There are a few great poetry events happening this week in the area, from Saratoga to Beacon. Here is a run down of what is going on.
Tuesday, August 2 – Albany Poets Presents at Valentines
Albany Poets Presents comes to Valentines on the first Tuesday of each month starting at 8:00PM.
Each month we present a No Gimmick Open Mic. Poets, musicians, comedians, spoken word artists are all invited to take the stage at Valentines.
Come over and join local poets and spoken word artists for an evening of conversation, cocktails, coffee, and, of course, poetry.
Sign up begins at 7:00PM, open mic starts at 8:00PM. There is a $3.00 suggested donation for this event. Albany Poets Presents takes place at Valentines Music Hall (17 New Scotland Ave.) on the first Tuesday of each and every month.
Wednesday, August 3 – Caffe Lena Poetry Open Mic
The first Wednesday of every month Caffè Lena presents: Caffè Lena Poetry Open Mic 7pm sign up, 7:30 readings start Featured Poet: John Roche $3 Hosted by Carol Graser Info: www.caffelena.org or 583-0022
John Roche has published three poetry collections. His latest, Road Ghosts, is now available from theenk Books. He’s edited and co-edited a few anthologies including Doing Time to Cleanse My Mind, a collection of poetry by inmates at Auburn Prison. He’s an Assoiciate Professor of English at RIT and has studied with Robert Creeley and John C. Clarke. Roche’s previous poetry collections, Topicalities (2008) and On Conesus (2005) are available from Foothills Publishing.
Saturday, August 6 – 3rd Annual CAPS Poetry Marathon in Beacon
This is a 12-Hour “Calling All Poets” event featuring some of the finest poets and spoken word artists in the state at the Howland Cultural Center (477 Main Street, Beacon, NY). Featured poets include Kevin Kenny, Florence Lenhard, Adam Bradley, Tony Pena, Steve Hirsch, Justin Parinello, Christopher Gazeent, Addison Goodson, Frank Boyer, Janet Hamill & Lost Ceilings, Cheryl A. Rice, Samuel Claiborne, Walter Worden, Sharon Butler, Rebecca Schumejda, Tanya Tyler, Haigan Smith, Don Lev, Teresa Marta Costa, Roberta Gould, Dennis Bressack, Barbara Adams, Franklin Schneider, Jim Kenny , Mary Panza, Jill Crammond, Murrow, Don Levy, RM Englehardt, Raphael Kosek, Sonia Lynch, Lynn Hoins, Adrianna Delgado, Glenn Werner, Ken Holland, Marina Mati, Terence Chiesa, Christopher Wheeling, Jim Eve, and Robert Milby. And if that is not enough, there will also be open mic sessions throughout the day.
Albany Poets will be bringing poetry and spoken word to Art on Lark on Saturday, June 11. We will be at the Washington Stage at 12:30pm with some of the finest poets in the upstate New York area.
Last year poets Jill Crammond Wickham, Ed Rinaldi, Rebecca Schumejda, and Mojavi shared their work with a very enthusiastic audience and this year will be no different. Albany Poets will be announcing the poets who will be performing in the coming days, so stay tuned.
Art on Lark is one of the best arts festivals in the country with its mix of visual art and performance. Musicians (and friends of Albany Poets) Bryan Thomas and Olivia Quillio will be on stage along with local favorites Erin Harkes, Alta Mira, The Red Lions, and more.
The Lark Street Business Improvement District is proud to present the 15th Annual Art on Lark 2011 on Saturday, June 11th from 10 am to 5 pm. Art on Lark is Albany’s Premier Arts Festival drawing over 25,000 attendees in 2009 and named “Best Arts Event” in the Times Union Readers Poll in 2009 and 2010. It is the 2nd largest street festival in upstate New York, second only to LarkFEST! This event will host hundreds of artists, musicians, dance and theatre performances, one-day installations, and many more special events that will showcase Lark Street as Albany's Arts District.
We are proud to partner with WEXT 97.7 FM for the 2nd year at Art on Lark 2011!
EVENT LINE UP
Madison Stage 11:00am - Spaceland 12:00pm - Bryan Thomas 1:00pm - Olivia Quillio 2:00pm - Alta Mira 3:10pm - The Red Lions 4:15pm - Erin Harkes
Washington Stage 11:30am - Jake Cohen 12:30pm - Albany Poets 1:30 pm - NeedleGun 2:30 pm - Mike Poupolopous 3:45 pm - Disposable Rocket Band
Our great friend Rebecca Schumejda is hosting a reading this Saturday at Half Moon Books on Saturday, May 7 in Kingston. The bookstore is a wonderful venue for poetry. Get there early to get a seat.
Four Awesome Poets: Jason Crane, Jill Crammond, Carolee Sherwood, and Christopher Wheeling Read
Jason Crane was born in Lenox, Massachusetts and lives in New York City. He’s a broadcaster, podcaster and writer. He’s a father. And he rides a bicycle. Jason hosts the online jazz interview show The Jazz Session (thejazzsession.com), featuring in-depth interviews with jazz musicians from around the world. The Jazz Session has seen more than one million downloads since its inception. Jason’s first collection of poems, Unexpected Sunlight (FootHills Publishing, 2010), is now available. His work has been published in Blue Collar Review, qarrtsiluni , Meat For Tea, State of Emergency: Chicago Poets Address The Gulf Crisis, and Poets For Living Waters.
