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.
National Poetry Month is starting off strong with another busy week of poetry and spoken word here in the area leading up to the Word Fest on April 16th.
Tomorrow night at Valentines (17 New Scotland Ave., Albany) Albany Poets Presents returns for another open mic night. This is one of the longest-running open mics for poetry and spoken word in the Albany area. Come out and join Thom and Keith for a couple of drinks, some conversation, and a little bit of poetry. We will also have the signup sheet for the 2011 Word Fest Open Mic with us for everyone who has not yet signed up online.
Wednesday night is the first Wednesday of the month, which means only one thing…The Caffe Lena Poetry Open Mic! This is truly one of the greatest poetry open mics in the area held in one of this countries most historic venues. This month host Carol Graser will have David Kaczynski as the featured poet. Here is the information from Carol:
the first Wednesday of every month Caffè Lena presents:
Caffè LenaPoetry Open Mic Wednesday, April 6 7pm sign up, 7:30 readings start Featured Poet: David Kaczynski $3 Hosted by Carol Graser Caffè Lena, 47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs www.caffelena.org 583-0022
David Kaczynski has published poetry, short fiction, opinion pieces, and a personal narrative on growing up with his brother Ted Kaczynski, the so-called "Unabomber." Since 2001, he has worked as executive director of New Yorkers for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. Prior to that, he was assistant director of Equinox Youth Shelter in Albany. In 2010, David published a 36-poem chapbook, "A Dream Named You," which he describes as an attempt to trace a spiritual journey from loss to affirmation. The 36 poems reflect various themes: the desert landscape in West Texas where David lived during the 1980's; his memories of his troubled brother, Ted; his love for Linda Patrik, whom he met in the 7th grade; and his understanding of art as a transformative process.
For the rest of the poetry events going on this week be sure to check out the Events Calendar.
You can tell when National Poetry Month rolls around each year; the media takes the opportunity to highlight the art in the papers and on radio and television. This week is no different with two appearances for local poetry.
On Wednesday, April 15, Thom Francis and Mary Panza will be on Channel 13 (WNYT) as part of their Midday News beginning at 11:00am. Thom and Mary will be talking about the upcoming Albany Word Fest and read a poem or two.
Then on Friday, April 17, Joan Murray will be on the Roundtable program on WAMC (90.3FM / 1400AM) at 11:10am. On the program Joan will be talking about a new anthology that she edited, The Pushcart Book of Poetry: the Best Poems from 30 Years of the Pushcart Prize, and her upcoming presentation of poems from that volume at The Arts Center in Troy.
Be sure to check out these programs showcasing the poetry and spoken word that lives in upstate New York.
The Albany Word Fest is not the only poetry festival in the area this year celebrating National Poetry Month. Carol Graser is putting together the Caffe Lena Poetry Festival on Saturday, April 11 (from noon to 10:00PM) with a great lineup of poets, workshops, and activities all leading up to a reading by the legendary Ed Sanders.
This year Caffè Lena greets the approaching spring and the arrival of National Poetry Month with a torrent of words: an all-day festival of poetry performance and workshops.
The program will feature twenty-minute readings throughout the afternoon by twelve stylistically varied, widely read poets from NYC, Rhode Island, Maine, the Capital District and the Adirondacks. Included will be Bernadette Mayer, Joseph Bruchac, Sam White, Michael Brown, Lyn Lifshin, Alan Catlin, Steven Huff, Miriam Axel-Lute, Barbara Ungar, Nancy White, Miriam Herrera and Jordan Smith. Workshops will be offered by Joe Bruchac, Michael Brown, Barbara Ungar, Jordan Smith, Miriam Axel-Lute and Steven Huff.
Afterward, we'll Gather for conversation and a meal of appetizers, salads and main course dishes. Bring a dish for 10 people and eat for free, or pay $10 and fill your plate at the eclectic buffet.
