LOTD: IGNITE! Sets The Cultch On Fire

IGNITE! Sets The Cultch On Fire

Every year, for one week, The Cultch is taken over and transformed by young people. Hundreds of youth are involved in what has grown to be Vancouver’s largest youth-driven arts festival. The festival includes showcases in music, dance, and spoken word, the world premiere of three one-act plays, a visual arts exhibit, variety shows featuring diverse forms of entertainment, and much more. All of this is created by local artists between the ages of 13-24. During the festival, IGNITE! events happen all over The Cultch’s facilities such as the Historic Theatre, the Vancity Cultre Lab, the main lobby and the café galleries.

Literally every aspect of the festival is youth-driven, produced by the Cultch’s Youth Panel. From media relations and promotion, to stage managing and running the lighting and sound boards, there are countless ways to become involved, whether on stage or behind the scenes. This year’s festival is taking place from May 14th to May 19th. Contact Youth Program Manager, Robert Leveroos, at robert@thecultch.com to learn more.

We sat down with talented 16 year old Lili Robinson, who not only spoke about the festival but gave us a taste of her work. She's performing in the festival's Tuesday night spoken word event.


http://www.igniteyouthfest.ca/

Tongue N’ Cheek - Sex, Dance and Spoken Word @ the Rio

A night of Powerful Poets and Sass-ational Burlesque! 
Erotic Spoken Word - Plus Dirty Haiku battle!! 
Friday Feb 10th 2012 Doors at 8pm show starts 8:30pm

"Three Slam Poet Giants - East Van, Portland, Oakland! Four Queens of Sweet Soul Burlesque!"

Renown Spoken Word artists give us their best Erotic Poetry while local Burlesque Stars perform the Art of Strip Tease. An Erotic Night for the senses; body, heart and soul!

Starring:
CR Avery (Our Local East Van Heart Throb)
MIGHTY Mike McGee (Lover Boy from Portalnd USA)
Jamie Dewolf (Bad Ass King of Dirty Talk from Oakland)

The Seductions of Sweet Soul Burlesque:
Crystal Precious, Cherry on Top, Lola Frost and Little Miss Risk!
http://www.facebook.com/sweetsoulburlesque

Live Music by The Broken Mirrors

Plus Dirty Haiku Battle!! Hosted by Jessica Mason Paul, featuring 8 local poets who battle to win the top CASH prize!!!

Produced by Shameless Lee Productions and The Vancouver Poetry Slam

Tickets $12 advance $15 at the door.
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/216019
Dress in your best erotic outfit for eye candy inspiration ; )

The Rio Theatre - Independent Art House

1660 East Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5N 1w1

View Map  · Get Directions 

Review: Poet Slams Slam Finals

Prominent spoken word artist CJ Leon wrote this frank review
There is something seriously wrong with the slam scene in Vancouver when even its flagship Slam Finals event, which filled the Rio Theatre to capacity last night, fails to inspire even its most enthusiastic patrons. It didn’t help that while one slam-masters’ name was chanted seven times throughout the evening, none of the performing poets’ names were even in the program! While I appreciate the work of organizers, I go for the art and the artists. Fuck the Vancouver Slam for continuing to go out of its way to anonymize the artists who make it what it is. Bad form! You gave us a 14-page program and didn't even mention the artists, let alone give us their bios and links. Fuck you and your egomania! The lighting of the venue was horrible: no spotlight, and I was told the cadaverous hue of the performers was caused by event organizers who wanted the headache-inducing bluish “cleaning lights” on so poets could read their poems. Boo! And since when do slam poets read? Gimme a fucking break! I didn’t pay $15 to sit in Walmart lighting.

Read the full review here...

Literary: Andrea Thompson, Faust MacKenzie, Scruffmouth and Sasha Langford

The Vancouver Poetry Slam and Vancouver Poetry House
http://www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com/


are very proud to present
Friday Night Words: A Showcase of Vancouver Poetry Slam All Stars

Past, Present and Future.

including performances by original Van Slam team member Andrea Thompson,
current slam team members Faust Mackenzie and Scruffmouth,
and
erotic slam champ Sasha Langford.

Cafe Deux Soleils 2096 Commercial Drive Doors open at 8:00 PM.

Show starts at 9:00PM.