Jill Crammond is a poet/artist/mother, funding her poetry passion by teaching children’s art and poetry classes. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in Fire On Her Tongue: An eBook Anthology of Contemporary Women's Poetry, Classifieds: An Anthology of Prose Poems, Crab Creek Review, Boxcar Poetry Review, Weave, qarrtsiluni and others. She is a contributor to Poets’ Quarterly and co-founder of the online poetry community Big Tent Poetry. She occasionally blogs about life as a (newly single) mom-poet at jillypoet.wordpress.com
Carolee Sherwood is a painter, mixed-media artist and poet. Her poetry has been published in a number of print and online journals, most recently appearing in Referential, Goblin Fruit, Scythe and Wicked Alice. She co-manages the online poetry project “Big Tent Poetry,” volunteers with the Hudson Valley Writers Guild and gets paid to play on Facebook all day.
Christopher Wheeling has been writing and performing his poetry in the Hudson Valley since late 2001. His style varies widely across the body of his work, occasionally using a traditional form but more often using free verse and surrealism as his preferred techniques. In May of 2004, he graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a bachelor’s degree in English literature. He has worked a variety of odd jobs in his life, but the written art is the only occupation that has lasted with any significant time in his time here on Earth. He owes much of his style and passion to the poets of the Hudson Valley, and cannot thank them enough for their influence over the years.
Half Moon Poetry Reading May 7, 2011 at 6:30pm 35 North Front Street, Kingston NY 12401 (845) 331-5439
This is the week we have all been waiting for all year. The 2011 Albany Word Fest is taking place this coming Saturday at The Linda. The 12-Hour Open Mic has a couple of open spots left and the nighttime show is packed with the best poets and musicians Albany has to offer.
Some of the names that are already signed up for our biggest Word Fest Open Mic to date are a “who’s who” of regional poetry icons. These are the poets that have kept numerous open mic, poetry readings, and events like the Word Fest happening for all these years and without their support of the art, this very scene and community that we love so much would not exist as it does. Poets like Dan Wilcox, Therese L. Broderick, Karin Maag-Tanchak, Joe Krausman, A.C. Everson, Ronald D. Whiteurs, Bob Sharkey, Alan Catlin, Donald Lev, Ken Salzmann, Joan Pavlinsky, Don Levy, Judith Prest, Carol Graser, Jan Tramontano, Carolee Sherwood, Tess Lecuyer, Cheryl A. Rice, Mojavi, Shannon Shoemaker, Bless, Jacqueline Ahl, and Mike Jurkovic are what the local poetry community is all about and it is because of all of their continuous hard work that we say thank you.
If any poets still wish to signup, go to www.albanywordfest.com and click on “Signup”. There are only a few morning spots left.
The nighttime show, the Pycho Cluster F#*k ‘11, is again a great combination of music and spoken word with the talents of David Fey, Olivia Quillio, Avery, Daniel Nester, Poetyc Vyzyonz, Mother Judge’s Open Mic Showcase, Metroland’s Best Poets of 2011: Mary Panza, R.M. Engelhardt, and KC Orcutt. All of these performers are long-time supporters of not just poetry and spoken word, but all of the arts in the Capital Region.
Tickets for the entire day starting at 7:00AM are only $10 and are available online and at the door.
This is by far our biggest Word Fest yet, from the venue to the talent. We are celebrating 10 years of the Albany Word Fest and we could not have gotten here without the wonderful support of everyone in the poetry and arts community.
Below is the press release that we have been sending out regarding the event. We hope to see everyone out there for this celebration of the poetry, music, and spoken word of upstate New York.
In celebration of National Poetry Month, Albany Poets is proud to present the 2011 Albany Word Fest featuring the poetry, spoken word, and music of upstate New York. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at The Linda (339 Central Ave., Albany).
This year's event is the 10th anniversary of the Albany Word Fest and with that in mind, Albany Poets is promising big things.
Thom Francis, Albany Poets President, says, "When we started this event ten years ago on a Saturday afternoon in Thatcher Park, we never thought it would become one of the biggest 'mark-your-calendar' events of each and every year. We are very proud of how we have been able to continue hosting one of the biggest poetry open mics in upstate New York for ten years."
The 2011 Albany Word Fest will kick-off with the 12-Hour Open Mic at 7:00AM at The Linda. Albany Poets Vice President Mary Panza says, “After the success of the last two 12-hour open mics, we have decided to do it again, but this time, during the day. This will give poets a better opportunity to share their work and also give the audience more time to appreciate the talent in the poetry and spoken word community.” This open mic for poetry and spoken word will be held from 7:00AM – 7:00PM.
Poets who wish to participate in the open mic can sign up online by going to the Albany Word Fest website, www.albanywordfest.com until 5:00pm on Friday, April 15. Performers will also have a limited opportunity to sign up at the event itself. Each poet will have 10 -15 minutes to share their work. The open mic is open to all poets and spoken word artists with no style or content restrictions.
