SLAMTario - December '09 Edition

Last update for '09. Lots of great things happening. If I'm missing an event then PLEASE let me know in the comments and I'll be sure to add you to the next months bulletin.


Capital Slam (Ottawa)
Mercury Lounge (56 Byward Market Sq, Ottawa, On)
Happens twice a month. Doors usually open @ 6:30 & starts @ 7 with a $7 cover. For more details check the Capital Slam website or email INFO AT CAPITALSLAM DOT COM.


Bill Brown's 1-2-3 Slam
Thursday December 10th
Cajun Attic (349 Dalhousie Street, Ottawa, On)
Hosted by Josie Frank
Feature: Ritallin
Doors / sign-up @ 7:30 & starts @ 8 with a $5 cover.
Check their Facebook group above or call (613) 252-1777 for more details.


Lanark County
On hiatus until January 2010. In the meantime, join their group on Facebook.


Peterborough Slam
The Spill (414 George St N, Peterborough, ON)
Always the 4th Thursday of the month. Check the blog close to the date for more information like who the feature will be.
Signup @ 7:30, starting @ 8 and a $5/PWYC cover.


Toronto Poetry Slam
Danielle Gregoire (from Ottawa)
December 19th
Drake Hotel Underground (1150 Queen St W, Toronto, On)
Sign-up @ 7:30, Starts @ 8
Cover $5


Toronto's $100 Slam
The Rearview Mirror (193 Baldwin Street, Toronto, ON, M5T 1M1)
You can find more details for the event by checking the Facebook group or souljahras AT gmail DOT com


Burlington Slam Project
Moe Clark
December 17th
Fireside Lounge @ The Black Bull Pub(1124 Guelph Line, Burlington, On)
Sign-up @ 8, Open Mic @ 8:30 and Slam to follow
Cover $5


Guelph Poetry Slam
Moe Clark
December 19th
Guelph Googenheim (129 Woolwich St, Guelph, On) Behind Taylor Music
Doors/Sign-up @ 8, Open Mic @ 8:30, Slam @ 9, Dancing afterward
Cover $10


London Poetry Slam
Moe Clark
December 18th
London Music Club (470 Colborne St, London, On)
Doors open @ 8
Sign-up @ 8:45
Starts @ 9
Cover $5

Bill Brown's 1-2-3 Slam is BACK in a NEW VENUE!

BB123 Slam - December Edition

Canada's only regularly-running poetry slam series in the 1-2-3 format is moving! Come and check us out in our new venue at the Cajun Attic in Ottawa's Byward Market. Bring your 1-minute, 2-minute and 3-minute poems or just come to cheer on Ottawa's very best spoken word artists while sampling the best Louisiana Cajun food in town! The winner of the slam claims Bill Brown.

And if you don't know who Bill Brown is, you better ask somebody!

Cytopoetics presents Bill Brown's 1-2-3 Slam
Thursday, December 10
Cajun Attic - 349 Dalhousie Street (at George)
7:30 pm doors/poet sign-up; showtime at 8 pm
Featuring Ritallin
Hosted by Josie Frank
$5 at the door
Call (613) 252-1777 for more info

The SLAMTario Monthly Bulletin: November 2009

Better late than never is what I keep telling myself. Here is your information on regular slams in Ontario. IF there is one not listed here then PLEASE let me know in the comments and I'll be sure to add you to the next months bulletin.


Capital Slam (Ottawa)

Mercury Lounge (56 Byward Market Sq, Ottawa, On)
Still no details on exact dates and features. But doors usually open @ 6:30 & starts @ 7 with a $7 cover. For more details check the Capital Slam website or email INFO AT CAPITALSLAM DOT COM.


Bill Brown's 1-2-3 Slam

Avant Garde Bar & Gift Shop (135 1/2 Besserer St, Ottawa, On)
It probably happened already. Last month was the 8th. So it prolly went down on the 12th? Regardless, sign-up @ 7:30 & starts @ 8 with a $5 cover. Check their Facebook group above for more details.


Lanark County

After a strong showing at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Victoria last week I believe they are taking a break until the new year.


Kingston Slam

Unless I hear otherwise this puppy is coming off the list. Even the Facebook group seems dead.


