www.traversepoetry.org

Congratulations to the winners of the ACT heat of the Australian Poetry Slam 2009!

1. Adam Hadley
2. Will Small
3. CJ Huet

As in previous years, the range was quite a bit different from the monthly gigs at The Front, with a much stronger focus on hip hop. We also had some much younger poets (including one 11-year-old rapping about illegal street racing… hmm…) and a few more ‘random’ (for want of a better word) performers, in particular a guy reading some gorgeous haiku off an iPhone.

There were too few women performing again. I’m hoping next year’s slams (and perhaps another all-women night sometime in the year) will encourage some more ladies to get behind the mic – there’s so much talent in our town!

Last year’s overall winner, Omar Musa, also did a smashing performance of the piece he did with Hadley, Seung, Fenella and I at Corinbank earlier this year.

So, this month we have a more low-key event, not really a slam at all (let’s call it a ‘sham slam’ shall we?) and more of an open mic:

Traverse Poetry Night
Friday 27 November
7.30pm-10.30pm
The Front Gallery and Cafe
Wattle Street, Lyneham
Free entry for everyone!

And, before I go, I need to plug the launch of issue 9 of Block journal, this week at Smiths:

Block 9 launch
Thursday 19 November
6.00pm-7.00pm
Smiths Alternative Bookshop
76 Aligna Street, Canberra City

This Sunday is the fantastic free hip-hop workshop with D’Opus and Roshambo. We still have a few spots available so quit thinking about it and book with ACT Writers Centre: admin@actwriters.org.au or phone (02) 6262 9191

The workshop is happening with the generous support of Music For Everyone, on Sunday 20 September at Ainslie Arts Centre (not Gorman House) on Elouera Street in Braddon, 2-5pm. No experience or materials required!

If that wasn’t enough, you can also look forward to an internationally themed poetry slam next week, on Friday 25 September at The Front. This one is going to feature special guest poet Randall Stephens who I met earlier this year in Melbourne. He’s an highly entertaining poet with a marvellous beard to boot.

Here are the details:

Poetry Slam: poetry from the far ends of the earth
25 September 7:30-11:30pm
The Front Gallery and Café
Wattle St, Lyneham

Next up in Traverse Poetry’s exciting list of (seemingly) random events is Hip-Hop Shop: a free workshop for young people!

Hip-Hop Shop with D’Opus and Roshambo
Free workshop for people under 30 – but you must book through the ACT Writers Centre:
email admin@actwriters.org.au or phone (02) 6262 9191
20 September 2:00-5:00pm
Ainslie Arts Centre
Elouera Street, Braddon

In case you don’t know, D’Opus and Roshambo are some of the best hip-hop performers in Canberra. They’ve played just about every festival here (Trackside, Corinbank, Stonefest) and are getting a huge response overseas – in no small thanks to Triple J’s huge airplay of the track ‘Million Dollar Bill’. Consequently I’m ridiculously excited I’ve managed to get them to run this free workshop. If you’re even slightly interested in poetry and music you should give the ACT Writers Centre a ring on (02) 6262 9191 and book today!

And, just before I go, the winners of the Green Slam:

1. Andrew Galan (of that Other slam)
2. Skip
3. Farida

In case you were wondering where that rather strange Twitter poem is loacted, point your web navigator to the The Longest Poem in the World.