Austin Poetry Slam
Encyclopedia
The Austin
Poetry Slam (APS) is one of the longest running poetry venues in Texas
. Founded in 1994 by Wammo of the Asylum Street Spankers
and helmed for 15 years by former Poetry Slam, Inc.
president, Mike Henry, Austin Slam is renowned for memorable and often raucous performances by many of the best poets in the slam poetry
world. Austin Slam is best known nationally for hosting the National Poetry Slam
(NPS) in 1998, 2006, & 2007, and for Austin teams' national finals stage performances in 1996, 2003, & 2008.
Since its inception, many nationally known poets have been regulars and team members at APS, these include Ernie Cline (writer of Fanboys), Ragan Fox (host of Fox in the City), Big Poppa E
, Karyna McGlynn
, Susan B.A. Somers-Willett, Danny Strack
, Andy Buck, Genevieve Van Cleve, Da'shade Moonbeam
, Christopher Michael, Shannon Leigh, Tony Jackson, Christopher Lee, Krissi Reeves, Emily Shafer, Phil West, Sonya Feher, Faylita Hicks, Love Robinson, Peter Nevland, Danny Solis, David Hendler, Zell Miller III, Hilary Thomas, Matthew John Conely, Ruff Draft, The Minister Sin, Erin Livingston,Jacob "Ohio Jake" Rakovan, Jeff & Tonie Knight, and far too many others to list. In addition, touring poets regularly stop by. Notable featured poets have included Anis Mojgani
, Buddy Wakefield
, Derrick C. Brown
, Taylor Mali
, Mighty Mike McGee
, Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz
, Andrea Gibson
, and many others.
The Austin Slam has made its home in a variety of venues throughout Austin over the years, including the Electric Lounge, Mojo's Daily Grind, Gaby n Mo's, The Mercury, Ego's Bar, the Scoot Inn, the ND, Progress Coffee and most recently in 2011, The United States Art Authority. In addition to the weekly show, APS has hosted other readings around Austin, including for the Blanton Art Museum and for SXSW. The slam has also released several compilations of local work throughout the years, including Tina's Fine Ass Lingere, a 2007 team CD, and a 2008 DVD recording of the slam-off at the Long Center.
The Austin Poetry Slam continues every Tuesday at 8pm at the United States Art Authority. The current slammaster is Danny Strack
.
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Austin
Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas.Austin may also refer to:-In the United States:*Austin, Arkansas*Austin, Colorado*Austin, Chicago, Illinois*Austin, Indiana*Austin, Minnesota*Austin, Nevada*Austin, Oregon...
Poetry Slam (APS) is one of the longest running poetry venues in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Founded in 1994 by Wammo of the Asylum Street Spankers
Asylum Street Spankers
The Asylum Street Spankers, formed in Austin, Texas in 1994, was a band whose music was rooted in early 20th century American musical forms. In fall 2006, the band's anti-war satire video "Stick Magnetic Ribbons on Your SUV", directed by Morgan Higby Night garnered 1,054,743 views on YouTube within...
and helmed for 15 years by former Poetry Slam, Inc.
Poetry Slam, Inc.
Poetry Slam, Inc. is the official 501 non-profit organization charged with overseeing the international coalition of poetry slams...
president, Mike Henry, Austin Slam is renowned for memorable and often raucous performances by many of the best poets in the slam poetry
Slam poetry
A poetry slam is a competition at which poets read or recite original work. These performances are then judged on a numeric scale by previously selected members of the audience.-History:...
world. Austin Slam is best known nationally for hosting the National Poetry Slam
National Poetry Slam
The National Poetry Slam is a performance poetry competition where teams from across the United States, Canada, and France participate in a large-scale poetry slam. The event occurs in early August every year and takes place in a different US city....
(NPS) in 1998, 2006, & 2007, and for Austin teams' national finals stage performances in 1996, 2003, & 2008.
