Where: Café Deux Soleils (2096 Commercial Drive)
When: Doors & Signup 8:00 PM, Show at 9:00 PM
How much: $5
On June 1st the Vancouver Poetry Slam is very proud to present (in conjunction with the Canada Council for the Arts) as our first feature of June, Ottawa's very own Ritalin the Human Stimulant
An MC since the age of 12, Ritallin (aka Greg Frankson) utilizes his voice and his intellect through rhythm, rhyme, lyricism and literary dynamism to clear minds of clutter and force listeners to focus on issues that matter.
As Director of the Capital Poetry Collective for two years, Greg was the executive producer of Live At Capital Slam 2005 and Live at Capital Slam 2006 (both available through vanörange records at vanorange.ca) the acclaimed compilations of Ottawa's best performance poets, and the Co-Slammaster of Capital Slam, Ottawa's slam-tastic monthly poetry series.
Greg served as National Director of Spoken Word Canada (SpoCan) from 2006 to 2008. In this role he led the development of an organized network of professional spoken word artists across Canada, helped to create new venues and performance series in different regions of the country, and assisted in the organization of the annual Canadian Festival of Spoken Word (CFSW). He also appeared on the CFSW 2007 compilation CD of some of Canada's very best slam artists.
Ritallin is also the founder of 10milligram promotions, a local venture that organizes local poetry and music shows. 10mgpromo has already hosted artists such as Ottawa's Ana Miura, John Akpata and Nathan Bishop Band, Halifax MC Spesh K, Vancouver's The Fugitives and New York's own Oveous Maximus.
Not only is this talented poet and rhymer rocking stages from Vancouver to St. John's, he's putting out his own work. With the EP recording Capital Thoughts, the chapbook The Halifax Chronicles and his first book of poetry Cerebral Stimulation (available through Amazon.com), it's clear that Ritallin is not your average artist.
Currently expanding the operations of his creative services company Cytopoetics, Ritallin has been hard at work hosting the monthly Bill Brown's 1-2-3 Slam at Ottawa's Umi Cafe, and planning the annual spoken word and music showcase Scribology in late winter of each year. He is also expanding his work as a roster member for MASC, an Ottawa-Gatineau community arts education organization, and deepening his involvement in initiatives for youth, anti-discrimination and mental health. He is the current Poet Laureate for the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership and has worked with mental health organizations in Canada, the United States and abroad.
This is another chance to qualify for the IWPS finals on September 7th .
Doors 8:00 PM
Signup 8:00 PM
Open Mic 8:45 PM
Slam 9:00 PM
Cover: $5
