Peterborough Poetry Slam

Indie Poetry Slam Championship Qualifying Slam - Featuring Johnny McRae

2012-01-09T14:52:00.000-08:00

The latest instalment of the Peterborough Poetry Slam will determine who will be representing Peterborough at the 2nd Annual Vancouver International Poetry Festival and the 2nd Annual Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Championship on April 23rd through April 28th, 2012.

The position is open to anyone who has ever previously competed in a Peterborough Slam and currently lives in Peterborough. The victor will receive a $150.00 subsidy towards travel and expenses for the trip, as well as any additional fundraising, as well as the chance to win $2,450 in prize money.

To help celebrate this moment, Johnny Murdoch Macrae, the 2010 Vancouver Grand Slam Champion, a finalist at the inaugural Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Championship, and the first-ever winner of the Underground Individual Championship held in Toronto at the 2011 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, will be the feature poet.

"Although many of his poems focus on human relationships with the environment, Johnny writes about everything from riding public transit, to gender and sexuality, to the apocalypse, often shifting between funny and serious tones within the same poem. A strong believer that creative expression is self-empowering, Johnny has spent the last six years teaching improvised theatre and spoken word poetry in high schools around BC."

In addition to the spinning of fiery words, the Pyroflys, who featured at the 2011 Slammiversary, will be putting on their fire show during the Slam intermission to amaze and awe the audience and onlookers.

And with that exciting news being said, normal slam rules will apply:

two round slam

no props, costumes, or music

3 minute 10 second time limit

half-point deduction for every 10-seconds overtime

5 judges chosen at random from the audience

The Spill Cafe - 414 George St N

Sign-up at 7:30

Open Mic and SLAM at 8:00

$5 or PWYC

All Ages

THIS TUESDAY

2011-05-29T20:37:00.001-07:00

URGENT:
At the Peterborough Poetry Slam Finals on Saturday, only three of our competing poets were able to commit to being part of the 2011 Peterborough Spoken Word Team travelling to the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Toronto in the fall!

The team so far consists of the brilliant:
Ziy
Danny Taro
Amy Jane Vosper

Want to compete for the team? THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE. There is one spot left on the team, and an alternate spot who also travels/practices/performs with the team.

To sign-up for the 8pm (SHARP!) slam, e-mail ptbopoetryslam@gmail.com before 7pm Tuesday May 31st. Or show up to the Cannery at 7:30 to sign-up. There will be a cap on how many spots available, so sign-up early!

Bring TWO poems to compete. Max. approx. 3 minutes each.

FOLLOWED BY THE AMAZING:

The Fugitives & Tanya Davis

Seriously. Don't miss this, folks. What a lovely thing to do on a Tuesday evening. $5-10/PWYC for our brilliant travelling Fugitives et al.

____________________________

Want to see us before you see us?

Check out some videos of us here:

Breaking Promises:

http://vimeo.com/groups/25909/videos/7170477

Haunted:

http://youtu.be/Yjgii_886RE

and meet the wonderful Tanya Davis here, in her "How to be alone" video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7X7sZzSXYs

and live, with her guitar: "Thesaurus"

http://youtu.be/wKHo-LuAGW8

//////////////////////////

About The Fugitives: www.fugitives.ca
......
The Fugitives are the combined talents of Vancouver artists Adrian Glynn, Barbara Adler, and Brendan McLeod. A group of multi-instrumentalists, songwriters, poets and novelists, each with their own burgeoning solo career, they’ve won individual accolades as diverse as the Canadian SLAM poetry championship, CBC poet laureate, and a place in the Peak performance songwriting series. But their primary focus lies in banding together to integrate their sensibilities into a dynamic mix of modern folk.

Formed five years ago on Vancouver’s East Side, The Fugitives have trod their instruments and words numerous times through Canada and Europe Performances that began in abandoned bank vaults and small vegetarian restaurants in England have turned into mainstage appearances on the Canadian folk festival circuit and sold out headlining shows at venues as diverse as the Vienna Literary Festival, the Winnipeg Fringe Festival, the Vancouver Jazz Festival, and the Chutzpah Dance Festival.

As the CBC has it, “whether you go for the poetry, the music, or both, this show is simply brilliant.”

“A hypnotic and swirling mix of voice and music that straddles the line between traditional songwriting and poetry” – Vue Weekly (Edmonton)

“Wildly talented” - Georgia Straight (Vancouver)

“The Fugitives are capable of achieving dizzying, Arcade Fire-ish crescendos, replete with parallel melodies, complex harmonies and brimming torrents of emotion.” – Uptown Magazine (Winnipeg)

“One of the best events we’ve ever had…right up there with Allen Ginsberg and Ken Kesey” – Executive Director, Dylan Thomas Festival (UK)

About Tanya Davis: www.tanyadavis.ca

Tanya Davis is a poet. She is a storyteller. She is a musician and a singer-songwriter and she fuses these elements together in a refreshing matrimony of language and sound, side-stepping genre and captivating audiences in the process. With the release of her third album, Clocks and Hearts Keep Going, in November 2010, she affirms her well-earned place in the ranks of thoughtful and hard-working Canadian Artists.

Since bursting onto the Halifax music scene in 2006 with her debut, Make a List, Tanya has garnered praise from industry, audience, and peers, as well as multiple award nominations, including one for her sophomore release, Gorgeous Morning, for the 2009 ECMA Female Recording of the Year. She is a 2 time winner in the CBC National Poetry Face-off as well as the Canadian Winner of the 2008 Mountain Stage NewSong contest. In 2009, with support from Bravo, she collaborated with independent filmmaker Andrea Dorfman to produce a short videopoem entitled How to Be Alone; the short has since been featured at numerous film festivals, including The Vancouver Film Fest, The Worldwide Short Film Festival, and the VideoPoetry Festival (Berlin). It also has 1.8 million views on Youtube.

Clocks and Hearts Keep Going was produced in collaboration with celebrated Artist Jim Bryson. This album, like those before it, features strongly Tanya's unique and vulnerable style, full of poignant lyrics, catchy melodies, and expressive, if unconventional, arrangements. She also recently completed a feature-length show based in music and performance poetry, as funded by The Canada Council for the Arts; it will be debuted in 2011.

2011-05-22T21:28:00.001-07:00

PETERBOROUGH POETRY SLAM FINALS
Sat. May 28, 7:30 signup, 8pm slam.
Featuring: Ritallin from Ottawa
Followed by Dub Trinity CD Release party

The whole show is $7 (with Dub Trinity CD!!) or PWYC

Slam is All-Ages!
(Please arrive before 9:30pm if you are under 19)

SATURDAY APRIL 30th!

2011-04-13T16:19:00.000-07:00

THE NEXT ROUND OF PETERBOROUGH POETRY SLAM IS SATURDAY APRIL 30th at the The Cannery Art Centre (168 Hunter St. W.)

ALL AGES. $5 PWYC.

Final qualifying round for the May Finals for the Peterborough Spoken Word Team to attend the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Toronto October '11

FEATURING:
Barbara Adler (Fugitives, Vancouver BC)
& jazz trio Braveheart (Montreal QC)

Barbara Adler is a Vancouver-based spoken word artist, writer, and workshop facilitator. Known for her ability to mix intellectual poetics with entertaining observations about the quirkier moments of everyday life, Barbara has collaborated with composers, dancers, filmmakers and theatre artists, creating "smart, funny, and often deeply moving poetry around history, identity, and self-image" (Georgia Straight). She has been a CBC PGI Poetry Laureate (2007), a CBC Poetry Face Off Winner (Vancouver 2007), and a Canadian Team Slam Champion (2005). She is a founding member of the Canadian Folk Music Award-nominated band, The Fugitives. Her new works find her mashing together her words with a 120-button piano accordion. She is currently touring with jazz trio Braveheart, based in Montreal, QC, originally from Vermont and British Columbia.
http://www.myspace.com/barbaraadler
http://www.myspace.com/braveheartjazz
http://www.myspace.com/canadianfugitives

THE FINAL ROUND (before the final round):

The top-scoring performance poets will represent Peterborough at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Toronto in October 2011. Want to compete for the team? To qualify for the May finals, you need to have competed in at least one slam in the current Peterborough Poetry Slam season. April 30th is the last qualifying round. The May finals will decide the top five poets who form the official Peterborough Spoken Word Team.

Bring TWO poems to compete. Max. approx. 3 minutes each. Any and all styles encouraged. First-time performers welcome!

For more information about the competition, contact ptbopoetryslam@gmail.com

For those haven't been before, a poetry slam is a mock competition between poets. There are two rounds of 8-12 poets, who each perform a poem and are then given a score from 1.0 (meh) - 10.0 (fuck yeah!) by a panel of five randomly selected audience judges. Often emotionally and politically charged, the audience is expected and allowed to cheer and jeer the judges and the poets and each other. Expect any and all styles of poetry from folk ballads to hip-hop. And remember - the points aren't the point, the poetry is the point!