Since its inception, many nationally known poets have been regulars and team members at APS, these include Ernie Cline (writer of Fanboys), Ragan Fox (host of Fox in the City), Big Poppa E
Big Poppa E
Big Poppa E is a performer of slam poetry. His live performances combine poetry, stand-up comedy, and dramatic monologue in high-energy rants about relationships, pop culture, and hot button issues of the day. He has appeared on three seasons of HBO's Def Poetry series and is a National Poetry Slam...
, Karyna McGlynn
Karyna McGlynn
Karyna McGlynn is an American poet.She is a poet and critic associated with spoken-word, New Sincerity, and New Confessionalism.Karyna first became popular as a performance poet in the poetry slam scene in the late 1990s, regularly performing at the Electric Lounge and South by Southwest...
, Susan B.A. Somers-Willett, Danny Strack
Danny Strack
Danny Strack is a performance poet and juggler, residing in Austin, TX. He currently runs the Austin Poetry Slam, a weekly show at the US Art Authority on Tuesdays at 8pm. He has been a regular performer at the Austin Poetry Slam, as well as other Central Texas venues including the Hideout...
, Andy Buck, Genevieve Van Cleve, Da'shade Moonbeam
Da'shade Moonbeam
Da'shade Moonbeam, is a rapper, poet, stage combat performer, and social worker from Austin, Texas.- Bio and Achievements :Born Jeffery Johnson Jr., Da'Shade grew up on Austin's east side. As a teenager, he was mentored by Zell Miller III, a social worker and performance artist, who encouraged...
, Christopher Michael, Shannon Leigh, Tony Jackson, Christopher Lee, Krissi Reeves, Emily Shafer, Phil West, Sonya Feher, Faylita Hicks, Love Robinson, Peter Nevland, Danny Solis, David Hendler, Zell Miller III, Hilary Thomas, Matthew John Conely, Ruff Draft, The Minister Sin, Erin Livingston,Jacob "Ohio Jake" Rakovan, Jeff & Tonie Knight, and far too many others to list. In addition, touring poets regularly stop by. Notable featured poets have included Anis Mojgani
Anis Mojgani
Anis Mojgani is a spoken word poet, visual artist and musician based in Portland, Oregon.Mojgani has been characterized as a "geek genius" with "fiercely hopeful word arias"...
, Buddy Wakefield
Buddy Wakefield
Buddy Wakefield is an American performance poet/slam poet, whose latest works have been released by Righteous Babe Records and Write Bloody Publishing .- Biography :...
, Derrick C. Brown
Derrick C. Brown
Derrick C. Brown, a poet/performer and former paratrooper born January 19th 1978, travels the world performing his written work. He has gained a something of a cult following for his performances, which incorporate spoken word, music and even magic...
, Taylor Mali
Taylor Mali
Taylor Mali is an American slam poet, humorist, teacher, and voiceover artist.-Life:A 10th-generation native of New York City, Taylor Mali graduated from the Collegiate School, a private school for boys, in 1983. He received a B.A. in English from Bowdoin College in 1987 and an M.A. in...
, Mighty Mike McGee
Mighty Mike McGee
Michael Matthew McGee, more commonly known as Mighty Mike McGee , is an American slam poet.Born in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, McGee is the oldest of eight children from several marriages. He has spent most of his life in and around San Jose, California, where he started his career in spoken word,...
, Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz
Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz
Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz is an American poet and writer. Recently, she was awarded a 2011 National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship for Poetry.-Life:...
, Andrea Gibson
Andrea Gibson
Andrea Gibson born April 22, 1975 is an award-winning poet and activist. She currently lives in Colorado. Her poetry focuses on gender norms, politics, and today's struggles facing non-heterosexual people. Gibson disclosed that she chose to write what was in her bones and thus these subject...
, and many others.
The Austin Slam has made its home in a variety of venues throughout Austin over the years, including the Electric Lounge, Mojo's Daily Grind, Gaby n Mo's, The Mercury, Ego's Bar, the Scoot Inn, the ND, Progress Coffee and most recently in 2011, The United States Art Authority. In addition to the weekly show, APS has hosted other readings around Austin, including for the Blanton Art Museum and for SXSW. The slam has also released several compilations of local work throughout the years, including Tina's Fine Ass Lingere, a 2007 team CD, and a 2008 DVD recording of the slam-off at the Long Center.
