In the world of spoken word and poetry slam in the Greater Toronto Area, there are a lot of things bubbling below (and above) the surface. Many new initiatives are underway, including several fundraising campaigns. Slam teams from York Region and Burlington are utilizing the crowdsourcing site Indiegogo. The Up From The Roots, Toronto Poetry Slam and Mississauga Poetry Slam teams have been holding fundraiser events. And this week, the BSP and TPS teams will be in Charlotte, North Carolina for the National Poetry Slam, the largest team slam competition in the world. Good luck!

But for the rest of us here at home, here is what’s coming up over the next seven days in the GTA:

Monday

Due to the Civic Holiday, there will be no Loose Leaf Poets & Writers this week. But look out for the event to be held next week. Join their…

Heather Hill is touring her new album, Leuty Station, this summer– with the happy-vibe spreading Lily C!

Heather Hill launched Leuty Station May 2012.  Warning: it causes ear worms, that entertaining condition whereby a catchy tune boogies in your head throughout the day even when no tangible music is playing.

Heather Hill’s voice is like liquid love, with robust rumbling lows, ethereal highs and a plethora of delicious tones in between.  She’s one of those singers who can convey a story and/or emotion with the sound of her vocalizations without lyrics– and then she’s got good lyrics too!  The amazing thing about Heather’s lyrical stories is that they are very specific and often very literal with a truth that can give you shivers.

The vocal and instrumental play weaving together throughout this album is inspired and fun.  I’ll leave the instrumental critique to someone more instrumentally adept…

Lots more going on this week, my friends.

Tonight, the July edition of The Beautiful and the Damned will take place at Glad Day Bookshop (598 Yonge St., Toronto – just north of Wellesley on the west side of Yonge). Here’s the scoop from my pal, the lovely and talented Lizzie Violet:

It’s officially summer and the best way to celebrate, in a room full of amazing poets, and inspiring music. Come dressed in your best Hawaiian Luau outfit or grass skirt! Join our fabulous host DM Moore, as she gives this month’s dead celeb, Tura Santana, a run for her money. This month’s features are:

Marcy Rogers’ first incarnation as a writer was as a playwright. Her play Nocturnal Emissions was nominated for a Dora award in 1993. She was also commissioned by Young People’s Theatre to write a play about hard of hearing children called The Secret of…