Only $10.00
One of the pioneers of the SLAM poetry scene in Canada, Andrea's performances are electric and unique – blending elements of jazz, dub, hip-hop and traditional literary verse into a style all her own. Re-creating mythological themes in a contemporary milieu, she offers her audience an invitation to return to the roots of the oral tradition through the elevation of spoken word to its ancient role as public ritual.Van Slam Grand Champion, Scruffmouth will be performing poems from his new book "The Seventh Sense".
He is also on the 2008 Vancouver Poetry Slam team and has been slamming, speaking the word, and performing dub poetry since 2004. "Faust McKenzie is the bastard child of short-lived love triangle between Bob, Doug, and Spuds McKenzie. In clinical trials, Faust outperformed all other major brands of cranial detergent, despite selling for half the price. Faust smells better up-close, regrets joining Facebook, and has a chapbook for sale entitled 'Faux Reals.'

"Sasha Langford was selected as one of five poets to represent Vancouver in the 2008 CBC Poetry Face Off, opened for Canadian Folk Music Award nominees the Fugitives as part of the 2007 Jewish Book Festival, was invited to perform at two Annual Sistahood Slams as part of Women's month, was the second runner up for the title of Women of the World Vancouver champion, graced the Vancouver Poetry Slam semi-finals stage, and featured at the Vancouver Poetry Slam, The Vancouver Youth Poetry Slam, the Spillious Speak 'n Sing and the Maple Ridge poetry slam both individually and as part of the Vancouver Youth Poetry Slam Team, all before the age of 19.

Since turning 19, Sasha has become the slam champion of the first annual Vancouver Erotica Slam....and that's about all so far.

These four performers will probably never get a chance to share a stage together again.

Literary: Van Lip

EVIL BOY GENIUS PRODUCTIONS

AND

NEW MUSIC WEST

PRESENT

VAN LIP: A NIGHT OF VANCOUVER SPOKEN WORD

SATURDAY MAY 17TH

@

CAFÉ DEUX SOLEILS: 2096 COMMERCIAL DRIVE

DOORS AT 7PM

SHOW STARTS AT 8:30

$10 AT THE DOOR

FEATURING PERFORMANCES BY

2008 VAN SLAM TEAM MEMBERS

SCRUFFMOUTH, RADAR, FAUST McKENZIE, ZACCHEUS JACKSON AND AL MADER

PLUS

SEAN McGARRAGLE, THE SVELTE MS. SPELT, CJ, BARBARA ADLER

JULIE PARRELL, RC WESLOWSKI

WITH SPECIAL GUEST

ARDATH WHYNACHT FROM HALIFAX

Contact rcarcee@yahoo.ca for more info

Or

604 215 9230

Upcoming on Wax Poetic

Upcoming: Wakefield Brewster - Feb. 20

Join us live at 2pm (PST)

Performing in a musical capacity since age six and writing for the past 12 years, Wakefield has made his dynamic presence on the scene known with no uncertain terms. Writing in a political yet lyrical voice and performing with an audaciousness yet unseen, he has blasted onto over 100 spoken word stages across Toronto throughout the past year and can be experienced regularly at Poetica Reading Series, The Art Bar Reading Series and at the Oasis Open Stage Night. Wakefield's powerful poetry and captivating prose have been featured in a number of publications; both on the Internet and in print and has appeared on local radio programs. Constantly rotating between feature and open mike performances Wakefield has just returned from a hectic four-day gig at the Shambhala Festival in British Columbia where he performed for an audience of 6500 - 8,000.

More info at www.poetryradio.blogspot.com
You can also see him live at the Vancouver Poetry Slam, and he will be doing a workshop at Spartacus Books on February 19th.
For more info go to www.vancouverpoetryhouse.com

Literary: Vancouver Poetry Slam Features Boston's Brian Ellis

THE VANCOUVER POETRY SLAM
REGULAR SEASON CONTINUES
@
CAFÉ DEUX SOLEILS: 2096 COMMERCIAL DRIVE
THE 1ST, 3RD AND 5TH MONDAY OF EVERY MONTH
THE NEXT REGULAR SEASON SLAM IS MONDAY JANUARY 21ST
FEATURING BOSTON'S BRIAN ELLIS

Brian Ellis has represented Boston's Cantab Lounge in both the National and Individual World Poetry Slam. His newest book, "Pharmakos," was published by the prestigious Destructible Heart Press. He currently lives in the Whitehaus, a large home filled with artists, writers, musicians and their various subordinates.

