Thoughts by Benjamin Solah
There is no one way to write a poem or a piece of spoken word. Perhaps I used to think that there was a formula of sorts. I used to spend too much time wondering whether my poem was not a poem that it got in the way of writing it. I still probably spend a lot of time dismissing my own work as not poetry, or it’s a certain kind of poetry, but not appropriate for another kind, another gig or journal. (more…)
Posted by Benjamin Solah on May 29, 2013
http://melbournespokenword.com/2013/05/29/thoughts-on-there-being-not-one-way-to-write-a-poem/
Review by Benjamin Solah
Last night, Melbourne got lucky – at least if you’re a fan of spoken word or poetry. It’s very rare we get to see the slam poet heroes we’ve come to love on YouTube and from afar. Last time we saw them, it was Ken Arkind with a whole range of others about two years ago, and Sarah Kay and Phil Kaye last year.
Last night, we got to see Anis Mojgani thanks to Bo Svoronos, Alia Gabres and Global Poetics, supported by the Emerging Writers’ Festival. And he performed in front of a sold out crowd at the Footscray Community Arts Centre hosted by Ken Arkind, supported by Carrie Rudzinski and a whole bunch of local poets. (more…)
Posted by Benjamin Solah on May 27, 2013
http://melbournespokenword.com/2013/05/27/anis-mojgani-performs-to-a-sold-out-melbourne-crowd/
Words by Benjamin Solah
The Emerging Writers’ Festival is beginning this Thursday and if you’re into spoken word, there’s certainly events for you to get along to. The line-up of spoken word artists and poets in the festival program include Jessica Alice, Ali Alizadeh, Khairani ‘Okka’ Barokka, Alison Croggon, Josephine Rowe, Alicia Sometimes, Jessica L. Wilkinson and Arda Barut. There are also a heap of events that are relevant to spoken word artists, as it is for all kinds of writers. (more…)
Posted by Benjamin Solah on May 22, 2013
http://melbournespokenword.com/2013/05/22/spoken-word-emerges-again-at-ewf/
Words by Benjamin Solah
On Saturday night, teaming up with Conduit Arts Initiative, Melbourne Spoken Word put on our first poetry gig as an organisation and website, presenting six poets in a lovely art space on Brunswick Street to an intimate crowd. I performed alongside a bit of an ‘all-star’ lineup of Melbourne poets: Kerry Loughrey, Santo Cazzati, Randall Stephens, Amanda Anastasi and Steve Smart, who all presented unique performances, showcasing the diverse nature of the scene, and utilising the space. It was refreshing to be in a space with no microphone and people were able to use their voice in interesting ways, to pin-drop silence.
Photos by Mandy Kitchener
Conduit Arts Initiative have a very under-rated space on Brunswick Street. It is dedicated for performance and so everyone there was there to listen to poetry. And the acoustics of the room meant I could use my voice how I intend to. It was a very liberating experience as a poet to perform there. Randall Stephens also used the space very well, even stepping out onto the street at one point and broached that unconscious divide between ‘stage’ and audience.
Photos by Mandy Kitchener
This was the first time we put on an event as a website. I’ve done a few myself, but there will be more now. You don’t want to miss the next one.
Posted by Benjamin Solah on May 20, 2013
http://melbournespokenword.com/2013/05/20/melbourne-spoken-word-debuted-our-first-poetry-gig-with-conduit-arts/
We haven’t had some videos in a while but we’re giving you the first look at new clips by Randall Stephens! Randall Stephens will be featuring this Thursday at Slamalamadingdong, and as part of our first spoken word event with Conduit Arts Initiative next Saturday night, as well as a few other gigs. Check out our upcoming events page for more.
Exclusive from Randall Stephens
It’s taken me a while to get my hands on this footage, but as a lead up to my Slamalamadingdong feature next week, and the release of my album ‘Product’ soon, I’m very excited to be presenting high-quality video of what I think are pretty attuned performances.
Alex Scott, my good friend and award-winning filmmaker has helped me polish these up adding some titles and optimizing the audio and video, without losing the live/raw flavour of being in the audience. The audio from this performance of ‘Beholden the Giant’ is actually what we ended up using on the album.
Posted by Benjamin Solah on May 10, 2013
http://melbournespokenword.com/2013/05/10/video-verse-randall-stephens-exclusive/
Poetry doesn’t just exist in the inner city suburbs of Melbourne, but we have found there a bunch of gigs out there in outer suburbs supported by loyal locals and attended by committed poets who don’t mind a bit of travelling time to polish up that poem before the open mic. One of those is out at Eltham, in a beautiful old courthouse.