The Austin Poetry Slam continues every Tuesday at 8pm at the United States Art Authority. The current slammaster is Danny Strack
Danny Strack
Danny Strack is a performance poet and juggler, residing in Austin, TX. He currently runs the Austin Poetry Slam, a weekly show at the US Art Authority on Tuesdays at 8pm. He has been a regular performer at the Austin Poetry Slam, as well as other Central Texas venues including the Hideout...
.
History
- Hosted the 1998, 2006, and 2007 National Poetry Slam
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| NPS Austin Team Placings by Year | |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 13th of 26 |
| 1996 | 4th of 27 |
| 1997 | 7th of 33 |
| 1998 | 9th of 45 |
| 1999 | 12th of ~50 |
| 2000 | 24th of 56 |
| 2003 | 3rd of 55 |
| 2006 | 5th of 66 |
| 2007 | 6th of 70 |
| 2008 | 3rd of 76 |
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| Austin Poetry Slam National Teams | |
|---|---|
| 1995 | Mike Henry, Genevieve Van Cleve, Wammo, Phil West |
| 1996 | Danny Solis, Hilary Thomas, Wammo, Phil West, Coach: Mike Henry |
| 1997 | Susan Somers-Willett, Genevieve Van Cleve, Wammo, Phil West, Coach: Mike Henry |
| 1998 | Ernie Cline, Karyna McGlynn Karyna McGlynn Karyna McGlynn is an American poet.She is a poet and critic associated with spoken-word, New Sincerity, and New Confessionalism.Karyna first became popular as a performance poet in the poetry slam scene in the late 1990s, regularly performing at the Electric Lounge and South by Southwest... , Susan Somers-Willett, Genevieve Van Cleve, Coach: Jeff Knight |
| 1999 | Vickie Charleston, Ernie Cline, Karyna McGlynn Karyna McGlynn Karyna McGlynn is an American poet.She is a poet and critic associated with spoken-word, New Sincerity, and New Confessionalism.Karyna first became popular as a performance poet in the poetry slam scene in the late 1990s, regularly performing at the Electric Lounge and South by Southwest... , Phil West, Mike Henry (replacing Ernie Cline) |
| 2000 | Sonya Feher, Ragan Fox, Jeff Knight, Gerald Youngblood |
| 2001 | Grand Slam Champion: Ernie Cline, Ragan Fox, Jeff Knight, Sara Winn |
| 2002 | Grand Slam Champion: Matthew John Conley, Andy Buck, Big Poppa E Big Poppa E Big Poppa E is a performer of slam poetry. His live performances combine poetry, stand-up comedy, and dramatic monologue in high-energy rants about relationships, pop culture, and hot button issues of the day. He has appeared on three seasons of HBO's Def Poetry series and is a National Poetry Slam... , Ragan Fox |
| 2003 | Grand Slam Champion: Christopher Lee, Andy Buck, Genevieve Van Cleve, Da'shade Moonbeam Da'shade Moonbeam Da'shade Moonbeam, is a rapper, poet, stage combat performer, and social worker from Austin, Texas.- Bio and Achievements :Born Jeffery Johnson Jr., Da'Shade grew up on Austin's east side. As a teenager, he was mentored by Zell Miller III, a social worker and performance artist, who encouraged... , Alternate: Tony Jackson |
| 2004 | Grand Slam Champion: Da'shade Moonbeam Da'shade Moonbeam Da'shade Moonbeam, is a rapper, poet, stage combat performer, and social worker from Austin, Texas.- Bio and Achievements :Born Jeffery Johnson Jr., Da'Shade grew up on Austin's east side. As a teenager, he was mentored by Zell Miller III, a social worker and performance artist, who encouraged... , Christopher Lee, Tony Jackson, Andy Buck, Zell Miller III, Alternate: David Hendler |
| 2005 | Grand Slam Champion: Christopher Michael, Suzy La Follette, Michael P Whalen, Krissi Reeves, Christopher Lee |
