Saturday 3 May 2014

Inspired Words....




To steal a (mis)quote from Forrest Gump: 'Poetry readings are like a box of chocolates... you never know what you are going to get'

The Inspired Word Cafe - which gigs around Kelowna at a variety of locations and venues - aptly illustrates this. At the recent downtown Bean Scene gathering, poetry, beat-boxing, a capella vocals, break dancing, storytelling and even debate on topics like 'authenticity' and whether or not 'ignorance is bliss' made for a lively and provocative evening.

Led by Rawle James, an ex-Torontonian financial trader turned Kelowna poet, speaker, spiritual mentor and life coach, the evening was a wonderful melting pot of artistic and intellectual ideas and ideals. Inspired Word Cafe is a chilled, cabaret -styled evening of spoken word and other artistic endeavors (see list above) that brings people together in a great melting pot of artistic creativity.

Good, bad or ugly, I have the ultimate respect for anyone who gets up and shares their innermost thoughts with strangers, and I have yet to go to a poetry evening where at least one poem didn't utterly make my soul sing. Indeed, I have been to some wonderful readings, and some of the nights I have spent at the Urbana Poetry Slam at the Bowery Poetry Club in New York have been the most exhilarating and inspiring ever, so I have been hoping to find some good spoken word here in Kelowna. Inspired Word Cafe could definitely fit that bill, and is certainly getting added onto my social calendar. 

To steal a(nother) quote off one the evening's performer's trucker's cap - the evening was 'dope'.
~
Remaining 'Inspired Word Cafe' shows of the 2013/14 season:
Sunday May 4th, 3-4pm: Starbucks Willow Park Plaza
Wednesday May 14th, 5-7pm: Rotary Centre for the Arts
Tuesday May 27th 6-8pm: Winfield Curling Club
Thursday May 22nd 6-8pm: Kelowna Art Gallery 
Friday May 30th 7-9pm: Bean Scene downtown

Check out their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Inspired-Word-Cafe/141033639291820

2 comments:

  1. I'll be at IWC on May 14th as the featured artist. Maybe we'll finally meet in person :) LAE

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wonderful Lesley-Anne! I'll look forward to it!

    ReplyDelete

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