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So we're finally doing what I've been threatening to do ever since Wordplay closed it's doors at the end of 2009. Start up a new gig for dynamic and captivating performance poetry.
Not to say condescendingly there isn't/ hasn't been any in Melbourne since then, only in the current climate I've finally realised and accepted that if one is unhappy about their lack of opportunity on the scene, ultimately we need to create our own opportunities instead.
Sweetalkers is my way to give back something to Melbourne/Australian poetry.
Initially prompted by a request to find an extra gig for Candy Royalle's upcoming tour of Melbourne, we soon decided to set our ambitions higher, and it's my sincere hope that this evening, with your support, will spark off a new semi-regular event that will celebrate entertaining poetry (yeah folks I used the 'e' word with poetry), without any of the unfortunate trappings of overly-serious competitiveness and lack of respect for a public audience, which means:
No slam, no open mike, and no antiquated mumble ...let me tell you what we do have though:
THE TALKERS:
CANDY ROYALLE has built a reputation for poetic, passionate and often politicised lyrics, with live shows renowned for their crowd connection, dynamism and sexual energy. Her distinctive, highly-charged performances have been storming venues across Australia for the last 10 years.
STEVE SMART is the hair of the dog, the last man standing, and a walking caricature of Melbourne poets while simultaneously being just about the best of them. Founder of the Overload Festival, his work combines fractured humour with a deeply vulnerable humanity.
http://www.stevesmartpoetry.com/
ALIA GABRES has a heart full of words and mind full of prose. She fell into the world of Spoken Word and it has now become her home. She'll be the newest kid on the block at Sweetalkers, but already she's been a state finalist in the national slam last year, a workshop facilitator for the Centre for Poetics and Justice, as well as a Curator of a poetry explorations series entitled ‘Tell it like it is’ at the Footscray Arts Centre." Alia's work balances the highly political and deeply personal.
And our MC for the night is...
OMAR MUSA, a giant of Australian Hip Hop and champion of Poetry Slam, not only here but throughout the world, his meteoric rise to fame has taken him to corners of the Earth few else has seen, in this scene. Omar is taking time out from his insanely busy touring schedule to MC the night for this, and we are honoured to have him as a special guest.
Check out "Nothing is Safe", the first single from his new album MoneyKat~ a collaboration with Californian rapper Might Joe, this track also featuring soulful vocals from Candice Monique (lead singer of The Optics)
Nothing Is Safe feat. Candice Monique (prod. by Lotek) by MoneyKat
So... that's the lineup, you gonna be there? Hell-yeah!
The Bendigo Hotel
125 Johnston Street
Collingwood
Wednesday June 22nd
8pm
$10/$5conc suggested donation entry
http://www.bendigohotel.com.au/
Ok, once last piece of incentive? I'm doing a feature too ~ my last one in Melbourne before my Malaysia/Singapore tour, (until I return in mid-October). As well as a slew of new material, I'll be performing a few tracks from the musical project I've been working on with Kim Lajoie (an industrial/ middle eastern/ electro/ rap thing we're tentatively calling Fist Head First), and some of the soundscaped poems from my next spoken word album "This Is A Heavy Product", as well as a new, very powerful duet with Bronwyn Lovell.
SWEETALKERS... because I got nothing better to do, than give the best back to you.
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-Peace
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