Peterborough Slam

The Spill (414 George St N, Peterborough, ON)
Still no firm info here. I'd venture a guess to say it will be November 26th with signup @ 7:30, starting @ 8 and a $5/PWYC cover.


Toronto Poetry Slam - 4yr Anniversary

Electric Jon
November 21st
Drake Hotel Underground (1150 Queen St W, Toronto, On)
Sign-up @ 7:30
Starts @ 8
Cover $5


Toronto's $100 Slam

Nth Digri (from Ottawa)
November 29th
I forgot to write down the information on when & where. But you can find details for the event by checking the Facebook group or souljahras AT gmail DOT com


Burlington Slam Project

Ntare Ali Gault
November 19th
1124 Guelph Line, Burlington, On)
Sign-up @ 7:45
Starts @ 8
Cover $5


Guelph Poetry Slam

Ntare Ali Gault
November 21st
Guelph Googenheim (129 Woolwich St, Guelph, On) Behind Taylor Music
Doors/Sign-up @ 8
Open Mic @ 8:30
Slam @ 9
Cover $5-10


London Poetry Slam

Robert Pries
November 20th
London Music Club (470 Colborne St, London, On)
Doors open @ 8
Sign-up @ 8:30
Starts @ 9
Cover $5

Poetry Slam's in Ontario are on the map!

So I've wanted to add us to the list of slams on the PSi website for some time but never got around to it. There was this form to fill out for contact info and I didn't want to bother contacting each Slammaster individually to see what details and contact info they wanted added.

Right now they are working on updating the list but have created a Google Map where people can add their own slams. So I added all the slams I have addresses for.

The SLAMtario Monthly Bulletin: October 2009

Welcome back fans of spoken word for an update on your monthly slam's across Ontario. This month we'll do it East to West. If we don't have all the details there is a link or an email address where you can get more information. As you can see, this month's favourite feature is Seven Dollar Bill.


Capital Slam (Ottawa)

Mercury Lounge (56 Byward Market Sq, Ottawa, On)
Doors @ 6:30
Starts @ 7
Cover $7
For more details check the Capital Slam website or email INFO AT CAPITALSLAM DOT COM.


Bill Brown's 1-2-3 Slam

Emily Kwissa
October 8th
Avant Garde Bar & Gift Shop (135 1/2 Besserer St, Ottawa, On)
Sign-up @ 7:30
Starts @ 8
Cover $5


Lanark County

7 Dollar Bill
October 21st
For more details check their
Facebook Group.


Kingston Slam

Please let me know (comment or email) if this slam is still running. Check out their Facebook Group for more details.


Peterborough Slam

Brendan Mcleod
October 29th
The Spill (414 George St N, Peterborough, ON)
Signup @ 7:30
Starts @ 8
Cover $5/PWYC


Toronto Poetry Slam

7 Dollar Bill
October 17th
Drake Hotel Underground (1150 Queen St W, Toronto, On)
Sign-up @ 7:30
Starts @ 8
Cover $5


Toronto's $100 Slam

Luciano I.
Oct. 11th
For more details check the Facebook group or souljahras AT gmail DOT com


Burlington Slam Project

7 Dollar Bill
October 15th
Black Bull (1124 Guelph Line, Burlington, On)
Sign-up @ 7:45
Starts @ 8
Cover $5


Guelph Poetry Slam

Alexandra Oliver
October 17th
Guelph Googenheim (129 Woolwich St, Guelph, On) Behind Taylor Music
Doors/Sign-up @ 8
Open Mic @ 8:30
Slam @ 9
Cover $5-10


London Poetry Slam

7 Dollar Bill
October 24th
London Music Club (470 Colborne St, London, On)
Doors open @ 6
Sign-up @ 6:30
Starts @ 7
Cover $5

Guelph Poetry Slam: October

Here we go again!
If your ears are still sizzling from Tomy 'Bam Bam' Bewick's last performance - you're not the only one! But October is coming up on us fast and the Guelph Spoken Word team is getting ready to bring you another night of amazing spoken word poetry! Alexander Oliver has style like no other feature poet at the Guelph Poetry Slam. And yes this fashion is wordsmith sexy.

So save the date!

