Spoken Word events worth checking out in Toronto this May

Canadians are showered with poems each April courtesy of National Poetry Month, and this May will flower with the fruits of that creative period for local spoken word artists. In a month where longtime spoken word stalwart Dwayne Morgan celebrates his induction to the Scarborough Walk of Fame, it's clear the energy level will be high in the city's spoken word community. To feel that energy, here's where you should go.

HOT TICKETS

WORDSPELL SPOKEN WORD / MAY 1 / 8:30PM / FREE TIMES CAFÉ / $6
The ladies of Toronto spoken word reconvene for an evening of words and wisdom delivered by the featured performers beluga and Sheniz Janmohamed. This series, running its fifth bi-monthly show since it started last fall, provides Toronto's only women-focused oral poetry space, with an environment that is accommodating and open to everyone regardless of background. It's a gem in the community that you should check out.

SPOKE N' HEARD PRESENTS "MOTHERLAND" / MAY 12 / 6:30PM / HOUSE OF MOMENTS / $10
The SNH group celebrates its second anniversary with a unique show bringing together performers of various disciplines who will share their work while wearing traditional clothing of their countries of origin. The stories they share will be about the cultures they identify with -- not a straightforward process in pluralistic Toronto. Another creative concept from a creative group of young people pushing the envelope in the local arts scene.

ONTARIO SPOKEN WORD CIRCUIT PRESENTS ALVIN LAU / MAY 15, 16, 22 & 23
The OSWC is a consortium of five spoken word groups that stage monthly spoken word events in London, Guelph, Hamilton, Burlington, Mississauga, Toronto and York Region. Thanks to the Canada Council for the Arts, they will bring a high-profile artist each month to perform at the venues on the circuit. This month, Ontario International Poetry Slam 2012 winner Alvin Lau of Chicago tours the circuit. He features at four finals slams: Bill Brown's 1-2-3 Slam (May 15), Burlington Slam Project (May 16), YorkSlam in Richmond Hill (May 22) and We Flip Tables in Mississauga (May 23).

MEMBERS ONLY: A NIGHT OF EROTICA / MAY 21 / 8PM / LULA LOUNGE / $20 ADV-$25 DOOR
Up From the Roots Entertainment presents the fourth in a series of erotica shows with the tagline: "The only rule of Members Only, is that what happens there, stays there!" From what I have heard of this show (because naturally I've never attended it, wink wink) it's quite the rollicking evening of sensual expression. A band working with host Dwayne Morgan adds flavour to the spicy poetry flowing from the stage. Check it out, if you can handle it!

OTHER SHOWS AND EVENTS

• Livewords / May 2 / 7:30pm / Black Swan Tavern / free
• Sunday Poetry / May 5, 12, 19, 26 / 11:30am / Ellington's Music Café / free
• R.I.S.E. Poetry Movement / May 6, 13, 20, 27 / 6pm / Burrows Hall Community Centre / free
• The Art Bar Poetry Series / May 7, 14, 21, 28 / 8pm / Q Space / PWYC
• Brockton Writers Series / May 8 / 6:30pm / Full of Beans Coffee House / free
• BAM! The Toronto Youth Slam ft. Sean B / May 8 / 6pm / The Central / $5
• Toronto Wordstage / May 8 / 7:30pm / Q Space / free
• The Beautiful and the Damned hosted by Philip Cairns/ May 9 / 7pm / Glad Day Bookshop / PWYC
• Wind in the Leaves Collective / May 10 / 8pm / Arraymusic / $10-$15
• Lizzie Violet's Cabaret Noir / May 12 / 7pm / Q Space / PWYC ($5 suggested)
• Toronto Poetry Slam / May 12 (Anything Goes Slam) & 26 (ft. PrufRock Shadowrunner) / 8pm / The Drake Hotel / $5
• Acoustic Soul Tuesdays / May 14, 28 / 8pm / Passione Sports Bar / $5 before 8pm; $10 after
• The Emerging Writers Reading Series / May 14 / 8pm / Duffy's Tavern / PWYC
• Hot-Sauced Words / May 16 / 8pm / Black Swan Tavern / PWYC
• Scarborough Arts presents Big Art Book Launch Party / May 16 / 6pm / AccessPoint / free
• SPEAKout Poetry Open Mic Night / May 17 / 7:30pm / Beit Zatoun / $5
• Plasticine Poetry hosted by Cathy Petch / May 19 / 6pm / Pauper's Pub / free
• Roots Lounge Open Mic & Poetry Slam / May 19 / 7pm / Harlem Restaurant / $5
• Queen Gallery Poetry Night / May 28 / 7pm / Queen Gallery / PWYC

For more listings, head on over to the events calendar or check out the Cytopoetics Events spoken word blog for local info updated weekly during the month.

Have a spoken word event coming up that you'd like us to plug? Submit your own listing to the blogTO events calendar.

Photo of Alvin Lau by Seattle Poetry Slam on Flickr