Calgary Spoken Word Society

Calgary Spoken Word Society Now Presenting Special Literary Events

Calgary Spoken Word Festival (2003-2014)

The Calgary Spoken Word Society was created in November 2003 by poet Sheri-D Wilson. Influenced by its founder's passion, the Society's vision is to develop a forum for the dissemination and promotion of Spoken Word Poetry locally, provincially, nationally and internationally, through performance and education.

Hi Everyone!I've been working like a maniac putting a new podcast together called - NAUT FOR EVERYONE - wink, wink.My fi...
12/30/2024

Hi Everyone!
I've been working like a maniac putting a new podcast together called - NAUT FOR EVERYONE - wink, wink.

My first guest, wise owl artist, musician & poet Malcolm Mooney, is an absolute hoot!

Check it out. If you like the direction, please subscribe. There are lots of interesting guests on the horizon - to mind fly with! XOXOX

Host, Sheri-D Wilson aka Mama of Dada, appointee to the Order of Canada, Poet Laureate Emeritus & Honorary Doctorate of Letters + prolific poet of 14 books, 4 short films & 3 CDs. Author of The ONEIRONAUT Trilogy - https://writebloodynorth.ca/products/the-oneironaut-by-sheri-d-wilson Interests... ...

Tickets are on the Move!     Party w/ Poets!  Come Harken  &  then Dance to the Groove!
08/29/2024

Tickets are on the Move! Party w/ Poets!

Come Harken & then Dance to the Groove!

Saturday Night! We will co-pro this super cool event! Come join us!
04/25/2024

Saturday Night! We will co-pro this super cool event! Come join us!

This Saturday, April 27th, we’re excited to introduce Poetry on Fire: A Celebration of 2SLGBTQIA+ Poets! In celebration of National Poetry Month, join us for an unforgettable evening of q***r poetic expression.

Tickets are available now at https://www.showpass.com/poetryonfire ✍️

Hosted by Calgary Q***r Arts Society and in partnership with the Calgary Spoken Word Society, we’ll begin the evening with a selection of readings by brilliant local 2SLGBTQIA+ poets Alex Rettie, Skylar Kay, CeCe Chow and Audrey Lane Cockett.

Soon after, we’ll dive into Samantha Farinella's captivating documentary film “Left Lane: On the Road with Folk Poet Alix Olson,” which tells the fascinating story of the ingenious q***r spoken word poet Alix Olson.

Don’t miss out on a stellar evening celebrating q***r voices in poetry and film, hailing from Calgary and beyond. We’ll see you there ✨

Stay tuned to learn more about our featured poets for the evening, plus an opportunity to score tickets to this + more exciting programming for next weekend 🎟️ 👯‍♂️

Praise for “Left Lane” from The New York Times:

“Take to the road with internationally renowned folk poet and progressive q***r artist/activist Alix Olson and manager/filmmaker Samantha Farinella in this intimate portrait that follows the duo across the country while highlighting spoken word performances and fueling the never-ending struggle to promote independent thought. Igniting and inspiring audiences wherever she may travel, Olson uses her witty and sympathetic voice to highlight a grassroots struggle against intolerance that is as entertaining as it is poignant.”

Tune in on Friday! I'll be speaking with the great Alessandra Naccarato about Speculative Poetry & The ONEIRONAUT ∅1!Fif...
04/18/2024

Tune in on Friday! I'll be speaking with the great Alessandra Naccarato about Speculative Poetry & The ONEIRONAUT ∅1!
Fifteen minutes of Fabulosus!

Thanks to Alex Good of the The Toronto Star for reviewing The ONEIRONAUT ∅1! Great to be alongside David Martin too.An o...
04/17/2024

Thanks to Alex Good of the The Toronto Star for reviewing The ONEIRONAUT ∅1! Great to be alongside David Martin too.

An oneironaut is a dream traveler, an explorer of inner space, which in Sheri-D Wilson’s futuristic poem is like being a unicorn ever since the totalitarian overlords of the DoD (Department of Dreams) took over.