Headlining our first Caffè Lena Poetry Festival is Ed Sanders, famed counter-culture figure of the ‘60s, who built a bridge between the Beatnik and Hippy generations.
Please check www.caffelena.org for a full schedule of readings, workshops, and for information about the potluck dinner.
So far this years Albany Word Fest (This Weekend! April 18-19) is looking like it will be the biggest and best yet!
Four days until the 2008 Albany Word Fest and there is still time to sign up online for the Friday Night Open Mic at the UAG Gallery. So far there are 75 poets signed up for the open mic with the online signup closing tomorrow evening. Poets who do not sign up online will be able to sign up at the open mic at the UAG on Friday night.
Also, we are very excited to announce THE POET ESSENCE will be performing at the Psycho Cluster F#*k on Saturday night. The Poet Essence is one of Albany's best spoken word artists and it is a real honor to have her as part of this years event.
Saturday's annual Psycho Cluster F#* will also be featuring The Johnny Bravehearts (Mary Panza, John Weiler, Monica Roach), The House Band of the Apocalypse (Thom Francis, K.J. Spencer, Aaron Christiansen), a multimedia performance from poet Nicole K with VJ Fongaboo of Twisted Pair Visuals, plus more acts to be announced this week...
The 2008 Albany Word Fest will also be the place to grab your copy of the long awaited, much anticipated OTHER:NINE. The ninth issue of our litery magazine will be available featuring Maria Barr, Shuan Baxter, Chris Brabham, Seth Brown, Scott Casale, Michael J. Conner, Stephen H. Donohue, Tom Harmon, Nicole Karas, Adam Kress, Penny Meacham-Cornelius, Lisa Nolan, T. Kilgore Splake, Leigh Vandebogart, Dan Wilcox, and Hollice Danielle Wiles. Plus, an updated listing of all of the poetry readings and open mics in the area, the return of Miss Mona, and more.
We will launching some new features on the Albany Poets website for the Word Fest including an online open mic, a new look for the OTHER: site, and updated poets profiles and poems.
For more information on the 2008 Albany Word Fest and to sign up for the open mic, go to www.albanywordfest.com
The first Wednesday of every month Caffe Lena presents CAFFE LENA POETRY OPEN MIC on Wednesday, April 2. Doors open at 7:00PM, reading starts at 7:30. $3.00 admission.
This months featured poets are contributors from Caffe Lena's first poetry publication, EVERY DROP OF WATER: VOICES FROM CAFFE LENA POETRY STAGE with short readings from A.C. Everson, Barbara Ungar, Francelise Dawkins, Rob Faivre, Therese Broderick, Bob Sharkey, Dan Wilcox, Barbara Garro, Sue Jefts, Kristen Day and Sarah Craig.
Please joins us to celebrate the official release of Every Drop of Water:Voices From Caffe Lena Poetry Stage. In the summer of 2003, Carol Graser stepped forward to revive Caffe Lena's long neglected poetry program. Since then Caffe Lena has enjoyed monthly poetry open mics, each highlighting a featured poet. This chapbook, the first ever released by the coffeehouse , contains poems written by features form the open mic's first two years. some authors will be present to read their work throughout the evening and the chapbook will be available for sale for the first time.
On Sunday, April 6th, 2:00PM at Caffe Lena (47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY), in celebration of National Poetry Month, Caffè Lena offers a program of poetry written by and about women. Five award-winning poets will read their works: Barbara Ungar, Nancy White, Elaine Handley, Marilyn McCabe and Mary Sanders Shartle.
In addition, Handley, McCabe and Shartle will be joined by Lauren Vanko and Caroline Seligman in reading from Emma Saves Her Life, a book of poems based on the letters of author Naton Leslie's grandmother. Born in the mountains of Appalachia in 1907, Emma tells stories about her life which reverberate with wisdom, humor and pathos.
Don't miss this unique event at Lena's. Cost is $5.