After the Open Mic, starting at 7:00PM, the 2011 Albany Word Fest brings the annual Psycho Cluster F*#k to the The Linda featuring poetry, music and spoken word from upstate New York artistsDavid Fey, Olivia Quillio, Avery, Daniel Nester, Poetyc Vyzyonz, Mother Judge’s Open Mic Showcase, Metroland’s Best Poets of 2011: Mary Panza, R.M. Engelhardt, and KC Orcutt, and much more.
Admission for this event is $10.00. Tickets will be available for purchase on The Linda's website and at the door on the day of the event. This event is open to all ages ( 21+ with a picture ID required to drink).
The 2011 Albany Word Fest is sponsored by Albany Poets, McGeary's, The Linda, and the very generous donations of supporters of the arts in upstate New York.
Albany Poets will celebrate the sixth anniversary of its open mic, “Poets Speak Loud,” at McGeary's on Monday, January 31, 7:00 PM. The event will also commemorate Tom Nattell, local poet and community activist, who died the same day the poetry open mic began, January 31, 2005. Tom had been scheduled to be the first featured reader at the new series, but died of cancer that morning. The open mic was held that night and was a celebration of his life, work and performances.
The event this Monday will begin with the annual “beret toss” at the Robert Burns statue in Washington Park in Tom’s memory at 6:30pm.
Poets Speak Loud, an open mic sponsored by Albany Poets, is held at McGeary's in Albany on the last Monday of each month. The usual host is Mary Panza. However, for the anniversary event the host will be Dan Wilcox, poet and host of the third Thursday open mic at the Social Justice Center. Wilcox was a friend of Nattell’s and both were members of 3 Guys from Albany, a poetry performance group.
The event Monday will be a classic open mic, in the style of the monthly open mics run by Tom Nattell at the QE2 on the last Monday of each month in the 1980s and 1990s. While it is expected that some poets will read tribute poems to Nattell, or old favorites from past readings, poets are invited to read poems on any theme and share in the spirit of poetry.
The suggested donation for the event is $3.00; McGeary's is located at 4 Clinton Square. in Albany, NY. For more information about Albany Poets visit the website: www.albanypoets.com. For more information about this event, or about Tom Nattell, contact Dan Wilcox at 518-482-0262 or email to dwlcx@earthlink.net
Tonight at Valentines (17 New Scotland Ave., Albany), Albany Poets Presents returns for our monthly open mic for poetry and spoken word. Since this is election day, be prepared for poems about politics and what is going on around us.
Sign up for the open mic starts at 7:00PM, poetry begins at 8:00PM.
Caffe Lena Poetry Open Mic
Tomorrow night in Saratoga, Rachael Ikins will be the featured reader at the Caffe Lena Poetry Open Mic at the historic Caffe Lena. Carol Graser is the host and she sent along the following information about the event:
the first Wednesday of every month Caffè Lena presents:
Caffè LenaPoetry Open Mic Wednesday, November 3 7pm sign up, 7:30 readings start Featured Poet: Rachael Ikins $3 Hosted by Carol Graser Caffe Lena, 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs www.caffelena.org 583-0022
Rachael Ikins has published in numerous journals over the years and won 8 poetry prizes among them first place National League of American Penwomen 2006 and 08. She will be reading from her chapbook "Slide-show in the Woods" (Foothills) which was published in August 2008. Also available for purchase and signing will be her broadside "The Dairy Farm" (BeNeVoLeNt BiRd Press) We hope to have some copies of her newest book release "TRANSPLANTED" (Finishing Line Press). Rachael has read her work through out the central and capitol district of New York State. Her artwork has appeared in galleries across the region. She is a member of MAD-art an artists' co-op in Hamilton NY, The Downtown Writers Center of Syracuse, National League of American Penwomen, the Cazenovia Writers and the Canastota Writers groups. Rachael has received several fellowships to Colgate's writer's conferences in Hamilton, NY and to the Downtown Writers Center Retreat through the YMCA writing program in Syracuse and has used her work to support humanitarian organizations such as the YWCA, SPCA, Golisano Children's Hospital and various animal rescues.
Two Upcoming Readings in the Hudson Valley
Our good friend Rebecca Schumejda sent in some information about two poetry readings that will be taking place this weekend in New Paltz and Kingston.
I just want to give you information on two upcoming readings: *John Dorsey, Alex Strong and I will be reading at slash root, tech. cafe, 60 Main Street, New Paltz, NY on Friday, November 5th at 7pm. then:
Five Poets to read at Half Moon Books in Kingston, 35 North Front Street, on Saturday November 6th at 6:30 pm. The event will be hosted by Rebecca Schumejda and the featured readers will be John Dorsey, Aleathia Drehmer, Roberta Gould, Robert Milby, and Dan Provost. For more information call 331-5439 or e-mail rschume@hotmail.com.
John Dorsey currently resides in Toledo, Ohio. He is the author of several collections of poetry, including Teaching the Dead to Sing: The Outlaw's Prayer (Rose of Sharon Press, 2006), and Sodomy is a City in New Jersey (American Mettle Books, 2010). He work has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize
Aleathia Drehmer is the editor of the print micro-zine Durable Goods and the online flash fiction site In Between Altered States. She has a shared book of poetry with Dan Provost from Rank Stranger Press called A Quiet Learning Curve and a forthcoming collection from Propaganda Press called You Find Me Everywhere. She lives in upstate New York with her daughter and her cat, Carrot.
