Thursday, September 24, 2009

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.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

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

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.

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*** 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!

Monday, September 7, 2009

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!