Open Mic, Featured Poet and the Slam:Email info@seattlepoetryslam.org for more info

Tara Hardy is the working-class queer femme poet who writes and teaches in Seattle, Washington. She is the founder and current creative director of Bent, a writing institute for LGBTIQ people based in Seattle. In 2002, she was elected by the people and named by the city council as Seattle’s Poet Populist, or poet of the people, and she won the Seattle Grand Slam Champion title in the same year. She holds an MFA from Vermont College in fiction writing, and an MSW from the University of Michigan in community organizing. Tara is a daughter of the United Auto Workers, and worked in the Battered Women’s Movement for 15 years. She was a member of the Bullhorn Collective, and has performed with the Rolling Thunder Democracy Tour, Vancouver’s Rock for Choice, various Sister Spit shows, the Washington Poet’s Association’s Burning Word festival, Portland’s Youth Pride, San Francisco’s Harvey Milk Institute, and at the Minneapolis Orpheum Theater on the National Poetry Slam team finals stage.

Most recently, Tara began slamming again, bringing fire to the stage as only she can. She competed as a member of the 2007 Seattle National Slam Team and also threw down against the top female poets in Seattle to be the offical rep at the 1st ever Women of the World Poetry Slam. Tara says that the tournament was an experience that changed her life - oh and she also walked away with a 4th place trophy!

Tara’s work appears in Without a Net, Sex and Single Girls, Fusion, Blythe House Quarterly, Brazen, Switched-on-Gutenberg, and her self-published chapbooks Vs and Rant-some. Recordings of her work can be found on Vox Populi Live (the best of the Seattle Poetry Festival), the Seattle Poetry Slam Live CD, and her self-produced CD Dirty River.

Open Mic, Featured Poet and the Slam:Email info@seattlepoetryslam.org for more infoKlute, The: A rare breed of Southern Arizona slam poet, originally raised in Southern Florida (however, he’s not a native Floridian - rumors trace his origin back to Illinois). Abhors use of rhyme schemes in poetry, writes almost exclusively in free verse. Frequent targets: the goth subculture, neoconservatism (especially Dick Cheney), and crass-commericalism. Member of the 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2006 Mesa National Slam teams (Mesa’s 2005 slam champion). Former slammaster of the Mesa Poetry Slam. Has released two chapbooks of his work: 2002’s “Escape Velocity” and 2005’s “Look at What America Has Done to Me”. Ask him nicely and he might send you a copy (”Look at What America Has Done to Me” is much, much better than “Escape Velocity”). Primary habitat considered to be raves (especially desert parties), goth clubs, and dimly lit dive bars. Prefers vodka, rum, and absinthe when drinking. Is considered friendly, but when cornered, lashes out with a fury not seen since last Thursday. He’s totally smitten with his girlfriend, Teresa - so don’t ask him to dance. Feel free to buy him a drink, but remember, he’s not putting out. No matter how much you beg.

Open Mic, Featured Poet and the SemiFinal Slam: The top 8 poets from the most recent open slams will have another chance at qualifying for the Grand Slam.  Current Standings: Angela Dy - 5pts, Maya - 5pts, Karen Finneyfrock - 3pts, Jeremy Richards - 3pts, Tara Hardy - 3pts,  Sara Brickman - 3pts, Ela - 3pts, Greg B. - 1pt, Rajnii - 1pt

Email info@seattlepoetryslam.org for more info

Anis Mojgani is the 2006 and 2005 National Poetry Slam Individual Champion, one of two Storm Poets to hold the title and one of only two people to win the competition consecutively. At the 2007 World Cup Poetry Slam, Anis took first place becoming the first winner of the new competition and at the 2007 Individual World Poetry Slam, he took 2nd. He is louder then he realizes. He likes kickball. He likes sitting in movies alone. He used to ice cupcakes for a living. Now he makes tents out of bedrooms and bedsheets.

A sixth season Def Poet for HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, he has shared the stage with such performers as Jill Scott, Beau Sia, DMX, Sage Francis and Buddy Wakefield. His work has appeared on NPR, in the literary journal Rattle, and in the recent anthology, Spoken Word Revolution Redux, alongside Poet Laureates Ted Kooser and Billy Collins. The 2006 Seattle Grand Slam Champion, Anis is also one of the subjects of the documentary, Slam Planet: War of the Words (www.slamchannel.com), and holder of the longest eyelashes you’ve ever seen.

Anis was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. A little man, he was born in a teacup and raised by doormice, before he set out into the world with only a mouthful of pomegranate seeds to find out what he sounded like from the inside. A visual and performing artist, Anis made his way to Georgia where after planting seven years of himself there, he graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA in comic books and (99.3% of) an MFA in performing arts. He has written and performed spoken word for nearly 10 years, competing with poetry slam teams from New Orleans, New york City-Urbana, and Seattle.