Roberta Gould work has appeared in many publications including HPN, New York Times, Catholic Worker, Chronogram, Socialism Today, Poetry Now, Green Mountain Review etc. Her first chapbook Dream Yourself Flying, Four Zoas Press was followed by books including Writing Air, Written Water, Only Rock, Not By Blood Alone. Her 9th, Louder Than Seeds, Foothills Press, followed In Houses With Ladders, and Pacing the Wind. She has lived for 3 years in Mexico, published a book in Spanish, and studied for a year at the National University of Mexico. She published Light a Poetry Review and has edited several poetry magazines. For information and poems see website: robertagould.net and a blog of current work robertagould.wordpress.com.
Robert Milby, of Florida, NY currently hosts 3 Hudson Valley poetry series. He’s been reading his work in public since early 1995, throughout Hudson Valley and beyond, over 1000 times onstage. His first book is Ophelia’s Offspring(Foothills Publishing, 2007). 2nd book, Victorian House: Ghosts and Gothic Poems (Foothills Pub. in late 2010)
Dan Provost's poetry has been published throughout the small press for a number of years. He is the author of seven books, his latest being "A Quiet Learning Curve"-- poems that also feature Aleathia Drehmer, published by Rank Stranger Press. He lives in Worcester, Massachusetts.
For more information on these events and all of the poetry and spoken word events in the upstate New York area, go to www.albanypoets.com. If you would like to have your events listed or if you would like to be listed on the Albany Poets site, send us an email at info@albanypoets.com.
Tomorrow night is the night we all have been waiting for…the return of Poets Speak Loud! It has been five months since the last time we all got together at the Lark Tavern and on Monday, September 27 we are hoping that everyone will be a part of the launch of the new Poets Speak Loud at McGeary’s.
For the first month back we are having an Old School Open Mic for poetry and spoken word hosted by Mary Panza. Anyone who wants to share their work can sign up starting at 7:00PM.
Over the years we have had some great poets as features such as Emily Gonzalez, The Poet Essence, Cheryl A. Rice, Michael Eck, Mother Judge, Rich Tomasulo, Alan Catlin, A.C. Everson, Jil Hanifan, Nicole Peyrafitte, R.M. Engelhardt, Dain Brammage, Amanda Rose, Josh McIntyre, Philip Levine, Rachael Zitomer, Pierre Joris, Will Nixon, Robert Milby, John Weiler, Carol Graser, and Jason Crane. Next month we are bringing back the tradition with a very special featured poet.
Poets Speak Loud happens on the last Monday of each and every month at McGeary’s (4 Clinton Square, Albany). Sign up begins at 7:00PM with the poetry starting at 7:30PM.
Yes, you read that right, Poets Speak Loud is returning on Monday , September 27 at McGeary's (4 Clinton Square, Albany) in downtown Albany. As many of you know Tess Collins is coming on board at McGeary's to manage the historic bar/restaurant in the beginning of September and one of her first orders of business is to bring poetry and spoken word back.
It has been way too long since we last gathered at the Lark Tavern to celebrate the vibrant community of poets and spoken word artists we have here in Albany and we cannot wait to restart our monthly open mic series.
Poets Speak Loud will continue to be hosted by Mary Panza on the last Monday of the month with signup starting at 7:00PM and the open mic beginning at 7:30PM. We will be having featured poets in the coming months, but September we are having an old-school poetry open mic. We have a brand new PA system and what better way to break it in than with the return of one of Albany's most popular poetry and spoken word open mics.
We hope to see everyone there as begin the new chapter of Poets Speak Loud.
Even in the summer, the Albany poetry scene is very active. We have some great readings and open mics coming up in the next couple of days. So, if you are looking for something to do on a hot summer evening in upstate New York, here are a couple of events to put on your calendar.
Saturday brings us to the end of the 2010 Poets in the Park series. Poets Susan Deer Cloud and Guy Reed will be bringing their words to Washington Park. Dan Wilcox has brought in some great poets this year and we thank him for this wonderful summer series and tradition.
Poets in the Park 2010
Saturdays in July at the Robert Burns statue, Washington Park, Albany, NY (at Henry Johnson Blvd. & Hudson Ave.)
July 31, 7PM - Susan Deer Cloud and Guy Reed
Free! & open to the public (just like the park)
Bring a chair or blanket to sit on
Rain site: the Social Justice Center, 33 Central Ave.
Sponsored by the Poetry Motel Foundation & the Hudson Valley Writers Guild. For information call 482-0262
And then on Tuesday the poetry continues with an open mic at Valentines. Albany Poets returns to our favorite beer and rock club for our monthly No Gimmick Open Mic.
Albany Poets Presents
Albany Poets Presents, hosted by El Presidente Thom Francis returns to Valentines on the first Tuesday of each month starting at 8:00PM.
This month we are presenting another No Gimmick Open Mic. Poets, musicians, comedians, spoken word artists are all invited to take the stage at Valentines.
Come over and join local poets and spoken word artists for an evening of conversation, cocktails, coffee, and, of course, poetry.
