Marcus Amaker

Marcus Amaker (he/him) served as the first Poet Laureate of Charleston, South Carolina, from 2016—22. In 2021, he became an Academy of American Poets fellow. He’s also a prolific performer, the award-winning graphic designer of a national music journal (No Depression), a musician, an opera librettist, the creator of a poetry festival, a teaching artist, and an advocate for youth poets.

His poetry has been recognized by The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Washington Post, The Kennedy Center, American Poets Magazine, The Washington National Opera, The Portland Opera, Button Poetry, NPR,  The Chicago Tribune, Edutopia, Departures Magazine, People’s World, PBS Newshour, SC Public Radio, Charleston Magazine, Charleston City Paper, North Dakota Quarterly, Post and Courier, Garden & Gun, Charleston Scene and several other publications.

Abby Duran

Abby Duran (she/her) is a Charleston-based published poet and founder of the global storytelling and writing service platform, VeraNation. Between Words, her debut collection released in 2023, is an autobiographical account of overcoming mental roadblocks while finding balance. She is also a 2022 Charleston Free Verse Festival participant. Beyond spoken word, Duran assists small businesses and creatives with professional biographies and creative content in the form of narration. 

Allison Forbes

Allison Forbes is a local singer/songwriter. She is the lead vocalist in Rooks&Raven and Swamp House Rebellion. With her love for animals, she put on her first music festival, Local Fund Fest, this past July raising over $7000 for a local animal rescue. Her music can be found on all streaming platforms and music videos on YouTube. She uses her own experience to share haunting, empowering, and man-eating lyrics. She’s also the owner of Forbes Fitness where she trains online clients in the physical, mental, and energetic aspects of wellness. 

Jammie Huynh

Jammie Ryan-Huynh (she/her) is a queer Vietnamese-Ecuadorian poet from Hartsville, SC. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the College of Charleston. Her debut collection, Out of Darkness, is the first winner of the Free Verse Press Poetry Prize. Her poetry centers around her family and identity. She writes through the traumas of childhood and uses poetry to navigate and understand what she has been through. Poetry is where she can make sense of who she is and where she can confront her father on a stage of her choosing. Jammie’s poetry is about being honest and telling the story of a family that so many people decide to ignore.

Indi’Gxld

Thaddeus "Indi'Gxld" Adams (he/him) is an incredible talent hailing from North Augusta, SC and now based in Charleston, SC. He's a multi-faceted artist, encompassing the roles of lyricist, songwriter, vocalist, journalist, and all-around creative force. Under the guidance of Adrian Champagne from Collective Sounds, Indi has carved out a reputation as a mesmerizing lyricist and soul-stirring performer, drawing inspiration from the likes of Erykah Badu, Anderson .Paak, Lil Wayne, and Andre 3000.

Recently, Indi'Gxld joined forces with the alternative rock-soul group Black Zola to create Rhodium, a captivating blend of jazz, soul, hip-hop, and funk that showcases their unique style and sound. Collaboration is a cornerstone of Indi's artistic repertoire, from hosting independent concerts for local artists through All Things Gxld Productions to collaborating with talented individuals like Tyrie, Mike L!VE, and Smxke Doji. One of Indi's primary goals is to contribute to and shape the interconnectedness of Charleston's hip-hop scene.

Brendan James

Brendan James (he/him) is an American Singer-Songwriter in the pop/folk genre, akin to  David Gray, Jason Mraz, and Elton John.  Signed to Capitol Records at age 25, Universal Records at 28, James has reached the #1 spot on ITunes multiple times, accrued more than one million fans in 65 countries on Spotify, and has been played on multiple formats of American and European radio.  He has collaborated or toured with the likes of John Mayer, John Legend, Cat Stevens, Carly Simon, Keb Mo, and Andy Grammar, and his songs have been placed in over 15 major television shows and films worldwide.

Hanna Livengood

Finding inspiration in the sounds of the soul, Hanna Livengood (she/her) explores rhythm through the primal instrument of voice and body. This expression is a true reflection of the work she does in the world through her educational programs on body literacy and herbal wisdom. Overall, Hanna aims to tune into the animating force of Eros that is innate in the mind and body as a means to unlock deeper fulfillment and authenticity.

Jenan McClain

Jenan McClain (she/her) is an intuitive poet and abstract painter in Charleston, SC. She merges word and color in layers of hope and healing-translated through bright brushstrokes and imaginative word play.

Her under paintings are rich with poetically inspired ideas and explore the divine feminine, the maternal in nature, and the inner child subconscious longing.

Her textured, impressionist work tells personal stories rich in loss and love, strength and courage, grief and growth, light and freedom.

Grace McNally

For guitarist and songwriter Grace McNally (she/her),  music is a way to blend traditions, discover connection and cultivate inspiration through storytelling. She views her role as a songwriter as a "seamstress weaving different patterned fabrics to create new designs." Her debut album, Full Circle, explores the musical connections between the American Southeast, Northeast Brazil and West Africa.

McNally creates a global community through her podcast and radio show, Travel Notes. Conceived during quarantine  "Travel Notes is a way to travel through music and explore ways we are all connected." Listeners are transported passport-free to Senegal, Argentina, Japan, and beyond through musical narrative, history and cultural traditions.

Charlie Parker

Charlie Parker (they/them) is an autistic poet born and raised in North Charleston. Their work ranges widely in topics from raising mental health and disability awareness, to odes of love and heartbreak. They are just beginning their journey into the poetry community, but has been an avid writer since they could hold a pencil. Charlie began sharing their poetry at Free Verse Poets open mic nights in July of 2023. It is their goal to spread kindness and mindfulness through their work. 

Brittany Porcher

Brittany Porcher (she/her) is a writer, thespian, spoken word artist and slam poet champ hailing from the small rural town of Awendaw, SC. Her slam titles most notably include Charleston, SC’s FreeVerse Inaugural Slam winner among other higher-ranking accomplishments near and far. She has been featured at numerous and noteworthy venues garnering much acclaim for her words and award worthy performances. Her goal as a poet/artist is “to not only cultivate but nurture the things that make us whole—and have church while doing so”!

Olivia Roberson

Olivia Roberson (she/her) is a writer, facilitator, and guide who loves creating spaces for people to come home to themselves + each other. She is devoted to empowering people to reclaim their inner strength, wholeness, and peace. She believes when we reconnect to our bodies, we reconnect to our truth. She is currently working towards her master’s in clinical counseling at the Citadel.