Word Up! 2014

For immediate release: 6 August 2014

An evening of original performance by some of our finest young wordsmiths, from poetry to songwriting, from rap to spoken word, and beyond...

Corban Estate Arts Centre

Word Up! provides an opportunity for 13 - 20 year old singers, poets, rappers and comedians who write their own material to develop their craft and showcase their skills.

There are two main events as part of this celebration of young talent: a two-day development workshop where young writers work alongside established poets and songwriters; and a one night event where the performers compete for big prizes, including a recording session and a live on-air radio slot. Young Aucklanders with a talent for writing and performing are now being invited to participate in one or both of these events.

KEY DATES:
Word Up! Development Workshop for young writers:
Sat. 16 and Sun 17 August, 10am - 3pm.
$25 per person, registration essential

Word Up! performance evening
Fri. 5 September, 7:30pm
Audience: entry by koha
Performers: must register by Sat 30 August. Entry forms here

Corban Estate Arts Centre
2 Mt Lebanon Lane
Henderson
Auckland

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BACKGROUND AND FURTHER INFO:

WordUp! first took place at Corban Estate Arts Centre in 2005. Over the years this event has been supported by local legends like King Kapisi and rising stars such as Anonymouz. This year we are running a Development Workshop, which is being led by three celebrated writers who have shown their dedication to supporting young voices:

Rewa Worley
Rewa Worley was born and raised in Turanganui-a-Kiwa in the North Island of New Zealand and has written poems about his upbringing within the area where he lived with his devoted grandparents. He is of Maori and Pakeha descent and is currently a bio-medical student at the University of Auckland. He uses Spoken Word as a medium to express his ideas and beliefs around the social issues and personal challenges that he is passionate about to raise awareness and to provoke thought amongst his audience. Rewa was the winner of the Auckland University Poetry Slam 2013 and is a member of the poetry crew ‘Waxed Poetic Revival’

Latoia Sasa-tepania
Latoia Sasa-Tepania is well known in Auckland city's underground music circuit as a powerful songstress and performer by the stage name Coco. Originally from Porirua, Wellington and of Samoan and Maori descent, Latoia has studied at some of Aotearoa's most prestigious music and art focused tertiary institutes: Excel School of Performing Arts, Te Wananga O Aotearoa, and MAINZ Institute. She is a talented songwriter and musician with a diligent drive and motivation to learn and develop her vocal abilities as well as teach them, currently working in the youth sector running workshops with FYD. She has worked alongside some of NZ's best musicians: Sweet & Irie, Midnight Trips, Feleti Strickson-Pua (Nesian Mystik), Anonymouz and international act Spawnbreezie.

Marina Alefosio
Marina Alefosio is a New Zealand born Samoan woman, raised in South Auckland. She considers herself to be primarily a story teller who uses her geographical knowledge, cultural heritage, personal truths and love for Hip Hop to thread together rhythms, raps and poems. She is a mother and spoken word workshop facilitator passionate about growing the poetry community within New Zealand. She has performed at various venues and events including TedX Auckland, Leadership New Zealand, the world-renowned Nuyorican Poets Café, New York and recently, the Fringe Festival in Adelaide.She has been a member of the South Auckland Poets Collective since 2010 and was a finalist for Poetry Idol 2013 and a mentor for the Rising Voices Youth Slam.

On Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 August, the WordUp! Development Workshop will help young writers find their voice, writing poetry, rap and songs. Whether they're wanting to prepare for their audition for the WordUp! performance night, or wanting to developing their craft as writers, this is an invaluable opportunity to work closely with three of Auckland's best.

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The WordUp! perfromance night takes place on Friday 5 September. A selection of young wordsmiths will showcase their work, from poetry to songwriting, rap to spoken word, and beyond... They will perform their own original compositions and compete to win great prizes including:

- A free recording session at Tonewheel Studios
- An interview and performance spot live on air on radio
- The opportunity to perform at the Going West Readers and Writers Poetry Slam Final on Saturday 13 September
- All finalists will be invited to submit their work in a one-off publication by Blackmail Press

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Enter Now for the Performance Night:
Calling all songwriters, rappers, poets and stand-up comedians... If you are aged between 13 and 20 and write your own material in any word-based genre this is an opportunity to showcase what you do. Awesome prizes up for grabs including:

- A free recording session at Tonewheel Studios
- An interview and performance spot live on air on radio
- The opportunity to perform at the Going West Readers and Writers Poetry Slam Final on Saturday 13 September
- All finalists will be invited to submit their work in a one-off publication by Blackmail Press

Entries close on Friday 22 August.
Entry forms available at www.ceac.org.nz
Auditions take place on Saturday 30 August.

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This event takes place in association with the Going West 2014 Books and Writers Festival.

It has been supported by the ASB Community Trust and Auckland Council Creative Communities.

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