Sign up begins at 7:00PM, open mic starts at 8:00PM. There is a $3.00 suggested donation for this event. Albany Poets Presents takes place at Valentines Music Hall (17 New Scotland Ave.) on the first Tuesday of each and every month.
Summer is in full swing and the poetry scene here in Albany is heating up. We started things off with a great day of poetry and spoken word at Art on Lark a couple weeks ago and now we are heading into the annual Poets in the Park series in Washington Park tomorrow evening with features Donald Wellman and Cheryl A. Rice.
Poets in the Park 2010
Saturdays in July at the Robert Burns statue, Washington Park, Albany at Henry Johnson Blvd. & Hudson Ave.
Free! & open to the public (just like the park). Rain site: the Social Justice Center, 33 Central Ave.
Sponsored by the Poetry Motel Foundation & the Hudson Valley Writers Guild. For information call 482-0262.
Monday night Keith Spencer is hosting the Professor Java's Wide Open Mic for poets and musicians. It is not his birthday this month, but Keith is promising a great evening at Professor Java's. No word on if there will be an after-party in room 108.
Come see and be a part of one of the Capital Region's best Open Mic Nights! Hosted by Keith Spencer and presented by Professor Java's and Albany Poets, this night is a great show case of talent and local flavor! Sign up at 7:15pm and starting at 8pm this night is not one you want to miss.
Second Mondays at the Coffee Sanctuary have never been so entertaining!
See you there!
Poetry on TV? It is not new for the local poetry community to get some TV time. Albany Poets have been featured on WNYT/Channel 13 and YNN (Capital News 9) in the past year and this Monday, July 12, "The Define Poetic Show" is having a special taping at the Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza with three local poets who have been a part of Albany Poets since the beginning over ten years ago; Marcus Anderson, Mojavi, and R.M. Engelhardt. This is a new series that is being broadcast on Schenectady Channel 16.
You’re invited to the Monday, July 12th taping of *The Define Poetic Show* hosted by Shaun Mintz featuring poets R.M. Engelhardt , Mojavi , and Marcus Anderson at The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza, 1475 Western Ave. At 6:45 p.m.
Space is very limited !! RSVP!
Please RSVP the518@gmail.com or call Oliver @ Define Poetic 374-3532 4pm – 9pm ......for more information ! More information can be found at http://openstagemedia.com/ or http://www.bhny.com/
That is just a couple of the many events and readings in the Albany area coming up this week. Be sure to go to www.albanypoets.com/events for the full calendar of events. If you are hosting or involved in a poetry / spoken word event, reading, or open mic, send the event information to info@albanypoets.com and we will add it to the calendar.
We have a busy week ahead of us here in the upstate New York poetry community. There are poetry readings, open mics, and events happening every day this week. Here is a quick run down of what is in store for us.
Monday, June 21 8:00PM – Muddy Cup Open Mic Muddy Cup Coffee House, 1038 Madison Ave., Albany
Tuesday, June 22 7:00PM – Emack & Bolio’s Open Mic Night Emack & Bolio’s, Delaware Ave., Albany
Wednesday, June 23 8:00PM – Flavour Cafe Open Mic Flavour Cafe, 228 4th Street, Troy
Thursday, June 24 7:00PM – Every Other Thursday Night Poets Voorheesville Public Library, 51 School Street, Voorheesville
7:00PM – Rockhill Bakehouse Open Mic Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, 19 Exchange Street, Glens Falls
7:00PM – Word Thursdays Bright Hill Center, 94 Church Street, Treadwell Featured poets Charles Conley and Barry Wallenstein
Friday, June 25 8:00PM – VoX Fuze Box, 12 Central Ave., Albany Johnny Cash Tribute and fund raiser for the American Cancer Society
Saturday, June 26 11:00AM – Art on Lark Poetry from Ed Rinaldi, Jill Wickham, Rebecca Schumejda, and Mojavi
8:00PM – Wordsworth Coffeehouse UUCC Community Center, 320 Sawkill Rd., Kingston
Sunday, June 27 3:00PM – Sunday Four Poetry Open Mic Old Songs Community Center, 37 South Main Street, Voorheesville
As always, check the Events Calendar for more information on all of the poetry and spoken word events happening in the area. If you would like to have your event listed, send us an email at info@albanypoets.com with your event information and we will add it to the calendar.
Albany Poets and Professor Java’s Coffee Sanctuary present the PROFESSOR JAVA’S WIDE OPEN MIC on the second Monday of each and every month. The next open mic is this coming Monday evening. Poets, musicians, comedians, and ust about anyone else is free to sign up, step up to the mic and share their work with one of the best open mic crowds in the area.
This month we are also celebrating host Keith Spencer’s birthday. So, if nothing else, come on by and wish this hard working guy a Happy Birthday. He deserves it for all that he does for Albany Poets as the Director of Operations, Outreach, and Multimedia (D.O.O.M).
Sign up starts at 7:15, the open mic begins at 8:00 sharp. Professor Java’s is located at 217 Wolf Rd., Albany, NY, 12205
The Linda, WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio presents: A Night at Tess' Lark Tavern: A Benefit Celebration featuring the "House Bands" of the Lark Tavern
with Albany Poets; Jim Gaudet & The Railroad Boys; Keith Pray's Big Soul Revival; MotherJudge & "The Best Damn Open Mic EVER!" Band; Ramblin Jug Stompers; and special guest Bryan Thomas 7 p.m. Thursday, June 10, The Linda, WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio 339 Central Ave, Albany, 518.465.5233, ext. 4; www.thelinda.org, $15 at the door.
