Thanks to the skillz of ryan fitzpatrick (despite wrestling with the handicap of my not so great camera and lighting conditions at the Folk Fest Mainstage in Prince's Island Park, Calgary), I've just posted a new photo album with some of the highlights of MESSAGIO GALORE 3. 

  This 'hit and run' poetry event that is MESSAGIO GALORE, announced only the night before it happened (at the Holy Beep! Benefit this Myspace was created around), was jwcurry's way of saying thank you to filling Station Magazine folks for bringing him to town by performing live sound poetry for them - some of his own creation, and some really famous pieces by The Four Horsemen, bpNichol, Steve McCaffery, jwcurry, Frank Zappa (yep that Zappa!), and more.

  filling Station Managing Editor Natalie Zina Walschots took some pictures at the actual Holy Beep! Benefit, which was held at Broken City.  Thanks so much!  Check her out on Facebook to see the album. 

   Thank you to everyone who helped make both of these successful events happen: Peter Norman, Ross Priddle, everyone at filling Station (especially Natalie Zina Walschots and Derek Beaulieu!), volunteers (Ed Schmutz, Tara Drouillard, Derek again for helping with door, other folks I strongarmed, Melanie Little for being awesome), all the bands and poets that participated (Jon McKiel, Axis of Conversation, Jagatha Christies, my bandmates in Lonely Hunters, Travis Murphy & Chris Ewart doing bpNichol set to tunes - plus poets Christian Bok, Derek Beaulieu, Natalie Zina Walschots, and John Curry hisself), and the fine folks at Broken City, our terrific venue in downtown Calgary (Zak, Solange, Martin, John, Craig, Enzo the fantastic sound guy, Laura, Chantal, Adam, et al - you're awesome!!). 

filling Station Magazine, locally produced & nationally distributed, is just about to spring its annual Blow Out Festival on an unsuspecting (well partially suspecting) Calgary.  There will be readers, bands, and plenty of hootenanny.  Check out www.fillingstation.ca for details as they become available and a link to the blog.  Volunteers are still needed!  Come help out and get in for free.  Also see where you can get your hands on filling Station or submit your short fiction, poetry, visual art, independent film, non-fiction (articles interviews reviews) etc etc.

If you're into other such genre-crossing events, check out www.myspace.com/calgarymultiarts to find out about the Variety Shows I put together every 6 months with the help of other volunteers.  I just love throwing musicians, poets, filmmakers, actors, and artistic alltypes together into one big community stew.  Mmm, tasty!  The next Calgary MultiArts Variety Show will be September 22nd 07.  If you are interested in performing or participating, please drop a line via email.  Send me a message if you don't have my addy.  All proceeds are split between performers and Inn from the Cold, a local charity.

    jwcurry, I know you don't read online things, but you often hear about them from others.  Just a note to say you're awesome, your bpNichol archivist work is priceless and appreciated, and it was amazing to get the chance to support you (just as you've always supported your friends too).  Thanks so much for coming to Calgary, performing, and inviting me to participate and learn about sound poetry.  That was completely eye-opening and mind-blowing!  There's so much more to it than I could have possibly imagined!!  I hope you continue to share this with folks for ages to come.  Take good care of yourself my friend... no more letters involving bicycle accidents, train-hopping-related lacerations, and Somerset blockfires!  Who knew poetry could be so dangerous?

Laurie