Poetry Slam Fans and Fam! You've surely heard the news by now; this year, for the first time ever, The Berkeley, Oakland, San Franisco, and San Jose Poetry Slams are joining forces to send one UNIFIED team to the National Poetry Slam! On FRIDAY May 11th  2012 YOU will choose the FOUR poets that make up this earth shattering squad. Nine of the Bay's best and brightestperformance poets will battle it out over three rounds of scintillating competition interspersed with fabulous musical acts and hilarious comedians. All ringmastered by that master of madcap mayhem, Jamie DeWolf and featuring the one and only BUTTERSCOTCH! 

That's right, we're thrilled to bring you not only the Bays top poetic talent but world class Beatbox / Vocalist / PianistBUTTERSCOTCH! You might have seen her in her stint as a finalist on NBC's America's Got Talent or heard about her winning one of her many beatbox championships or seen her sharing stages with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Wyclef Jean, Earth, Wind & Fire, KRS ONE or countless other musical legends. We're thrilled to bring her unique talents to our finals stage and, believe us, you are in for a treat! 

 We'll also have a special spotlight set from the always funny Josef Anolin. Josef, an Oakland native, likes to tell jokes that offer audiences fresh perspectives on "hot button" issues like race, class, gender that are simultaneously respectful and tounge in cheek offensive. He's been peddling his humor to audiences throughout the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Oregon, Nevada, Hawaii and was probably the first comedian to do a joke about NY Knicks Point Guard, Jeremy Lin... albeit back in 2010 when he was still a Golden State Warrior and irrelevant. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD6vaXShvRg)

The poets qualified for Finals are Sam Sax!  Tim "Toaster" Henderson! Katelyn Lucas! Cam Rich! Bozz Lady! Kim Johnson! Tongo Eisen-Martin! Denise Jolly! and Lisa Evans!

Believe me, you don't want to miss this first of it's kind event. If you only go to one show this year make THIS that show!

The Bay Area UNIFIED Slam Team Finals

Hosted by Jamie DeWolf - featuring BUTTERSCOTCH!

FRIDAY May 11th, 2012, 8:00 pm - 10:30 pm

The Lakeside Theater at The Kaiser Center

300 Lakeside Drive (near 21st & Harrison on Lake Merritt)

$15 - General Admission Presale

$25 - Preferred Seating Presale (limited # available)

$20 - General Admission at the door

Presale at - http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/244074