In the early morning hours of May 6, 2010 a fire ripped through Tess’ Lark Tavern, effectively gutting the historic building while also gutting the heart of downtown Albany’s artistic community. For years prior to the fire, owner Tess Collins had made an unusual commitment -- creating a home for artists of all walks by hosting meetings, events, benefits and performances by the city’s best and brightest, as well as by the region’s promising unknowns and up-and-comers.
Now it’s time for the artists and the community-at-large to give back. This is being done most visibly through a series of benefits staged by those touched by the graceful, generous hand of Collins and her well-loved staff. Few have felt that touch more deeply than the “House Bands” of Tess’ Lark Tavern. These groups of musicians and poets have made the Lark Tavern their true home, with long-running residencies based on monthly (or in the case of MotherJudge, weekly) performances.
It’s safe to say that host band Ramblin Jug Stompers and jazz icons Keith Pray’s Big Soul Ensemble would simply not exist without Collins, as her venue was the incubator which allowed these groups to grow and develop into important elements of the region’s musical scene.
BSE’s debut album, “Live at the Lark Tavern,” stands as a testament to the 17-piece group’s wildly successful and long-running First Tuesday stand. Gaudet has used his First Monday slot as a laboratory for introducing a plethora of new songs while honing his band’s bluegrass kick. The Jug Stompers recently celebrated their fourth anniversary of Third Monday performances on the stage that birthed them. And Albany Poets have made their Last Monday Poets Speak Loud the place to be for spoken word in the Hidden City.
Thomas’ name-dropping number “MotherJudge” is a tribute to the venue’s legendary open mic host and the many careers she has fostered and launched on Wednesday nights at the Lark for well over a decade.
The theme of the “House Band” benefit at The Linda is “A Night at Tess’ Lark Tavern,” and it will mark the first time that the Lark’s resident favorites have been on one stage (graciously donated by WAMC) together in one night. Representatives from Albany Poets will read from their work between sets by the bands, and Thomas -- the evening’s special guest -- will sing “MotherJudge” to introduce the closing performance by "The Best Damn Open Mic EVER!" Band, which includes John Brodeur, Albie and Bob Buckley (who are also members of various area bands including Lark Tavern favorites, These Are The Hits).
Admission for “A Night at Tess’ Lark Tavern” is $15 at the door (although larger donations will be gratefully accepted). There will be no advance ticket sales. All proceeds from admissions, donations and CD sales will go directly to Tess’ Lark Tavern. Doors open at 6 p.m.
“A Night at Tess’ Lark Tavern” is a Mystery Tramp Production made possible through the kind sponsorship of WAMC, WEXT, Metroland and Nippertown.com.
For more information, contact event producer, Michael Eck/Mystery Tramp Productions 518.432.6634, mandhand@aol.com.
POETS HELP NOW! A BENEFIT FOR TESS AND THE STAFF OF TESS' LARK TAVERN!
For over five years Tess' Lark Tavern has been the home of Poets Speak Loud. What started out in January 2005 as a monthly open mic for poetry has become much more than that, it has become a family. Through the support and generosity of Tess and the welcoming, warm hearted nature of her staff, the Lark Tavern has become a home not just to poets on the last Monday of the month, but the entire community.
Over the years, the Poets Speak Loud open mic has featured local poets such as Emily Gonzalez, The Poet Essence, Cheryl A. Rice, Michael Eck, Mother Judge, Rich Tomasulo, Alan Catlin, A.C. Everson, Jil Hanifan, Nicole Peyrafitte, R.M. Engelhardt, Dain Brammage, Amanda Rose, Josh McIntyre, Philip Levine, Rachael Zitomer, Pierre Joris, Will Nixon, Don Levy, Robert Milby, John Weiler, Jason Crane, Carolee Sherwood, Carol Graser, and many, many more. This time we are featuring the Lark Tavern!
Now is your chance to give back and be a part of the rebuilding of Tess' Lark Tavern. On Monday, May 24, at Valentines (upstairs) POETS HELP NOW.
This is an Open Mic Event. Come on out, share your words, thoughts and experiences for Tess and her Staff!
Sign-up starts at 7:00pm. We will begin the open mic at 8:00pm. Get there early as we are expecting a big crowd!
$5 Donation at the door and ALL proceeds are going to Tess and the staff of Tess' Lark Tavern to use for the rebirth of the Tavern.
This event is lovingly brought to you by Albany Poets.
As you may have heard, the local arts community suffered a major setback yesterday morning with the fire at Tess' Lark Tavern. The damage was extensive, but the structure of the building is still in tact. Due to that tragic event, we at Albany Poets have decided to suspend our open mic POETS SPEAK LOUD. PSL was born at Tess'. It is part of the integrity of the Lark and we would not feel comfortable temporarily moving the event to another venue. In the coming weeks and months, we will be working very closely with Tess and her dedicated staff in the rebuilding, renovating and reopening of the Lark. Albany Poets is in this for the long haul. We will be planning events down the road based on the wants and needs of Tess and the staff. In the meantime, there are a number of sites available if you wish to donate as well as benefits planned.
