a quick message

would like to say how enjoyable the slam was last night

the range of skills and style on offer was energising - leaving me with the itch to pick up a pen and scribe

well done to all the contestants and of course the winners

mmm think i'll be the baldy one today...

steve

Agreed.... a most enjoyable evening. We had to leave before the end to catch the last train back, bummer!! so Im still waiting to find out who won......

Cate, Michael Wilson and Ben (forgotten his second name) young tall lad with a cap on, qualified for the next stage, Pete Crompton was third (I think).

Was a good night enjoyed it.

John

It was a great slam!
I've been to a few and this was one of the better ones.
The atmosphere!

I didn't qualify so naturally it was rigged.

:-)

well played to everyone who was brave enough to take part!
Loved Pauls compère too, funny!

Last night was a really great night for performance poetry. Was fabulous to see a full house! Well done to all who took part.

:) yes i enjoyed the night , good show , good company . good poems
can anyone put up a list of the competitors please i missed some of the names and would like to read more from a few performers

OK the winners were: Mike Wilson and Ben Mellor - well done to them.

I didn't see the scores but I'm told it was very close in both rounds.

Thanks to everyone who took part and made it such a great event.

Contestants were:

Anthony Hett
Ben Mellor
Chris Jam
David Bateman
Helen Burke
Keisha Thompson
Liam Brayd
Mia Darlone
Mike Wilson
Nat Clare
Pete Crompton
Rob Stevens
Tim Ellis
Tom George

The Showcase Poets were:
Sean Kavanagh
Louise Fazackerley
Lynda Morgan
Dermot Glennon

Great event - I was there handing out and collecting in the Not Part Of festival feedback forms - thanks to everyone who completed one and returned it to myself and other festival volunteers. It was a great show, and I'd have hated to have to judge the competition myself - the standards were incredibly high. Congratulatins to the winners. Arthur Chappell

thanks for the list paul . :)

Keisha Thompson

CANT FIND HER ON THE SITE !!

It was a really good night - so much talent in one small room!
Thanks to all involved.
Cx

is ben mellor on this site? i really liked him. in fact i really enjoyed nearly everyone. amazing night- shame about the acoustic set- the singerguy was great (bar his christian song which i found offensive) but i was anxious to hear the finale and it spoiled the mood for me- i was like' hurry up!'

i would have been happy for any of the finalists to win. and keisha is a definate up and comer. will there be one next year?

This really was a terrific night of entertainment.
Enhanced in my opinion by the venue, a theatre where everyone in the audience had a great view and the house was packed with poets and non-poets. Their encouragement for the performers was magnificent, listening intently and with obvious interest, participating when appropriate.

The test poets warmed up the audience and relaxed the contestants a little. Some of them a bit daunted by the theatre set up though i have to say their nerves didn't show and certainly didn't affect their performance.

Ben Mellor was a deserving winner with a score of 26.6.
Michael Wilson also a great choice with a score of 25.5
Chris Jam just missed a place in the next slam with 25.2
Pete Crompton came in 4th place with a score of 24.9

It was a close call with all the scores and the lowest one was 20.1 but for obvious reasons i won't name the contestant.

I managed to blast my horn at least three times and once more just on the poets very last word which sent the audience into a clapping frenzy. (not sure if it was for the poet or me or both) :-)
The two minutes and fifteen second slot was very well practiced and close to the time-up on several occasions. The few who went over time most likely didn't allow for their introduction. Something to remember for future events.

I too enjoyed the musician after the break, it was a welcome relaxing few minutes after a hectic first half.
I'm looking forward to the next one i am able to attend.

I enjoyed the event; quality was high, mostly, some having must got through with weak slams,but around 50% of performers
were way above others. The two who go through to whatever it is they go through, deserved it thoroughly.

Yes, I too would like to read and hear Keisha again; she seems to have good potential.

[don't judge the face]

I thought the slam was a great audience event. Very often poets read to poets, and personally I'm often too preoccupied with me me me, to listen carefully to others' contributions. Thursday was different. The audience played a major role in creating a memorable event aided by the pacy organisation, and the skilled delivery of the performers. A good night for performance poetry in the North West, a great showcase for local talent. I hope the BBC were (was?) impressed.

Wow those scores.
Never realised it was close.
I think that the results are perfect, the judges were brilliant and fair, I dont think that this night could be faulted.
Its the best slam Ive ever been to.

My thanks to all who made it happen
and despite my 2 hour of sulking, which for emotional animals like me JUST cant be helped, I am happy with my second round participation, the players were pros, and I think the winning order reflects a true picture, it was down to finer points, like a sieve, we were the fine powder in the end, practice and more slams. Super.

BTW the Bristol Poetery Festival slam had similar atmosphere to this one.

WHY CANT ALL POETRY EVENTS BE THIS GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????

lets all give a big applause to Paul and Julian and WOL for helping make this happen and congrats to Mike and Ben for win.

Forgot to say that I was really enjoying Nat Clare's 'Sex Bag' when someone prematurely blew the horn - isn't that always the way in life? Could we have another rendition of it in Wigan please? Would so like to hear its conclusion.