Many thanks to the Canada Council for the Arts for their support of the Peterborough Spoken Word Collective and Poetry Slam.

2011-02-27T18:54:00.000-08:00

NEXT ROUND(S):

Thursday, March 31 (DATE CHANGE)
Slam at 8pm at the Red Dog
followed by
...Beats 4 Justice 4 Levi http://www.justiceforlevi.org/

Saturday, April 30
Slam at 8pm at the Cannery
Featuring Barbara Adler http://www.myspace.com/barbaraadler
and Braveheart jazz trio www.myspace.com/braveheartjazz

The best performance poets in Peterborough will be representing at the national slam in Toronto next October. Want to compete for the team? You need to have competed in at least one slam in the current Peterborough Poetry Slam season. That means you have two chances left - March and April. The May slam will be the finals, in which the top five poets form the official Peterborough Slam Team for 2011. For more information about the competition, contact ptbopoetryslam@gmail.com

For those haven't been before, a poetry slam is a mock competition between poets. There are two rounds of 8-12 poets, who each perform a poem and are then given a score from 1.0 (meh) - 10.0 (fuck yeah!) by a panel of five randomly selected audience judges. Often emotionally and politically charged, the audience is expected and allowed to cheer and jeer the judges and the poets and each other. Expect any and all styles of poetry from folk ballads to hip-hop. And remember - the points aren't the point, the poetry is the point!

FEB 24 th SLAM with OPEN SECRET

2011-02-15T14:51:00.000-08:00

Hi Slammers and Poetry Lovers, We've got a special treat for you this month - 2 time National Slam Champion, Open Secret!!! The Slam starts at 8, sign up is at 7:30, and don't forget if your thinking about going for the Slam Team this year you need to slam at least once between now and the finals in May. But even if you're not interested in the team, come out, sign up, and share. It's gonna be a good one! Ikenna “OpenSecret” Onyegbula has been a spoken word artist for a little more than three years now. In that time, he has been a 2-time Canadian National Slam Champion and a 3-time finalist at the national level. In April 2011, he will serve as Ottawa’s representative at the inaugural Canadian Individual Slam Poetry Finals in Vancouver, BC. As a member of the acclaimed four member spoken word troupe, The Recipe, Ikenna has performed extensively throughout Canada, touring and opening for K-OS and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, while sharing the stage with such spoken word heavyweights as Amir Sulaiman, Shihan and Black Ice. As an avid writer, he has self-published two chapbooks, Until and September, while working on his first full anthology of poetry and on a novel: a creative work of fiction, entitled Quietus, which he hopes to one day get professionally published. As a human being, he's pretty dope. And you want to get to know him. You just don't know it yet.

NEXT ROUND - DECEMBER 16th at OSSIA

2010-12-09T16:11:00.000-08:00

The next round of the Peterborough Poetry Slam will happen December 16th at OSSIA (231 Hunter St. W.).

This month, we are happy to bring back the homegrown word wizardry of Macer, recent Toronto and Guelph slam champion who traveled to the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word this year as part of the Guelph Spoken Word team. A long-time area poet-in-residence, and founding poet of the slam, Macer has performed and published for bette...r than twenty years in the hinterlands of the world. Macer has grifted a unique poetic voice blending rustic rhythms with a playful spirit. His first novel, Three Red Herring, met with dismal success; his subsequent works are pending. He currently lives…

Come out to perform, be a randomly-selected audience judge, or just sit back and enjoy a couple hours of raucous, heart-breaking, brilliant words.

Bring two poems to compete on the stage. Approx. 3 minutes max. each.

Sign up at 7:30pm. Show at 8pm. $5/PWYC. Always all ages. Everyone welcome. New poets encouraged!

(For those haven't been before, a poetry slam is a mock competition between poets. There are two rounds of 8-12 poets, who each perform a poem and are then given a score from 1.0 (meh) - 10.0 (fuck yeah!) by a panel of five randomly selected audience judges. Often emotionally and politically charged, the audience is expected and allowed to cheer and jeer the judges and the poets and each other. Expect any and all styles of poetry from folk ballads to hip-hop. And remember - the points aren't the point, the poetry is the point!)

Many thanks to The Canada Council for the Arts for their generous support of the Peterborough Poetry Slam Series.

2010-11-23T11:47:00.001-08:00

Thursday November 25th is the Third Annual Peterborough Poetry Slammiversary Cabaret and Ball!

An evening filled with the poetry, music, comedy, dance, burlesque, hip hop, and beat boxing of your Peterborough slam community and beyond.

Come see first-timers and favourites grace the stage of the Spill for a night of hilarity and heartbreak as we celebrate three years of poetry and community.
...
Proud to present your feature poets and hosts for the evening, the brilliant and talented 2 Dope Boys in a Cadillac all the way from the West Coast, shayne avec y grec and Johnny MacRae.

DOORS AT EIGHT. This will be floor-sitting room only!

$5-10/PWYC.

'More likely to be found trekking thru the woods than cruising the streets rockin' fly rims, 2 Dope Boys in a Cadillac are individually known as Johnny MacRae & shayne avec i grec. Collectively they have represented three slam teams, hiked the rockiest mountaintops, participated in The Banff Centre's Spoken Word Program, rocked the hottest microphones (it explains the burns on their lips), and look forward to tag-teaming you in an orgy of titillating spoken word and sounds… “shayne and Johnny and assorted other Buds are the spine of the scene in Victoria/Vancouver and terrific young poets. They push envelopes wherever they are!" ~Bob Holman"'

Many thanks to the Canada Council for the Arts for their support.

Fundraiser for the Peterborough Poetry Slam's operational costs & the Team's travel costs.

CALL OUT FOR PERFORMERS

2010-11-15T10:08:00.000-08:00

On Thursday November 25th, the Peterborough Poetry Slam will be celebrating its THIRD ANNIVERSARY.

So we are going to do something a little bit different this month. And we need YOU to flaunt your stuff.

The Slammiversary Cabaret & Party needs your talents, whether they be spoken, musical, written, physical, lyrical, comedic, tragic, theatrical, beatboxtastic, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera... We are looking for your poetry, spoken word, dance, theatre, comedy, covers, improv, music, songs, collaborations and everything and all. No theme required, but this is going to be a celebration in every sense of the word.

Think awesome. Think unexpected. Think around 5 minutes (feel free to request longer and we'll figure it out). Think confident and celebratory.

E-mail ptbopoetryslam@gmail.com to sign-up with your act before November 20th. The sooner, the better!

ALSO: If you aren't necessarily the on-stage-type, but want to contribute through something like baking, or visual art, please e-mail and we can figure it out!

Rock on!

SEPTEMBER 23rd SLAM!!!!

2010-09-10T10:12:00.000-07:00

What's up Poetry lovers. With lots of features and a bunch of special events coming up, we've got an amazing season planned for you. And it all starts on Thursday Sept 23rd with the Toronto Poetry Slam Team. They will be bringing teams pieces, personal pieces, comedic pieces, real, truthful, activist pieces, and a hell of a lot of love. If you never seen a Slam team before - or even if you have - it is definitely a unique and not to be missed experience.

So bring your poems. Bring your ears. Bring your fire. And remember poetry is not just what you read in textbooks. These Professional Oratorical Education Technicians are here to break the myth.... even if you know nothing about poetry, You are still the expert. Because this poetry is about life, and we all know what it means to live. So come out. Be a judge. Be wild. Be free. Or just be. But be present. Cuz it's gonna be ______ (you fill in the adjective,)!!!!

Sign up at 7:30. Show at 8. See you then.

Peterborough Slam Finals - TUESDAY JUNE 15

2010-06-01T07:21:00.000-07:00

Heh Everyone,

We've got the P-Borough Slam Finals coming up: two weeks today... Tuesday June 15th. Of course it's going to be amazing.... the typically chill and welcoming Slam Scene, plus we have a possible feature in the works to add to the amazingness. But more on that later.

Calling all poets!!... The top four poets from the June Slam will qualify for the Peterborough Slam Team, which means, among other things you'll get to go to the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Ottawa this October. It's an amazing opportunity to get inspired, have fun, and be blown away be the wonderfully welcoming talent from across the country.!!

The Slam will proceed as usual two rounds of poetry.. Don't hesitate to re-perform old poems... We all like listening to songs more than once, so why not poems too, right???

2010-05-18T16:00:00.000-07:00

HEADS UP!

The FINALS for the Peterborough Poetry Slam Spoken Word Team will be Tuesday June 15th at The Spill!

Keep watch for more information!

Next Slam This TUESDAY!

2010-05-13T13:20:00.000-07:00

Remember it's Tuesday the 18th, not Thursday! We're switching it up for the summer. Luckily, Tuesdays are now $4 pint days at the Spill.

Bring two poems to compete, volunteer to be an audience "judge," or just sit back, get a drink and enjoy.

