Thursday, October 30, 2008

Capital Slam - November 1st!!

Since we are on the 1st, I couldn't wait for Greg's round-up, so...

Saturday, November 1st is the next edition of Capital Slam! We have already seen monthly victories by Brandon Wint and Slamtario's very own Ritallin, so who will be next?

This is the last Slam before Team Ottawa heads to the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Calgary, so come on out!

The night's feature will be Brendan McLeod, of Fugitive fame!


Last, but definitely not least, the show will be the firs topportunity to get 'Live at Capital Slam 2008', featuring the CD-recorded stylings of the likes of Marcus Jameel, Poetic Speed, Nathanael Larochette, Open Secret and more!

How do you not come out?

Saturday, October 4, 2008

The SLAMtario Bulletin: October 2008

Sorry I'm a bit late with this one -- with the travel to London this week it's been a hard one to keep on track of things, but here are the shows coming up in the province this month. Go and check them out!

BURLINGTON

October 30
Burlington Slam Project
NEW LOCATION: Paradiso Restaurant, 2041 Pine Street
8 p.m.
featuring the 2008 Toronto Up From the Roots Slam Team
$5 cover
http://burlingtonslam.wordpress.com/

KINGSTON

October 21
Kingston Slam
Grad Club, 162 Barrie Street
Doors at 7 p.m.; show at 7:45 p.m.
featuring Jeff Cotrill
$5 or PWYC
http://molledorst.com/ or (613) 539-1350

LANARK COUNTY

October 13
Friendly Slam Fundraiser
Carleton Place Cinemas, 17 Albert Street, Carleton Place
Doors at 7 p.m.; show at 7:15 p.m.
Featuring members of the Lanark County Live Poets Society (LiPS)
plus special guest Shane Koyczan
By donation
Contact Danielle Gregoire at danielle [dot] gregoire [at] hotmail [dot] com or visit http://www.lanarkcountylips.com for info

LONDON

October 28
London Poetry Slam
Alex P. Keaton, 580 Talbot Street
Sign-up 7 p.m.; slam 8 p.m.
Featuring Andrea Thompson
$5 at the door
http://www.londonpoetryslam.ca/

OTTAWA

October 4
Capital Slam
Mercury Lounge, 57 Byward Market
Doors 6:30 p.m.; slam 7-10 p.m.
Featuring The Foreign
Hosted by Ritallin
$7 at the door (free for performers)
http://www.capitalslam.com/

October 14
Shane Koyczan
Mercury Lounge, 57 Byward Market
Doors at 7 p.m.
With the members of the 2008 Ottawa Capital Slam Team
$10 cover

October 16
Bill Brown's 1-2-3 Slam
Umi Cafe, 610 Somerset St. W.
Sign-up 7:30 p.m.; slam at 8 p.m. SHARP
Hosted by Ritallin & Hyfidelik
$5 at the door
http://www.umicafe.org/

October 22
Oneness Poetry Showcase
East African Restaurant, 376 Rideau Street
Doors 6:30 p.m.; show starts at 7 p.m.
Featuring Montreal's Katalyst and Ottawa's reggae/urban/spoken word ensemble Instant Release (put on your dancing shoes!)
Hosted by Free Will - with live art and an all-star OPEN MIC!
$7 at the door but come even if you got no coin. All ages and inclusive.

TORONTO

October 6
TOFU (Tons o' Fun University) - Mike McGee, Shane Koyczan + C.R. Avery
Clinton's, 693 Bloor St. W.
8 p.m.
Hosted by Dave Silverberg
$10 at the door
If you've never seen TOFU -- one of Canada's top spoken word fusion groups -- then you don't want to miss this show. There's kickass spoken word, beatboxing, keyboard insanity, duets, solo pieces, and overall tightness from the most rocking poets in the biz.
For info, email info [at] torontopoetryslam [dot] com

October 18
Toronto Poetry Slam
Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St. W.
Sign-up 7:30 p.m.; slam 8 p.m.
Featuring Ami Mattison from Michigan
Hosted by Dave Silverberg
$5 cover
http://www.torontopoetryslam.com/

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

THE SLAMTARIO BULLETIN: SEPTEMBER 2008

Based on what I've seen so far, September promises to be a busy month for poetry in Ontario. Check back on this posting from time to time to see updated information as it comes in from all the different cities starting poetry series and slam events this month.