Sat. Oct. 17^th

8pm

At the Guelph Googenheim

(129 Woolwich Street, underneath Gordon Taylor Music)

*** WHAT IS A POETRY SLAM? ***
A poetry slam is a night filled with spoken word poetry and competition...but winning isn't the point, the poetry is the point.
There will be a open mic for any poet of any age or from any walk of life to come up to the stage - and then, the SLAM! Poets will compete for the audience's approval over a 2 round poetry slam! They will deliver their poems in under 3 minutes, 10 seconds and will be scored by the judges! The winner will receive a gift certificate for a 60min massage from Selina Mullins and the coveted Twinkie!

So be prepared to loosen those muscles while enjoying a sweet-licious treat.
You can choose to be a perform, you can choose to judge, but you will most certainly be floored by the wordplay coming from behind the microphone!
Door's open / poet sign-up: 8:00 PM
Open Mic: 8:30 PM
Poetry Slam: 9:00 PM
$10 at the door.

*** YOUTH ARE WELCOME! ***

After the slam, be ready for some dancing, conversation - and remember, the doors don't close until 2:00 AM - so get ready for some partying!

For more info on SLAM, SLAM rules and Guelph Spoken Word check out our facebook home page or website http://guelphspokenword.com

*** OUR FEATURE POET: ALEXANDER OLIVER! ***
Alexandra Oliver was born in Vancouver, B.C. in 1970. She attended the University of Toronto and received an M.A. in Drama in 1994. Her poems have appeared in numerous journals and publications worldwide, including Orbis Rhyme International, Nexus, Future Cycle Poetry, The Atlanta Review and The Vancouver Sun, as well as About.Com's Poems After The Attack anthology, a collection discussing and reflecting upon the aftermath of 9/11. Her first book, Where the English Housewife Shines (Tin Press, London, UK), was released in May, 2007.

Cash Rules Everything Around Me: 7 Dollar Bill Y'all

Hey spoken word enthusiasts, just a head's up that Sean McGarragle and Chris Gilpin are coming to town and that they still have a few dates free for booking. If you want to book them, for a show or a workshop, email Chris at videochris at gmail dot com, no show is too big or too small. Here are their dates so far:

October 14th BAM! Toronto Youth Slam
October 15th The Burlington Slam Project
October 16th – AVAILABLE, BOOK US!
October 17th The Toronto Poetry Slam
October 18th – AVAILABLE, BOOK US!
October 19th – AVAILABLE, BOOK US!
October 20th The Art Bar (Toronto)
October 21st Lanark County Poetry Slam
October 22nd Free Will's Oneness Showcase (workshop?)
October 23rd The Umi Cafe (Ottawa)
October 24th The London Poetry Slam

And a bit more about them...

What is the appropriate cost for six-pack of beer? Who do you end up with when you cross John A. MacDonald with Wilfred Laurier? How much do you always pay for cheese? What lurks in the hearts and minds of Canadians? You will know, once you’ve seen Seven Dollar Bill!

If you have questions about mythological creatures, toques, rotisserie mystery meat, socioeconomic policies, your mom, or international dating, come to the show, and they will be answered.

Seven Dollar Bill is Chris Gilpin and Sean McGarragle.

Sean McGarragle is the national slammaster of the Vancouver Poetry Slam, the current chair of SpoCan, and was a member of the 2006 Vancouver Poetry Slam Team. Sean has toured festivals, series and schools in Canada and the United States as a spoken word artist and storyteller and has shared stages with such spoken word stalwarts as Lillian Allen, Shane Koyczan, Dwayne Morgan, Andrea Thompson and Sheri-D Wilson.

Chris Gilpin (aka Faust McKenzie) is a two-time member of the Vancouver Poetry Slam Team (2008 & 2009), the runner-up in the 2008 Vancouver Individual Poetry Slam competition, the champion of Vancouver's 2008 Haiku Death Match, and winner of the Vancouver's 2009 CBC Poetry Face-off. Chris always encourages the audience to stick their finger in the wonder socket.

GUELPH POETRY SLAM - SAT. SEPT. 19

We're coming up on another another amazing night of spoken word!

We'd like to welcome back all the students from the university - and say hello to the all the new faces!

For those of you who don't know, you can choose to sign up for the open-mic or sign-up to compete for the $100 prize!

