7th Annual High Plains Grand Slam

Come kick off Billings' biggest week of literature
with Billings' biggest night of slam poetry. 

Poets will be competing for title of
High Plains Grand Slam Champion and a cash prize of $250 
Second and third place will each receive $50
(Purse donated by: The Writer's Voice) 

6:30 October 6th @ MoAV Coffee (2501 Montana Ave)

Featuring a line-up of some of the best local performance poets:
Pete Tolton
Kate Restad
Jerry Clark
Molly Ouellette
Jake Music
Rhiannon Schiller
Sam Brodson
Ashley Warren
Wes Urbaniak
Hugh Healow

Performances will be scored by our International Panel of Judges wich includes:
Dr. Aaron Rosen - Is the Director of Cultural Projects at Rocky Mountain College. He is a former research fellow at the Institute of Sacred Music at Yale University, Junior Research Fellow in Jewish Culture at the University of Oxford, and post-doctoral fellow at the Institute of Israel & Jewish Studies at Columbia University. His has written for: The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Apollo, New Humanist, Times Higher Education, Jewish Quarterly, Literary Review, Art & Christianity, Religion & the Arts, and Literature & Theology. http://rocky.edu/academics/faculty/AaronRosen.php

Allan Safarik - A Poet form Saskatchewan who has authored 16 poetry books. Some of which include : The Day is a Cold Grey Stone, (Hagios Press, 2010,) God Loves Us Like Earthworms Love Wood, (Porcupine's Quill, 1983,) The Heart is Altered, (Blackfish Press, 1979,) and more.

Rolli - A Poet, children’s book author, and illustrator from Regina Saskatoon whose various works have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Reader’s Digest, Saturday Evening Post, Highlights, and more. https://rollistuff.com/

Emcee/Sacrifical Poet: Nate Petterson
Slam-Master: James Dean Hickman
Audio Engineer : Oliver Barber
Music Curator: DJ Tanner
Treasurer: Corby Skinner

Adult beverages for sale by our friends:
The Railyard Alehouse & Casino
http://therailyardmt.com/

Be sure to check out the other fine
High Plains BookFest sessions. More info at:
http://highplainsbookawards.squarespace.com/bookfest/

Special thanks to the Pulitzer Out Loud Slam Poetry Workshops
A collaboration of Humanities Montana, Montana Slam,
Big Sky Writer’s Workshops, and The Writer’s Voice.
Worskops wil be held throughout September, for more informaton go to:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1601450843489033/

Our second flyer.

Our latest flyer from design mastermind Pete Tolton:

May 25th Breakdown

The First Ever Montana Slam Champion is Brad Lambert!

The Breakdown:

Sacrificial Poet:

Pete Tolton                  (10 10 9) 29

Round 1:

Patrick Landry              (7 6 6) 19

Dillon Sarb                    (7 7 8) 22

Brad Lambert               (8 8 9) 25

charlie Williams             (6 7 7) 20

Roy Warner                  (8 6 7) 21

David Overturf              (10 9 9 -2) 26

Hunter Johnson              (8 8 7)    23

Round 2:

Hunter Johnson               (7 7 8) 22

David Overturf                (9 9 8) 26

Brad Lambert                  (9 9 10) 28

Dillon Sarb                      (7 7 7) 21

Final Round:

David Overturf                 (8 9 8) 25

Brad Lambert                  (9 10 10) 29

Our newest sponsor, Grindstone Magazine!

Montana Slam would like to welcome its newest sponsor Grindstone Magazine. In its short life it has quickly risen to be the voice of the voice of the Billings art and music culture. Editor-in- Chief/Owner Ken Crawford has firmly planted the banner of “you don’t have to move to a bigger city to experience a worthwhile nightlife; you just have to look harder.” And Grindstone Magazine acts like a spotlight  pointing out all the amazing things happening right here in Billings.

 "As a company invested in the growth and vitality of arts and culture in Billings, Montana, we here at Grindstone think that the Montana Slam is just the kick in the pants that a new generation of writers and poets need." -Ken Crawford

There newest initiative allows readers to submit articles for consideration effectively making Grindstone magazine an active conversation with its readers. Be sure to pick up your free copy today!

Enjoy Pete!

   Montana Slam's own Pete Tolton was featured in the Billings Gazete's Enjoy, and a separate article in the 5:01 Blog all in the same week. no small feat.


  "He’s mad at television, brand name clothing, politics or dub step “music.” So, like many in today’s world, he puts words to his complaints, but he doesn’t offer them up in the usual way — a ranting blog or adding anonymously to on an online comment string. He does it the good, old-fashioned way — by writing poetry." said The Gazete's Jaci Webb.


   High praise in a world where short attention spans open the door for curt often unimportant expression. Be sure to check out the articles and come see Pete as the master of ceremonies at the inaugural Montana Slam  May 25 at 2606 Montana Ave.