“Anis Mojgani is the only name that comes to mind when I’m reminded of what spoken word should be, and specifically, where it is headed for the better. Knowing that he is out there performing for the world eases my thoughts, and pushes me to write and perform more, better and effectively. He is a very beautiful person doing beautiful things.” –Mike McGee

Featured Poet and the WILD CARD Slam: This is also known as the LAST CHANCE SLAM - We will take up to 16 poets into the slam - the top 2 winners will earn a spot in the Grand Slam competition and a chance at making the 2008 Seattle National Poetry Slam Team. NOTE: There will be no OPEN MIC tonight.  Email info@seattlepoetryslam.org for more info

“Jared Paul is the watchdog of poetry, a force not unlike a hurricane –a very skinny, loud, sweaty hurricane that wants you to know your life is worth everything and that this planet belongs to us all.”
-Mike McGee: 2003 Individual National Poetry Slam Champ and 2006 Individual World Poetry Slam Champ

“The only thing stronger than JARED PAUL’s convictions is his ability to change yours with the craft of his language.”
-Sonya Renee: 2004 Individual National Poetry Slam Champion

“Jared Paul is a juggernaut who lives his politics. His work speaks to the political - which is his personal - that he lives with sincere conviction and integrity.”
-Michael Cirelli, Executive Director URBAN WORD NYC

“If the United Nations needed a representative from the Slam/poetry community, we’d send them Jared.”
-Buddy Wakefield; 2004 & 2005 Individual World Poetry Slam Champion, 2005 European Slam Champion

“There are three men who’s work i want to memorize and one day read to my children. Jared Paul is one of them.”
-Andrea Gibson, Multi-time National & Individual World Poetry Slam Finalist

“Emerson said that character is higher than intellect. what happens when someone has both character, intellect and a sense of conviction that can be described only as humbling? You have made Jared Paul’s acquaintance.”
-Columbia Recording Artist, Raine Maida, of Our Lady Peace

“A rare artist that not only lives the things that he talks about, but more importantly, inspires others to do so as well. You can find his work scribbled in sharpie on the back of picket signs from The UK to Albuquerque, NM.” -Ken Arkind: 2006 National Poetry Slam Championship Team from Denver, Colorado

Hugo House - 1634 11th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122 2pm-4:30pm

Turning Your Poem into the Little Red-Haired Girl:
an all ages writing workshop led by HBO’s Def Poet Rachel McKibbens.

As writers, we only have about four topics to cover: Love, War, Life & Death. This workshop will explore the importance of saying the same things better, as well as knowing when to say when. Our poems are windows. We allow audiences to look into us through them, but we are always in charge of the curtains. Learn when to give, and when to hold back and how to hide behind metaphor.

The imagery exercises that Rachel will be teaching were developed to allow poems to break free of the normal language restraints we’ve grown comfortable in and discover the lasting images that help them stand out in a crowd.

$5 for youth, $10 adults (sliding scale - no one will be turned away due to lack of funds). Tickets available at Brown Paper Tickets.  Get your tickets here.

The Seattle Poetry Slam’s biggest show of the year consists of:

Showcase: The Seattle Poetry Slam is more than a competition, it’s a community of artists. The showcase will give a taste of some of the year’s best spoken word outside of the competition.

Featured Poet: Rachel McKibbens has featured twice on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam, she is the Slammaster for NYC’s Louder Arts Project, and the Urban Word mentor teaching poetry through The Healing Arts Program at Bellevue Hospital. In her first year of slamming, Rachel helped her team win the 2001 West Coast Regional Poetry Slam with a perfect score. And as of 2007 she has performed on the finals stage at the National poetry Slam more than 3 times.

Rachel McKibbens is the REAL DEAL - a powerhouse writer AND performer. The Seattle Poetry Slam Family is ecstatic to finally be bringing her out to share with our community. She will also be leading a writing workshop on Sat. April 26th. More details on that coming soon.

And finally…The SLAM - this is what our poets have been working towards all season long. Help pick the team of performance poets that will represent Seattle at the National Poetry Slam. The roster is hot and the competition will be fierce!

AtSunday, April 27th at Chop Suey.1325 E.Madison, Seattle, Wa 98122

Doors at 7pm, Show @ 8pm.

Last year, this show sold out with approx. 500 in attendance.

Don’t wait until it’s too late.

Get your tickets HERE!

Open Mic, Featured Poet and a BIG MONEY Slam: 1st prize is $100

Email info@seattlepoetryslam.org for more info

In his first year on the adult slam scene: Danny Sherrard was Seattle’s official representative at the Individual World Poetry Slam; shared the Seattle Grand Slam Championship; and qualified for the Seattle National Slam Team. At 21 years old he became one the two youngest people to ever win the Individal National slam title. His presence was utterly untouchable on the finals stage and the audience held onto his every word.

Since earning his title, he has been touring the nation’s slam venues and colleges - living the dream. He’s been to New York City, Delaware, New Jersey, Boston, Providence, R.I., Orlando, Arizona, Dallas, Denver and now finally he is returning home. Danny is also a member of the newly formed 2008 Seattle National Slam Team.