April 07, 2007

word is bond festival in LA

The WORD IS BOND 3rd Annual Poetry & Performance Festival will span four days, from April 12th through April 15th at Highways Performance Space in Santa Monica.

Word Is Bond brings the raw spark of SoCal’s booming grassroots spoken word poetry scene direct to Highways. DJ’s, artists, musicians, singers, dancers, and poets collaborate nightly throughout L.A. For four days during National Poetry Month, Highways will be the temporary home to these rich voices.

On Thursday, April 12th,the festival kicks-off with a double-header. The Live & Direct Art Show features the work of performance painters including Mear One, Jaha Zainabu, Azikiwe Atiba Andrews,Mark Canto, David Araquel, and Pancho Abalos. Curated by artist, poet, and community activist Alfie Ebojo (aka alfie numeric); John West will provide entertainment. The Bring It!Invitational Slam features poets Azikiwe, Blake, Gina Loring, In-Q, Katrina Recto and Taaj Freeman.DJ Jedi will spin.

Friday, April 13th: Exhale brings to light diverse female talents including Slam Champion and HBO Def Poet Sonya Renee, fierce wordstress Nikki Skies, poet, playwright and screenwriter Melinda Corazon Foley and the amazing and inimitable Ellyn Maybe.

Saturday, April 14th:: Free/Style is a showcase of performers who push the edges of spoken word with poet and DJ Brutha Gimel, dancer and spoken word artist Nicole Smith, a new collaboration between A Mic and Dim Light’s Besskepp and Bomani, and Kat Magill (aka Simply Kat), winner of last year’s Invitational Slam, who returns with her performance piece “Corner Sweet”.

After a reception by Café Bolivar with music from the Elevaters, the late show Ill Defined features performances by Steve Connell (Def Poetry, Declare Yourself), 2006 Hollywood Slam Team member Tshaka, local sensation Manuel Gallego, and Brendan Constantine.

The festival expands this year, to include a Sunday afternoon workshop and reading on April 15th.

Thursday, April 12th
7:30pm LIVE AND DIRECT – FREE
8:30PM BRING IT SLAM - $10/$5 (with poem or artwork)

Friday, April 13th
8:30pm EXHALE - $20/15

Saturday, April 14th
8:30pm FREE/STYLE - $20/15
10:30pm RECEPTION/ILL DEFINED - $20/15

Sunday, April 15th
3:00pm BREAK IT DOWN - FREE


Ticket info: 310.315.1459

wordisbond007@mac.com
myspace.com/wordisbond007

Highways Performance Space
1651 18th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90404
310.453.1755
highwaysperformance.org
myspace.com/highwaysperformancespace

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