March 2022 – Helsinki Poetry Connection

Ruusu Open Mic #37: March 27th 2022

16. 03. 2022

Here comes the sun, and with it Ruusu Open Mic is back to warm our hearts all over again! Helsinki Poetry Connection brings poetry back home into Sörnäinen after a four month hiatus – the first Ruusu Open Mic of 2022 will be organized live in restaurant Sörkan Ruusu on Sunday, March 27th at 17-20.

As accustomed, Sunday’s stage poetry club kicks off with two warm-up poets. This time we will get to enjoy performances by Unne Nirhamo and Jukka Raitio. After the warm-up acts, it’s time for the main event – that being the open mic itself and all of your performances! Spots for the open mic are not reserved in advance, and the running order will be randomly drawn. Please note that the open mic slots are max 4 minutes long each so that as many people as possible have time to perform.

At the end of the evening, lovely prizes from HPC and our partners Sörkan Ruusu and Rautakukka will be drawn among the open-micers, so we do recommend sticking around until the end!
Each performer will be carefully listened to and cheered on – especially, if it´s your first time! Your performance can be a song or a poem, rap, spoken word or anything you can think of, as long as the text is your own! We welcome performances in any and all languages.

Ruusu Open Mic is free from any discrimination. We don’t accept any racist or hateful content or behaviour. Our event adheres to Safer Space Guidelines as found on HPC’s website: https://www.helsinkipoetryconnection.fi/hpcn…/

Please only attend if you have no symptoms of Covid. Unfortunately, Sörkan Ruusu is non-accessible. At the main entrance ~ 20cm step and door ~ 60cm wide, side door ~ 20cm step and door ~ 55cm wide, no ramps. There is an induction loop available at the venue.

Producers/hosts: Samppa Varis and Aatos Ketvel
Poster: Touko Miikkulainen

Poetry Jam: In-Between (16.3.2022)

04. 03. 2022

After a long break Helsinki Poetry Connection announces Poetry Jam to be back. Our venue and gracious host will be Siltanen. On Wednesday March 16th we’ll dive between two greats, into the undefined, perhaps unsafe not-quite-yet-being-something, the In-Between.

What is your In-Between? Are you asleep and awake? Between the tree and the bark? In motion while your feet are stuck in mud? A tired sigh by the bedroom door?
Our distinguished poets will open up the mysteries of their personal In-Betweens:
– Heikki Jalava
– Laura Palanne
– Laura Eklund Nhaga
– Dxxxa D
The event will also have a short open mic -session. We’d like to have fivish poets to perform to our theme! Just send me an email to register your slot at jussi.kiova@gmail.com. On the subject field write “Poetry Jam Open Mic “.
The night’s DJ will be our very own Joonas Sojakka. The event is hosted by spoken word actives and poets Jarkko Jokinen and Jussi Kiova.
Helsinki Poetry Connection’s events are safer spaces, so be extra mindful of others. The event will be photographed by the HPC, so please tell the organizers if you do not wish to be photographed.
About accessibility: A wheel chair ramp can be put on the Hämeentie entrance. WC’s are fully accessible.
Also remember safety regulations during the event, too. Safety spaces are safer places!
As always with Helsinki Poetry Connection, it’s free entry! Warm welcome to you all!