In celebration of National Poetry Month, Albany Poets is proud to present the 2008 Albany Word Fest featuring the poetry, spoken word, and music of upstate New York. This year’s event will take place on Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19, 2008.
The 2008 Albany Word Fest will start off on Friday night with a cocktail party at Tess’ Lark Tavern (453 Madison Ave.) at 5:00PM. This is a chance for all of the poets and performers to get together, network, and reconnect with each other before the event begins. This is open to all ages. Must be 21 or older to drink.
At 7:00PM, the poetry and spoken word begins at the Friday Night Open Mic at the UAG Gallery (247 Lark Street).
Poets who wish to participate in the open mic can sign up online by going to the Albany Word Fest website. Performers will also have a limited opportunity to sign up at the event itself. Each poet will have three minutes to share their work. 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, day two of the 2008 Albany Word Fest brings the annual Psycho Cluster F*#k featuring music and spoken word from The Johnny Bravehearts (Mary Panza, John Weiler, Monica Roach), The House Band of the Apocalypse (Thom Francis, K.J. Spencer, Aaron Christiansen), and more to be announced. Admission for this event is $5.00. This event is open to all ages.
Also, throughout the 2008 Albany Word Fest, Albany Poets will release OTHER:NINE, the long awaited new issue of Albany Poets’ literary magazine as well as the launch of many new features to the Albany Poets website including an online open mic, new poetry from local poets, updated photo galleries, performance videos, and more.
The 2008 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, and more, go to www.albanywordfest.com
In honor of National Poetry Month, the North Chatham Free Library is pleased to present Dr. Jeannine Johnson with a program entitled: "Why Read Poems? Why Do People Write Poems?"
Jeannine Johnson graduated with a BA from Haverford College, and a PhD from Yale, Dr. Johnson went on to teach at Yale, Wake Forest, and Harvard. Currently, she is a visiting Assistant Professor in Writing and English at Wellesley Her first book, “Why Write Poetry? Modern Poets Defending Their Art,” was published in 2007.
At the library, on Sunday, April 13, Dr. Johnson will be talking about modern poets and why they defend the value of poetry in their own poems. This is a relatively widespread and strange phenomenon in modern poetry, which today enjoys a popularity that is unparalleled in our country's history. Why do poets need to defend their poetry? Dr. Johnson will share some of her ideas about the impulse to preach to the choir, as it were, and about some of the effects of doing so on poets, poetry, and readers.
The library chose this topic especially, to encourage people who are leery of poetry. Because Dr. Johnson has special expertise, we invited her to this series even though she is not a resident of Columbia County. The program begins at 3:00 pm. It is free and open to the public. For any questions, please call the library at 518-766.3211. This series is made possible with public funds from the Decentralization Program of the NYS Council on the Arts, administered in Columbia County by the Columbia County Council on the Arts through the Twin Counties Cultural Fund.
Additional funds are provided by the Town of Chatham and donations to the library.
Any Questions? Please contact Vicki Kurashige at 518-766-3211 or Julie Kabat, Executive/Artistic Director, Concerted Effort, Inc., PO Box 407, North Chatham, NY 12132
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).
National Poetry Month is starting off strong with another busy week of poetry and spoken word here in the area leading up to the 
The 
So far this years Albany Word Fest (This Weekend! April 18-19) is looking like it will be the biggest and best yet! 
Two Caffe Lena posts in one day...
On Sunday, April 6th, 2:00PM at Caffe Lena (47 Phila Street, Saratoga Springs, NY), in celebration of National Poetry Month, Caffè Lena offers a program of poetry written by and about women. Five award-winning poets will read their works: Barbara Ungar, Nancy White, Elaine Handley, Marilyn McCabe and Mary Sanders Shartle.
In celebration of National Poetry Month, Albany Poets is proud to present the 2008 Albany Word Fest featuring the poetry, spoken word, and music of upstate New York. This year’s event will take place on Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19, 2008. 
In honor of National Poetry Month, the