You can choose to be a perform, you can choose to judge, but you will most certainly be floored by the wordplay coming from behind the microphone!

Door's open / poet sign-up: 8:00 PM
Open Mic: 8:30 PM
The $100 Poetry Slam: 9:00 PM
$10 - $5 sliding scale.

*** YOUTH ARE WELCOME! ***

We will have two rounds for the poetry slam, so be sure to have two pieces ready - but remember, you only have 3 minutes behind the microphone before point deductions!

After the slam, be ready for some dancing, conversation - and remember, the doors don't close until 2:00 AM - so get ready for some partying!

(Note: For more info on SLAM, SLAM rules and Guelph Spoken Word check out our facebook home page or website http://guelphspokenword.com)

Our feature performer for September is the incomparable Tomy Bewick!

He's definitely not the kind of poet who is going to let you zone out! Tomy has been known to wander through the room and even jump on chairs just to get his point across.

Check out Tomy's on-line videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCuei_tr_To&eurl=http://www.facebook.com/event.php%3Feid%3D152777440498&feature=player_embedded#t=20

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMpMC0-c6sk

Check out Tomy's amazing bio:
Tomy "Bam Bam" Bewick is a hard-working family man who breathes poetry and performs death defying acts of vulnerability. Having featured and competed throughout Canada and the USA, Tomy is constantly seeking to grow as a poet, performer and person.

Tomy has produced 2 self-published poetry collections, 2 spoken-word CD’s and 3 seasons of independent clothing designs since emerging on stage in 2003. The creator/organizer for Open Minds Respect Events is also an original member of Toronto’s “Slam Family” collective, Toronto Poetry Project and the “Up From The Roots” Slam Team that placed second at the 2007 and 2008 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word.

Tomy seeks to spread social awareness and self esteem through youth initiatives and is constantly working towards catching up with his dreams. Tomy has recently started a new Spoken Word series in the suburbs, called the Burlington Slam Project, and continues to promote expression and art as mediums for mental and emotional well-being.

------------------------------

*** blogTV LIVESTEAMING INFORMATION! ***
Guelph Spoken Word, in conjunction with blogTV, will be livesteaming this whole event! Even if you can't physically make it out to the slam, there's no reason why you can't tune in online!

We go live at 8:00 PM on September 19th, and will be broadcasting all the way until the end of the slam! Check out the site here:

http://www.blogtv.com/People/writerdryden

And for those of you who missed the wonderful Krystle Mullin (who featured in August), you can check out her performance here:

http://www.blogtv.com/Shows/404919/b2_FYe3xaeXDb2XEZ_&pos=ancr

See you there!

Bill Brown celebrates a year of slam!

The first anniversary show celebrating one year of Bill Brown's 1-2-3 Slam, Canada's only regularly running poetry slam in the 1-2-3 format. It takes place at Avant Garde in Ottawa's Byward Market on September 10, with poet sign-up at 7:30 pm and the slam at 8 pm SHARP.

Members of the Lanark County and Ottawa slam teams take on all comers in a head-to-head, 1-2-3 slam bonanza! Come and check out Ian Keteku, Poetic Speed, Open Secret. Brandon Wint, Rusty Priske, Tammy Mackenzie, Emily Kwissa, Ken Kicksee, Monica Squires and Danielle K.L. Gregoire in an event that's not to be missed!

If you think you have what it takes to come in against these slam titans to claim the big prize, then bring your best 1, 2 and 3 minute poems for the occasion (you'll need 4 poems altogether -- an extra 3-minute poem if you make the final round is necessary for this special BB123 Slam). And if you walk in and win, you claim TWO Bill Browns! Yes, that's right, Bill ... and his twin!

All the proceeds from the show (including the final prize if one of the slam team members wins the event) will be contributed towards the cost of plane tickets for both teams to attend CFSW 2009 in Victoria!

And if you don't know who Bill Brown is ... you better ask somebody!

1st Anniversary Double Bill Brown's 1-2-3 Head-to-Head Fundraiser Slam
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Poet sign-up @ 7:30 p.m. - showtime @ 8 p.m. SHARP
Avant Garde Bar & Gift Shop
135 1/2 Besserer Street (@ Dalhousie)
Featuring the Ottawa and Lanark County Slam Teams
Proceeds to 2009 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word
$8 at the door

Confirm your attendance on Facebook. See you there!