Sign-up will start at 7:30, with the show starting at 8. Actually. Show up between then to be an audience judge! It's fun, we promise.

Invite your friends! Come admire the artwork, drink beer or coffee or tea, read poetry into a mic for the first or fiftieth time, giggle in the corner (between poems, of course).

New poets are ALWAYS welcome and encouraged.

For those haven't been before, a poetry slam is a mock competition between poets. There are two rounds of 8-12 poets, who each perform a poem and are then given a score from 1.0 (meh) - 10.0 (fuck yeah!) by a panel of five randomly selected audience judges. Often emotionally and politically charged, the audience is expected and allowed to cheer and jeer the judges and the poets and each other. Expect any and all styles of poetry from folk ballads to hip-hop. And remember - the points aren't the point, the poetry is the point!

....

About Our Feature Poet:

Nathanaël Larochette is a 25 year old Ottawa-area spoken word poet and musician, director of Ottawa’s Capital Slam series, a four-time Capital Slam monthly champion, a three time finalist, a two-time competitor at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word, a CBC poetry face-off regional champion, and a poetry workshop facilitator in schools across Ottawa. Nathanaël lives to create, hope, and dream because he believes these are the keys to the meaning of our being.
....

Want a chance to perform at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Ottawa with other Peterborough poets? C'mon...

This slam will be one of four operating as part of the selection process for the CFSW. Our lovely and (sometimes) humble poetry slam crowd will be sending a slam team to the festival! Be apart of the action. You don't have to be a seasoned pro to go to CFSW, but you might become one by the time you get back...

If you want to read your poem but not be considered for the slam team, that's totally acceptable. But if you've always wanted to challenge yourself a bit poetry-wise and work WITH other poets then now is the time to do it.

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Fugitives in Peterborough THIS Monday April 5th!

2010-04-01T14:42:00.000-07:00

Holy crap!

The Fugitives are awesome! And they are coming all the way from the west coast to Peterborough for a last minute house show on Monday April 5th on their way to the east coast!

Come see the combined brilliant poetic musical magic stylings of Vancouver artists Adrian Glynn, Barbara Adler, Brendan McLeod, and Steve Charles. Poet/performer/storyteller Brendan McLeod graced the Peterborough Poetry Slam's stages earlier this year, but to see The Fugitives in full-awesome-band-form, you've had to go all the way to Toronto to try and get a seat at the Toronto Poetry Slam or sold out show!

Now we get to be up close and personal at a special acoustic set at 640 George St. (The good people at 640 George have been nice enough to host us at the last minute, so not too much tomfoolery, please!)

Donation of $5-10 pay-what-you-can will be recommended to keep the band on its merry way (and that is a STEAL for this show).

You HAVE to make it out to this, no matter what. They'll be driving from Sault Ste. Marie that day, so the show will start around 9pm.

Make sure to check out their myspace for tracks off the NEW ALBUM, Eccentrically We Love!

www.fugitives.ca
www.myspace.com/canadianfugitives

"This show is simply brilliant.”- CBC

“A hypnotic and swirling mix of voice and music that straddles the line between traditional songwriting and poetry” – Vue Weekly (Edmonton)

“Wildly talented” - Georgia Straight (Vancouver)

“The Fugitives are capable of achieving dizzying, Arcade Fire-ish crescendos, replete with parallel melodies, complex harmonies and brimming torrents of emotion.” – Uptown Magazine (Winnipeg)

“One of the best events we’ve ever had…right up there with Allen Ginsberg and Ken Kesey” – Executive Director, Dylan Thomas Festival (UK)

“A surprising auditory experience blending elements of bluegrass, jazz, folk and spoken word. They are new age pioneers, unabashedly forging a new sound, and exploring new mediums to do so.” – Uniter (Winnipeg)

About the Album

In late 2009, The Fugitives released a short EP, Find Me, which tracked extreme examples of people living in isolation: a park ranger suffering from cabin fever, a woman trapped in an unforgiving marriage, and a man whose death went unnoticed for seven years. Maybe the band’s just getting old and morbid, but the songs made them uneasy. Not to mention neurotic. After a brief spell where they walked around telling everyone, “who cares, nothing matters, we’re all going to die alone,” they decided this response was boring, and headed back into the studio.

Eccentrically We Love, The Fugitives’ newest full-length, takes anxiety and isolation as its starting point. As it turns out, the band thinks anxiety is good. They are also fans of: frustration, discontent, being overworked, and living in broken down houses with noisy roommates. It’s not that they’ve suddenly developed a pessimistic worldview – the album is primarily about gratitude, but it avoids clichés by centering on topics we’re normally not appreciative of. The album opener, ‘Snail Shell’ revels in the everyday annoyance of hearing your neighbor’s love life through the walls (and sometimes ceiling). The title track celebrates human relationships at their most exasperating, and ‘All this Trouble’ is an affectionate list of life’s sand-papery frustrations. In a sense, these are all songs about love and affection, but they aren’t offering anyone bouquets of flowers. If Find Me was about people lost to isolation, Eccentrically We Love chronicles the beautiful itchiness of being close. It’s about getting irritated, angered and distraught, and the exhilarating necessity of feeling this way.

The secret to the theme of this album might lie in how it was made. Immediately upon their return from a seven-week Canadian tour to support Find Me, the band locked themselves in North Vancouver’s Neighbourhood studios and embarked upon a month of recording. After 1,536 hours in each other’s company (yes, they were counting), the group decided that they still liked each other. More than that, they realized that their different musical backgrounds and lyrical approaches actually brought them closer, and made them a better band. Eccentrically We Love is the result of co-writing, co-editing, and co-performance – a true collaboration that balances eclecticism with the kind of unity a band earns by spending days and days in each other’s company.

Featuring co-production by Leo-Award winning producer\composer Matthew Rogers, guidance from Canadian art-rock icon Veda Hille, as well as guest appearances by Jesse Zubot and Rod Murray, Eccentrically We Love expands on the “top notch” vocal harmonies established in Find Me (ChartAttack) and the tight composition of their Canadian Folk Music Award nominated debut. The album will be supported by a cross-Canada tour in April 2010, a brief stint to Europe in the fall, and a request for fans and friends to send ‘small troubles’ to their website. These daily annoyances are to be funny, poignant, or heartfelt. Hopefully, when all is done, a quick survey of the amalgamated catalogue will make one feel grateful (and normal) for the beautiful, unavoidable difficulties in life.

March Slam 2010

2010-03-31T20:12:00.000-07:00

Oh, what a slam. What a mighty good slam.

For all of you who missed it. We had our very first tie for first. That's right. Dana and Braydon squared off for an impromptu final, which ended a great night bolstered by a wide variety of poems, and of course, the chilling, supportive peterborough crowd.

There was a confession of love to economists, there was a poignant observation that contrary to the prevailing opinion, strands of grass that appear to be trampled flat by boots may actually be drunk from drinking too much sun light. We also were blessed with a great piece seeking to expand our concepts of sexual identity, culminating in a shot out to the spill for it's non-gender specific washrooms.

And oh yes, the Spill. Get out and support this wonderful hot bead of local art and activism: if you haven't heard, bills are piling up, and we are in jeopardy of losing this essential cultural centre piece. There is a donation jar, and a whole bunch of taste treats, along with the continual parade of great performances.

Next Slam: April 15, 2010. Sign up at 7:30. And just a reminder, we will be holding our finals in May, which will give you a chance to go to the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Ottawa, plus other super fun poetry extravaganza's. Yep, Extravaganzas.

See you in April,

THURSDAY February 25th at The Spill!

2010-02-19T22:31:00.000-08:00

Bring two poems to compete, volunteer to be an audience "judge," or just sit back, get a drink and enjoy.

Sign-up will start at 7:30, with the show starting at 8. Actually.

Show up between then to be an audience judge! It's fun! Convince people that you'll take bribes of beer and butter tarts. (But you're really doing this for the poetry, right?)

Invite your friends! Come admire the artwork, drink beer or coffee or tea, read poetry into a mic for the first or fiftieth time, giggle in the corner (between poems, of course).

New poets are always welcome and encouraged.

For those haven't been before, a poetry slam is a mock competition between poets. There are two rounds of 8-12 poets, who each perform a poem and are then given a score from 1.0 (meh) - 10.0
(fuck yeah!) by a panel of five randomly selected audience judges. Often emotionally and politically charged, the audience is expected and allowed to cheer and jeer the judges and the poets and each other. Expect any and all styles of poetry from folk ballads to hip-hop. And remember - the points aren't the point, the poetry is the point!

ALSO, this week there is the Dub Poetry festival. So much poetry in Peterborough. Amaziiing.

Next Round of the PTBO Poetry Slam is January 14th!

2010-01-04T15:08:00.000-08:00

Bring two poems to compete, volunteer to be an audience "judge," or just sit back, get a drink and enjoy The Spill on Thursday night.

Sign-up will start at 7:30, with the show starting at 8. Actually.

