Albany Poets Podcast Number 14 Now Available

Poets Speak Loud at Tess' Lark Tavern on Monday, April 24, 2006

The post-Word Fest Poets Speak Loud was not just our monthly poetry and spoken word open mic at the Lark Tavern, but also day two of Paddy Kilrain benefit show. Paddy, a local singer/songwriter, was hit by a drunk driver in late March and Albany's poets and musicians all got together to help raise money for her medical expenses. Dain Brammage was the featured poet of the evening and as an added bonus the winner of the Lark Tavern Singer Songwriter Contest, Matt Durfee also performed. Matt recently won "Best Male Singer/Songwriter" in the annual "Best of the Capital Region" issue of the Metroland. Open mic poets Dan Wilcox, A.c. Everson, Alan Catlin, Bob Monaghan, James, Shara, Bob Sharkey, KC, K.J. Spencer, and Paddy Kilrain all shared their work with the crowd to bring an end to the 2006 Albany Word Fest and all for a good cause.

Go to www.albanypoets.com/audio to download this and all episodes of the Albany Poets Podcast.

Albany Poets Presents at Valentines, Tuesday, August 1

Albany Poets Presents returns to Valentines on Tuesday night, August 1 with a poetry and music open mic. Sign up starts at 7:00pm, show starts at 8:00pm.

All poets and musicians are invited to come and share their work at this truly innovative open mic featuring spoken word, music, and more.

There is a $3.00 suggested donation for this event.

For more information, go to www.albanypoets.com/presents or email events@albanypoets.com

Dan Wilcox Voted "Best Poetry Open Mic Host" By The Metroland

In the annual "Best of the Capital Region" edition of the Metroland, local poet Dan Wilcox was voted "Best Poetry Open Mic Host".

Here is what the Metroland had to say about Dan:

Hosting an open mic is an underappreciated art. Dan Wilcox has honed this skill right along with his poetry at venues such as his Third Thursday series at the late Lark Street Bookshop. Wilcox is friendly and enthusiastic, runs a tight ship graciously, and manages to be a presence without making himself the center of the show—one of many reasons he is beloved in the region’s poetry scene.

Congratulations Dan and to all of the winners of this years "Best Of". To check out the rest of the winners of this years "Best Of", go to http://www.metroland.net/guides/2006_best_of/best_of_arts.htm

Poets Speak Loud Featuring Rachel Zitomer

The next POETS SPEAK LOUD is July 31 at the Lark Tavern featuring Albany poet Rachel Zitomer followed by an open mic for poetry and spoken word.

Rachel Zitomer has been coming to Albany poetry open mics for the past four years. The scene is the subject of her dissertation, "In Celebration of the Ephemeral: Contemporary Poetry Reading Communities Beyond Institutions in Albany, NY," for which she received her PhD from SUNY in 2006. "Three Sides to the Looking Glass: A Poem for Albany, NY," a more concise and pleasing (aesthetically and otherwise) version of the dissertation, was published as a chapbook by APD Press in 2004. She is better known by some as the girl who makes oatmeal butterscotch cookies on demand.

POETS SPEAK LOUD is a monthly open mic for poetry and spoken word with a featured poet. This mic is hosted by local poets Thom Francis and Mary Panza.

POETS SPEAK LOUD is held at the Lark Tavern (453 Madison Ave., Albany) on the last Monday of each month. Sign-up for the open mic is 7:00pm, start time is 7:30pm.