Guelph Poetry Slam

Saturday August 15, 2009

Guelph Poetry Slam!

Come one come all to the Guelph Poetry Slam! An evening of spoken word, playful competition, and community fun. Feature poet Krystle Mullin will be gracing the stage with her raspy political style. Three time member of the Toronto Slam team and performer at the local Eden Mills Writers’ Festival she is bound to inspire. Come to perform, come to be a judge, come to enjoy! There is an amazing $100 prize for the August Slam Champion. Youth Welcome

Where: The Guelph Googenheim (129 Woolwich Street, underneath Gordon Taylor Music)

When: Saturday August 15^th

^{8pm: Poet sign-up}

8:30pm: Open Mic

9pm Slam

11pm Feature Poet

Onward… chatting, dancing, and chilling

Cost: $10-$5 Sliding Scale

For more information on Poetry Slam rules or Guelph Spoken Word check out our website: http://guelphspokenword.com and facebook page. Contact us at guelphspokenword@gmail.com.

Guelph Poetry SLAM - July

Hello Hello!

Lovely people.

That's right Guelph Spoken Word is hosting another wonderful Poetry Slam.

Happening in only One Week (yes, yes the third Saturday of the month like always) on Saturday July 18th.

We will be celebrating the break between poetry slam rounds with a wonderful, frigin' fantastic poet from London, ON; Steph SLY!!!

Currently a member of the London Poetry Slam team she will be competing in Vancouver at the Canadian National Poetry SLAM in October. She competed in the 2008 National competition on the Wild Card Team, making it to the final round of competition. She is a storyteller that will make you close your eyes and reply with assertion.

Bring your poetry to the open mic

Bring your poetry to the Slam.

Come to be a judge.

Come and enjoy our Spoken Word Artists

Come and chat with cool folk from Guelph!!!

Saturday July 18th

The Guelph Googenheim, 129 Woolwich Street (underneath Gordon Taylor Music)

Youth Welcome

$10-$5 Sliding Scale

SLAM PRIZE - $100 from the Salsateria

Poet Sign-up 8pm

Open Mic 8:30

SLAM, feature performer Steph SLY, talking and chillin' to follow!!!

The Guelph Spoken Word Crew*

For SLAM rules check out our website at: http://guelphspokenword.com

The SLAMTario Bulletin: July 2009

Well folks, better late than never! Here is the low down on Poetry Slams in Ontario for July.

Lanark County


July 26th @ HerbFest
2 - 3 pm LiPS will be performing
http://www.lanarkcountylips.com/

Toronto Poetry Slam


Sat July 11th @ The Drake
7:30 Sign up 8:00 Show
Feature: Brendan McLeod
$10 cover
http://torontopoetryslam.com/

Burlington


Thurs July 16/23 @ TBA
7:30 Sign Up 8:00 Show
Feature: Dream Chasers (see facebook group)
$5 Cover
http://burlingtonslam.wordpress.com/

Guelph


Sat July 18th @ the Guelph Googenheim Behind Gordon Taylor Music
Doors 7:30 Show/SignUp 8:30
Feature: ?????????? + Dance music after
$5 to $10 Cover
http://guelphspokenword.com/

London


Tuesday July 21st
Black Shire Pub
Sign up 7:30 Slam 8 (Short Open Mic to start)
Feature: Nathanael Larochette
$5 Cover
http://londonpoetryslam.ca

SLAMTario Bulletin: The Rest of June 2009

London


June 19th -FINALS-
London Poetry Slam
London Music Club, 470 Colborne St.
Doors Open 7pm, Slam 8pm
Featuring the incredible SHIHAN (www.shihansback.com)
PWYC $5 minimum
www.freewebs.com/londonpoetryslam

Toronto


June 21st (remember, a Sun. night this time)
Toronto Poetry Slam-
Drake Underground (1150 Queen St. W.)
Signup 7:30, Slam 8
Featuring 6 is 9 from St. Paul, MN
$5 at the door
http://www.torontopoetryslam.com/

BURLINGTON SLAM PROJECT June 18th - CHANGE NOTICE

"Without change there is no innovation, creativity, or incentive for improvement" - William Pollard

We are certainly not strangers to the concept of change. Last month we had a last minute Feature cancellation, this month we have a venue complication. This month our venue, Honey West, has double booked for Thursday night. Apparently they had the other group on the calendar longer so we're SOL (Sadly Over Lubricated).