| 2006 | Grand Slam Champion: Christopher Michael, Genevieve Van Cleve, Da'shade Moonbeam Da'shade Moonbeam Da'shade Moonbeam, is a rapper, poet, stage combat performer, and social worker from Austin, Texas.- Bio and Achievements :Born Jeffery Johnson Jr., Da'Shade grew up on Austin's east side. As a teenager, he was mentored by Zell Miller III, a social worker and performance artist, who encouraged... , Tony Jackson, Zell Miller III |
| 2007 | Grand Slam Champion: Da'shade Moonbeam Da'shade Moonbeam Da'shade Moonbeam, is a rapper, poet, stage combat performer, and social worker from Austin, Texas.- Bio and Achievements :Born Jeffery Johnson Jr., Da'Shade grew up on Austin's east side. As a teenager, he was mentored by Zell Miller III, a social worker and performance artist, who encouraged... , Andy Buck, Tony Jackson, Danny Strack Danny Strack Danny Strack is a performance poet and juggler, residing in Austin, TX. He currently runs the Austin Poetry Slam, a weekly show at the US Art Authority on Tuesdays at 8pm. He has been a regular performer at the Austin Poetry Slam, as well as other Central Texas venues including the Hideout... , Krissi Reeves |
| 2008 | Grand Slam Co-Champion: Da'shade Moonbeam Da'shade Moonbeam Da'shade Moonbeam, is a rapper, poet, stage combat performer, and social worker from Austin, Texas.- Bio and Achievements :Born Jeffery Johnson Jr., Da'Shade grew up on Austin's east side. As a teenager, he was mentored by Zell Miller III, a social worker and performance artist, who encouraged... , Grand Slam Co-Champion: Andy Buck, Tony Jackson, Danny Strack Danny Strack Danny Strack is a performance poet and juggler, residing in Austin, TX. He currently runs the Austin Poetry Slam, a weekly show at the US Art Authority on Tuesdays at 8pm. He has been a regular performer at the Austin Poetry Slam, as well as other Central Texas venues including the Hideout... , Christopher Lee |
| 2009 | Grand Slam Champion: Faylita Hicks, Big Poppa E Big Poppa E Big Poppa E is a performer of slam poetry. His live performances combine poetry, stand-up comedy, and dramatic monologue in high-energy rants about relationships, pop culture, and hot button issues of the day. He has appeared on three seasons of HBO's Def Poetry series and is a National Poetry Slam... . Christopher Lee, Tony Jackson, Danny Strack Danny Strack Danny Strack is a performance poet and juggler, residing in Austin, TX. He currently runs the Austin Poetry Slam, a weekly show at the US Art Authority on Tuesdays at 8pm. He has been a regular performer at the Austin Poetry Slam, as well as other Central Texas venues including the Hideout... |
| 2010 | Grand Slam Champion: Danny Strack Danny Strack Danny Strack is a performance poet and juggler, residing in Austin, TX. He currently runs the Austin Poetry Slam, a weekly show at the US Art Authority on Tuesdays at 8pm. He has been a regular performer at the Austin Poetry Slam, as well as other Central Texas venues including the Hideout... , Lacey Roop. Christopher Lee, Seth Walker, Tova Charles |
External links
- Austin Poetry Slam
- Big Poppa E's Site - Slam Poet
- Danny Strack's Site - Slam Poet, WriterWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
- Sonya Feher's Site - Slam Poet, WriterWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
- Ernie Cline's Site - Slam Poet, ScreenwriterScreenwriterScreenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
- Karyna Mcglynn's Site - Slam Poet
- Fox in the City Podcast - Ragan Fox's Site
- Danny Strack's Site - Slam Poet
- Faylita Hicks' Site - Slam Poet, WriterWriterA writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
, Actress, Singer - Vimby Video about Austin Poetry Slam