We are one week away from the 2009 Albany Word Fest!
The first Albany Word Fest was held in September 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 Fest 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 is no different as we are having a 12-hour open mic for poetry on Friday night starting at 7:00PM at the UAG Gallery (247 Lark Street, Albany). We already have more than 25 poets signed up for this all night event. During the open mic we will be having some special featured poets perform including poets from Voorheesville, Albany area poetry workshop participants, and all three of this years “Best Poets” from the Metroland readers poll (Mary Panza, R.M. Engelhardt, and Dan Wilcox). The open mic will end on Saturday morning with a very special performance by A.C. Everson and Friends.
Saturday night we come back to the UAG with music and poetry from the Rambling Jug Stompers, Margot Malia Lynch, Daniel Nester, Mother Judge, and Murrow.
Since moving the Word Fest from September to April in 2005, The Albany Word Fest has become spring time tradition here in Albany celebrating not just National Poetry Month, but celebrating the Poets and Poetry of Upstate New York. Like Dan Wilcox says, “In Albany, everyday is Poetry Month!”
For more information, go to www.albanywordfest.com. See everyone at the Word Fest!
