Schema Magazine

So I know the last installment of This Week in Vancouver was all about books and words and the like, but this week's edition has a bit of a twist: metre and a rhyme scheme! Ok ok, so not all poetry has to rhyme, or fit into a metrical rhythm, or have any kind of structure at all, but the "Rhythm and Rhyme Edition" sounds a lot better than the "Sometimes Structured But Mostly Amorphous Groupings of Evocative Words and Phrases Edition," don't you think? This week's events let you experience the poetry of rap and hip hop music, theatre, and, well, poems!

Image credit: Vancouver 125 Poetry Conference

Vancouver 125 Poetry Conference

Wednesday, Oct. 19th - Saturday, Oct. 22nd
Various times and locations

Yesterday it was announced that Vancouver's next poet laureate will be Eveyln Lau, and Ms. Lau is already brewing ideas for her honorary 3-year post. Lau, who has been publishing poems since she was a teenager, first came to prominence for her 1989 novel Runaway: Diary of a Street Kid, which was based on her experiences of homelessness and sex work as a teen. Lau's appointment was timed nicely with Vancouver's first major poetry conference celebrating the younger generation of Canadian poets. Except for the three keynote readers, all of the 70+ poets featured at the four-day conference published their first book of poetry after 1990. Th daily schedule is ambitious and extensive, and is sure to include at least a few wordsmiths who will take your breath away.

Image Source: Megaphone

Headlines Theatre's Us and Them

Friday, Oct. 21st - Saturday, Nov. 12th
The Cultch

What drives people to racially profile? To develop prejudices? To ignore the needs or wants of others? In their latest play, Headlines Theatre shows how we make these choices possible every time we separate "us" from "them." Us and Them is the result of a two year project that Headlines began last year. In the project's first year, the theatre company held several public inquiries delving into the average person's experience with Us and Them mentalities. Now they are putting those stories and experiences and research on stage for all to share and learn from.

Image credit: Gossip nightclub

Vancouver Urban Showcase

Friday, Oct. 21st, 9:30 pm - 3:00 am
Gossip Nightclub

You know what would make the solo stylings of hip hop artist and occasional OFWGKTA member Frank Ocean better? Were you thinking acoustic guitars too? Well you're in luck! This weekend Gossip Nightclub is holding the first ever Vancouver Urban Showcase, featuring Kristie Yung, who does acoustic covers of popular hip hop songs, Gio Levy, Nick Hope, and local hip hop stars the Boombox Saints, who, incidentally, performed at an awesome bash that Schema threw last summer. Ooh, did you miss it? That's too bad, because it was awesome. All the more reason to catch all this talent at Gossip on Friday!

image credit: Miscellaneous Productions

Raincity Rap: The History of Hip Hop in Vancouver

Moberly Arts and Cultural Centre
Friday Oct. 21st and Saturday, Oct. 22nd

Much to my mother's dismay, when I was a kid one of my favourite musical groups was the Vancouver-based hip hop and rap group Swollen Members. When it comes to major hubs for rap and hip hop music and culture, Vancouver is probably fairly low on the list, nevertheless, we have produced and continue to produce our fair share of well regarded hip hop artists. This weekend you can find out all about the past, present, and future of rap and hip hop in Vancouver at Miscellaneous Productions' Raincity Rap. Vancouver rap royalty Moka Only and Rob the Viking (both of Swollen Members fame), Chin Injeti, Sol Guy, and many more will be in attendance. You will also get a sneak preview of Miscellaneous Productions' upcoming show Kuts & Dawgs, an anti-gang and violence project developed for and by youth.