Another great lineup of poetry and spoken word this week with lots of poetry readings, slams, and open mics with great features all over the region. Kicking things off today is the three-day Festival of Writers in Rensselaerville and WordXWord begins its week of events on Sunday in Pittsfield. Here on Central Avenue in Albany we have the Nitty Gritty Slam Night of Champions on Tuesday and the Third Thursday Poetry Night with featured poet Rebecca Schumedja on Thursday.
Here is a look at what is coming up in the poetry community this week…
Sunday, August 17
2:00pm – Rensselaerville Festival of Writers
Conkling Hall, 8 Methodist Hill Road, Rensselaerville, NY
Sense of Place: Local Writers Read featuring Capital Region Writers hosted by Claire North at Conkling Hall.
6:00pm – WXW – Story Slam Finals
Dottie’s, 444 North Street, Pittsfield, MA
With Omar Holmon and Franny Choi as hosts, storytellers compete for a spot in the Story Slam Finals.
Monday, August 18
7:00pm – WXW – Poetry sCrawl
Dottie’s, 444 North Street, Pittsfield, MA
A multi-stop, walking, poetry tour of the Upstreet Cultural District. Starts at Dottie’s Coffee Lounge and ends at Lichtenstein Center for the Arts.
7:30pm – Front Parlor
The Olde English Pub, 25 Quackenbush Square, Albany, NY
A storytelling night at The Olde English Pub with a different theme each month hosted by Gregor Wynnyczuk.
8:00pm – Club Harmony
Wok ‘N Roll Cafe, 52 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock, NY
Weekly poetry open mic with featured reader hosted by Michael Platsky.
Tuesday, August 19
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.
7:00pm – Nitty Gritty Slam #76 – Night of Champions
The Low Beat, 335 Central Ave., Albany, NY
Albany’s poetry slam continues the Summer of Slam in the city of Albany with NGS #76 – The Night of Champions. All Season Three 1st place winners compete for the prize money, bragging rights, and the belt! Admission to NGS is $5.00 / $3.00 with student ID.
7:00pm – WXW – Feature Night
Whitney Center for the Arts, 42 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield, MA
Poetry and spoken word featuring Omar Holmon, Thomas Fucaloro, Robbie Q Telfer, Franny Choi, Jive Poetic, and Falu.
7:00pm – Colonie Tuesday Night Live Poets’ Corner
William K. Sanford Town Library, 629 Albany Shaker Road, Loudonville, NY
ocal poets and writers of all ages are invited to present six to ten minutes of their original work at this open reading forum. The public is encouraged to stop in and listen. Hosted by William Robert Foltin.
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, August 20
7:00pm – WXW – WordXTeens
Lichtenstein Center for the Arts, 28 Renne Ave., Pittsfield, MA
With Robbie Q Telfer and Omar Holmon as hosts, young poets from throughout the Berkshires perform spoken word and slam-style.
Thursday, August 21
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 – 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 Rebecca Schumejda.
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.
8:00pm – WXW – Poetry Slam Semi Finals
Dottie’s, 444 North Street, Pittsfield, MA
8 poets compete for a spot in the WXW Poetry Slam Finals.
Friday, August 22
6:00pm – WXW – Story Slam Finals
Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
After prelims and semi-finals, storytellers spin their stories for a shot at the title! With Robbie Q Telfer and Jive Poetic as host and feature.
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.
8:00pm – WXW – The Encyclopedia Show
Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
With Robbie Q Telfer, Omar Holmon, Thomas Fucaloro, Jive Poetic and Falu plus local poets Curtis Asch, Eliza Ryan, Melissa Quirk, Seth Brown.
Saturday, August 23
6:00pm – WXW – Poetry Slam Finals
Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
Poets compete for cash prizes and the title of WXW Champion. With Omar Holmon and Falu as host and feature.
8:00pm – WXW – Whose Slam Is It Anyway?
Berkshire Museum, 39 South Street, Pittsfield, MA
Spoken word as you’ve never experienced it! Featuring Robbie Q Telfer, Omar Holmon, Thomas Fucaloro, Jive Poetic and Falu with Curtis Asch, Eliza Ryan, Melissa Quirk, Seth Brown.
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.