Words by Helen Lucas
The Courthouse Reading in the historic courthouse in Eltham has been running now for ten years. Funded by the Shire of Nillumbik, it has become an established reading over its time and has a dedicated group of mainly locals who attend it regularly, but also intrepid devotees who use public transport to get there.
Regular contributor Amanda Anastasi featuring at the Eltham Courthouse. (Photo by Thomas Kent)
One of the great things as far as a convenor is concerned is not having to worry about bums on seats, as I know that they will be paid regardless of attendance. The council is committed to the reading, and supports me as convenor.
In 2011, I had an idea about putting poetry on postcards as this fitted with the council arts strategy and the Ekphrasis Poetry Competition – a postcard project that combines artworks from the council’s collection with a poetic response was created, funded by the Courthouse door and further funds from council. A series of twelve postcards, artwork on one side, poem on the other are given out for free and the three best are chosen and given money!
The reading has one feature poet who performs two sets, and an open section. A theme is suggested, but by no means mandatory, but I have found that it inspires people who may not be poets, but who love poetry, to contribute. I often ask the feature poet for a theme that fits with their work and this gives an overall feeling for the night, with readers in the open section focussing their work.
The Courthouse Reading is a convivial reading, with a $5 entry fee which includes the poetry, of course, and refreshments, and a ticket in the door prize. The courthouse was built in 1862 and offers wonderful acoustics. A novelty of the reading being held in such a building is that the poets stand in the dock to read.
The next Courthouse Readings is on May 16 from 8pm featuring Steve Smart and the optional open mic theme is ‘Laughter.’ The Eltham Courthouse is at 728 Main Road, Eltham and can be accessed by catching a train and then a bus.
Posted by Benjamin Solah on May 9, 2013
http://melbournespokenword.com/2013/05/09/meeting-the-regulars-eltham-courthouse-readings/
We’ve been going around some of the poetry and spoken word events in Melbourne armed with stickers and leaflets to find newcomers to the scene and introduce them to a whole world out there in Melbourne of regular open mics, poetry slams, performances in different cities and performers you don’t want to miss.
We thought we would highlight to you all some gigs listed in our ‘Upcoming events’ page that you certainly want to try and get to, including a gig hosted by this very website!
SLAMALAMADINGDONG: The Nerd Slam! Featuring Bron Batten and Randall Stephens
Thursday, May 16 @ 7.30pm / The Bella Union, Trades Hall, cnr of Victoria and Lygon Street (enter via Lygon Street) / $15-12 (ticketed) / Open slam (see event)
melbournespokenword.com/ presents spoken word at Conduit Arts featuring Benjamin Solah, Amanda Anastasi, Steve Smart, Kerry Loughrey, Randall Stephens and Santo Cazzati
Saturday, May 18 @ 8pm / Conduit Arts, 83 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy / $5
Dan Poets featuring melbournespokenword.com/ editor, Benjamin Solah
Saturday, May 25 @ 2pm / The Dan O’Connell Hotel, 225 Canning Street, Carlton / Free / Open Mic
One night stanza with Anis Mojgani, Ken Arkind, Carrie Rudzinski, Randall Stephens and Steve Smart, Michelle Dabrowski, Grace Vanilau and Ajak Kwai
Sunday, May 26 @ 7pm / The Performance Space, Footscray Community Arts Centre, 45 Moreland Street, Footscray / $15 (ticketed)
Port Phillip Gilgamesh Readings featuring Ken Arkind and Carrie Rudzinski
Monday, May 27 @ 7pm / Claypots Evening Star, Sth. Melbourne Market, Corner Cecil & York Streets, South Melbourne / Free / Open Mic
Williamstown Literary Festival: Three Poets’ Journeys featuring Matt Hetherington, Maxine Beneba Clarke and Amanda Anastasi
Saturday, June 1 @ 5pm / Williamstown Library, 104 Ferguson St, Williamstown / $10-7 (ticketed)
Passionate Tongues featuring Cece Ojany
Monday, June 3 @ 8.30pm / Brunswick Hotel, 140 Sydney Road, Brunswick / Free + Raffle / Open Mic
Keep Left featuring Maxine Beneba Clarke
Saturday, June 22 @ 8pm / Under the Hammer Arts Hub, 158 Sydney Road, Coburg / $5 / Open Mic
We will also be hosting a stall as part of Page Parlour during the Emerging Writers’ Festival, which will feature publications and CDs from poets and spoken word artists from around Melbourne, as well as special leaflet with events that are happening after the festival. If your gig is happening in June, and want to make sure your event is included, make sure you email us at [email protected].
Posted by Benjamin Solah on May 7, 2013
http://melbournespokenword.com/2013/05/07/gigs-you-dont-want-to-miss/
Melbourne Poets Union
We send out a weekly newsletter with upcoming events, news and announcements of goings on in the spoken word scene and books and CDs that have been released.
