Shane Koyczan with His Band, The Short Story Long: April 6
Shane Koyczan with His Band, The Short Story Long: SPOKEN WORD FESTIVAL: AN OPERA OF SOULS: 
Friday April 6: 8PM – $20 at the door; Shane Koyczan is one of the world’s premier spoken word performers. Known for his rhythmic verse in high gear, his performance at the 2010 Olympic Opening Ceremonies brought the 55,000 seat house to their feet with his tear-jerking homage to Canada “We Are More”. Now the multi award-winning spoken word performer breathes life into the new genre of talk rock with his band, The Short Story Long: a group whose musical range stretches from folk to funk, from ambient to rock. Their sound showcases a blend of original music and Shane Koyczan’s remarkable performance poetry. Along with Koyczan, the group has created a whole new style of song/verse. This is Talk-Rock. This is something new. This is worth checking out. Their new album ‘Remembrance Year,’ has already garnered acclaim from music reviewers and fans alike. A writer and spoken word virtuoso, Shane Koyczan navigates through social and political territory with a furious honesty and a tender humanity that has brought audiences to their feet everywhere. Winner of the US Slam Poetry Championship and the Canadian Spoken Word Olympics, Koyczan is truly an extraordinary talent. www.shanekoyczan.comThe Guardian (UK) and the Globe and Mail (Canada) hailed his book, Visiting Hours, as a Book of the Year Selection. His second book, Stickboy, is a novel in verse. Written for anyone who has ever been a child, Stickboy continues to be hailed by teachers, academics, and mental health experts alike for its deft handling of the subject of bullying. Shane’s third book, Our Deathbeds Will Be Thirsty, released in 2012, proves once again to be an outstanding addition to an amazing repertoire
“The Shane Koyczan shows that I saw at Winnipeg were among the most rewarding experiences of my concert life. I can’t recommend this man’s performance strongly enough. “You’ll laugh, you’ll cry…” may sound goofy but I have to say it. You can look him up on YouTube.com, but it can’t do justice. My advice to the people I care about is to set aside April 6, make sure you have tickets, and be in that audience! If you have something already lined up for the 6th, cancel it. This is much better.” Tony Kilgannon
