Spoken word events worth knowing about in Toronto, December 2013.

And so we have reached the final thirty-one days of 2013. It's been quite the eventful year
for spoken word in this city. The year began with Toronto as the national poetry slam champions (Up From The Roots) and ends with Toronto still wearing the crown (but this time it's held by Toronto Poetry Slam). Open mic and showcase events have flourished in every corner of the city, while large events like When Brothers Speak drew notable crowds to hear artists do their thing. In this last month there's a bit of unfinished business for the series that are still running, which will lead us into what promises to be an exciting and noteworthy 2014. Check out what's on offer before we say farewell to 2013.

HOT TICKETS

HOW TO BE ALONE BOOK LAUNCH AND PERFORMANCE WITH TANYA DAVIS / DECEMBER 2 / 7PM / GLADSTONE HOTEL /

Former Halifax Poet Laureate and touring poet/musician troubadour Tanya Davis returns to Toronto to launch the book version of her YouTube viral hit poem "How To Be Alone" - a fine way to kick off December, is it not? She will have copies of the book on sale and will thoroughly entertain you with her music-infused words of whimsy and subtle depth. She is a delight in person and a Canadian treasure.

THE ANNUAL ALL-FEMALE POETRY SLAM FT. SHERI-D WILSON / DECEMBER 17 / 8PM / SUPERMARKET / $10

The Toronto Poetry Project presents an event that will determine the city's representative in the Women of the World Poetry Slam in Austin TX in March 2014. The winner will be determined after four rounds of slam (1, 2, 3, and 4 minute rounds). The feature is a Canadian spoken word legend who comes all the way from Calgary to share her Mama of Dada work, spin tales both uproarious and ribald, and generally show you what poetic versatility looks like in person. A must-see.

SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO SPOKEN WORD CIRCUIT PRESENTS C-COMMAND / DECEMBER 18 & 19
The SOSWC is a consortium of spoken word groups that stage monthly spoken word events in London, Guelph, Hamilton, Burlington, Toronto and York Region. Thanks to the support of Canada Council for the Arts, they bring a high-profile artist each month to perform at the venues on the circuit. This month, the Circuit is thrilled to host the hilarious 2013 Canadian Individual Poetry Slam runner-up C-Command at Bill Brown's 1-2-3 Slam (December 18) and Burlington Slam Project (December 19). Due to the holidays, there is no YorkSlam show in Richmond Hill this month.

OTHER SHOWS AND EVENTS

Sunday Poetry / December 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 / 11:30am / Ellington's Music & CafĂŠ / free

Amsterdam Bicycle Club Presents Lizzie Violet's Poetry Open Mic ft. AndrĂŠ Prefontaine / December 2 / 8pm / Amsterdam Bicycle Club / PWYC

R.I.S.E. Poetry Movement / December 2, 9, 16 / 6:30pm / Burrows Hall Community Centre / free

The Art Bar Poetry Series / December 3, 10, 17 / 8pm / Black Swan Tavern / PWYC

Acoustic Soul Tuesdays / December 3, 10, 17 / 8pm / Pero Restaurant and Lounge / $5

Livewords / December 5 / 7:30pm / Black Swan Tavern / free

Toronto Poetry Slam / December 6 ft. Spencer Butt and December 22 ft. Eytan Crouton / 8pm / Drake Hotel Underground / $5

Sufi Poets Series III: American Sufi / December 7 / 7pm / Beit Zatoun / $15

Lizzie Violet's Cabaret Noir Featuring - Topoet.ca, Matt Gerber and The Four Winds / December 8 / 7pm / The Central / PWYC ($5 suggested)

Roots Lounge Open Mic & Poetry Slam / December 15 / 7pm / Harlem Restaurant / $5

Plasticine Poetry hosted by Marni Van Dyk / December 15 / 6pm / Pauper's Pub / free

Loose Leaf Poets & Writers Christmas Party / December 16 / 7pm / Maple Leaf House Grill & Lounge / free

Queen Gallery Poetry Night / December 17 / 7pm / Queen Gallery / PWYC

Hot-Sauced Words / December 19 / 8pm / Black Swan Tavern / PWYC

For more listings, head on over to the events calendar for local info updated regularly 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 Tanya Davis