The Calgary International Spoken Word Festival would like to announce the upcoming CalgarySLAM! & Open Mic - The SLAM! that determines the Calgary National Team!!!

Elana Krol came away the winner in the May SLAM! & Open Mic.  Now this is it!  This is your last opportunity to land a spot on the Calgary SLAM! Team!

Two-time Calgary SLAM! Team veteran, Jen Kunlire will share the stage with the Mama of Dada, Sheri-D Wilson as the hosts of theJuly FINAL SLAM! & Open Mic.  Passion Pitch Poetry organizer Kirk Ramdath will open as the fabulously crafted Sacrificial Poet. The night will also feature special guest readings from SLAM! enthusiasts: ‘da lyrical pitbull’ Wakefield Brewster will be laying down his latest verses; and Hamlet The Clown himself, Kirk Miles will be back in action. 

The night will also include a Wild Card Round where 2 lucky winners will be entered into the SLAM! Finals, facing off against the previous month’s winners.  Please note: there will be a limited amount of spots for the Wild Card Round, so come early!

For those who do not wish to SLAM!, there will also be an Open Mic BUT with limited spots.  So come down, come early, strut your stuff and showcase your work.  All styles are welcome!

The SLAM! phenomenon has taken hold in Calgary and the audiences continue to grow exponentially.  Hundreds of emerging poets have taken an interest in this fabulous new form.  Ten poets storm the stage to share their words and beats to packed-out, cheering crowds!  Judges from the audience score their performances in three intense rounds of poetic excellence, until a winner is crowned! With different local performers every time, SLAM! nights are impossible to predict and not to be missed!

How do you compete?

• An entrance fee, which is $5 (unless otherwise indicated).
• Bring 3 poems, each of them no longer than 3 minutes.  You may not get to perform them all, but bring them just in case.
• Friends!  Part of the score is based on audience reaction.