Mellow Fruitfulness

John Glenday reading at StAnza 2010

The late September sun shone on various poetry activities in Edinburgh last weekend. On Saturday the Scottish Poetry Library held their annual small press fair, By Leaves We Live. With plentiful stalls, all kinds of artists’ books on show or for sale, and a lively programme of workshops and talks, it had something for everyone. Lots of people turned out for it. Then on Sunday, Shore Poets got underway with their autumn programme. Heading the bill was John Glenday who was such a success at StAnza last March, with support from Alan Gillis, another StAnza favourite, and new poet Ross Wilson. Gerda Stevenson provided the music, and The Lot, Shore Poets’ regular venue in the Grassmarket, was packed to capacity – an excellent start to the autumn season.

Patchwork Poem for National Poetry Day

 

Patchwork Poem from The National Poetry Society

Less than two weeks now to National Poetry Day. This year’s theme is “Home” and to celebrate North Carr Light would like to construct a Patchwork Poem or Cento on the theme for Scotland.  They are asking people to send them their own original poems on “home”, or even random lines or thoughts on the theme, from which they’ll create a Patchwork Poem. For more information on how to send in your contributions, check their website.

The Troubadour International Poetry Prize Competition

Anne-Marie Fyfe at StAnza 2010

Anne-Marie Fyfe of Troubadour Coffee House Poetry in London, who graced the stage at StAnza in March, has just sent us details of this year’s Troubadour International Poetry Prize Competition. The judges are Gwyneth Lewis (who read at StAnza a couple of years ago) and the Irish poet Maurice Riordan. The closing date is 15 October, so there’s still time to enter. First prize is £1,000. The full competition and entry details are at http://www.coffeehousepoetry.org/prizes.

Digital Open Mic showcases Fife talent

The Cyber Slam on Saturday was followed by Fife’s Risk-a-Verse Open Mic, which included live and Skyped contributions from poets, most either living in Fife or with Fife connections. Like the Cyber Slam, the Open Mic was webcast and the afternoon was studded with poetic gems. The poets taking part were: Andrew Ferguson (pictured above, who appeared via Skype), Etta Dunn, Andy Jackson, Lyn Moir, Colin Will, Anne Connolly, Milton Balgoni, Eddie Gibbons, Iain Gray, Anna Stewart, Brian Johnstone, Ali ‘Harlequinade’ Maloney, Robin Cairns, Eleanor Livingstone, Kevin Cadwallander.

The return of some of the  Cyber Slammers to the mic rounded off  a highly successful afternoon, proof of what a digital celebration of poetry offers.

StAnza scores a victory at Cyber Slam

The  stakes were high, but StAnza won yesterday’s brilliant Poetry Cyber Slam. Click here to see the results. The team comprised Milton Balgoni as MC, Robin Cairns, Claudia Daventry, Ali ‘Harlequinade’ Maloney and Kevin Cadwallender. The team from Melbourne’s Overload Poetry Festival was led by Santo Cazzati as MC, with Ezra Bix, Benjamin IQ Sanders, and two poets, Graham and Andrea, who had come through during earlier heats in Melbourne.

Melbourne's Ezra Bix performs.

Round one gave the poets a chance to show off their best work and Kevin Cadwallender’s ‘Dalek’ poem (with Dalek impersonation) went down a storm with the Melbourne and St Andrews audiences. Round two was themed around respective countries, making for some great jokes about stereotypes, and round three was a team effort, providing the poets with a new challenge.

While Scotland and Australia are used to competing on the rugby field, the prospect of a Skype Slam between poets from both nations opened up all sorts of exciting possibilities, not least being able to webcast vibrant live poetry to a world audience. We are waiting for the confirmed numbers of those who followed the event online but they look to be healthy. Comments made via Twitter praised the quality of the webcast and of the poetry performed.

Sticking to that sporting theme, now that StAnza (and Scotland) have taken poetry’s equivalent of the Ashes, a rematch could well be in the offing…

StAnza showcases Fife verse in digital Open Mic

Calling Fife poets: come along and Risk a Verse in StAnza’s first digital open mic! Straight after our epic StAnza v. Melbourne slam this Saturday, 11 September, hosted by Fife poet Milton Balgoni (above), at the Byre Theatre, we are holding another innovative event, giving local talented poets the chance to showcase their work to a live audience and worldwide via Skype. Part of Fife’s Year of Culture, this is an opportunity not to be missed. Fife poets, wherever they are based, who’d like to Skype in a contribution should get in touch, too, via info@stanzapoetry.org. Distance is no barrier whether you want to take part or to cheer the performers along. For more details, click here.

StAnza v. Melbourne Cyber Slam

Hard to believe, but there’s just a week to go until the StAnza Cyber Slam, our latest digital event and, after months of planning, the final arrangements have been made.

On 11 September, our team of top performance poets will be pitting their wits against their counterparts at the Overload Poetry Festival in Melbourne, Australia. It will be a fast and furious poetry slam performed live and via Skype.

The StAnza Cyber Slam takes place between midday and 1.15pm (BST) at the Byre Theatre in St Andrews, and simultaneously at Overload in Melbourne (9pm-10.15pm in Australia). The teams will be cheered on by audiences at their respective venues and the performances webcast, so viewers from round the world can follow the action online.

StAnza’s line up will be familiar to festival goers and performance fans:  Milton Balgoni as MC, Kevin Cadwallendar, Robin Cairns, Claudia Daventry, and Alasdair Maloney (of the Chemical Poets). They’ve all been sharpening their skills at the festivals in Edinburgh and elsewhere this summer, so expect some verbal fireworks.

Melbourne’s team includes two award-winning international slammers: Ezra Biz and Benjamin ‘IQ’ Sanders. We’ll be joining them on the opening night of the Overload Poetry Festival, which has a history of holding innovative digital events. So it’s great to have the chance to link up with them.

If you can’t make it to the venue to cheer the teams, you can follow the slam live online at http://www.stanzapoetry.org

StAnza poet Claudia Daventry is on the Cyber Slam team