Because it's not an ongoing string of performances from city to city, it's not a tour... it just feels like it and here comes the time of year where so many people from both the performance poetry community and HipHop hation intersect with me. Lots of festivals, competitions and one-off gigs that include performances, pannels, workshops and more.
Highlighted festivals along the KARMADELIC ANTI-TOUR:
CHICAGO The Bronzeville Cultural Festival, June 18-22; BCF honors film maker Bill Duke and presents film, art, poetry and workshops relative to those activities featuring some of Chicago's preminent creative minds of the African diaspora in setttings around the near-south side.
Sunday, the 21st I'll be presenting a poetry slam workshop and sitting on a pannel discussing the state of poetry in the Black community and Chicago and one of the featured performers; Starts at
11am, 700 E Oakwood Bl [3900 S.]
TINLEY PARK, IL 2009 Rock The Bells Festival, June 27th at the First Midwest Bank Ampitheatre. myspace.com/rockthebells; I'll be joining Temple of HipHop members at the Chicago stop of this travelling festival featuring Nas & Damian Jr. Gong Marley, the Roots, Common, Big Boi, KRS-ONE & the Temple of HipHop, Reflection Eternal, Tech N9NE, K’Naan, GZA, Raekwon, Sage Francis, MOP, Slaughterhouse, Eyedea & Abillities, Necro, Slum Village, Challi 2na, Evidence & the Alchemist, the Knux, Psycho Realm, Buckshot,Mystic Journeymen, Mickey Factz, B. Dolan, Tabi Boney, Supernatural, MURS and Pete Rock.
WEST PALM BEACH, FL The National Poetry Slam, August 3-9 www.poetryslam.com; My 6th cnsecutive year competing at NPS, 74 teams of performance poets from all over North America compete for cash and bragging rights, plus workshops, showcases, open mics and much more. Various venues to be announced.
CHICAGO/ROGERS PARK The Glenwood Avenue Arts Festival, August 23rd www.inoneear.us, myspace.com/inoneear; Join us at the Heartland Cafe Stage for a special festival edition of In One Ear, plus the rest of Rogers Park comes alive with music, food, vendors and you. The Heartland Stage is at the intersection of
Lunt & Glenwood [7000 N.]
BERKELY, CA The Individual World Poetry Slam, October 7-10 www.poetryslam.com ; over 80 of the world's best performance poets compete for cash, publishing deals and, yes,bragging rights, plus workshops, showcases, open mics and more! Venues include LaPena and the home of the Berzerkely Slam, the Starry Plough.