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Hi Everyone, Here is the latest on the Paddington Internatonal Poetry Festival, featuring the hottest lineup for an international poetry slam that the UK has ever seen. See the UK poets Tim Gibbard, Agnes Meadows, Geoff Bamford, Jem Rolls and Michelle Taylor take on the Nuyoricans, the 4 times Pittsburg slam champion and a host of Califorians. (£100 prize for the winner) Season tickets available thru me for £15. Advise you book now as we expect a rush when the TimeOut article comes out. This is a feast. Not to be missed. love and best wishes Richard Heley bookings (020) 7286 1880 Earthbeat Press Release 20/9/00 Poetry is thriving across the UK. Rap and Stand-up converged with traditional Readings to form the new wave of Live Poetry. Now it has developed its own dynamic. Yet the scene here has not taken off quite the way it has in the States. There, the performance aspect may seem sometimes almost to predominate over the poetry but there is enormous activity, and some of it is certainly very good indeed. The competition is intense. So is the professionalism. Some of us may tend to find this a little distasteful. The Yanks, we may think, are all constantly acting in their own little B-movies anyhow, even before they get up on stage. We are more considered, inner-directed, ironical, reflective. Well, perhaps. Whatever. Still, there could room for cross-fertilisation. And it is striking how little of that has gone on. A few poets have crossed the pond in either direction, made a bit of a name and done some networking. But that's about the size of it. That's why it's so important what is happening in a couple of weeks in this little club at the back of Paddington. The cream of the US cream are coming over for an extended weekend of mind-stretching fun, excitement and edification. Take the Nuyorican crowd. The Nuyorican is New York's prime poetry venue. It has a legendary reputation across the spoken word scene world-wide. Its resident poets have rarely been in London, and never before in force. Now they are coming. Taalam Acey, the Nuyorican's Slammaster will be there. So will Tehut-Nine and Ainsley Burrows from its record-breaking National Slam team. Christina Springer is from Pittsburg, where she enjoyed a 5-year unbroken run as Slam champion from 1994-1998. Kate O'Loughlin and Brett Axel, likewise, are big names. Then there is Thom Woodruff. He created the Austin International Poetry Festival. His 42 books are still selling. He will be on hand throughout the 4-day Paddington International Poetry Festival. He hosts the final evening along with Mothership's Aamashade Shepniki. These high-powered poets are descending on Planet Earthbeat, 11 Malvern Road, NW6, from 5th to 8th October. It's not one of London's better known venues. So how come? One reason is, these people are keen to see an international circuit develop and they know, respect and like Richard Heley, who set up the Earthbeat creative co-op, which is putting this festival on. Another, perhaps, is that the UK scene is maturing. We are getting to the point where we can put on a host of US stars without it turning into a purely US show. We can have an International Poetry Festival. Or so they at least seem to believe. But why should you believe it? You are up with what is happening in London, and you have probably never heard of Earthbeat. If things were as described, surely you would know already? Well, that's the magic of this rapidly expanding art form. Live Poetry is a grassroots phenomenon….spontaneous, authentic and rooted in local communities. Something must going on, to produce this line-up. You might like to check out what it is. If so, ring or e-mail to let us know you're coming. Richard Heley Diector Planet Earthbeat (020) 7286 1880 [log in to unmask] http://www.art-beat.in2home.co.uk P.I.P.F. schedule of events Thursday 5th October 2000 ® 8pm ® £3 ® London Poetry Slam (winner qualifies for the international slam on Sat) ® The Planet 11 Malvern Rd, London NW6 5PS ® Slammaster and Host ® Richard Heley ® Co-host ® Bola Animashaun ® Slam line up ® Elanor Bond ® Ashley Harold ® Robin Anthony ® Brenda Lee Brown ® Matt ® +first 8 poets to sign up on the night. ® International Guest spots ® Thom the world poet (Austin Texas USA) ® Taalam Acey (NY USA) ® Music ® Richard Pereira ® Project Adorno ® Local guests ® Agnes Meadows ® Bola Animashaun ® Hazel-Anne Knight Friday 6th October ® 7.30pm - 9pm ® £3. Adults. Children free ® The Wech Centre. Chantry Close, London, W9 (entry from Elgin Avenue. Next to "The Elephant and Castle" pub ® Host ® Bola Animashaun ® Junior Poetry & music Slam. ® This will not be a scoring slam, but a prize will be given to the audience's favorite performer.Children aged 8-16 can perform a poem, story or song. Maximum time about 4 minutes. All children, that want to, may perform. ® + International guests ® Katie O'Loughlin, ® Christina Springer ® Local guests ® Sally Smithson ® Desiree Sanderson ® Julian Joseph ® 9.30 - 12pm ® The Planet. 11 Malvern Rd, London, W9 3PQ ® £3 ® Poets across the pond ® A fusion of international cultures, UK, Ireland, Caribbean, African, American. ® With poetry performances from Richard Heley, Taalam Acey, Thom the world poet, Geoff Bamford, Ainsley Burrows, Agnes Meadows, Bola Animashaun, Jeanne Spicuzza, Christina Springer, Larry Jaffe (LA, USA), John Whelan, (Irish filmmaker and poet), Luke Warmwater, Brett Axel, Julian Joseph, Hazel-Anne Knight & Katie O'Loughlin. Plus special guest appearance from Shattered Diamonds featuring Zena Edwards (vocals and poetry) and Oroh Angiama (bass & keyboards) producing a unique and beautiful fusion that tells the story of the journey of the soul from the ancient root through to contemporary living. Saturday 7th October ® 8pm ® £5 ® International Poetry Slam ® The Planet. ® Host & Slammaster ® Richard Heley ® International Poetry Slam Line-up ® Taalam Acey (New York USA) ® Brett Axel (NY USA) ® Geoff Bamford (London UK) ® Ainsley Burrows (NY USA) ® K L (Alyssa) Burrows (NY USA) ® Tim Gibbard (Bristol UK) ® Agnes Meadows (London UK) ® Katie O'Loughlin (Los Angeles USA) ® Jem Rolls (London UK) ® Jeanne Spicuzza (LA USA) ® Christina Springer (Pittsburg, USA) ® Michelle Taylor (London UK) ® Luke Warm water (LA USA) ® Tehut-Nine (NY USA) ® + The winner of the local london slam ® Music from top London singer songwriters: ® Marcus Begg ® Noel McKoy ® Special Guest ® Rupert Hopkins (Bristol UK) ® International cameos ® Larry Jaffe ® Thom the world poet ® Local Cameos ® Hazel Anne Knight ® Bola Animashaun Sunday 8th October The Planet, 11 Malvern Rd, London NW6 5PS 1-7pm Earthbeat and Mothership present… 1 - 5 pm A pot-luck, fun afternoon with…. Bola Animashaun, Richard Heley, Agnes Meadows & Emma Ahmed Live painting card reading, relaxation and meditation, face painting, open mic 4-7 Mothership's interactive, discussion, meditation on reaching your inner god / ess and performance. Lead by Aamasade Shepnekhi, Ifi Pianki and Delali Haligah. 8pm ® International Showcase ® All our international guests get a chance to perform a longer show case set. Sit back, Listen, admire and let the entertainment wash over you. This is a feast. ® Larry Jaffe ® Brett Axel (NY USA) ® Ainsley Burrows (NY USA) ® Katie O'Loughlin (Los Angeles USA) ® Jeanne Spicuzza (LA USA) ® Christina Springer (Pittsburg, USA) ® Luke Warm water (LA USA) ® Tehut-Nine (NY USA) ® Richard Heley ® Bola Animashaun ® Agnes Meadows ® Geoff Bamford ® Agnes Meadows ® Ifi Pianki ® Delali Haligah ® Hosts ® Thom the world poet ® Aamasade Shepnekhi ® Music ® Richard Pereira ® Out of Passion ® Rob Ward Event Organiser is Richard Heley [log in to unmask] Website http://www.art-beat.in2home.co.uk Phone 020 7286 1880 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%