Show up between then to be an audience judge! It's fun! Convince people that you'll take bribes of beer and butter tarts. (But you're really doing this for the poetry, right?)

Invite your friends! Come admire the artwork, drink beer or coffee or tea, read poetry into a mic for the first or fiftieth time, giggle in the corner (between poems, of course).

New poets are always welcome and encouraged.

For those haven't been before, a poetry slam is a mock competition between poets. There are two rounds of 8-12 poets, who each perform a poem and are then given a score from 1.0 (meh) - 10.0
(fuck yeah!) by a panel of five randomly selected audience judges. Often emotionally and politically charged, the audience is expected and allowed to cheer and jeer the judges and the poets and each other. Expect any and all styles of poetry from folk ballads to hip-hop. And remember - the points aren't the point, the poetry is the point!

--------------Special feature TBA. ------------------

AND because we all wanna party after a night of beer and poetry and pretty faces AND because we'll all wanna dance:

dj twinkle-fingerz@
the sapphire room (137 hunter st. w peterborough)
indie/electro/pop/glam dance party

Holiday Edition Slamcetera Party (with zine-making!) December 17th

2009-12-11T19:45:00.000-08:00

HELLO LOVELY SLAMMITES.

For the December edition of the poetry slam you all know and love...or like like...or gently loathe...gently... we have decided, here at SLAM INC. to shake things up a bit.

So here's the shake down:

Traditional slam - 2 rounds, 8 poets, sign up at 7:30pm, bring 2 pieces to read (obvo)...the points are not the point...etc

AND THEN, after, we will get crafty. ZINE STYLES.

what is a zine? it is a self-made publication of many stripes and varieties. we will try to bring as many craft supplies as possible, but if you have your own GREAT!

also, if you have completed zines you would like to trade or share or sell, BRING IT ON.

And of course, there will be music and dancing. And maybe even some bubbly. But mostly dancing...with DJ SMASH. Her debut.

Hope to see you all there!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

the slamsters.

unnnh.

Second Year Anniversary! Come to the Slammiversary Ball!

2009-11-20T11:35:00.000-08:00

It's the SLAMMIVERSARY BALL! The Peterborough Poetry Slam celebrates it's 2nd birthday on Thursday, November 26th. So, true to toddler bday fashion, we will be donning pary dresses, suits and eating cupcakes, wishing our little kiddo a happy big 2.

AND afterwards:

dj will pearson &
dj go go ghoul &
dj twinkle-fingerz

Party dresses certainly encouraged, but all are welcome, of course.

Bring two poems to compete, volunteer to be an audience "judge," or just sit back, get a drink and enjoy.

Sign-up will start at 7:30, with the show starting at 8. $5/PWYC

Be an audience judge! It's fun! Convince people that you'll take bribes of beer and butter tarts. (But you're really doing this for the poetry, right?)

New poets are always welcome and encouraged. Seriously, new poets are like... icing on cupcakes.

We mentioned cupcakes, right?

For those haven't been before, a poetry slam is a mock competition between poets. There are two rounds of 8-12 poets, who each perform a poem and are then given a score from 1.0 (meh) - 10.0 (fuck yeah!) by a panel of five randomly selected audience judges. Often emotionally and politically charged, the audience is expected and allowed to cheer and jeer the judges and the poets and each other. Expect any and all styles of poetry from folk ballads to hip-hop. And remember - the points aren't the point, the poetry is the point!

This is meant to be a celebration of two years of poetry slamming in Peterborough. Feel free to come out for the first time and wow us with what you've got- or sit back (or dance back) and be wowed.

Next Round - Thursday, October 29th!

2009-10-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

The next round of the Peterborough Poetry Slam will happen at the Spill on Thursday, October 29th.

The absolutely fantastic Brendan McLeod will be featuring in between rounds. He is a member of The Fugitives spoken word/music/charm extraordinaire group, and recently won the 3-Day Novel Writing Contest, beating out over 500 entries. Brendan has been Vancouver’s SLAM poetry Champion, the Canadian SLAM poetry champion, and finished second at the 2005 World SLAM championships, held in Holland. In short, he's pretty fucking awesome. Not to be missed.

Bring two poems to compete, volunteer to be an audience "judge," or just sit back, get a drink and enjoy.

Sign-up will start at 7:30, with the show starting at 8. $5/PWYC
Actually. Prove you can be punctual, baby. Show up between then to be an audience judge! It's fun! Convince people that you'll take bribes of beer and butter tarts. (But you're really doing this for the poetry, right?)

New poets are always welcome and encouraged.

AND AFTERWARDS! You know that awkward moment after the slam has ended, and it's Thursday and there's something else cool you want to go do, but REALLY want to just hang around with sexy poets and dance? Well, cannery shows and we live here, too! bring you the coolest thing to do after the poetry slam, 'operation: party!' a night of all-inclusive, pwyc partying and dancing at the Spill!!

featuring:
dj go go ghoul: fidget/ electro/ house !!
dj twinkle-fingerz: electo-pop/ indie-pop/ glam/ club hits
dj will pearson: house/ indie-dance

we live here too! is an umbrella movement that resists ghettoziation, gentrification, genderization and exclusionary action within our community by hosting and promoting inclusive, affordable and safe events in multiple venues.

to be non socio-political: we like to have fun with everybody on the cheap.

For those haven't been before, a poetry slam is a mock competition between poets. There are two rounds of 8-12 poets, who each perform a poem and are then given a score from 1.0 (meh) - 10.0 (fuck yeah!) by a panel of five randomly selected audience judges. Often emotionally and politically charged, the audience is expected and allowed to cheer and jeer the judges and the poets and each other. Expect any and all styles of poetry from folk ballads to hip-hop. And remember - the points aren't the point, the poetry is the point!

2009-09-23T15:06:00.001-07:00

***Invite your friends! Enemies! Neighbours! ***
The next round of the Peterborough Poetry Slam happens on Thursday September 24 at The Spill.

*** Peterborough Pride Associated Event see peterboroughpride.ca for more events! I know Drag Bingo is this night too, but make sure to bring your beautiful selves by the slam for a bit and then head over! ***

Featuring the London Slam Team. Funds raised will go towards sending the London Team to Victoria for the 2009 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word.

Bring two poems to compete, volunteer to be an audience "judge," or just sit back, get a drink and enjoy.

Sign-up will start at 7:30, with the show starting at 8. Actually. Prove you can be punctual, baby. Show up between then to be an audience judge! It's fun! Convince people that you'll take bribes of beer and butter tarts. (But you're really doing this for the poetry, right?)

Invite your friends! This will be awesome. Seriously. Come admire the artwork, drink beer or coffee or tea, read poetry into a mic for the first or fiftieth time, giggle in the corner (between poems, of course).

New poets are always welcome and encouraged.

For those haven't been before, a poetry slam is a mock competition between poets. There are two rounds of 8-12 poets, who each perform a poem and are then given a score from 1.0 (meh) - 10.0 (fuck yeah!) by a panel of five randomly selected audience judges. Often emotionally and politically charged, the audience is expected and allowed to cheer and jeer the judges and the poets and each other. Expect any and all styles of poetry from folk ballads to hip-hop. And remember - the points aren't the point, the poetry is the point!

Summer Updates!

2009-07-01T17:12:00.000-07:00

Hey all,

So if you haven't noticed, the Peterborough Poetry Slam Series is taking a break for the summer months (although there are some rumblings about some guerrilla poetry happening around the city in the meantime).

The poetry slam will be back in September with a run of fantastic events and features for you to participate in and enjoy.

Over the summer...Here's some events to keep your ears open.

1. TOMORROW July 2nd Sadleir House Poetry Workshop

Are you interested in writing? You've written poetry or short-stories? Do you want to share your work?

Come to the Sadleir House Poetry Workshop!
Thursday July 2nd at 7pm in the Senior Common Room.

Hosted in partnership with the PRCSA and OPIRG.

2. WORD UP! WEDNESDAYS @ THE ROOSTER.
-every other wednesday (next event July 8th with D-Sisive
-ALL AGES / $5.
-10PM - 2AM.
-DETAILS:

10pm - 11pm open mic / freestyles and battles and Rap-syncing contest (bring a costume and an mp3 to perform/act out)

11-1AM Live Hip Hop
1-2am HipHop Dance Party with DJ WHO.

3. Toronto Poetry Slam
Sat. July 11
Drake Underground (1150 Queen St. W.)
Signup 7:30, slam 8
Featuring Brendan McLeod from Vancouver

(Psssst....Brendan McLeod will be gracing us in Peterborough in October!)

4. Slam poets take over the Fringe...

THE DREAM CHASERS presents I HATE POETRY: I Hate Poetry catches three of Toronto's top spoken word poets preparing for their first ever Fringe show. Nerves, and an inability to concentrate have made their final rehearsal far from perfect, but they are determined to get it together on time. Through satire, humour, and the tackling of tough subject matter, I Hate Poetry breaks away from the poetry we hated as students, and offers a glimpse into the world of spoken word, offering something for everyone, no matter how they feel about poetry! Check out our event "I HATE POETRY" featuring at the HAMILTON FRINGE FESTIVAL this July 2009.

