We are closing in on the 2013 Albany Word Fest and National Poetry Month and we are very excited about all of the readings, open mics, and events that are coming up in the next couple weeks around here. Be on the lookout for some exciting news regarding the Word Fest.
But, before we get to that, we have some great poetry and spoken word lined up for the next seven days. A solid seven days of poetry this coming week. Everything kicks off in Voorheeville on Sunday with the always great Sunday Four Open Mic then we head back down to Albany for Monday’s monthly Poets Speak Loud open mic. This month we are proud to welcome Benedicto Figueroa to the area from Jersey City as our featured poet.
Here is what is coming up in Poetryland this week…
Sunday, March 24
3:00pm – Sunday Four Poetry Open Mic
Old Songs Community Center, 37 South Main Street, Voorheesville
Open Mic for poets and poetry with a featured poet hosted by Dennis Sullivan, Mike Burke, and Edie Abrams
Monday, March 25
7:30pm – Poets Speak Loud
McGeary’s, 4 Clinton Square, Albany, NY
Poets Speak Loud is Albany Poets’ monthly open mic for poetry and spoken word with a featured poet. This mic is hosted by Mary Panza. This month our featured poet is Benedicto Figueroa.
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, March 26
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 – Stage 1 Open Mic
Albany Barn – Stage 1, 46 N. Swan Street, Albany, NY
A new collabortaion between Albany Barn and Albany Poets. Come to perform, or simply to enjoy the acts. Refreshments will be served, and admission is free.
8:00pm – WXW Wrtiers Room Feature Night
yBar, 391 North Street, Pittsfield, MA
Writers Room Feature Night presents Angel Nafis. Angel Nafis’ work has appeared in FOUND Magazine’s Requiem for a Paper Bag, Decibels, The Rattling Wall, Union Station Magazine, GirlSpeak Webzine, The Bear River Review, and MUZZLE Magazine. In 2011 she represented the LouderArts poetry project at both the Women of the World Poetry Slam and the National Poetry Slam. She is an Urban Word NYC Mentor and the founder, curator, and host of the quarterly Greenlight Bookstore Poetry Salon reading series.
Wednesday, March 27
8:00pm – Pauly’s Hotel Open Mic Night
Pauly’s Hotel, 337 Central Ave., Albany, NY
Poetry, Music, Comedy and more take center stage at Pauly’s weekly Open Mic Night hosted by Brian LaPoint and Joshua Gruft.
Thursday, March 28
7:00pm – Rockhill Bakehouse Open Mic
Rockhill Bakehouse Cafe, 19 Exchange Street, Glens Falls, NY
Weekly open mic for musicians and writers.
7:00pm – Word Thursdays
Bright Hill Center, 94 Church St., Treadwell
Open mic with featured poets hosted by Bertha Rogers.
7:30pm – Frequency North
Standish Rooms, Events and Athletics Center, 420 Western Ave., Albany, NY
Writers Darin Strauss and Michael Meyerhofer will be sharing their work on Thursday, March 28 at Saint Rose. Frequency North calls itself “aggressively eclectic.” Events at Frequency North feature fiction writers, memoirists, graphic novelists, poets, slam performers, singer-songwriters, even game shows. All readings are free and are open to the public. Frequency North also regularly co-presents events both on-campus and in the community.
8:00pm – Starving Artist Thursdays
Hudson River Coffee House, 227 Quail Street, Albany, NY 12203
A weekly open Mic for music, poetry, and spoken word at one of Albany’s best new coffee shops.
8:00pm – The Safe Haven
The Book Club, 153 S. Pearl Street., Albany, NY
A positive poetry open mic series hosted by Poetyc Visionz with a new theme every week.
Friday, March 29
7:00pm – Between The Lines
Enchante Tea Room 169 River St. Troy, NY
A new monthly poetry open mic hosted by D. Colin with a featured poet Rain Maker in beautiful downtown Troy.
Saturday, March 30
8:00pm – Yes! / Fence Present Clark Coolidge and Michael Bisio
Albany Center Gallery, 39 Columbia St, Albany, NY
Come celebrate the release of Clark Coolidge’s much anticipated A Book Beginning What and Ending Away (Fence Books 2013). This work, 600 pages, composed in the 70s and accompanied by a run of legendary performances, has remained unpublished until now. Coolidge will be joined by musician Michael Bisio.
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.
I am really looking forward to the next few weeks of poetry and spoken word in Albany. There is so much coming up: Poets Speak Loud, Stage 1, Nitty Gritty Slam, and of course, the Word Fest!