POETS SPEAK LOUD
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.

Previous featured poets include: Emily Gonzalez, The Poet Essence, Cheryl A. Rice, Michael Eck, Mother Judge, Rich Tomasulo, Alan Catlin, A.C. Everson, Jil Hanifan, Nicole Peyrafitte, R.M. Engelhardt, Dain Brammage, Amanda Rose, Josh McIntyre, Philip Levine, Rachael Zitomer, Pierre Joris, Will Nixon, Robert Milby, John Weiler, and Carol Graser. Every year in January Poets Speak Loud hold our annual Tom Nattell Tribute / Anniversary Open Mic / Beret Toss with special guest host Dan Wilcox.

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.

 

ALBANY POETS PRESENTS
ALBANY POETS PRESENTS is Albany Poets monthly open mic for poetry, spoken word, and music. This event is hosted by Thom Francis.

When we are not having special events, such as the annual Airing of Grievances or the Johnny Cash Tribute Night, this is a No Gimmick Open Mic series. This means no features, no special theme, no mysterious name for the show… just a stage, a microphone, a sign-up sheet, and an audience.

Be sure to come and share your work and see what we are working on to make the show a little more interesting

Sign up begins at 7:00PM, open mic starts at 8:00PM. There is a $3.00 suggested donation for this event.

ALBANY POETS PRESENTS takes place at Valentines Music Hall (17 New Scotland Ave.) on the first Tuesday of each and every month.

 

POETRY AT THE UAG
Poetry at the UAG is a featured reader series held at the UAG Gallery on the second and fourth Fridays of the month during the fall and spring semesters.

The UAG Gallery is located at 247 Lark Street, Albany NY. The readings start at 7:00PM. This is a free event.

2009 ALBANY WORD FEST
In celebration of National Poetry Month, Albany Poets is proud to present the 2009 Albany Word Fest featuring the poetry, spoken word, and music of upstate New York.  This year’s event will take place on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18, 2009.

The 2009 Albany Word Fest will start off on Friday night with a cocktail party at Tess’ Lark Tavern (453 Madison Ave.) at 5:00PM.  This is a chance for all of the poets and performers to get together, network, and reconnect with each other before the event begins. This is open to all ages.  Must be 21 or older to drink. 

At 7:00PM, the poetry and spoken word begins at the Friday Night Open Mic at the UAG Gallery (247 Lark Street).  This years open mic will be a special 12-hour open mic.

Poets who wish to participate in the open mic can sign up online by going to the Albany Word Fest website, www.albanywordfest.com.  Performers will also have a limited opportunity to sign up at the event itself.  Each poet will have10 -15 minutes to share their work.  Featured at this open mic will be A.C. Everson, groups of poets from Woodstock, Voorheesville, and other parts of the area, plus all three of this years Metrolands Best Poets (Mary Panza, Dan Wilcox, and R.M. Engelhradt). The open mic is open to all poets and spoken word artists with no style or content restrictions.  Admission is based on donation.

On Saturday, day two of the 2009 Albany Word Fest brings the annual Psycho Cluster F*#k to the UAG Gallery featuring music and spoken word from The Rambling Jug Stompers, Ed RInaldi, Mother Judge, Margot Malia Lynch, Daniel Nester, Murrow, and much more. Admission for this event is $5.00.  This event is open to all ages. 

The 2009 Albany Word Fest is sponsored by Albany Poets, Tess’ Lark Tavern, UAG Gallery, and the very generous donations of supporters of the arts in upstate New York.

 

LARKFEST
Albany Poets has been honored to be part of LARKfest since 2005. In that time we have been able to bring poetry and spoken word to the Hometown Stage with performances by local poets Mary Panza, Rachel Zitomer, R.M. Engelhardt , Thom Francis, The Poet Essence, and Alex Albano.

 

ALBANY CARES
On Tuesday, September 27, 2005 local arts groups combined forces to help raise money for disaster relief for the areas ravaged by Hurricane Katrina at the Fuze Box (12 Central Ave., Albany). This special benefit event featured local poets and musicians performing, an art auction, and other activities throughout the evening in an effort to raise funds for the American Red Cross to assist victims of the recent storm.

Albany Poets, The Central Muse Division, Albany Underground Artists, 200 Proof, and Community Arts United came together to sponsor this event.

This event featured performances by Scotty Mac, A.C. Everson & Mitch Elrod, Thom Francis, Whiskey Sour, The Poet Essence, Mary Panza, R.M. Engelhardt, Lawanda Horton, Jared Funari, and Mike Trash.