Originally these 3 spoken word poets united to represent Toronto at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word; they placed 2nd in the country 2 years in a row (as a 4 person team) and have decided to take their group writing styles and team performance skills to a new level...

The Dream Chasers are Dwayne Morgan, Leviathan and Tomy "BAM BAM" Bewick... Watch here for more info: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=21169898710

If you have an event you would like to add, please e-mail ptbopoetryslam@gmail.com.

Have a good summer, cats. See you in September.

Kate.

Next Round April 23rd! feat. Truth Is...

2009-04-19T11:13:00.001-07:00

1. THIS Thursday, April 23rd the Next Round of the Peterborough Poetry slam! Feat. Truth Is...
2. Toronto Poetry Slam Finals, April 25th feat. Shane Koyczan and Mike Mcgee (sold out, but you can show up at the door)
3. After the slam on Thursday...D12, Eternia and DJ WHO at the Moho

1. The next round of the Peterborough Poetry Slam happens on Thursday April 23rd at The Spill.

Hosted by meaghan kelly.
And featuring Truth Is... from Toronto (yeah!)

Bring two poems to compete, volunteer to be an audience "judge," or just sit back, get a drink and enjoy.

Sign-up will start at 7:30, with the show starting at 8 (sharp? let's try that again!) Show up between then to be an audience judge!

Invite your friends! This will be awesome.

Truth Is... A great leader and powerful public speaker of our time was noted for using thunderclap rhythm with a distinctive voice, blending ecstasy and despair. That would also be a perfect description of Truth Is. . .. Her Passion is only surpassed by her desire to explore and express the truth itself and this becomes obvious when her poetry is spoken. As a member of the 2006 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word Toronto Slam Team she experienced a third place finish amongst grueling and intense competition, she is also a Toronto Poetry Slam & co-ESC Mississauga Slam Champion. Truth Is. . . has been performing spoken word at schools, Music & word events leaving a wake of inspired people in her path for many years, but has only been slamming for just over one.

http://www.myspace.com/truthisellipsis

(If some of you haven't been before, a poetry slam is a mock competition between poets. There are two rounds of 8-12 poets, who each perform a poem and are then given a score from 1.0 (meh) - 10.0 (fuck yeah!) by a panel of five randomly selected audience judges. Often emotionally and politically charged, the audience is expected
and allowed to cheer and jeer the judges and the poets and each other. Expect any and all styles of poetry from folk ballads to hip-hop. And remember - the points aren't the point, the poetry is the point!)

2. Toronto Poetry Slam Finals almost sold out!
The Toronto Poetry Slam FINALS NIGHT will be going down on SATURDAY APRIL 25 @ Hugh's Room, 2261 Dundas St. W.

This slam will determine who is on the Toronto Poetry Slam Team.

Who's competing? Tomy Bewick, Lara, Truth Is, Nolan, Peace, Valentino Assenza, Ariel Platt and Kimiko.

Guest feature: Shane Koyczan and Mike McGee, two of the top poets in the world. Maybe even the galaxy.

Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
Advance tickets are sold out, but show up early at the door to get in.
If you still want to come and not sit a table (only choice now), then call Hugh's Room at 416 531 6604. There are limited seats available by the bar.

For more info, torontopoetryslam.com

3. After the slam...check out D12, Eternia and DJ WHO at the Moho!

D12
Eternia
DJ WHO
Live in concert!
Tickets $25 adv $30@Door
Available @ The Moho
282 Aylmer St.
*Limited Tickets*
19+ show

http://www.myspace.com/d12
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJnqlVrfTps
www.thebesthiphop.com

Urgent - Next Poetry Slam THIS Thursday the 26th!

2009-03-22T19:29:00.000-07:00

This Thursday the 26th of March will be the next round of the Peterborough Poetry Slam & Spoken Open Stage!

Bring two pieces to take part in the shenanigans that have been happening monthly at the Spill since Nov. '07!

There is a large amount of awesome stuff happening that night in the downtown, so we are going to try and start at 8pm sharp!

If you want to read, show up around 7:30 to get on the sign-up list. Last month filled up in ten minutes.

Tell your friends and lovers, come down, listen to and/or speak some poetry, and get your drink on.

(If some of you haven't been before, a poetry slam is a mock competition between poets. There are two rounds of 8-12 poets, who each perform a poem and are then given a score from 1.0 (meh) - 10.0 (fuck yeah!) by a panel of five randomly selected audience judges. Often emotionally and politically charged, the audience is expected and allowed to cheer and jeer the judges and the poets and each other. Expect any and all styles of poetry from folk ballads to hip-hop. And remember - the points aren't the point, the poetry is the point!)

new event!

2009-03-07T08:12:00.001-08:00

Want feedback on some works-in-progress?
Want to gain some more stage/microphone confidence?
Have some pieces that wouldn't "work" at the slam, but you want to perform?
Miss the open stage aspect of the monthly slams?
Don't like the competition of the slam?
Love the competition, but want to try out your pieces on somebody first?
Just can't get enough poetry?!

On Monday March 9th at the Spill, ziy will be leading the first of a
series of monthly informal workshops focused on various aspects of
writing & performance intended to complement the Peterborough Poetry
Slam.
Bring your poems, prose, works-in-progress, ideas for collaboration,
to practice and perform at a table or on the stage. Come to read, give
feedback or just come to listen!

Monday March 9th
The Spill
7:30pm
free!

February 26th!!

2009-02-16T18:35:00.000-08:00

February's Peterborough Poetry Slam will happen on Thursday, February 26th at The Spill!

Last month's winner, jes will be hosting, with Meagh Culkeen as our sacrificial poet, AND featuring kenji tokawa from t.o.!

Sign-up at 8 and show at 8:30! Bring two poems to compete!

Show up early for a seat and if you think you might want to try being an audience judge!

$5/PWYC. all ages. licensed.

kenji tokawa is a proud member of the Toronto Asian Arts Freedom School, Toronto's radical Asian writing and arts workshop for Asian youth, and has had the honour of writing, performing and shit-disturbing with them since June 2007. He has been published in Boyoboy Zine for young queer guys, and CultureSHOCK! the only anti-racist literary publication out of Queens University. He is first-generation mixed-race, studying Asian American poetry for fun and nourishment, writes to heal and hopes one day there will be no need for it. he just published his first chapbook entitled "missing the moon"

(If some of you haven't been before, a poetry slam is a mock competition between poets. There are two rounds of 8-12 poets, who each perform a poem and are then given a score from 1.0 (meh) - 10.0 (fuck yeah!) by a panel of five randomly selected audience judges. Often emotionally and politically charged, the audience is expected and allowed to cheer and jeer the judges and the poets and each other. Expect any and all styles of poetry from folk ballads to hip-hop. And remember - the points aren't the point, the poetry is the point!)

Jan. 22nd! The Next Round!

2009-01-13T12:15:00.000-08:00

Thursday January 22nd, come to the Spill for another night of poetry, performance, heartbreak and laughter.

Last month's poetry slam winner and purveyor of awesomeness, Meagh Culkeen will be hosting the show, with PLUG poetry team member Fraser as our sacrificial poet.

Sign-up at 7:30 and show at 8! Bring two poems to compete!

Show up early for a seat and if you think you might want to try being an audience judge!

PWYC/$5. all ages. licensed.

(If some of you haven't been before, a poetry slam is a mock competition between poets. There are two rounds of 8-12 poets, who each perform a poem and are then given a score from 1.0 (meh) - 10.0 (fuck yeah!) by a panel of five randomly selected audience judges. Often emotionally and politically charged, the audience is expected and allowed to cheer and jeer the judges and the poets and each other. Expect any and all styles of poetry from folk ballads to hip-hop. And remember - the points aren't the point, the poetry is the point!)

E-mail ptbopoetryslam@gmail.com, or visit http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=43559651523 for more info!

THIS THURSDAY - Spoken Open Stage and Open Meeting

2008-12-14T18:34:00.000-08:00

THIS Thursday December 18th, come to the Spill for an awesome spoken open stage and open meeting about the Peterborough Poetry Slam and Spoken Open Stage.

Bring your poems/prose/plays/etc to read in an open stage format.

Stay around after the poems to meet with the organizers and if you want to give YOUR opinion on the slam so far, and what you want the slam to be in the future.

The next round is what YOU make it. Should be a good show.

We have a lot of exciting things planned for the new year, and we would like YOUR input.

Sign up starts at 7:30. Show at 8. Debauchery to follow.

If you have something to say, and can't make it, send any thoughts to ptbopoetryslam@gmail.com

NOVEMBER 20TH THURSDAY!!!