BURLINGTON

September 25
Burlington Slam Project
The Dickens Pub, 423 Elizabeth St.
featuring DaneJahRas
Free cover
http://burlingtonslam.wordpress.com/

KINGSTON

September 10
Dream Big Tour
Grad Club, 162 Barrie Street
Doors at 8 p.m.
This group of multimedia artists are fashionistas, film-makers and poets, crossing Ontario and raising awareness for the Affected Campaign
Hosted by Molle Dorst with special guests and an Open Mic
$5 cover
http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=tn#/event.php?eid=37766188616

September 16
Kingston Slam
Grad Club, 162 Barrie Street
featuring Gypsy Eyes

LANARK COUNTY

September 6
Sounds of Downtown in Carleton Place, ON
LUX Gallery, 11 Lake Street, Carleton Place
6-8 pm
Featuring members of the Lanark County Live Poets Society (LiPS)
http://www.artscarletonplace.com/

LONDON

September 30
London Poetry Slam
Alex P. Keaton, 580 Talbot Street
Sign-up 7:00-7:45; slam 8 p.m.
Featuring Ritallin
$5 at the door
http://www.freewebs.com/londonpoetryslam/index.htm

OTTAWA

September 4
Dusty Owl
Umi Café, 610 Somerset St. W.
8 p.m.
Be Thirsty Heart Tour
Feat. Paula Belina, Kyra Shaughnessy and One
Free cover; donations lovingly welcomed
http://www.dustyowl.com/

September 6
Capital Slam
Mercury Lounge, 57 Byward
Sign-up 6:30 p.m., slam 7 p.m.
Featuring Matt Peake
Hosted by John Akpata
$7 at the door
http://www.capitalslam.com/

September 13
Dream Big Tour
Umi Café, 610 Somerset St. W.
Doors at 8 p.m.
This group of multimedia artists are fashionistas, film-makers and poets, crossing Ontario and raising awareness for the Affected Campaign
Hosted by Ritallin with special guests and an Open Mic
$5 cover
http://www.umicafe.org/

September 18
Bill Brown's 1-2-3 Slam
Umi Café, 610 Somerset St. W.
Sign-up 7:30 p.m., slam 8 p.m.
Top poet wins Bill Brown -- a $100 bank note!
Hosted by Ritallin and Hyfidelik
$5 at the door
http://www.umicafe.org/

PETERBOROUGH

September 18
Peterborough Poetry Slam & Spoken Open Stage
The Spill, 414 George Street North
Sign-up 7:30 p.m., slam 8 p.m.
Featuring the Londonborough Slam Team
Ziy, Elyse Maltin, Fraser and Beth Anne Fischer
$5 or PWYC, to raise funds for CFSW 2008 in Calgary
http://peterboroughpoetryslam.blogspot.com/

TORONTO

September 5
Up From The Roots - US vs. THEM
Cervejaria, 842 College St.
The 2008 Toronto-UFTR Slam Team takes on all comers
Feat. Lady Loxx, Leviathan, Tomy Bewick & Dwayne Morgan
Lots of prizes & surprises - a fundraiser for CFSW 2008 in Calgary
$10 at the door
http://www.upfromtheroots.ca/

September 12
The Dream Big Poetry Slam Tour
Cervejaria, 842 College St.
Doors at 7:30 p.m.
This group of multimedia artists are fashionistas, film-makers and poets, crossing Ontario and raising awareness for the Affected Campaign
Hosted by Tomy Bewick with special guests and an Open Mic

September 20
Toronto Poetry Slam
Drake Hotel Underground, 1150 Queen Street W.
Sign-up 7:30 p.m., slam 8 p.m.
Featuring Ardath Whynacht from Halifax
$5 at the door
http://www.torontopoetryslam.com/

Monday, August 25, 2008

The New Capital Slam Season is Nearly Here!

