Southern New Hampshire University this weekend hosts the NorthBEAST Regional competitive poetry event. Nationally registered slam venues from New England and beyond are invited to compete for bragging rights, poetic glory and a spot at the 2010 National Poetry Slam.

The events take place at Robert Frost Hall on the campus of Southern New Hampshire University on North River Road in Manchester.

Beginning at 6 p.m. tonight, poetry teams from all over the northeastern U.S. deliver storytelling, theater, stand-up comedy and cold, hard poetry to wheedle points from judges selected from the audience. I judged the NH slam finals a few years ago, and let me tell you, it’s an AWESOME job, but ridiculously hard with such talent.

On Saturday, Dec. 5, daytime workshops and open mics give attendees a hand at trying performance poetry. On Saturday night, the top eight scoring poets of each team from Friday, plus two wildcard poets from the Lizard Lounge and Lowell poetry slams, battle for the NorthBEAST 2009 individual title!

Tickets to both nights’ events will be available at the door for $5 per night (with a two-night pass available on Friday night for $8).

This event is co-sponsored by Southern New Hampshire University and The NH Writer’s Project.

If you’ve never been to Studio 99 in Nashua, you are missing out on some amazing music. I mean, the kind that steals your breath away, the kind you remember long after it’s ended, the kind that stirs something inside.

That’s because owner Elise MacDonald has an incredible ear for music and the networking skills to bring artists of all backgrounds to her studio in the downtown Nashua Millyard.

There’s always something worthwhile going on there, and she is mindful when pricing admission of the meager budgets of artists and even many patrons of the arts. There aren’t many venues who do both.

As a result, you know when you’re paying $10 for a show, you’re hearing something worth much more.

But she also offers free monthly open mics with a focus on acoustic or lightly amplified music and spoken word. And for those, admission is free.

Yes, free.

The studio does pass the hat, and attendees can pay what they want/can afford to support this true gem of the Gate City.

 The open mics take place on the second Saturday of every month, beginning at 8 p.m. Signup for musicians and spoken-word artists begins at 7:45.

If you’re in the vicinity of Nashua, it’s a fantastic opportunity to hear musicians playing for the love of music. In my mind, there are not enough spoken-word venues around, either.

Get all the details here.