The sleep police are the next step in the evolution of the surveillance state, keeping the population in line mainly through use of a pill that prevents anyone from dreaming. But when a scientist named Rain stops taking her meds she becomes “awake for the first time,” enters a cosmic egg, and makes contact with a mythic underground movement.

“The Oneironaut” is the first part of a trilogy in verse and it rolls along with the fragmented, manic energy of a light show-cum-spoken word performance, full of exotic textual arrangements and capitalized sound effects. And it’s all put to great use, carrying a political message reminiscent of S. D. Chrostowska’s “The Eyelid,” as the unconscious stands as the final frontier of freedom in a dystopic future that can’t dream of any escape.

Hello Friends! PLEASE COME TO THE RESCUE!The Calgary Spoken Word Society has a casino Thursday, April 04. One of our vol...
04/02/2024

Hello Friends! PLEASE COME TO THE RESCUE!
The Calgary Spoken Word Society has a casino Thursday, April 04. One of our volunteers is unable to make it & we desperately need someone... 11:00am - 7:00pm CAN YOU HELP US?

APRIL 10! Blast off!
02/22/2024

APRIL 10! Blast off!

After six years of toiling like a maniac, join us Apr 10 @ cSPACE where I'm launching the 1st volume of my three-book one-story trilogy of speculative poetry!

Introducing THE ONEIRONAUT ∅1,the first volume in a three-book one-story trilogy of speculative poetry, by Sheri-D Wilso...
01/30/2024

Introducing THE ONEIRONAUT ∅1,
the first volume in a three-book one-story trilogy
of speculative poetry, by Sheri-D Wilson.

Oneiro means ‘dream,’ naut means ‘traveller.’

THE ONEIRONAUT ∅1 is a futuristic, dystopian
tale told in Sheri-D’s often humorous & eminently
readable poetic style.

Pre-Order your ‘untraceable’ copy today!
https://sheridwilson.com/

Published by Write Bloody North, edited by Micheline Maylor.

Behold Beakerhead Poets!
09/12/2023

Behold Beakerhead Poets!

Calgary Spoken Word Society is thrilled to bring together some super geeks from the superverse to share Quirky Works Poetry at Beakerhead 2023.

Quirky Works poets will bring their super geeky, fun, quirky and science-based poems to Beakerhead, promising to offer an evening of laughter, insight, and shared connection.

Did you know you’re 30 times more likely to laugh with others than alone? Shared laughter has five scientifically proven poetic health benefits: increased endorphins, reduced stress, improved heart health, increased pain tolerance, and an improved sense of connection to others.

Audience members will also be welcome to offer a few lines toward a collaborative poem to round out the evening. Fun will be had by all!

FEATURING:

⭐ Chris L. Butler
⭐ Weyman Chan
⭐ Skylar Kay
⭐ David Martin
⭐ Sheri-D Wilson Poet
⭐ Shone Thistle - Event Emcee

To experience Quirky Works at Contemporary Calgary on Friday, Sept 15 at 7:00 PM, please register in advance HERE:
https://bit.ly/3PjywoR

Hello Friends!  Either live or online... check it out... oh so fine! Verses Festival of Words
04/17/2023

Hello Friends! Either live or online... check it out... oh so fine! Verses Festival of Words

Sunday's Going to Rock * Poetry * Spoken * WildVerses Festival of Words Joseph Tony DandurandLouise Bernice HalfeEvelyn ...
04/02/2023

Sunday's Going to Rock * Poetry * Spoken * Wild
Verses Festival of Words
Joseph Tony Dandurand
Louise Bernice Halfe
Evelyn Lau
Sheri-D Wilson
Veda Hille
With special guests El Jones, Kai Cheng Thom

Everyone is Invited! This event is going to sing! Please check out the line-up! XOX
04/02/2023

Everyone is Invited! This event is going to sing! Please check out the line-up! XOX

TICKETS The official opening of Verses, hosted by Verses Artistic Director, Johnny D Trinh; with a feature performance celebrating some of Spoken Word’s most honoured poets: Joseph Tony Dandurand Louise Bernice Halfe Evelyn Lau Sheri-D Wilson Veda Hille With special guests El Jones, Kai Cheng Thom

Address

Calgary, AB

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