2008-11-18T15:18:00.000-08:00

THIS Thursday November 20th, come and celebrate the one year "slam-iversary" of the Peterborough Poetry Slam & Spoken Open Stage!

We've seen over 50 poets grace our stage in the past year, and it's about time we all got a party.

As there are a bunch of amazing things going on earlier in the evening (esp. Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil at 7:30 at City Hall and KWIC AGM with Robert Lovelace and Paula Sherman at 6:30 at artspace) we will be getting started later, around 8:30.

Poets who want to sign-up should still show up earlier, but in the spirit of the season we'll expand the list if poets are still wanting to sign up at 8:30 at The Spill!

TWO poems to compete, whatever you want to read. We'll mix it up a bit since it's our anniversary.

feat. Chet Singh, with special guest Esther Vincent, and beats in between and afterwards by DJ WHO

Hell yeah.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=15645384962

a few things!

2008-10-06T16:33:00.000-07:00

First off, the next Peterborough Poetry Slam and Spoken Open Stage is on Thursday, October 16th. Sign up at 7:30, show at 8. Bring two poems to compete! Be an audience judge! Listen to some amazing fucking poetry and rock out. $5/PWYC

Secondly, I think Harper is being ridiculous. You know what quote about how ordinary Canadians don't care about the arts? Well, that's bullshit, and we all know it. I think the poetry slam is especially implicated in that comment, and we therefore need to act. Artspace in Peterborough has started an amazing campaign. Read more about it here, and participate! The deadline is October 10th, so hurry! Please! http://www.ordinarycanadiansforthearts.org/node/6

Thirdly, we are making a one year anniversary ZINE! Read Jes' letter below to learn about how and what to submit:

"hello my lovely poetry people

for those of you who weren't at the last slam, or perchance missed my announcement, the ptbo poetry slam would like to compile a zine to showcase our wonderful talent, as well as celebrate our one year anniversary (november!).

so...SUBMISSIONS can be in the form of:

>photos from past slams
>a piece of work you've performed (or plan to?!) at a slam
>a personal slam story? (what it was like to perform for the first time, a really moving performance you saw, what the slam means to you, etc)

feel free to send as much or as little as you want. depending on how many submissions are received, we may cap the submission limit at one-per person.

you can email submissions to: ptbopoetryslam@gmail.com

submission deadline: OCTOBER 31st

much love,

jes

p.s. happy slammiversary to you all."

Thursday September 18th!!

2008-09-14T20:52:00.001-07:00

The new season of the monthly Peterborough Poetry Slam & Spoken Open Stage starts on Thursday September 18th at The Spill (414 George Street North).

Bring two poems to compete, volunteer to be an audience "judge," or just sit back, get a drink and enjoy.

Any style of poetry encouraged. Everyone welcome.

Sign-up at 7:30 p.m, slam at 8 p.m.

Featuring the Peterborough/London Spoken Word Team: Ziy, Elyse Maltin, Fraser and Beth Anne Fischer, as well as musical interludes by Babes for Breasts!

$5/PWYC, to raise funds for sending the team to the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word 2008 in Calgary.

For more info, visit http://peterboroughpoetryslam.blogspot.com or e-mail ptbopoetryslam@gmail.com

NEXT ROUND!

2008-08-05T18:11:00.000-07:00

The date for the next round has been changed to Thursday, September 18th, which is actually the third Thursday of the month. Sign-up at 7:30. Show at 8!

Instead, on September 11th, make sure you all hit up the DisOrientation Week Variety Show! More details TBA, but there will be amazing acts, fantastic music, and some familiar faces from the poetry slam.

A few announcements!

2008-07-08T16:38:00.001-07:00

1) The Monthly Peterborough Poetry Slam at The Spill will be taking a break for July and August. Keep an eye and ear out for news about the huge September 11th event when the Next Round of the Peterborough Poetry slam will resume the second Thursday of every month at The Spill!

2) Just because we’re taking a break, doesn’t mean the poetry stops! There lots of opportunities around town and within bus’n distance for the poetically-inclined:

Thursday, July 10th, approx. 3pm
Trent Radio 92.7 FM
Listen to the Poetry Slam Semi-Finals recorded on June 12th at The Spill! If you’ve never been to a poetry slam before, and are curious as to how the format works, this is a perfect intro to the way we do it in Peterborough.

Friday, July 18th, Sign-up 7:30, Slam 8pm
Start of the new season at the Toronto Poetry Slam
Drake Hotel Underground, 1150 Queen St. West
Featuring Mark Berube and the Patriotic Few
$5

Monday, July 21st at 8pm
The Spill Café
OPEN MIC/SORCERER/MELODY UNWINDING
Open mic poetry feat. you perhaps?
This is Sorcerer's first show. Melody Unwinding is an alternative rock band from Vancouver coming through Peterborough for their second time. For more information, e-mail andrewnursepoetry@hotmail.com.com

Sunday, July 27th 1-5pm
Trent Radio 92.7
Listen to Trent Radio on Sunday afternoon for a bunch of poetry, prose, and talks with the wordsmiths behind the wordplay.
And an open call-out for poets/prosers/writers/wordperformers, if you would be interested in reading (7-10min.) in the afternoon, e-mail Andrew at afrench@trentradio.ca.

Thursday, August 7th 7pm
Sadleir House
Poetry on the Lawn
More details TBA.

3) After the Ontario Slamboree happened in Toronto on June 28th, the final results for the Southern Ontario Spoken Word team are in!
From the Peterborough Slam…
Ziy!
Fraser!
Beth Anne!
From the London Slam…
Elyse!
Sook!
This is the stellar team that will represent our communities at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Calgary in the fall. They will be performing with teams of poets from all across the country.
Before they can get there though, they’ve gotta a) practice and b) fundraise. If you have any ideas/opportunities for team performances that could facilitate either or both of these endeavors in Peterborough/London/surrounding areas, please e-mail ptbopoetryslam@gmail.com

Thanks everybody! This premiere season of the Peterborough Poetry slam was a ridiculous success. I hope you all enjoyed it, and I look forward to seeing you in September!

Sincerely,
kate macneill

UPDATE FOR JUNE 12TH!

2008-06-05T20:07:00.001-07:00

Bring two of your best poems to compete for spots on the new Peterborough/London/etc; Slam team! This is an amazing opportunity for poets to perform, travel, meet other poets, and promote poetry in Peterborough and across Canada.

Invite everyone you know in Peterborough, because the Peterborough poets will be representing the city nationally. YOU decide as a crowd and as randomly-chosen audience judges who YOU think should be on the team.

Thursday, June 12th at The Spill!
Signup at 7:30. Show at 8. pwyc (donations for team travel expenses greatly appreciated). all ages. licensed.

Update June 5th:
The proposal for a Peterborough/London/etc; slam team has been approved by SpoCan (Spoken Word Canada) to attend the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Calgary in November 2008!
This means that the top poet from June 12th will automatically get a spot on the team. The next two top poets will go to Toronto on June 28th to compete in the Ontario Poetry Slamboree with poets from London, and other communities to make up the final three spots (two+one alternate).

Ontario Poetry Slamboree
with poets competing from Peterborough, London and other Ontario communities.
feat. Spencer and L.E.V.I.A.T.H.A.N
Saturday, June 28
Cervejaria, 842 College St., Toronto
Doors open 7 pm, Show at 8
$5 Cover
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=52194195111
http://torontopoetryslam.com/openmic/viewtopic.php?id=652

For more information about the semi-finals, the team, what being on the team entails, etc;, please e-mail ptbopoetryslam@gmail.com

For more information on SpoCan and the festival, please visit:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5319332677

ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT JUNE 12TH

2008-05-22T15:52:00.000-07:00

Bring two of your best poems to compete for spots on the new Peterborough/Windsor/London Slam team!

Invite everyone you know in Peterborough, because this is Peterborough's team that will be representing the city nationally. YOU decide as a crowd and as randomly-chosen audience judges who YOU think should be on the team.

Thursday, June 12th at The Spill!
Signup at 7:30. Show at 8. pwyc. all ages. licensed.

Update May 22:
A proposal is pending positively at SpoCan (Spoken Word Canada) to organize a Peterborough/Windsor/London slam team of five poets for the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Calgary in the fall. Each city will hold semi-finals; the winner from each city will automatically get a spot on the team. The second and third place finalists of each city will then go to Toronto later in the month to compete at a finals night for the last two spots on the team, where there will be performances, features, and a huge slam crowd.

Updates about the proposal will be posted here, and on the facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9543653748).

For more information about the semi-finals, the team, what being on the team entails, etc;, please e-mail ptbopoetryslam@gmail.com

For more information on SpoCan and the festival, please visit:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5319332677 or www.cfsw.net

Hope to see you all there, and please write with any questions you may have!

June 12th!

2008-05-12T10:01:00.001-07:00

Thursday, June 12th is the NEXT ROUND of the Peterborough Poetry Slam and Spoken Open Stage.

