Kids have a knack for pouring their guts on paper writing verse. It can be satirical, humorous or downright furious. You may not agree with the sentiment, but it always grabs the attention.
This coming Saturday a group of 12 performance poets stand before their peers at the St. Albert Library for Slam Poetry IV, where they present some of the boldest writings this community offers.
Approximately 12 to 14 junior high and high school students are expected to participate in two teams: Bellerose versus the Slam Star Team.
Bellerose is sending six slammers while the Slam Star Team is a mix of poets from Paul Kane High, Strathcona High, and Drayton Valley’s H.W. Pickup Jr. High.
“Expect everything” is Geoff Manderscheid’s mantra. Manderscheid works for adult services at St. Albert Public Library and is the driving force behind the slam poetry competitions.
“It’s shaping up to be my slam dream which is to pit schools against each other,” he said.
Manderscheid is hyped about the project because he’s witnessed shy, reluctant students transform into passionate, vocal artists as they develop new skills.
“Something like this is meant to help build their chops.”
During intermission, pop-rock singer-songwriter Alex Zaichkowski will play a 15-minute set. The St. Albert born reality TV actor won national recognition in YTV’s Season 6 of The Next Star and was tapped to play the lead John on Family Channel’s Lost & Found Music Studios.
A friend initially invited Zaichkowski to a slam poetry open mike last year and the singer was impressed.
“It was very relaxed and very easy-going. It was very mutually supportive and welcoming to one another. It seemed like a film community,” Zaichkowski said.
He was also intrigued by the art form and what people could do with it.
“I like to play music for people and I think this will be fun.”
Slam Poetry IV runs Saturday, April 23 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Albert Public Library. Free admission.
