www.traversepoetry.org

Got a hankerin’ for live poetry? Get stuffed at Traverse’s special ‘hunger’ themed poetry slam!

Perform your best poem about ‘hunger’ for the chance to win awesome prizes and a spot on the coveted poetry slam HIGH SCORE TABLE!

Plus… special guest poet David Finnigan performs Sun Drugs!

Traverse Poetry Slam
Friday 30 April 7:30-10:30pm
The Front Gallery and Cafe Wattle Street, Lyneham
$3 (free entry for performers!)
Book a slot in the slam from 7.30pm

Why ‘hunger’ you ask? It’s all about trying to get Canberra’s young writers into print – hunger is also the theme of the next issue of Voiceworks, the fantastic young writers’ magazine published by Express Media. By giving you the same topic to write about I’m hoping that some of our young writers will go on to submit their work to Voiceworks (submissions close 27 June 2010, only for under 25 – sorry!).

What about those of us over 25 you ask? Well, we still get to write stuff about hunger for the poetry slam, which is a rather interesting theme and should make for a rather interesting night!

While we’re on the subject of Express Media, the Melbourne organisation has helped fund what looks to be an excellent new publication from Blemish Books, the organisation started by Greg (who was one of the group involved in the Write in Your Face poetry project in 2008). The book is called Caught in the Breeze and it’s 10 essays on the role of flags in contemporary Australia.

Here’s the launch info:

Caught in the Breeze launch
Thursday 29 April 6:00pm
Smiths Alternative Bookshop
76 Alinga Street, Civic

Yes, these updates have been few and far between. I apologise. I’m moving to a nine-day fortnight this week so hopefully there’ll be some more time to devote to this blog soon.

Meanwhile, a few weeks ago we had another good slam, with a whole bunch of new faces. In fact, our second place winner had never performed before…

1. CJ (on why he’s too boring to be a poet!)
2. James Douglass
3. Anthony

A couple of days later Daniel Ferri, David Finnigan and I ran an enjoyable workshop at C Block. About half the people who signed up turned up but, in fact, we only just managed that number in the time we had, so all was well. Hopefully we’ll see some of these wonderfully talented people at forthcoming slams!

Now, a couple of links readers might find interesting:

• Poetica – Poets of Papua New Guinea: part one and two (I found the first part more interesting than the second, but both are good).
• Visible Tweets: ‘poetry’

Sorry again about the long delay between updates. We had a massive slam last month, featuring great sets from guest poets Rhys Rodgers and Tobias Manderson-Galvin – in fact I think it might have been the largest turnout since we started running slams at The Front. On that note, this month’s slam will celebrate our third birthday!

Traverse Birthday Poetry Slam
Featuring Little Sister
26 June 2009 7:30-11:30pm
The Front Café and Gallery
Wattle St, Lyneham

Look out for some more info about this special slam shortly.

Meanwhile, I’ve been very busy organising a free workshop for people under 30, that will explore the techniques and skills that professional performance poets use and how you can use them to improve your own practice. The tutor is Daniel Ferri (yes the very same Daniel Ferri that appears in the film SlamNation!). I worked with Daniel on a similar workshop last year which was extremely well received by all participants.

Performance poetry workshop with Daniel Ferri and David Finnigan
Free for people under 30 – only limited places: book now!
Contact ACT Writers Centre to book: (02) 6262 9191
2 August 2009 10.00am-3.00pm
C Block Theatre @ Gorman House Arts Centre
Ainslie Avenue, Braddon

This workshop will be suitable for all levels of experience so hurry up and book – it’s already half full and it’s less than three weeks away!

Oh, one other thing, Tom posted a review of what looks like an excellent exhibition of paintings by Joabie Lovett over at the Belconnen Community Centre: Symbols of the Dreaming from the Chaos Void. It finishes this Friday so get there quick!

You can now view videos of the winners from the ACT Australian Poetry Slam heats performing their poems in exotic Canberra locations… watch and find out how each of them answers tricky questions such as ‘What will you do if you win?’

1. Adam Hadley*
2. Omar Musa
3. David Finnigan**/***

*Featuring best ever unplanned interruption EVER!
**Thanks for the name check!
***What’s with cranking up the bass when you’re talking about what happens when stuff goes wrong – it’s a damned conspiracy!

I am bitterly, bitterly disappointed that I won’t be going up to watch these fine lads duke it out with the other Australian Slam winners. I just didn’t get my act together in time, and now I’m swamped… speaking of which, check back very soon for exciting announcements for 2009!