3rd Place, located in downtown Boone, will host a mashup of romantic folk songs and poetry slams Feb. 7 with Slam Up, a duo that focuses on blending poetry and music.

Slam Up is composed of childhood friends Cali Bulmash and Emily Lowinger, who will be joined by sophomore psychology major Alex Tanner and senior English major Shane “Kermit” Margeson, both veterans of the Boone poetry scene.

Bulmash is a poet, while Lowinger brings the comedy with the help of her guitar. The mix of poetry, comedy and music helps depict the emotional ups and downs and actions that make up love, the duo said.

“We are not a musical genre as much as a musical emotional roller coaster,” Bulmash said. “Our style is to enable the audience to feel all the feelings life has to offer – the exhilarating, the embarrassing, the heartbreaking and all that lies in between.”

While musical spoken word is not completely new, Bulmash said Slam Up is unique because it is a raw poetry event where you’re allowed to laugh. Also, it is entirely female-run, which is unique in the music industry.

“Slam Up is nothing if not real,” Bulmash said. “Our work is literally our lives. The stories we tell are our stories.”

The two hosts hope to connect with their audience on a personal level, as well.

“[Our stories] are also everyone’s stories. That’s the point,” Bulmash said. “We are all going through this thing called life together.”

Michelle Dineen, the program and event coordinator at 3rd Place, invited the musical duo to perform after meeting them at the Lake Eden Arts Festival in Asheville, where Bulmash performed. Dineen introduced them to Boone, where they eagerly wished to return to perform, she said.

Dineen said she hopes the audience will have fun at the event, and take away their own unique interpretation while also taking in what Bulmash and Lowinger have to offer. 3rd Place will host Slam Up on  Feb. 7 at 8 p.m.  The event will be free and open to the public.

Story: Molly Flinchum, Intern A&E Reporter