Two rounds of poets, so get your two poems ready for the mic!

There will be an announcement shortly related to the Slam and this event, specifically. Keep watch for these super exciting details.

If you want to be kept up to date on developments, e-mail me at kemacneill@gmail.com and I'll put you on the mailing list!

Poetry Open Stage @ the Spill!

2008-05-09T15:21:00.000-07:00

Monday, May 12, 2008
8:00pm - 11:30pm
The Spill Cafe, 414 George Street North

OPEN STAGE READING, ANYONE IS WELCOME TO PERFORM
IF YOU ARE DEFINITELY COMING TO PERFORM, contact me (andrewnursepoetry@hotmail.com) and I'll add you to the list below

.....................................................

Featuring:

Andrew Nurse
Michael Casteels
Rory Harder
Sacha Archer
Tony Brathwaite
Elizabeth Thipphawong
Jake Byrne
and more

THIS THURSDAY MAY 8th, the Next Round - the FOUND ROUND

2008-05-06T14:24:00.000-07:00

THIS THURSDAY at the Spill, at 8pm is the next round of the PTBO poetry slam and spoken open stage. This time things will be a little bit different, the Found Round!

This was originally going to be called the "LAST MINUTE SLAM" due to the fact that it is THIS Thursday, but I figured that was a little bit too self-deprecating.

Due to the last minute nature of this announcement and the opportunity for awesomeness, the stage will be opened up for YOU to perform whatever YOU think should be heard.

Got a practiced soliloquy hiding in your closet? An underappreciated impersonation? A scornful letter to an ex-lover they will never read? Extra points for making us laugh until we cry and cry until we laugh.

Bring Your Voices & dead poets' words, love letters, diary entries, newspaper clippings, eulogies, science projects, fashion magazines & your own fresh or forgotten poems.

Thursday is perfect for “non-poets” who want to perform, pros who want to try something new, or those still a little too nervous to perform their own stuff .

licensed. all ages. pwyc.

This should be a riot.

Next Round of the Peterborough Poetry Slam and Spoken Open Stage!

2008-03-25T20:57:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, April 10th at the Spill, the Next Round of slam and open stage promises to be a good one, with Lebogang Mothibatsela hosting and Meaghan Kelly as the sacrificial poet.

Sign-up at 7:30 and show at 8. Open stage to follow.

Twelve poets in the first round of slam, with six in the second, and the audience's (by which I mean the judges') favourite three poets of the evening reading in a third round. Open sign-up for open stage (may be time-permitting as the Spill has live music for later in the evening.)

A time limit of three minutes is encouraged for each poem, but will not be enforced.

And remember - the points are not the point, the poetry is the point!

Writers of all sorts and styles from seasoned slammers to first-time readers are welcome, as well as curious and supportive spectators. First time readers are especially encouraged to sign-up.

Hope to see you there!

SO MUCH POETRY.

2008-03-24T16:42:00.000-07:00

Poetry Night @ Black Honey with Andrew Nurse
Tuesday, April 1 - 8pm

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=9085679878&ref=share

Slam Workshop - Traill University
Monday, April 7 - 4-6pm,
Seminar room (Find exact location at the Trend anytime after 10am. SO many workshops!)
Ziy and I will be facilitating a workshop where everybody brings a poem, works on performing it with input from everybody else in the room (in true slam style!).
Bring a piece of your own work, talk a bit about the history of slam poetry and the poetry slam format, and then workshop everyone's pieces into slam-worthy performance art to have the chance to perform at the Peterborough Poetry Slam and Spoken Open Stage later in the week! First time readers to seasoned slammers all welcome. All styles of poetry encouraged."
More information on Traill University and the Party on the Hill is available here:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=26062363992

New Facebook Group!

2008-03-18T09:35:00.000-07:00

This blog will continue to be updated with event listings and information, but if you are on facebook, and want something slightly more interactive, join here:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9543653748

Join up to get monthly invites to the "Next Round" and keep up to date on poetry and spoken word workshops and events happening in Peterborough.

MARCH 13 - Next Round of the Peterborough Poetry Slam and Open Stage

2008-03-10T19:41:00.000-07:00

Take a break from March insanity and come listen to/read some poetry at the Spill!

Thursday, March 13!Sign-up at 7:30! Show at 8!

Open sign up for open stage. Twelve poets sign up for the first slam round of the evening. Six poets will move onto the second round, and there will be a final round of the random judge's favourite three poets of the night.

A time limit of three minutes is encouraged for each poem, but will not be enforced. Remember - the points are not the point, the poetry is the point!

Writers of all sorts from seasoned slammers to first-time readers are welcome, as well as curious and supportive spectators. First time readers are especially encouraged.

DOING IT IN PUBLIC Feb. 29 - March 1

2008-02-17T15:21:00.000-08:00

Doing it in Public

For more information including workshop opportunities, please visit http://trentu.ca/english/DoingitinPublic.php

A conference in Public, Performance and Poetry
February 29th 2008 - March 1st 2008 at Trent University

Thursday Feb 28th

7:30 pm Rooke Lecture at the Peterborough Public Library:
Christian Bök, When Cyborgs Versify.

Friday February 29th 2008

11:00 am - 12:45 pm Registration, Meet/Greet and Light Lunch: Traill College at The TREND

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm Poetry Panel: From Text to Performance.
Neal McLeod talks to Jill Battson, and Motion Brathwaite, Ziysah Markson, Lebogang Mothibatsela, and Angela Rawlings.

2:30 - 3:00 Coffee Break

3:00 pm - 4:30 pm Poetry Panel: From Word to Sound.
Michael Morse talks to Christian Bök, Derek Beaulieu, Adeena Karasick, and Alexis O’Hara.

8:00 pm Poets in Performance: Sadleir House, 751 George St. N.
Alexis O’Hara, Motion Brathwaite, Ziysah Markson, Adeena Karasick and Lebogang Mothibatsela.

Saturday March 1st 2008

12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch Senior Common Room, Traill College

1:00 pm - 2:45 Workshops

3:00 pm - 4:45pm Workshops

8:00 pm Poets in Performance: Sadleir House, 751 George St. N.
Jill Battson, Christian Bök, Derek Beaulieu and Angela Rawlings with Michael Morse, Michel Côté and Ciara Adams.

All events are free and open to the public.

Please contact: Prof. Hugh Hodges, hughhodges@trentu.ca or Kim Fielding kfieldin@trentu.ca

Donations are welcome and can be sent to:

Trent Univeristy
c/o Kim Fielding
English MA Public Text
Traill College, WH 133
Peterborough, ON
K9J 7B8

MELT - February 16th!

2008-02-14T14:37:00.000-08:00

Feb 16 - MELT! - Spoken Word and Dance

Got the post-Valentines blues? Wish winter was over?

Well come on out to MELT and tell us about it and then dance the night away!

Event: MELT - a Spoken Word and Dance event! - Click HERE for the cool event poster!

When: Saturday February 16 from 9pm to 2am

- Spoken Word Open Stage 9pm to 10pm
- Dance with DJ Jarret 10pm to 2am
Jarret rocked the 2007 Pride Dance so the music will be great!

Where: Market Hall (336 George St. North, Peterborough)

All ages event - alcohol served with proof of age of majority only!

Only $5 entry fee (pay once and you can come and go all evening)

If you are interested in performing in the spoken word portion of the evening or want more information contact rick@rainbowservice.org

This event is co-sponsored by:
Rainbow Service Organization (RSO)
Rainbow Youth Coalition (RYC)
PARN Your community AIDS Resource Network

Any proceeds from this event go to funding the programs of RSO and RYC

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 14th @ the spill

2008-02-08T13:39:00.000-08:00

The Slam in January was such a roaring success, we've decided to celebrate. With the help of the Trent Queer Collective, we'll be bringing you a very special round of the Peterborough Poetry Slam at The Spill! Poetry, sex, heartbreak, hilarity and a dance party for a monumental Valentine's shindig.

Twelve poets sign up for the first round of the evening. Six poets will move onto the second round, and there will be a final round of the judge's favourite three poets of the night.

Points will be given for turning the judges on and breaking their hearts. Bring your three sexiest and/or most heartwrenching poems.

Following the slam, Kay Pettigrew and DJ WHO to dance the night away!

Included in the deal: appearances of your favourite judge of the year, local heartthrob judges and other very special guests.

Sign-up at 7:30. Show at 8. Show up early to get in and find a seat! PWYC.

http://peterboroughpoetryslam.blogspot.com

An event proud to be part of this year's Self-Love Week
A monumental thanks to the Trent Queer Collective.

January 26th - Beats for Justice!

2008-01-21T20:13:00.000-08:00

Beats for Justice!

Splice, 379 George St. N.
Saturday January 26th, 7:00 p.m.

