LiveatCapitalSlam2006 was recorded live in Ottawa in the spring 2006, as part of the Capital Slam Poetry championship finals. CBC aficionados will already be familiar with the Capital Slam Poets, as CBC host Alan Neal has introduced listeners to some of the winning poems, and he hosts this CD. Slam Poet Danielle Grégoire came to RiverEdge Festival 2006 in Almonte, and performed her haunting poem Grey Day at the poetry reading. Afterwards she delighted folk at the opening of the Almonte Farmer’s Market with a performance of her poem The Perfect Tomato (which she has “given” to the Farmer’s Market). Both these poems are on this CD. Danielle is also a teacher and is developing a secondary school outreach program, which aims to “introduce a new generation to slam poetry”.

Capital Slam is Ottawa’s monthly poetry series, which has been running since 2004. A small group of volunteers (the Capital Poetry Collective) runs the series. A typical monthly show (open to the public) begins with a short open mic session, followed by one round of slam poetry (maximum 12 poets). Poets are given three minutes to deliver original poems of any style. Judges are chosen from the crowd, and prizes are awarded. Capital Slam is registered with the Spoken Word Canada Network (SpoCan) and sends a poetry team to the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word each year.

Danielle Grégoire (r), member of Capital Poetry Collective, meets with gardening guru Ed Lawrence (l), and Mississippi Mills mayor Al Lunney at the opening of the Almonte Farmers’ Market, June 2006.

The important part about slam poetry, that distinguishes it from other poetry, is that it is very much in the oral tradition of literature. This is not poetry intended to be read on one’s own beside a river. This is poetry that is meant to be performed, emotions shared, with an audience — this CD will give you a taste, and you will just want more.

Luckily for us — O frabjous day – the Capital Slam poets are going to tour the small towns of the Valley! Capital Slam 2006 CD Rural Tour starts in Almonte at the Ironworks Restaurant on January 20. Adrian Harewood of CBC Radio 1’s All In A Day will be hosting the show. This is a family event, and organizers would like to encourage local poets of all ages to come out for the open mic session that begins at 5PM. After the open mic there will be performances by poets from the CD, and copies of both the 2005 and 2006 CDs will be available for sale during and after the event.

Why Almonte?

The link between Almonte and Slam! poetry was first forged in April of 2006, when Chris O’Brien of The Miller’s Tale bookstore organized a series of events to celebrate National Poetry Month. With the assistance from The Ironworks, TYPS Youth Centre and theHumm, Chris created a four-page poetry insert and promoted two major events — a Slam! Poetry Workshop for youth and a Slam! Poetry Night for all ages. Many Ottawa poets came out to participate in those events, and Danielle Grégoire even returned for the RiverEdge Festival and the opening of the Almonte Farmer’s Market in June. We’re thrilled to welcome them back to town for the launch of the Capital Slam 2006 CD Rural Tour.

Where Else?

If you are from another community around the Ottawa area and would like to have poets from the Capital Slam perform in your town, please contact Danielle Grégoire. More information can also be found at the Capital Slam website.