The 2015 Albany Word Fest is here! We are very excited to bring you seven days of poetry and spoken word here in Albany. We have something for just about everyone with featured readings, open mics, a haiku battle, and a regional team poetry slam. All of the information can be found on the Word Fest website. We will be posting all week on Facebook and Twitter using the hastag #AlbWordFest, so follow along and add your own photos, videos, and words.
There are also other great events and readings lined up with seven solid days of poetry and spoken word celebrating National Poetry Month.
Here is a look at what is coming up in the poetry community this week…
Sunday, April 12
2:00pm – Poetry + Prose
The Arts Center of the Capital Region, 265 River Street, Troy, NY
A monthly open mic for writers of poetry and prose on the 2nd Sunday of each month with your hosts Nancy Klepsch and Dan Wilcox.
6:00 PM – 2015 Albany Word Fest – Word Fest Kickoff & Up The River Launch Party
McGeary’s, 4 Clinton Square, Albany, NY
The week will kick-off with the release of the third edition of Albany Poets’ literary journal, Up The River. Editors Mary Panza, Carissa Haberland, and Kevin Peterson will present an evening of poetry and art at McGeary’s featuring performances by the poets published in this edition including Tom Riely, Dennis Rush, Frank S. Robinson, Robert Phelps, Cecele Kraus, Howard Kogan, and Alan Catlin.
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Monday, April 13
8:00pm – Club Harmony
Wok ‘N Roll Cafe, 52 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock, NY
Weekly poetry open mic with featured reader Robert Milby hosted by Michael Platsky.
6:00 PM – 2015 Albany Word Fest – Teen Open Mic
UAG Gallery, 247 Lark Street, Albany, NY
Join us for a special evening of students who participated in the Poetry Out Loud competition plus an open mic for teens at the UAG Gallery
Tuesday, April 14
7:00 PM – 2015 Albany Word Fest – Haiku Battle
Justin’s, Lark Street, Albany, NY
The festival continues with the return of the Haiku Battle at Justin’s. This event pits two poets against each other on stage in a battle of 17 syllables. This wonderfully popular event has brought many “page poets” out to showcase their work and their performance chops at Word Fest over the past two years. Participation is limited to the first 16 poets who sign up.
7:00pm – Club Helsinki Open Mic
Club Helsinki, 405 Columbia Street, Hudson, NY
A weekly open mic for music, performance, and poetry on the incredible Club Helsinki stage.
7:00pm – Emack and Bolio’s Open Mic Night
Emack & Bolio’s, Delaware Ave., Albany, NY
A weekly open mic for music and poetry.
8:00pm – Northampton Poetry Open Mic
Hinge, 48 Main St., Northampton, MA
Northampton’s only weekly open mic poetry night offers some of the best, most creative voices in the county. Every Tuesday night at 8:00pm. Come down and listen. Come down and share your words. Academic or slam, spoken word or political: Your words are welcome.
Wednesday, April 15
7:00 PM – 2015 Albany Word Fest – Poetry, Music, Spoken Word Showcase
The Women’s Building, Central Ave., Albany, NY
The Word Fest heads to the Women’s Building for on Central Avenue for a special evening that will showcase the talents of local and regional poets, musicians, and spoken word artists.
8:00pm – Next Year’s Words, A Reading Forum
Elting Memorial Library, 93 Main Street, New Paltz, NY
Banish your tax day woes away with Holly Christiana‘s constellation of poems, Gloria Caviglia‘s writings of wit and wile, and Laurence Carr‘s wealth of wordplays. Free admission! Open mic! Refreshments served!
Thursday, April 16
7:00pm – Poetry Slam at Parlor Cafe
The Parlor Cafe, 303 Ashland Street, North Adams, MA
Monthly poetry slam in the Berkshires with cash prizes.
7:00pm – Rockhill Bakehouse Open Mic
Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, 19 Exchange Street, Glens Falls, NY
Weekly open mic for musicians and writers.
7:00 PM – 2015 Albany Word Fest – Third Thursday Poetry Night
Social Justice Center, 33 Central Ave., Albany, NY
Dan Wilcox hosts this open mic for poetry and spoken word featuring poet Michele Battiste.
8:00pm – Starving Artist Thursdays
Hudson River Coffee House, 227 Quail Street, Albany, NY
A weekly open Mic for music, poetry, and spoken word at one of Albany’s best new coffee shops.
Friday, April 17
7:00 PM – 2015 Albany Word Fest – Word Fest Open Mic
UAG Gallery, 247 Lark Street, Albany, NY
The annual Word Fest Open Mic hosted by Albany Poets returns home to the UAG Gallery on Lark St. This event will take place from 7 PM – 12:00 AM with sessions for groups and featured poets from Woodstock to Saratoga and everywhere in between.
Poets who wish to participate can sign up online by going to the Albany Word Fest website, www.albanywordfest.com until Wednesday, April 15. Performers will also have a limited opportunity to sign up at the event itself. Each poet will have 5 minutes to share their work. The open mic is open to all poets and spoken word artists with no style or content restrictions.
8:00pm – Hudson Valley Writers’ Center
Hudson Valley Writers’ Center, 300 Riverside Drive, Sleepy Hollow, NY
Featured Poets + open mike for poets, fiction writers, essayists with rotating hosts. Located in the restored Philipse Manor railroad station, which is approx. 30 miles north of midtown Manhattan and 2.6 miles north of the Tappan Zee Bridge.
8:00pm – The Parlor Cafe Open Mic
The Parlor Cafe, 303 Ashland Street, North Adams, MA
A weekly open mic each and every Friday at the Parlor Cafe in North Adams for poets, musicians, and artists. Signup at the bar and get ready for the show, starting at 8:00pm.
Saturday, April 18
7:00 PM – 2015 Albany Word Fest – Word Fest Invitational Slam
Steam No. 10 Theatre, 500 Western Avenue, Albany, NY
Albany Poets, Frequency North, and UGT are proud to welcome teams from all over the Northeast including the Roc Bottom Slam Team (Rochester), Pure Ink. (Buffalo), Nitty Gritty Slam Team (Albany), and more to compete in this event. Admission for this event is $13.00 in advance / $15.00 at the door. Get your tickets now – http://bit.ly/1FdcIBY
7:00pm – Mudd Poets Poetry Series
Mudd Puddle Cafe, 10 Main Street, New Paltz NY
Monthly poetry open mic series with featured readers Guy Reed and Bill Wunder hosted byRobert Milby.
For a full listing of all of the poetry and spoken word events in upstate New York, head over to the events calendar page. And if you live in the Western Massachusetts / Connecticut area, be sure to check out Lori Desrosiers‘ Poetry News Calendar.
If you would like to have your poetry event listed on AlbanyPoets.com, send an email to albanypoets+events@gmail.com with the date and details.
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