Blow Out at Filling Station

Posted by Andree Lachapelle Aug 17, 2006

A few years ago I lived in Drumheller, Alberta - very briefly, don't ask! - and was surprised, upon arriving for a three-day stopover in Calgary, to see what a fun city it could be! It had a certain bohemian charm that could not be ignored, and though this was years ago, it seems this left-of-center ambiance is still ever present, perhaps stronger than ever.

Could it be that Calgary is actually cool?

Judging by Filling Station, one would think so.

According to the magazine's website, FillingStation.ca, every single one of the people working at Filling Station is "hip like you wouldn't believe."

Oh, I believe it!

This month, Filling Station will be hosting the second annual Blow Out, an annual festival of "poetry, prose, and community."

Appearing at this year's event:

- Natalee Caple, author of "Mackerel Sky," "The Heart is Its Own Reason," "The Plight of the Happy People in an Ordinary World," and "A More Tender Ocean" -- nominated for a Gerald Lampert Award in 2000.

- Newfoundland writer Jessica Grant -- recipient of the 2003 McClelland & Stewart Journey Prize -- whose fiction has appeared in Event, Filling Station, Grain, The Malahat Review, The New Quarterly, and Prairie Fire.

- Melanie Little, whose fiction has been published in Sub-TERRAIN, The Fiddlehead, and Prairie Fire and whose first book, "Confidence," was shortlisted for the Danuta Gleed Award and appeared in the Globe and Mail's Top 100 Books.

The line-up also includes former Filling Station editor Natalie Simpson, poet nikki reimer, spoken word activist Shone Abet ... and many more!

All events are free, and open to the public. To learn more, visit FillingStation.ca.