"For anything worth having one must pay the price" - John Burroughs



We STRONLY believe having a place to express ourselves through words, here in Burlington is very worthwhile. Our benfactor, Tomy Bewick, doesn't understand the term "quit" and so I have sourced an alternative venue that is just around the corner... We have booked the "Empire Room" at the Queens Head Pub (http://www.thequeenshead.ca/) which is at 400 Brant Street.

They don't really know we're having a slam, but I told them that we would have 20 to 30 people eating and drinking so please don't make a liar out of me...

Come on through, check out our KILLER FEATURE - "Shihan", and when we pass the hat or ask for your $5 just remember we're trying to bring you a show that you can't get anywhere else in the suburbs!

If you need directions or have any questions check out our facebook event page (http://www.facebook.com/inbox/readmessage.php?t=1176790261131&f=1&e=-12#/event.php?eid=92979257390).

Peace, blessing, and hope to see you there!

BURLINGTON SLAM PROJECT - June 18th

Join us Thursday June 18th for our monthly Open Mic and Poetry Slam;

We're in the back room at Honey West in downtown Burlington,
399 Elizabeth St. (Google map link)


we encourage all types of musicians, MC's, singers, comedians etc to come share their talents and sign up for the open mic

we have a monthly poetry slam where your best 3 minute poems, power rants, battle raps, tragic tales and inspirational speeches can win you a CA$H PRIZE...

***OUR JUNE FEATURE WILL BE***

SHIHAN:

Shihan is undoubtedly one of the most dynamic spoken word artists of our generation. This National Poetry Slam Champion (2004) and National Poetry Slam Finalist(2nd in 2001, 5th in 2003 and 3rd in 2005) has been featured on a variety of media outlets such as 6 appearances on HBO’s Def Poetry, NBC, Oprah Winfrey’s Oxygen Network, Al Gore’s Current TV, Nike’s Battlegrounds, Reebok, Adidas, NBA, CNN, Artisan Films’ Belly DVD, Complex and Billboard Magazine, several national commercial spots, 5 National Tours including the Tony Award Winning Russell Simmons presents Def Poetry Jam International Tour. His abilities to transcend cultural and generational boundaries have made Shihan a much sought after talent. In addition, Shihan has independently released 2 CD’s The Poet(Best of 2005 Honorable Mention-Baltimore Sun) and Music Is The New Cotton which have both received critical praise for their honesty and creativity.

Oh it is going to get HAWT!!!
bring all your friends and family for this one...

Cover is always ONLY $5

All performance types are welcome...

Come to share or come to stare; we're gonna rock your socks off...

See you there.

GUELPH - JUNE POETRY SLAM

Come, Come! Holy S*ht! No joke! Shihan (poet of wonderful fame), Los Angeles famous and Def Poetry Jam repeat performer will be featuring at the Guelph Poetry Slam Sat. June 20^th. Reggae music, reggae, reggae music will be sounding from turn tables scratched by DJ WHO… blending beats, sending chill grooves, and making that body dance till the day flips and it is officially Sunday. Bring your poetry and SLAM. Bring your poetry and perform at the open mic! Poets sign-up at 8pm. Check out our website for poetry SLAM rules http://guelphspokenword.com. Youth welcome. $5-$10 sliding scale. The Guelph Googenheim; 127 Woolwich Street, underneath Gordon Taylor Music.

MAY GUELPH SPOKEN WORD SLAM

Spring has sprung!  And yes ... like wise, Guelph Spoken Word is birthing an evening of Poetry, SLAM, and oh so dancible World Music!  We are expecting... anticipating... rejoicing... and screaming out loud on SATURDAY MAY 23rd.  So join us! Feature Spoken Word Poet WHITE NOISE MACHINE will deliver witty... sarcastic ... insightful words; woven into jelly shaking laughter.  Bring your poetry and perform in our 2 round SLAM! Shake your booty, hang-out, and chat till the wee hours with musical sensation DJ HOK.  He will be bring music from around the world.