We will be continuing ALBANY POETS PRESENTS: NO GIMMICKS OPEN MIC, at Valentine's on the first Tuesday of each month and PROFESSOR JAVA'S WIDE OPEN MIC at Professor Java's, on the second Monday of each month. We will be updating throughout the process of rebuilding and the next POETS SPEAK LOUD will be a huge event. We look forward to this process and rebirth.
We just posted some new podcasts to the site for everyone to download and take a listen to. Go to www.albanypoets.com/audio to download the mp3’s or listen using the player on the page.
These podcasts were recorded at the Poets Speak Loud 5th Anniversary Open Mic / Tom Nattell Tribute reading on January 25, 2010 at Tess’ Lark Tavern. This event was guest-hosted by Dan Wilcox and featured poetry and spoken word from Sylvia Barnard, Julie Lamoe, Jason Crane, Ed Rinaldi, Tim Ervin, Brenda Rusch, Murrow, Carolee Sherwood, Jill Wickham, Avery, Shannon Shoemaker, Cheryl A. Rice, A.C. Everson, Sally Rhoades, Alex Albino and more.
If you want to read about the reading, be sure to check out Dan Wilcox’s website for his write-up.
Poets Speak Loud is coming back to Tess' Lark Tavern on Monday, April 26with monthly open mic for poetry and spoken word with featured poet Jason Crane.
Jason Crane is a jazz broadcaster and writer. He’s a husband and father. And he rides a bicycle.
Jason hosts the online jazz interview show The Jazz Session, featuring in-depth interviews with jazz musicians from around the world. (http://www.thejazzsession.com)
Jason’s first collection of poems, Unexpected Sunlight, is forthcoming in 2010 from FootHills Publishing. His work has been published in Blue Collar Review and will soon appear in qarrtsiluni. Jason's poems and a complete biography are available atwww.jasoncrane.org.
POETS SPEAK LOUD takes place at Tess' Lark Tavern (453 Madison Ave., Albany). Signup starts at 7:00PM, poetry starts at 8:00PM.
Albany Poets is very proud to be a part of this event to bring awareness to the closing of Thacher Park. We have a long history with the park as the first two Albany Word Fest’s were held there in 2001 and 2002. We are teaming with 518Fever.com to bring artists, musicians, and poets together for this great day of entertainment in Schenectady. Local poets Don Levy, Dan Wilcox, A.C. Everson, Cara Benson, and Carol Graser will be performing at the Robb Alley stage from 6pm-8pm Saturday evening.
Here is the info from our friends at 518Fever.com:
UNITED 4 THACHER: A CELEBRATION OF THACHER PARK
518Fever.com is working with Proctor's Theatre to put on a Support Event for Thacher Park.
We are just eight short days away from the biggest poetry and spoken word event in the Capital Region. Here is an update on Word Fest weekend and who is scheduled to perform.
In celebration of National Poetry Month, Albany Poets is proud to present the 2010 Albany Word Fest featuring the poetry, spoken word, and music of upstate New York. This year’s event will take place on Friday, April 16 and Saturday, April 17, 2010 at the UAG Gallery (247 Lark Street, Albany).
The 2010 Albany Word Fest will start off on Friday evening with a very special Youth Open Mic at 5:00PM. This is a chance for all of the young poets and performers of the area to share their work. All poets who wish to participate in this open mic can sign up at the gallery.
At 7:00PM, the 12-Hour Open Mic begins. After the success of the first night long open mic last year, we have decided to do it again. This open mic for poetry and spoken word will be held from 7:00PM – 7:00AM.
Poets who wish to participate in the open mic can sign up online by going to the Albany Word Fest website, www.albanywordfest.com until April 15. Poets will also be able to sign up at Professor Java’s Wide Open Mic on Monday, April 12.
Thom Francis, President of Albany Poets explains, “The first Albany Word Fest was held in 2001 in Thatcher Park. It featured poets from all over the upstate area sharing their words all day and into the evening in a beautiful outdoor setting. Through all of the Word Fests since then, we have kept the same idea in mind; invite the poets and spoken word artists from all over the capital region and beyond to share their words and show that ‘poetry lives in Albany’.”
This year we have a great list of new poets and poets who have been a part of the local literary community for years. Artists and poets already scheduled to perform include Jan Tramontano, Judith Prest, Erica Wolfe, Justin Miller, ILLiptical, Cecele Kraus, Poets from the Hudson Valley Writers Guild, Todd Fabozzi, John Raymond, Jacqueline Renee Ahl, Carol Graser, Barbara Garro, Jason Crane, Tim Verhaegen, Joe Hesch, Matt Galletta, Joanne Trapanese, Nancy Denofio, Cheryl A. Rice, Julie Lomoe, Robb Smith, Karin Maag-Tanchak, Adarro Minton, Tess Lecuyer, Bob Sharkey, Jacqueline Kirkpatrick, Shannon Lynette, Robert Eaton, Shannon Shoemaker, Therese Broderick, R.M. Engelhardt, Christopher James, Justin Parrinello, Robert Milby, Christopher "Pinky" Gazeent, The Poet Essence, Shaun Baxter, Joe Hollander, Adrianna Delgado, Anthony Bernini, AVERY, Carli McCoy, Dan Wilcox, W.D. Clarke, and Don Levy. The open mic is open to all poets and spoken word artists with no style or content restrictions. Admission is based on donation.