PLUS A SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE FROM BELLINGHAM'S RYLER DUSTIN
THIS WILL BE ANOTHER QUALIFYING SLAM TO MAKE THE VAN SLAM PLAYOFFS THIS APRIL AND MAY FOR A CHANCE TO MAKE THE 2008 VANCOUVER POETRY SLAM TEAM
DOORS AND SIGN UP ARE AT 8PM
OPEN MIC AT 8:45
SLAM STARTS AT 9 O'CLOCK
STILL ONLY $5 TO GET IN
COME BE A JUDGE
COME SLAM FOR THE FIRST TIME
ALL POETS AND POETIC STYLES ARE WELCOME
604 215 9230 FOR MORE INFO
AND DON'T FORGET THE VANCOUVER YOUTH SLAM HAPPENS ON JANUARY 28TH FEATURING BARBARA ADLER
PLUS THE NEXT "ALT SLAM" IS MONDAY FEB 11TH
THE PAN AFRICAN SLAM FEATURING: BOONAA MOHAMMED

Wax Poetic: A Year In Poetry

This week on Wax Poetic our guests included, Vancouver Poetry Slam Master Lisa Slater, Vancouver Poetry House president Sue McIntyre, plus Pandora's Collective's Bonnie Nish and Story Slam's Ivan Penaluna. Go to http://poetryradio.blogspot.com for pics.

Poetry Wanted!

Live on the Drive (the other great source for info about Commercial Drive) is looking to do a small feature on poetry on the Drive and I'm looking for a few submissions loosely around the theme of Urban Blues/Comedic Observations on Urbania. Any chance you can put out a call for me? Sound files welcome.

email Laura at liveondrive@hotmail.com

The "Shane" on Bravo Tonight!

Season 2 of Heart of a Poet will begin airing on BRAVO! tonight.

Check it out if you can. The series starts with a bang, with an episode shot in Vancouver, featuring spoken word sensation Shane Koyczan.

It's a great season with some stellar poets and spoken word artists ... see the release below, or www.heartofapoet.ca for more info.

Poets on prime-time ... woo hoo! Please help spread the word!

Literary: Brendan McLeod Launches First Novel

The notorious 3-Day Novel Contest has long been a Labor Day long weekend tradition in the writing community.
Last year's winner was East Van's own Brendan McLeod (of Fugitives fame). That book, The Convictions of Leonard McKinley, is being launched on Wednesday, Aug. 22nd at Chivana Restaurant. The Fugitives are expected to be there as well!

Event: Book Launch

Host: The Straight's Ron Yamauchi
When: Wednesday, August 22 at 8:00pm
Where: Chivana Restaurant and Lounge

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=9817190642

Radio: CR Avery on Wax Poetic

If you happen to be near an FM radio, RC Weslowski, Diane Laloge and I will be on air with CR Avery this afternoon at 2pm on Vancouver's longest-running poetry radio show Wax Poetic (102.7fm) talking about his new hip hop opera "The Boxer Who Just Returned From London"
which premieres at Rime later this month.

Local Poet Sjodin to Helm Courageous Words Stage

Vancouver’s newest and wildest Canada Day party – the Fearless Festival – is proud to welcome local poet and artist, Leanne Sjodin onto the Fearless team as host and organizer of the Coop Radio "Courageous Words" Stage.
Set to run from 4-7pm on Sunday, July 1st at the Radio Station Café (Columbia and Hastings) and broadcast simultaneously on CFRO 102.7fm.
"Leanne has a passion and poetic aesthetic which I think really compliments what we are trying to do here with Fearless," said festival coordinator Steven Duncan. "I knew when she accepted the position that she’d bring with her interesting writers and great energy. It will be exciting."
To find out how to perform at the Courageous Words Stage please contact Leanne at lanicobb@telus.net or call 253-8468.
About Leanne Sjodin
A humanist with flare, Leanne Sjodin is an emerging poet and fiction writer who finds her inspiration through the beauty and heartbreak of our everyday lives. She spends her days as a high-school English teacher and reports that it is the young who keep our pulse on reality. In pursuit of a vibrant life, she has recently taken up hula hooping.
About the Fearless Festival
From 3 to 9 pm on July 1st Pigeon park and Hastings Street from Carrall to Columbia is party central - celebrating the creativity, talent and history of the Downtown Eastside with music, story, art and dance featuring performances from City Opera, Dalannah Gail Bowen, Carnegie’s Rockin’ Guys - and so much more.
For more info call 604-788-8340, email srduncan@shaw.ca or check out the festival blog,
http://fearlessfest.blospot.com/.
Sponsored in part by the BC Arts Council and the City of Vancouver.