RaiseIt.ca is a new online magazine dedicated to covering, criticizing, supporting and elevating anything arts in Ottawa from the perspectives of local artists, promoters and community members.
The name “Raise It” references the title of an iconic slam poem by Kevin Matthews (dubbed the uncle of Ottawa’s slam poetry community), a phrase that is now ritualistically shouted in support of poets before each performance at Ottawa’s Capital Slams. It is a call to unite a group of people, speakers and spectators alike, around similar feelings and the desire to express and share in them; RaiseIt.ca aims to harness the same grassroots energy to address all forms of art in Ottawa—from music, theatre, film, and dance, to photography, poetry, painting and graffiti—to bring all forms together to grow in their abilities and their influence under the same sympathetic roof.
On July 5th, we’ll be celebrating the launch with an event on all three floors of the Mercury Lounge (Collection, The Mercury Lounge, and Bar 56).
7pm to 8pm (Collection) — Meet and greet, info session
8pm to 12am (Mercury Lounge) — Music and other performances by:
Members of The Recipe (2009 National Festival of Spoken Word Champions), Louis-Philippe Robillard et Keur Fidèl, The Three Little Birds, The Magic Beans, Free Will, Hyfidelik and Kevin Matthews
9pm to 12am (Bar 56) — Jazz with Crimson and Blues
Hope to see you there!
Thanks Jonathan.
I can’t make it out to everything and a lot is on this week but we’ll see.