We are inching ever closer to September 6th and the staert of the new season of Capital Slam, Ottawa's premiere Slam series!

With the poetry scene in and around Ottawa growing by the day, it is time to check back in with the big show, Capital Slam!

Come out to get started on trying to make the Ottawa Team which will represent the nation's capital at the 2009 CFSW in Victoria, B.C.

Or come out to watch some great poets throw down!

Or come out to see the feature performer, Matt Peake!

Or come out to see the talented hosting of John Akpata!

You just can't go wrong!

September 6th, Mercury Lounge in the ByWard market in Ottawa.

The sign-up list starts at 6:30 and this year it will be first come, first served, so if you want to slam, get signed up!

The show starts at 7:00 and goes to 10:00.

I think I am still below my exclamation point quota, so help me out and show up!!

Monday, August 18, 2008

New Poetry Slam Series Starting in Ottawa - Bill Brown's 1-2-3 Slam

Can you throw down with Bill Brown?

Cytopoetics presents the newest poetry series to grace the local Ottawa spoken word scene – Bill Brown’s 1-2-3 Slam. The inaugural show takes place at Umi Café on Thursday, September 18, hosted by Ritallin and Hyfidelik. Sign-up at 7:30 p.m.; show starts at 8 p.m. Cover is $5.

At Bill Brown’s 1-2-3 Slam, each spoken word artist in the competition (to a maximum of 12) will perform a 1-minute poem in the first round, with the usual grace period and time penalties of a classic slam format. The top 8 performers earn the right to move on to a second round with 2-minute poems. The four best scorers in the second round qualify for a Showdown Round with standard slam-length 3-minute poems. The highest scoring poet in the final round wins Bill Brown – a $100 bank note complete with a picture of the 8th Prime Minister of Canada, Robert Borden. Each round wipes the slate clean on the scores, so you just never know who’s going to come out on top!

Poets – get writing your 1- and 2-minute poems and then come down to Umi to be part of Ottawa’s newest poetic experience!

Bill Brown’s 1-2-3 Slam takes place at the Umi Café (610 Somerset St. W. at Percy) on the third Thursday of each month. Check www.umicafe.org for updates and information.

Can you throw down with Bill Brown?

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Who is Bill Brown?

As mentioned in the previous post, there is a new monthly poetry slam series starting in Ottawa in September. After spending time focused on national and regional organizing, I am throwing my hat back into the slammaster's ring. On Thursday, September 18 inside the Umi Café (610 Somerset St. W.) in Ottawa's Chinatown neighbourhood at 8 p.m., the world will be introduced to Bill Brown.

Who is Bill Brown? More details to come.

September cometh ...

The beginning of many poetry series, both new and established, is rapidly approaching. As August degenerates into "jacket weather" wholly unbecoming of a full month of summer, poets across the province are getting keyed up for the resumption of poetry writ large.

I am anxiously awaiting updates and postings from slammasters and poetry organizers in Lanark County (which has started a new poetry organization, LiPS), Kingston (where the new Kingston Slam gets started at the Grad Club at Queen's University), Guelph (with what looks like a combo poetry/hip-hop show in the offing), Peterborough (with a full season of slam about to get going at the Spill), Windsor (where rumour has it a hot poetry slam is gonna lift off) and Ottawa (with Capital Slam and the Oneness Poetry Showcase getting underway again, plus a new monthly slam series about to get started). Combined with the series already running in Burlington, Toronto and London, spoken word in Ontario has never been hotter.

