Music and the Muse

Just wanted to let everyone know about Music and the Muse, a night of spoken word, original songs, and, of course, poetry.  Come join us at Viewpoint Books in Columbus, Indiana (548 Washington Street) this Friday from 6:00 to 8:30. 

Here's the tentative line-up:

6:00-6:30 Music by The Chestnuts, a Madison-based folk trio: Paul Kelly, Jill Koren, and Tony Schroeder
6:30-7:00 Poetry readings by Harlan Kelly, Jill Koren
7:00-7:30 Matthew D. Jackson and the Paperback Riot: spoken word and musical accompaniment
7:30-8:00 Poetry readings by Johnny Clifton Knight, Karen Kovacik, JeffRey Phillips and more
8:00-8:30 More music from The Chestnuts

If you'd like to read, please let me know: jillkoren(at)gmail(dot)com.

Hope to see you!
jk

JeffRey Phillips Book Launch and Open Mic

Come celebrate Jeff's new book, The Beauty of Imperfection, tomorrow night, June 22, from 5-9pm.  From 5-7pm, jazz pianist Jimmy Storms will be playing in the Twain Room. New to Madison and Village Lights, 88-year-old Jimmy was a member of the Red Skelton Orchestra and backup pianist for Pat Boon, Connie Francis, and Fred Astaire. He plays a wide selection of old standards on the Steinway grand.

Jeff will be signing books.  Readings will begin at 7:00 with Jeff opening the line-up, followed by open-mic.  Jeff will also close with another reading from his new book.  Jeff's poems celebrate the beauty of nature and are laced with his earnest philosophy.  Looking forward to a night of poem and piano.  Hope to see you!

Celebrate Poetry Month at Poetpalooza!

Happy Poetry Month,

Despite Eliot's lament, there is much to celebrate in April.  One example:


Village Lights Bookstore will host Poetpalooza 2012: A Tri-State Poetry Summit, Friday, April 27th, through Sunday, April 29th, with hourly readings and signings by sixteen acclaimed poets from our region, including the two current and three former Poets Laureate of Indiana and Kentucky. The Saturday readings will be emceed by Jack Ramey, a published poet and Madison resident. Sunday’s readings will be emceed by Jill Kelly Koren, also a published poet and a native of Madison. There will be live music Friday evening with The Chestnuts, and all local or regional poets, or aspiring poets, published or unpublished, are invited to participate in the “open sign-up” community open mic session Saturday evening. Poetpalooza will be an experimental, “flow-through” event held during regular business hours. With production assistance from The Cultural Continuum of Madison, Riverrun Theatre Co., and The Chestnuts, a stage will be installed at the back of the shop, with lights and mics, and just a scattering of chairs. It will not be a sit-down concert-type affair. Visitors will be able to stand, sit, browse, listen… coming and going, as they see fit, throughout the event. Each poet will take the floor at the top of an hour and read for 30 to 50 minutes. After reading, they will remain available for signing in the front of the shop while the next poet or group reads. “Come for one, or come for all!” Books or chapbooks by all participating poets will be available for purchase.


POETPALOOZA 2012 - SCHEDULE

Friday, April 27
5:00p Live music with The Chestnuts
6:00p Richard Hague & Michael Henson (OH)
8:00p Live music with The Chestnuts

Saturday, April 28
1:00p Jack Ramey (IN)
2:00p Richard Taylor, Kentucky Poet Laureate, 1999-2001
3:00p Karen Kovacik, Indiana Poet Laureate, 2011-2012
4:00p The Airpoets (IN):
             Norbert Krapf, Indiana Poet Laureate, 2008-2010
                Joyce Brinkman, Indiana Poet Laureate, 2002-2008
                Joe Heithaus, Chair, English Dept., DePauw University
                Ruthelen Burns
7:00p Carlos William Carlos (OY)
7:30p Community Open Mic Night

Sunday, April 29
1:00p Jill Kelly Koren (IN)
2:00p Jonathan Greene (KY)
3:00p Maureen Morehead, Kentucky Poet Laureate, 2011-2012
4:00p Reservoir Dogwoods (IN):
             Jason Ammerman
             Tony Brewer
             Matthew D. Jackson
             Joseph Kerschbaum


Note: Due to the Madison-Milton bridge closure, April 25-29, visitors coming to Madison from Kentucky are advised to cross downriver at Louisville or upriver via the Markland Dam.

====================

I am honored to be sharing the stage with these amazing poets.  Hope to see you there!

Cheers,
jk

Book Launch Party: Saturday January 28th

"Sycamore Row" by Alethaire Kelly

Hello!  The books (While the Water Rises Around Us, my recently published chapbook) finally shipped and are here for the devouring.  Come celebrate with us at Village Lights this Saturday from 5:00pm to 9:00pm.  Eat, drink, be merry, and listen to poetry and song (featuring Johnny Clifton Knight and The Chestnuts).  Stop in.  Stay awhile.

by Tom Kelly

cover art: "Sycamore Row" by Alethaire Kelly
author portrait: "Teacher, Poet, Lover" by Tom Kelly

SoMaA Readings

This is Johnny Clifton Knight, a fabulous emerging poet and a senior at Madison Consolidated High School.

South of Main Arts in the Alley

This Friday, there will be an "Arts in the Alley" event from 4-8pm in conjunction with Fourth Friday festivities in downtown Madison.  Kids can pick up a Treasure Map starting at 4pm on Mulberry.  From there, they can complete a scavenger hunt at local businesses.  In the alley, there will be artists doing plein air painting, The Chestnuts (my band will be playing), and perhaps most exciting (for followers of this blog, at least), poets will read their original works from the loading dock. 

Jack Ramey, featured above, will be one of the poets included, as will Angela Elles, Johnny Clifton Knight, and yours truly.  Note about the video: it's a tease-- my battery ran out!  So come out and see the whole poem this Friday.  Here's the line-up:

Line-Up for Music /Poetry on the Loading Dock

5:00-5:45 Chestnuts, Set 1

5:50-6:20 Poetry, Set 1  

6:25-7:10 Chestnuts, Set 2

7:15-8:00 Poetry, Set 2  

Hope to see you!
jk

Open Mic Rocked!

We had six readers: Jack, Pat (featured above), Harlan, Michael, Angela, and me!  There were over twenty people in the audience, which is a packed house at Village Lights.  Don't miss the next one: Fourth Friday in October.

Also, there's going to be poetry and music on the loading dock behind Village Lights Friday, September 23rd, coinciding with Madison's Chautauqua Festival.  Stay tuned!