DOORS OPEN: 7:30PM
POET SIGN-UP: 7:30-8:30PM
OPEN MIC: 8:30PM
POETRY SLAM: 9PM
MUSIC & DANCING: 11PM

You will find us at The Guelph GOOGENHEIM, at 129 Woolwich (underneath Gordon Taylor Music)

$5-$10 Sliding Scale

Youth Welcome

RUSTBELT! 10th Annual Regional Poetry Slam

Get ready Toronto – Poetry fans will soon have a chance to see top American and Ontario poets battle it out in an international poetry slam. From May 28th-31st, the 10th annual Rustbelt(Mid-West) Regional Poetry Slam is crossing the border and heading to downtown Toronto. Started by Dayton Ohio poet Bill Abbott, the Rustbelt Slam is a spoken word competition that will pit top American slam poets against top Ontario poets. A poetry slam is a form of spoken word competition at which poets read or perform original work. These performances are then judged on a scale of 0-10 by five 'judges' - previously selected members of the audience. Poets are scored on both performance and content, and top scoring poets advance. Content can range from comedy to tragedy, personal triumph to the silly and satirical. Audiences generally are encouraged to be interactive and vocal and the common response to slams (from first-timers) is that they didn’t know poetry could be so “alive”.The 10th anniversary of the Rustbelt Regional Poetry Slam is produced by a collective of poets consisting of the Toronto Slam Fam, Up From The Roots, and the Toronto Poetry Project. All are thrilled that Toronto will be the first Canadian host city of this Midwestern U.S. poetry slam tradition. The Rustbelt will see teams from the following confirmed cities: Toronto, Minneapolis, Detroit, Columbus, and Cleveland. Some of the competitors listed on these teams have featured in Toronto as individuals and already have existing fans in Canada. Venue and schedule details are below:Festivities begin on the 28th of May with a “Wildcard” slam at the Dominion on Queen (500 Queen Street East). Poets will have the opportunity to compete for one of two remaining spots on a team featuring poets from Up FromThe Roots and the Toronto Poetry Slam. Competition officially begins on Friday May 29th at 8:00pm at the Poor Alex Theatre (772A Dundas St W). Two preliminary bouts will feature all competing teams.On Saturday afternoon, May 30th at 12:00pm, the action moves to the Trane Studio (964 Bathurst St) for the final preliminary matches.The competitive segment of the weekend culminates that evening at 7:00pm with both the team and individual final sat the historic Bloor Cinema (506 Bloor St West). This will be the first time any spoken word competition has beenstaged at the Bloor. Both the individual and team competition champions will be crowned that evening.On Sunday May 31st at 12:00pm, the Toronto Rustbelt Organising Committee, in association with Kensington MarketPedestrian Sundays, and thanks to generous funding from the Toronto Arts Council, presents a special freeperformance featuring our Midwestern guest hosts as part of the spring launch of Pedestrian Sundays, in the heart of Kensington Market.The 2009 Rustbelt Regional Poetry Slam will feature local hosts David Silverberg, Dan D’Onorio (SoulFistikato),Mike Smith (White Noise) , Yehuda “PAN” Fisher, as well as invited guest hosts from the mid-west, including EdMabrey and Steve and Deb MarshAdmission to all events is subject to venue capacity. “Last Chance” Slam tickets are $5, available at the door. Ticketsfor each preliminary bout are $8, also available at the door. Tickets for the finals at the Bloor Cinema are $15 inadvance, and can be purchased via T.O. Tix (www.totix.ca). Festival passes for both preliminary bouts and the finalsare available for $25 at www.rustbelttoronto.com.For more information, please visit www.rustbelttoronto.com or e-mail info@rustbelttoronto.com

GUELPH! APRIL SLAM!

Guelph's monthly POETRY SLAM and World music Dance Party!

Come on Saturday April 18th to the Guelph Googenheim (129 Woolwich Street, under Gordon Taylor Music) for our monthly poetry SLAM.

Featuring TRUTH IS ... and LATIN MUSIC with DJ ZITO!

POET SIGN-UP 8PM

OPEN MIC 8:30PM

POETRY SLAM 9PM

LATIN MUSIC & DANCING 11PM

Poets come with two pieces to perform for our two round compeition.

It is going to be AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!