A September bulletin will be posted on this blog at the end of the month. Organizers should submit their shows for posting by Monday, August 25 to ensure the posting is as up-to-date and accurate as possible.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Toronto Poetry Slams on Aug. 16

Hey Ontario spoken word heads...
The Toronto Poetry Slam goes down on Sat. Aug. 16 at the Drake Hotel (1150 Queen St. W.). Signup is 7:30pm, slam is at 8pm.
There's an open mic too for those who don't want to hit the competitive stage.

The feature is actually TBA (the Detroit ladies cancelled on me last minute). Don't worry, I'm on it.

For info, check out www.torontopoetryslam.com

Thanks for doin this blog thing, Greg!

THE SLAMTARIO BULLETIN: AUGUST 2008

Alright everyone, every month we're going to try to get one of these posts up on the board. In August, look out for the following poetry events around the province (the post will be updated as other events are added):

BURLINGTON

August 21
The Burlington Slam Project
The Dickens - 423 Elizabeth Street
Doors & sign-up 8 p.m., mic check 8:30 SHARP!
Featuring Truth Is
Free cover

HAMILTON

August 14 to 24
Grade 8 - a one man show by Dwayne Morgan
premiering at the Hamilton Fringe Festival
Downtown Arts Centre, 28 Rebecca Street
August 15, 8pm
August 16, 3pm
August 17, 10:30pm
August 18, 9pm
August 21, 7:30pm
August 22, 4:30pm
August 23, 6pm
Visit http://www.hamiltonfringe.ca/ for more information

LONDON

August 26
London Poetry Slam & open mic
the Alex P. Keaton Pub - 580 Talbot St.
Sign-up 7-7:45 pm, slam 8 pm
$5 cover

OTTAWA

August 8
Words of a Poet Vol. 1
Bronson Centre - 211 Bronson Avenue
8 p.m.
featuring Black Ice, Liza Garza, Amir Sulaiman, John Akpata, Q the Romantic Revolutionary, the 2008 Capital Slam Team, and more!
See www.facebook.com/pages/Marcus-Jameel/10258281602 for more info

August 19
Mark Berube and the Patriotic Few w/ Ritallin
Mercury Lounge - 56 Byward
7 p.m. (doors open)
$5 cover

TORONTO

August 10
Black Love Soul & Spoken Word Show
The Trane Studios - 964 Bathurst St.
8 p.m.
$20 cover

August 16
Toronto Poetry Slam
Drake Hotel Underground, 1150 Queen Street W.
Sign-up 7:30 p.m., slam 8 p.m.
Featuring TBD
$5 at the door

August 31
The 6th Annual Toronto International Poetry Slam
The Kathedral - 651 Queen St. W. @ Bathurst
Doors open at 8pm, Showtime 9pm
$20 in advance

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Check out Burlington's new website

The Burlington Slam is establishing its presence online ... in addition to its Facebook group you can also find out more about Ontario's newest slam series by following the link provided. Click on the title of this post and go to burlingtonslam.wordpress.com. Great job Tomy and Selina!

Monday, July 28, 2008

Keeping SLAMtario up-to-date ...

Hey readers, if you happen to know of other poetry series I may have missed in my lists of links, or other slam series not yet represented here, please be sure to send me an email message at greg [at] ritallin [dot] com and I will update the page accordingly.

Similarly, if you run a poetry series in Ontario and would like to have the ability to post here, send me a note and I'll add you to the list of contributors. Let's all work together to make this blog the most inclusive place possible for spoken word artists, organizers and fans in Ontario!

Friday, July 25, 2008

Welcome to SLAMtario!

Hello everyone,

Taking a suggestion from Duffman on the Toronto Poetry Slam online forum, I took it upon myself to start this blog. My hope is that slammasters from across Ontario will come to this page to post their upcoming events along with information about their series and the general state of poetry (particularly spoken word) within their communities.

As the community of poetry organizers and performers in Ontario grows, we should have a place to share our successes, keep each other abreast of upcoming events and pool our colletive experience to strengthen our scene in the global family of writers and reciters.

Spread the word and post often, slammasters -- and welcome to the blog!