Venue: The Blue Lamp, 121 Gallowgate, Aberdeen
Entry fee: £3
Date of event: 26th November 2019.
The Blue Lamp was dimly lit with candles erected in empty liquor bottles at each table, giving a warm and welcoming feeling as you entered the old fashioned revolving doors.
As you looked across the room you could see all the chairs and spotlights were facing the stage, where an ‘English Literature Society’ banner was displayed and a mic patiently waiting.
The venue was perfect for the event, with plenty of seats (which began to fill up after 7pm), space to arrange the tables and chairs to face the stage, and the high ceilings providing the perfect acoustics.
The host then explained that each performer would be judged on their piece, their performance, and, the audience response before encouraging the now-silent audience to make as much noise as they wanted to support the acts.
It was announced that the winner of the evening would be going to the qualifying for the Scottish National Poetry Slam, held in Glasgow next year, to represent Aberdeen. The winner and runner-ups would also receive a cash prize.
The first round featured nine performers, of different ages, sexes, races, nationality, and backgrounds. Even the topics of the poems were varied, as some spoke about Aberdeen, love, eating disorders, mental health and their substance abuse struggles.
Once all nine performers had finished there was a short break allowing for refreshments while the judges deliberated on who was going on to the next round which consisted of six performers. Once they made their decision each performer was invited to the stage to perform a new poem.
For round two the same rules applied and the performers were; Nick Bagshaw, Sid Ozalid, Hannah Louise, Rory Buccheri, Molly McLachlan and Aleksandra Morozovaite.
Again, a short break was held for the three judges to make the tough decision on who was going through to the third and final round. Only three performers were to make the cut and once the judges had made the decision they were again invited individually to the stage to perform their final piece.
The third round consisted of Sid Ozalid, Molly McLachlan and Nick Bagshaw. Each performance was high-energy, dramatic and engaging. For each person the audience was alive with noise; clapping, clicking and wooing.
The judges then had to debate on the winner, so another break was held. The audience were mingling and the performers were all congratulating each other. It became clear that the spoken word scene in Aberdeen is very intimate, welcoming and inclusive as everyone seemed to know each other.
After what felt like the longest break of the evening, the judges announced that they had made their decision. The AU society committee thanked everyone who performed and the judges for being involved. They reminded the audience that the winner of the evening would qualify for the Scottish National Poetry Slam and would receive a cash prize of £50 and that the two runner ups would receive a £20 cash prize each.
Nick Bagshaw was declared the winner of the slam, he was then invited on stage to receive the winner’s belt and recite one more piece.
Next year, Nick will be travelling to Glasgow to partake in the Scottish National Poetry Slam, for now, however, he has been crowned the slam champion in the Aberdeen spoken word scene.
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