Local spoken word performer Geordi Campos will be the first ever to represent Nelson at the Canadian Individual Slam Championships when it comes to Vancouver this April.
The 22-year-old has been a staple of Nelson poetry slams for the past five years, and in January he placed first in a qualifying match to advance to the national competition. At this Sunday’s regular monthly poetry slam at John Ward Fine Coffee, Campos will be a featured poet and will perform some of the pieces he’s prepared for Vancouver.
Campos poetry touches on topics of substance abuse, relationships and his life growing up in the Kootenay.
“I find it’s a really good platform to express any thoughts or emotions that have been weighing on me,” he said. “It’s a positive way for me to share what I’m feeling and have people appreciate it.”
At slam competitions, poets are given a set amount of time (usually three minutes), in which to recite one of their original poems from memory. Random members of the audience are selected to judge the performers on a scale of zero to 10, and points are deducted for going over time. There are multiple rounds, and the top scoring poets advance until a winner can be determined.
These competitions happen on the second Sunday of each month at John Ward coffee house at 503 Baker Street. Anyone is welcome to prepare a couple poems and be a part of the action.
This Sunday, March 9, proceeds from the night will help support Campos’ trip to the championships in Vancouver. In addition to Campos, there will be featured performances by Samuel Stevenson, Elena Banfield and Magpie Ulysses.
Doors open at 7 p.m. and admission is $5 to $10, sliding scale.