SLAMbassadors UK

Most of you will now already know that one of our 7 SLAMbassadors winners was tragically killed before the Showcase Gig – Diane Cheng. Please join the Poetry Society in thinking of her and of all of the young spoken word talent out there. You will live on in your words. You will change lives with your ideas. Bless you. Memorial 7 December 2009. Say a poem at some point on that day and think of her, her family, her friends – and of yourselves. Keep safe.

After an awe-inspiring few months trekking the country with the BBC and searching for the freshest spoken word talent, we have finally selected the 7 winners of SLAMbassadors UK 2009! The BBC, the Poetry Society, myself and Scroobius Pip met in a breathless room in the BBC and worked our way through over 200 shortlisted videos. We witnessed an enormous breadth of writing and performance talent, covering issues ranging from race, sexuality and politics to stories of birth and continued struggled in England’s council estates. And – as hard and ridiculous as it was – we have made our decison. The winners are:

• Aisling Fahey
• Benedit Sebuyange
• NAGA
• Diane Cheng
• Amy Luong
• Sarah Olowofoyeku
• Billie Owolabi

Letters of Commendation to selected artists will also be forwarded to a number of young poets.

As the standard was so exceptionally high, we would like to offer all the participants the opportunity to come to the Showcase Gig. Tickets are free, exclusive and going fast, so if you would like to come and scream your heart in support of spoken word – and meet the stars of the show – please email bcolley@poetrysociety.org.uk or call 0207 420 9894 to book by Thursday 12 November.

SLAMbassadors UK Showcase

with Benjamin Zephaniah, Scroobius Pip and Joelle Taylor
November 15th 2009
4-6pm @ Rich Mix
Bethnal Green Rd, London, E1 6LA

SLAMbassadors UK is finally drawing into a shuddering spittle drenched close – with only a few hours left until the 5pm deadline this afternoon! Unfortunately, the BBC are struggling with some technical difficulties so if you have any problems at all with uploading, please send your poetry/ rap/ emcee films directly to

blast@bbc.co.uk and let me know as soon as you have: jtaylor@poetrysociety.org.uk

It has been amazing tour which has taken us to venues across London, Bristol, Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool with independent entries flooding in from across the nation. Judging will happen on Friday at the BBC  with Scroobius Pip, and you should all know the results within a week of that date.

Anthony Anaxagorou sailed into the Slam showcase team back in 2002. The “smooth-looking London Cypriot” is launching his debut collection of poetry, stories and essays entitled Card Not Accepted at an event on Monday 5th October at Camden’s Proud Galleries from 8pm. There will be readings of poems taken from the book, as well as live music performances. Signed copies of Card Not Accepted will be available to purchase on the evening. Admission is free all night.

Click here for further information.

Click here for flyer.