7:00 A non-judged poetry "slam" where all are invited to perform a cover of a poem written by a woman - or to listen to the performers and guess the poet. Sign-up to read at 6:45. For more information on the Peterborough slam, check out www.peterboroughpoetryslam.blogspot.com

Following the slam, will be performances by an all-woman cast of poets, musicians and filmmakers, including filmmaker/musician Sarah DeCarlo, Amei Kuda, and Lan Anh's brand new film on Peterborough's spoken word scene: Trespassing Poets.

$10 waged/$5 unwaged, or pay-as-much-as-you-can.

Funds raised will support the Native Youth Movement and Trent University Native Association.

For questions, comments, or media, please contact: Ziysah at ziysah@nccpeterborough.ca or 743-0882, ext. 224.

Next Round January 10th!

2008-01-04T19:03:00.001-08:00

Peterborough’s monthly poetry slam will be happening Thursday January 10th at The Spill Coffee Bar at 414 George st. N.

Sign-up will start at 7:30 sharp. Then the slam will get started around 8. The slam competition is open to the first ten poets who sign up at the beginning of the night and arrive with two poems to perform. Two rounds of one poem per poet will be scored by random judges from the audience. A time limit of three minutes is encouraged for each poem, but will not be enforced. Remember - the points are not the point, the poetry is the point!

Following the friendly competition, the stage will open up to anybody else who wants to read/poeticize/sing/perform/dance/make us laugh/orate/play an instrument/do magic tricks/etc; poetry (your own, anybody's) encouraged!

Writers of all sorts from seasoned slammers to first-time readers are welcome, as well as curious and supportive spectators. First time readers are especially encouraged.

Anu will the hosting the evening, with ke as the sacrificial poet to start off the night!

This is PWYC, open to all ages, licensed, barrier-free and queer-positive.

Next Round on December 13th

2007-11-12T11:40:00.000-08:00

Great news!

Due to such a fantastic night last month, The Spill has offered all of you the use of their stage aaaaaaaaall night long this Thursday at the next round of the Peterborough Poetry Slam and Open Mic.

So, sign-up will start around 7:30. Then the slam will get started around 8. Two rounds of 8 poets will grace the slam, and then the stage will open up for anybody else who wants to read/poeticize/sing/perform/dance/make us laugh/orate/play an instrument/do magic tricks/etc;

This promises to be a great time. Hope to see you all Thursday night!

Peterborough’s second monthly poetry slam will be happening Thursday December 13th at The Spill Coffee Bar at 414 George st. N.

The slam competition is open to the first eight poets who sign up at the beginning of the night and arrives with two poems to perform. Two rounds of one poem per poet will be scored by random judges from the audience. A time limit of three minutes is encouraged for each poem, but will not be enforced.

The friendly competition will be followed by a poetry open mic that will go ALL NIGHT!

Writers of all sorts from seasoned slammers to first-time readers are welcome, as well as curious and supportive spectators. First time readers are especially encouraged.

ke will the hosting the evening, with a special guest as the sacrificial poet to start off the night!

This is a free event, open to all ages, licensed, barrier-free and queer-positive.

Round 1 in Arthur! With Photographs!

2007-11-12T10:44:00.000-08:00

Round 1: Could the poets please come to the ring?
Written by Jes Sachse, Photos: Ruby Watson,
Arthur volume 42, issue 9, Nov. 12 2007

Last Thursday, The Spill gave the expressions filled to the brim, poetry slam and some like it hot a whole new meaning. Yes, the merry Spill was more full than I’ve ever seen it, with poets, slammers, and spectators alike. And if you’re imagining a room full of black berets and finger snapping, well you’d better check your clichés at the door. The crowd was comprised of young and old, students and professors, bar-goers and bar-keep, rebel rousers and dread-heads, plaid patrons and dangly-earring wearers – all of whom were a part of what became a very memorable evening.

Ziy – the slam’s emcee – is not only a veteran to the Peterborough stage, but the Toronto slam scene as well. A crowd favorite, she pumped up the room with an audience participation piece that had us clanging our glasses, stomping our feet, and chanting "C’mon P-town, join the SLAM NATION!"

There were eight slammer-slots, so it was first come first serve. An open mic followed the slam, so that anyone that didn’t make the slam sign up, or anyone that didn’t want to compete could still perform. From politics to family anecdotes, and vibrators to Viagra, these poets brought great presence, rhythm and variety to an audience that was laughing, crying, and often applauding thunderously.

Four randomly selected judges were relied on for scores from 1 to 5 (five being un-fucking-believable), to a tallied score out of 20 for each piece performed. The slam consisted of two rounds (with no eliminations) to give poets a chance to redeem themselves if they scored low in the first round, or just another chance to wow the crowd. But true slammers know it’s never about the points.

However, a competition is a competition and a competition demands a winner. And this month’s winner was Ke McNeill, poetic alias ‘Girl with the’. Ke has been slamming all over the country, from her hometown in Brandon, Manitoba, to the west coast, to the big T.O. But for the last three she years her talent and experience have been residing here, studying English and Environmental Science at Trent. And now she’s a piece of the organizational pie behind Round 1 – Peterborough’s monthly performance poetry series.

The general reaction after the event seemed to be an amalgamation of ‘that was incredible’ and ‘I didn’t realize so many people were into poetry!’ There have been many passionate talented poets dwelling in and passing through our beloved Peterpatch for some time now so it comes as no surprise that the event was such a success, because the surfacing of such a booming poet-scene was much overdue.

So to you, you sea of seasoned slammers, jammers, linguistic lords, poetic giants, aspiring lyricists, phonetic fiends, typographical titans, and savvy sport spectators – this humble wordsmith encourages you to not only book ALL of the slam nights off at Pita Pit (or whichever humble joint serves to pay the bills), but to immerse yourself.

Step one: Rent any and every poetry related movie from Have You Seen. Yes, that includes everything from Dead Poets Society to Slamnation (documentary of one team’s journey to the Slam Nationals), to any seasons of the HBO series Def Poetry.

Step two: Write. Anything. Everything. Write poetry. Write prose. Write raps and rhymes. Write rules. Break rules. Write pick up lines. Write while riding the bus, eating a sandwich, sitting on the crapper – your means and inspirations are limitless – as are the styles you may choose.

Step three: Perform…for your shower head. Your mother. Your roommates. For an audience. Perform at slams. Perform at open mics. Perform at barmitzvahs. Perform at weddings. Open for the Stones. Open for Britney. The world is your oyster.

There are many reasons to write and even more reasons to share. But I’ll let Ziy leave you with the poet-coveted last word, as she said it quite well last Thursday:

"It’s been a long time coming, but now it’s here,
So c’mon everyone, and give a cheer
To ‘Girl with the’ and this rare invitation,
To seize the occasion,
Give up your hesitation,
No intimidation,
Share your creations,
Vent your frustrations,
Show your elation.
Now we’re all buzzing with anticipation,
So without further pontification,
Make this your loudest ovation.
C’mon, P’town, and join the slam nation!"

To find Round 1 online, for info about upcoming slams, or to get a hold of the organizers, go to http://peterboroughpoetryslam.blogspot.com. The next slam is scheduled for Thursday, December 13 from 7-9pm at the Spill. The event is free, all ages, licensed, barrier-free and queer positive.

Round 1 de-briefing

2007-11-09T07:29:00.000-08:00

Thank you so much to everyone who helped organize, implement and make amazing the first monthly poetry slam and open mic in Peterborough.

Thank you to The Spill for being such an awesome venue and Dave and his boys for being such awesome hosts.

Thank you for everyone who filmed/photographed/documented the evening. If you would like to show any of your pictures (have them posted on this page) please e-mail them or their hosting addresses to kemacneill@gmail.com. That would be very much appreciated.

Thank you especially to Ziy for hosting, James for scorekeeping, Kim for running around with lists and in general being great. Thank you to Jes and Anu and Opus for performing and helping flesh out ideas throughout the decision-making process.

And of course, thank you to the judges for participating in a way that is at once super fun and also sometimes frustrating. And a huge thank you to John, Bob, Tony, Opus, Monica, Sally, Jes, Anu, Meaghan and Mike for getting up on that stage and blowing everybody away.

WE'LL SEE YOU DECEMBER THIRTEENTH FOR THE NEXT ROUND!

Round 1!

2007-11-03T12:24:00.000-07:00

Peterborough’s first monthly poetry slam will be happening Thursday November the 8th at The Spill Coffee Bar at 414 George st. N. from 7 to 9 pm.

The slam competition is open to the first eight poets who sign up at the beginning of the night and arrives with two poems to perform. Two rounds of one poem per poet will be scored by random judges from the audience.

The friendly competition will be followed by a poetry open mic that will blend into the regularly scheduled open stage at The Spill.

Writers of all sorts from seasoned slammers to first-time readers are welcome, as well as curious and supportive spectators.

Hosting the evening will be Peterborough’s own Ziy.

ROUND-1 is a free event, open to all ages, licensed, barrier-free and queer-positive.