As usual, we will also welcome a clever crew of local writers and artists to share some new work with you as open mic participants. If you’re interested in participating, please email program@wordsonthewaves.com.au with a sample of your work.

Don’t miss this small but mighty mainstay in the literary calendar.

Unfortunately, due to serious health issues, Prema Arasu will no longer be participating in this event.

Please note: seating is unallocated.

Jazz Money

Jazz Money is a Wiradjuri poet and artist producing works that encompass installation, performance, film and print. Jazz has written two award-winning poetry collections how to make a basket (2021) and mark the dawn (2024), and the children’s book The Frog’s First Song (2025) illustrated by Jason Phu.

Tyree Barnette

Tyree Barnette is a Sydney based writer and a member of Sweatshop Literacy Movement. His writing centres on the African-American experience in Australia and greater Asia Pacific, and centres the global phenomenon that is African-American culture. His debut novel is Stolen Man on Stolen Land: Being African-American in Australia.

Antoun Issa

Antoun Issa is a Lebanese-Australian journalist and co-founder of Deepcut News. After completing his Master of International Relations at the Australian National University, he moved to Beirut in 2011 where he worked as news editor for Al-Monitor during the heights of the Arab Spring. Issa relocated to Washington DC in 2015 where he spent two years at the Middle East Institute, a US thinktank, before joining The Atlantic as an editorial strategist. He returned to Australia in 2020, joining The Guardian Australia until his departure in 2024.

This event is made possible through the unwavering support of our Venue Partner, Bar Toto Ettalong.