Slam News Madison organizers and poets reflect on National Poetry Slam 2008Competition will not return in 2009 due to dispute between national and local organizersKatya Szabados on Wednesday 08/20/2008 12:38 pmThe poets long ago left for home, the venues are back to hosting live music, and organizers have returned to their day-to-day lives following National Poetry Slam 2008, which was held in Madison in early August. While SlamCharlotte took home their second consecutive national title, and Urbana Poetry Slam won the inaugural Group Piece title, the competition and accompanying Lyrics on the Lake festival were likewise successes for the host city and its arts community. >More  National Poetry Slam 2008 enriches Madison: The week in reviewKyle Myhre on Tuesday 08/12/2008 2:16 pmAt any National Poetry Slam, you're bound to see some stuff that disappoints you, but you'll also see a whole lot of stuff that inspires you. This year's gathering in Madison was no different. >More SlamCharlotte repeats as champion at National Poetry Slam 2008 in MadisonA week of spoken word concludes at Overture Center on SaturdayKatya Szabados on Sunday 08/10/2008 2:24 pmA mere four teams among the 76 total competing at the National Poetry Slam this week took the stage at Overture Hall on Saturday to compete in the final round. This crowning bout pitted last year's champions SlamCharlotte against three other powerhouses of competitive spoken word: Austin Poetry Slam, Boston Cantab, and louderARTS from New York City. It was the culmination of so much work on the part of so many, and the audience was ready for a great show. >MoreAustin, Boston, Charlotte, and New York teams win semifinal bouts at National Poetry Slam 2008Defending champion to face perennial powers at Saturday finals in MadisonErica Pelzek on Saturday 08/09/2008 1:24 pmFour finalist spots were up for grabs at the National Poetry Slam semifinals on Friday at the Overture Center, where 20 contenders battled with words after a week’s worth of bouts and last-minute practicing throughout downtown Madison. One highlight bout pitted defending the 2007 champion team from Charlotte against those from Baltimore, Chicago, Oakland, and St. Paul, which brought the talents of recent expat Kyle "El Guante" Myhre back to a local stage. >More Nerds nerd out for Nerd Slam at National Poetry Slam 2008Katya Szabados on Friday 08/08/2008 4:13 pmDespite the maps on the walls, the mid-afternoon hour, and the lack of beer and liquor, a lecture hall in the UW Humanities Building has the aura of a downtown bar after midnight. Throngs of poets enter through the double doors, and the result is cacophony as the Nerd Slam gets started at the National Poetry Slam on Thursday. Cheers of "Nerds Rock!" echo, and the blackboard at the front of the room proclaims, "Hey you fucking nerds, welcome to class." >More Day three scores from National Poetry Slam 2008 in MadisonFriday semifinals set for Overture CenterKristian Knutsen on Friday 08/08/2008 12:08 pmDozens of teams competed the final night of National Poetry Slam qualifying bouts on Thursday for a shot to move on to the semifinal round. With several teams already all but assured of a spot after their performances earlier in the week, the competition was fierce for a shot at making it into one of the 20 open spots. >More Madison finishes third in second bout at National Poetry Slam 2008Hometown team eliminated as Oakland and SF compete in Bay Area showdownKenneth Burns on Friday 08/08/2008 11:46 amThe Oakland Poetry Slam team triumphed at the Brink Lounge Thursday night in a qualifying bout of the 2008 National Poetry Slam. Throughout a raucous evening that saw the Brink's back room crowded with boisterous spectators, Oakland fought off competition from San Francisco's City Slam, which placed second, followed by hometown favorites Madison Spoken Word Collective and Amarillo, Texas' Slamarillo. It was not a night for subtleties. >More Blogging day two of National Poetry Slam 2008 in MadisonKristian Knutsen on Friday 08/08/2008 11:27 amAs was the case on Tuesday, members of National Poetry Slam teams and spectators published online reports about theirs and others' bouts. Joining in the commentary for the second night of the slam was a pair of judges, who are drawn from the crowd watching the slam. >More Late night Solo Slams build community at National Poetry Slam 2008Craig Cady on Thursday 08/07/2008 5:43 pmWith eyes full of inspiration, amateur poets got a chance to test their spoken word mettle in the presence of friends and many of the competitors in National Poetry Slam 2008 in a quartet of late night Solo Slams this week, held at Genna's Lounge and the Mercury Café after the Tuesday and Wednesday night bouts. Aspiring and experienced poets alike who were not already members of teams in the national contest summoned their courage and performed for a cash prize before an audience and five randomly selected judges. >More Day two scores from National Poetry Slam 2008 in MadisonMadison team remains in contention with nearly two-thirds of prelims completeKristian Knutsen on Thursday 08/07/2008 1:08 pmThe second night of preliminary competition in the National Poetry Slam kept downtown Madison stages and clubs busy as the first round of bouts wrapped up and the second opened on Wednesday night. The bout winners were: Soap Boxing from St. Paul; Southflavas from Austin; Slamtopia from New Paltz, New York; H-Town Slam from Houston, Oakland Poetry Slam, Silver City Slam from New Mexico; SlamCharlotte; HawaiiSlam from Honolulu; Denver Mercury Slam; Berzerkely from Berkeley; Loser Slam from Lincroft, New Jersey; and Downtown from Phoenix. >More |
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"First Wave wins state arts award" UW Comm. El Guante named one of Twin Cities' top artists of 2008. City PagesThe host city organizer for National Poetry Slam 2008 responds to allegations made by national parent group about cancellation of 2009 competition in Madison Emily Mills @ Dane101National Poetry Slam 2009 will be held in Florida Scott WoodsAn open letter from Poetry Slam Inc. alleging difficulties of hosting National Poetry Slam 2008 in Madison Scott WoodsA look at the poems and topics covered in the final bout of National Poetry Slam 2008 "Briana"Another report on the National Poetry Slam semifinal bout between teams from Baltimore, Oakland, St. Paul, Chicago, and Charlotte "Briana"A report on the Lyrics on the Lake workshops at the National Poetry Slam "Briana""Slam is described as the democratization of poetry, and it was interesting to see the actual democratic process underlying the organization of American Slam Poetry" "Briana""There was a vibrant energy, an undeniable sense of community -- everyone seemed to know and support one another" at the National Poetry Slam finals Matthew GuenetteRecalling 21 highlights from National Poetry Slam 2008 Dave Keali'i"Overture Hall filled with appreciative poets and spectators last Saturday night, everyone eager to see the final contestants in this year's National Poetry Slam competition" Emily Mills @ Dane101"The Madison team performed some of the strongest poems I saw either night" at the National Poetry Slam Katjusa Cisar @ TCT"There were fewer pieces overall that really moved me this year compared to last year, but there were some doozys" at the National Poetry Slam "givemelaughter""This is not meant to be a comprehensive update on the National Poetry Slam but here are some highlights" Robbie Q. Telfer"The word play was dizzying, the performances were rip your heart out intense, and the hot poets were drool worthy" at the National Poetry Slam "purplefrog26""It feels so lonely being the last poet left in town, or so it seems" after the National Poetry Slam "SarahSineQuaNon"
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