Spoken word events worth checking out in Toronto, October

September is a time when activity recommences, where people fall back into routines abandoned for the summer and begin the slow process of preparing for the onset of winter. In October, as our days grow shorter and nights crisper, our senses and perceptions will inevitably snap into sharper focus. So does the poetry that comes from spoken word and poetry slam artists in the city, as series rev up into high gear and slam nationals approach. Want to see some terrific performance poetry during the month of colourful leaves? Here's what's coming up:

HOT TICKETS

TORONTO SLAM CHAMPIONS' CUP / OCTOBER 3 / 8PM / WATERFALLS INDIAN TAPAS / $10
Seven representatives from each of the region's monthly poetry slam series are invited to a two-stage head-to-head showdown that will crown a champion of champions for the Greater Toronto Area. If you missed this event last October, it was one of the best shows of the year with one of the most exciting formats in Toronto slam poetry. Each participant will be bringing backup supporters to cheer for them - who will take home the Cup this year? Host Brendan McLeod will guide us there during an evening of powerful slam performance.

SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO SPOKEN WORD CIRCUIT PRESENTS JANICE LEE / OCTOBER 16, 17 & 23
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 welcomes Kitchener-Waterloo spoken word veteran Janice Lee at Bill Brown's 1-2-3 Slam Season Opener (October 16), Burlington Slam Project (October 17) and the YorkSlam Season Opener in Richmond Hill (October 23).

THE EDUTAINMENT CONVENTION / OCTOBER 25-27 / NORTH YORK CIVIC CENTRE & TORONTO CENTRE FOR THE ARTS
This will be a three-day event that includes hip-hop, spoken word and vocal workshops to educate and build the capacities of Toronto's emerging artists. There will also be a grant information session, artist panel and two concerts to inspire and entertain participants - featuring Freedom Writers and John River on October 25 and Shi Wisdom and Plaitwrights on October 27. Produced by the Scarborough-based R.I.S.E. Poetry Movement.

TORONTO POETRY SLAM FT. 2012 UP FROM THE ROOTS SLAM TEAM / OCTOBER 27 / 8PM / THE DRAKE HOTEL UNDERGROUND / $5
Toronto Poetry Slam presents the next slam in its march towards selection of their 2014 team, which also pays homage to the 2012 national slam championship team from TPS' sister show on the east side of downtown. This will be the last public performance for Patrick de Belen, Ritallin, Lishai, Dwayne Morgan and Serafina before a new national champion team is crowned at the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word next month in Montreal. That alone is a great reason not to miss the slam.

THE POETRY SLAM TEAM DECATHLON SHOWDOWN: TPS VS BILL BROWN / OCTOBER 30 / 8PM / SUPERMARKET / $10
Speaking about CFSW, two teams that will vie to claim the title UFTR won last year get together for a fundraiser grudge match. The two groups from Toronto Poetry Slam and Bill Brown's 1-2-3 Slam will face off over ten hilarious and outrageous challenges to see who carries local bragging rights into the national competition. A poetry decathlon is quite unlike any other poetry event you will ever see, and if you've never seen one, prepare to be shocked into breathless amazement.

OTHER SHOWS AND EVENTS

The Art Bar Poetry Series / October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 / 8pm / Black Swan Tavern / PWYC
Acoustic Soul Tuesdays / October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 / 8pm / Pero Restaurant and Lounge / $5
Livewords / October 3 / 7:30pm / Black Swan Tavern / free
Ripped Wide Open Mic / October 3 / 9pm / Sterling Studio / $5
The Poetry, Fruit, Wine & Music Tour / October 4 / 7:30pm / 326 Parliament St. / $15
Sunday Poetry / October 6, 13, 20, 27 / 11:30am / Ellington's Music & CafĂŠ / free
The Roots Lounge Scarborough / October 6 / 7pm / Yvonne's Coffee Haus / $5
R.I.S.E. Poetry Movement / October 7, 14, 21, 28 / 6:30pm / Burrows Hall Community Centre / free
School Night: Spoken Word Masterclass ft. Lishai / October 7 / 7pm / Go Lounge / $6
Birthday Open Stage & Cometry Poedy / October 8 / 6pm / The Central / PWYC
The Emerging Writers Reading Series / October 8 / 8pm / Duffy's Tavern / PWYC
BAM! The Toronto Youth Slam Semifinals ft. IF / October 9 / 6pm / The Central / $5
Toronto Poetry Slam / October 12 ft. The Fugitives / 8pm / Drake Hotel Underground / $5
The Official Roast of Dwayne Morgan / October 13 / 9pm / Lula Lounge / $15 adv; $20 door
"L _ _ _" A poetic study of relationships: Launch & Reading / October 15 / 7pm / Handlebar / PWYC
Hot-Sauced Words / October 17 / 8pm / Black Swan Tavern / PWYC
Plasticine Poetry hosted by Cathy Petch / October 20 / 6pm / Pauper's Pub / free
Lizzie Violet's Cabaret Noir featuring Monica Kuebler, Pandora LaGlamme and Natasha Jolly / October 20 / 7pm / The Central / PWYC ($5 suggested)
Roots Lounge Open Mic & Poetry Slam / October 20 / 7pm / Harlem Restaurant / $5
Loose Leaf Poets & Writers / October 21 / 7pm / Maple Leaf House Grill & Lounge / free
Toronto Poetry Slam Presents Haiku Deathmatch / October 21 / 8pm / Supermarket / $5
The Underdog Poets Academy / October 27 / 7:30pm / The Central / free
Queen Gallery Poetry Night / October 29 / 7pm / Queen Gallery / PWYC
The Beautiful & The Damned, hosted by Lizzie Violet. The Scream Queen's Halloween Edition! / October 31 / 7pm / The Central / 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.