Word is born

>> Talkin' 'bout coco cafés, anti-capitalist convergence, grimy windows and the history of poetry in this city

by VINCENT TINGUELY

If you've a hankering to see some top Montreal spoken word artists, this season will not disappoint. You can start with a couple of shows at the new chess-themed Café pi (pi). Thoth Harris helms the new monthly cabaret Madly Made on Sept. 15, when the line-up will include Céline Vautour, Jake Brown, Catherine Kidd, Corey Frost and Sheila Heti. Brown's hosting a YAWP! at the same café on Sept. 21, showcasing Nah-ee-lah and Fortner Anderson. The energetic Mr. Brown also has a solo show coming up on Oct. 10 at Casa del Popolo.

The theme is Family when the Inobe Productions crew gets busy at Le Swimming, with the Sept. 30 Coco Café. On Oct. 28, expect all-female trouble at Allongé... Écrase, mon gars! Also in October, a special Coco Café at Reggie's Pub in collaboration with Concordia University's Caribbean Student's Union. At Nov. 25's Coco Café, Annoyance, all audience members will be encouraged to rant.

On Oct. 11 the Wired on Words and Music series at Casa del Popolo hosts a night of spoken word performances with an emphasis on queer performers and those of colour. The show introduces the tri-city Howl Festival of Art and Revolution, and Jaggi Singh will be on hand to talk up the Anti-Capitalist Convergence of Montreal. Also at the Casa, Heather McLeod's Hands on Hip Happenings kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 20 with Fortner Anderson filling the spoken word slot. On Friday, Oct. 19, look out for Kaarla Sundström, Alex Boutros and the inimitable Skidmore; the Nov. 15 show features Corey Frost.

At Hurley's Irish Pub, the Grimy Windows Variety Showcase offers the stage to the spoken word, alongside comedians, musicians, jugglers and wrestlers. The next shows are on Oct. 8 and Nov. 12. Wednesday's Child is a weekly open mic series at Yesterdays café and bar. The next show's on Sept. 19 and sign-up starts at 8 p.m. On Sept. 20, the Yellow Door starts a new season of monthly poetry and prose readings hosted by Ilona Martonfi, with a $5 cover.

To Budapest and back

There's a flood of spoken word related books and CDs coming this fall. Things kick off on Sept. 28 at the Sala Rossa (formerly Graffiti Tango) with the launch of the Véhicule Press anthology You and Your Bright Ideas, featuring readings and performances by Ian Ferrier, Catherine Kidd, Corey Frost, David McGimpsey, Jon Paul Fiorentino and Dean Irvine. Also at Sala Rossa, Wired on Words and Véhicule Press release the women-focused Ribsauce anthology and CD on Oct. 21. The launch will be hosted by CD producers Alex Boutros and Kaarla Sundström, and anthology editor Taien Ng-Chan. And in the same space on Oct. 27, Conundrum Press launches Impure, Reinventing the Word, a big book about the theory, practice and history of spoken word in Montreal.

October marks the first anniversary of Streeteaters, the monthly lit zine. Paula Belina's cooking up a giant-sized best-of issue, and a megalaunch at Club Zone (1186 Crescent) on Oct. 9, $5 admission includes the zine. In November, expect the launch of the first full-length CD by Swifty Lazarus (poet Todd Swift and musician Tom Walsh) on Wired On Words. Swift and Walsh have taken more than two years to complete the disc, which features 16 tracks recorded in Montreal and Budapest.

Catherine Kidd and Jack Beets are putting the finishing touches on a CD of pieces derived from Kidd's novel, Bestial Rooms. They're part of the Ultrazone.01 performance art event at Théâtre LaChapelle on Sept. 29. Also due this fall, Nah-ee-lah's first solo CD venture, Free Dome (It's about time...), features Jahsun and Bassone from Jah Cutta and Determination Band. Nah-ee-lah is also appearing in Stuck, a one-woman show directed and dramaturged by Toronto dub poet Ahdri Zhina Mandiela. Nov. 29, 30 and Dec. 1 at Infinitheatre.