Tuesday, November 24, 2009

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

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

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

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

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.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

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

Saturday, October 3, 2009

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. 17th

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.

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!