Always tell ‘em what you drink. Some sound advice from Ivan E. Coyote as I reached out to shake her hand and tell her what a pleasure it was to finally hear her, live and in person. I was invited by Sheri-D Wilson to perform at the Calgary International Spoken Word Festival’s first Queer Conscience event, and to say I was humbled would be a clear understatement. But after finding out I would share the stage with Ivan E. Coyote, well it’s a wonder I didn’t melt into a puddle before ever reaching the stage. Labeled one of North America’s most disarming story tellers, Ivan lives up to every expectation. She talks to the audience like she’s sitting around a pub shooting the shit with some of her best friends. She tells us of street hockey legends, pink aprons not skins, and shares an experience about shopping with her mother and the horror as she learned her little Ivan was ‘packing’ more than the odd Samsonite for vacation.
With Sheri-D at the helm the festival couldn’t help but succeed, I mean really, who could bring together this many artists with such talent and poetic diversity: over twenty five hip-hop, dub, slam, spoken word, jazz and story telling artists. From the wealth of Bill Bissett’s and George Bowering’s experience to newcomers like myself and Dale Lee Kwong, it was nothing short of entertaining. I for one am already counting down the sleeps until next year.
Queer Conscience at the Auburn, that’s right, a night of spoken word reverence dedicated solely to the queer - and it was a packed house at the base of the Calgary Tower. To an unsuspecting stranger, Bill Bissett’s kinky hair and flat blue hat makes him seem pretty unassuming, but see him perform live and that impression won’t last long. Suzette Mayr’s lyrical poetry and story telling made me wish her book came with a phone number. And for the young men in the audience, Gregory Scofield and Billeh Nickerson were happy to turn up the heat. Gregory’s poetry is gentle and erotic while Billeh will hit you right upside the head when you’re not looking. And the funny thing about Billeh is you just want him to keep doing it, over and over again. The crowd erupts with laughter when he states ‘Behind every man… it feels good.” It was the second time I’ve shared a stage with Billeh and Goddess willing we’ll be together again.
The festival was more than one event; it ran from Tuesday evening through Sunday afternoon, and I was left wishing there were more of me so I could savor and hear every last drop. It started with The Road to Paradise at the Jack Singer Concert Hall, and finished with Champagne and Jalapenos at the Calgary Art Gallery, with all the juicy bits in between. Thursday was the third Slam this year, and the Festival will continue to be on the last Thursday of every month. If you have the slightest interest in seeing how sport and poetry collide, I would suggest you make it out to the next one on Thursday, May 25th. I also had the pleasure of taking a workshop with Wakefield Brewster on the art of hip-hop poetry, and developed a whole new appreciation for his art form. Wakefield, a former Torontonian turned Cow Town resident, drops poetry at break neck speed. If you hope to glean some of who he is, you had better listen up. He’s about respect, the environment, sex, and mother earth, and he’s on an audio mission teaching people to listen faster. Keep your eyes and ears open for Wakefield about town.
And finally, as an audience member I would have to say that Shayne Koyczan was the highlight of my festival experience, I’m sure partly because I had never heard of him prior and the rest because he’s a GOD! Not since the likes of Alix Olson has another poet inspired and engaged my substance thirsty ears in such a way. We laughed, we cried, and we gave him a standing ovation. When is the last time you saw a poet get a standing ovation? As someone who has chuckled at Beatlemania and looked down her nose at fainting Elvis fans I offer my sincerest apologies, I finally think I get it. Thank you Shayne!
If you didn’t get the chance to check out the festival this year, make a note on your calendar and continuously check back on the festival website. Until next year Sheri-D, thank you for offering up a plate of culture to our town folk. I can’t wait to see what the Mama of Dada serves up for us next year!
The Calgary International Spoken Word Festival
http://www.calgaryspokenwordfestival.com/
