by VINCENT TINGUELY

At last! The live spoken word/musical phenomenon that is the Kalmunity Vibe Collective is giving its audiences something to remember it by. On Jan. 26 at la Sala Rossa, they’re launching Talking Book: blues, jazz, dub, rap, song and freedom in the literature and orature of Montreal’s Kalmunity Vibe Collective, edited by Jason Selman and Kaie Kellough. Content ranges from poetry and lyrics to essays on the music and words, interviews with key members and a CD. The CD, Intimate Sky, features sessions curated by Selman, where the Kalmunity members worked in smaller combinations—particular vocalists working with one or two of the musicians. “For the launch, we’re going to have a big show,” says co-editor Kellough. “It should be very exciting, because some old musical members will be making a special appearance, and there’ll be all kinds of different lyricists to touch the microphone.” Doors open at 8:30 p.m., $5, and the book/CD will be available at a special launch price.

Words of a week

The Festival Voix d’Ameriques starts Feb. 2 with a gala, sold-out solo performance by this year’s guest of honour, Richard Desjardins. There’s a week’s worth of major programming, including a showcase of Toronto talent, and the festival closer on Feb. 9, Body and Soul IV, an eclectic evening of edgy ladies featuring Women With Kitchen Appliances, les Moquettes Coquettes, Giselle Webber of the Hot Springs, and festival co-ordinator D. Kimm herself.

The festival is an all-day experience, with Casa del Popolo as the setting for the daily “5 à 7” series, and the late night series, Night Shift, at 11 p.m. The 5 à 7s include a show curated by Paula Belina, a showcase of poets who happen to be teachers, and Text Perplexed, curated by Victoria Stanton and featuring performance artists Les Chaises, Karen Spencer, Marie-Andrée Rho, and Ottawa’s Nathan Medema.

“A big point for this year is, we’ve added English poets to the Shift de Nuit,” says D. Kimm. “We have three poets at the beginning, with very good musicians, and then it’s an open mic. I’m there every night, because that’s where I know I’ll get to hear new voices.” Host Tony Tremblay will keep things moving with the help of crack actuelle musicians Bernard Falaise, Alexis Martin, Fred Boudreault, Philippe Brault and Guido del Fabbro. They’ll be lending their chops to performances by Dany Laferrière, Jon Paul Fiorentino, David McGimpsey and Steve Smart, director of Melbourne Australia’s Overload Poetry festival. Performance poetry fans can also look forward to the third annual Circus of Words, presented by Endre Farkas and Carolyn Marie Souaid on April 17 at la Sala Rossa. Focusing on “the theatre of poetry,” the line-up includes sound poetry legend Bill Bissett, Chilean-Canadian firebrand Elias Letelier, cellist Karen Kaderavek paired with playwright Steve Orlov, and actor Anana Rydvald. It starts at 8 p.m., $15, but you should call (514) 488-3185 after April 10 to reserve as it sells out fast!

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