On Saturday at 8:00PM, day two of the 2010 Albany Word Fest brings the annual Psycho Cluster F*#k to the UAG Gallery featuring poetry, music and spoken word from Rebecca Schumejda, Nathan Graziano, The Johnnie Bravehearts, Ed Rinaldi, Murrow, Ms. Bliss, Q Diamond, Eloquence, Poetyc Vyzyonz, Sunshine, Souljourner Truth, and more. Admission for this event is $5.00. This event is open to all ages.
Again this year, Albany Poets will be streaming the whole two day event live on www.albanypoets.com for all of those who are not able to make it to the UAG Gallery to be in the audience.
The 2010 Albany Word Fest is sponsored by Albany Poets, Tess’ Lark Tavern, UAG Gallery, and the very generous donations of supporters of the arts in upstate New York.
For more information, up-to-date event news, open mic sign up, flyers, handouts and more, go to www.albanywordfest.com
Schedule of Events: Friday, April 16 5:00PM – Youth Open Mic at UAG Gallery (247 Lark St., Albany) 7:00PM – 12-Hour Friday Night Open Mic at UAG Gallery (247 Lark St., Albany)
Saturday, April 17 8:00PM – Psycho Cluster F#*k at UAG Gallery (247 Lark St., Albany)
Albany Poets Presents comes to Valentines on the first Tuesday of each month starting at 8:00PM.
The first Wednesday of every month Caffè Lena presents: Caffè Lena Poetry Open Mic
This is a 12-Hour “Calling All Poets” event featuring some of the finest poets and spoken word artists in the state at the Howland Cultural Center (477 Main Street, Beacon, NY). Featured poets include Kevin Kenny, Florence Lenhard, Adam Bradley, Tony Pena, Steve Hirsch, Justin Parinello, Christopher Gazeent, Addison Goodson, Frank Boyer, Janet Hamill & Lost Ceilings, Cheryl A. Rice, Samuel Claiborne, Walter Worden, Sharon Butler, Rebecca Schumejda, Tanya Tyler, Haigan Smith, Don Lev, Teresa Marta Costa, Roberta Gould, Dennis Bressack, Barbara Adams, Franklin Schneider, Jim Kenny , Mary Panza, Jill Crammond, Murrow, Don Levy, RM Englehardt, Raphael Kosek, Sonia Lynch, Lynn Hoins, Adrianna Delgado, Glenn Werner, Ken Holland, Marina Mati, Terence Chiesa, Christopher Wheeling, Jim Eve, and Robert Milby. And if that is not enough, there will also be open mic sessions throughout the day.
The Lark Street Business Improvement District is proud to present the 15th Annual Art on Lark 2011 on Saturday, June 11th from 10 am to 5 pm. Art on Lark is Albany’s Premier Arts Festival drawing over 25,000 attendees in 2009 and named “Best Arts Event” in the Times Union Readers Poll in 2009 and 2010. It is the 2nd largest street festival in upstate New York, second only to LarkFEST! This event will host hundreds of artists, musicians, dance and theatre performances, one-day installations, and many more special events that will showcase Lark Street as Albany's Arts District.
Some of the names that are already signed up for our biggest 
The nighttime show, the Pycho Cluster F#*k ‘11, is again a great combination of music and spoken word with the talents of David Fey, Olivia Quillio, Avery, Daniel Nester, Poetyc Vyzyonz, Mother Judge’s Open Mic Showcase, Metroland’s Best Poets of 2011: 
This is by far our biggest Word Fest yet, from the venue to the talent. We are celebrating 10 years of the Albany Word Fest and we could not have gotten here without the wonderful support of everyone in the poetry and arts community.
In celebration of National Poetry Month, Albany Poets is proud to present the 2011 Albany Word Fest featuring the poetry, spoken word, and music of upstate New York. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at 
Yes, you read that right, Poets Speak Loud is returning on Monday , September 27 at 
Even in the summer, the Albany poetry scene is very active. We have some great 
Summer is in full swing and the poetry scene here in Albany is heating up. We started things off with a great day of poetry and spoken word at 
We have a busy week ahead of us here in the upstate New York poetry community. There are poetry readings, open mics, and events happening every day this week. Here is a quick run down of what is in store for us. 
The Linda, WAMC’s Performing Arts Studio presents: 
POETS HELP NOW! A BENEFIT FOR TESS AND THE STAFF OF TESS' LARK TAVERN! 
Poets Speak Loud is coming back to Tess' Lark Tavern on Monday, April 26with monthly open mic for poetry and spoken word with featured poet Jason Crane.
Albany Poets is very proud to be a part of this event to bring awareness to the closing of Thacher Park. We have a long history with the park as the first two Albany Word Fest’s were held there in 2001 and 2002. We are teaming with 
We are just eight short days away from the biggest poetry and spoken word event in the Capital Region. Here is an update on Word Fest weekend and who is scheduled to perform.