Beat Not Beat

The tour presents the next generation of California poets screwing on the beat tradition: inclusive and diverse, the not-Beats of this anthology are contemporary California voices loud and proud, continuing the poetic conversation of rebellion, and responding to the tradition Beat paved, in their own styles and rhythms. To date, the tour has included performances by current and past Poet Laureates: Lynne Thompson, Luis J. Rodriguez, Kim Shuck, Tongo Eisen-Martin, along with formidable voices such as Matt Sedillo, Luivette Resto and Cassandra Dallett.

Lead editor and CA Beat Poet Laureate Rich Ferguson, who coined the phrase beatnotbeat, responds to what it means: “It’s not another history focused solely on the Beat tradition. There are some incredible names and poems from that era in this anthology, including Bob Kauffman, Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Diane Di Prima. There are also artists on the fringe of Beat, including Jim Morrison and Wanda Coleman. But the heart of the anthology contains contemporary poets of today and they are on fire. Living, breathing, combustible and beautiful beatnotbeat voices, with so much to say about the times we’re in right now.”

Numerous poets featured in the anthology, published by Moon Tide Press, will be part of this beat not beat marathon reading, and a special musical performance featuring Petty Chavez.

featured poets:

Iris Berry

Elisabeth Adwin Edwards

Kevin Ridgeway

Don Kingfisher Campbell

Susan Hayden

Bill Mohr

Jerome Dunn

Luke Johnson

Kim Dower

Brendan Constantine

Richard Modiano

Nelson Gary

Michael C. Ford

K.R. Morrison

Pam Ward

Conney Williams

Steve Abee

Cassandra Dallett

Harry Northup

Nicelle Davis

Milo Martin

David Ulin

Sarah Maclay

Kathryn deLancellotti

A.K. Toney

Henry Mortensen

King Daddy

A. Razor

Matt Sedillo

Luivette Resto

Majid Naficy

Bucky Sinister

Pegarty Long

Bob Branaman

Daniel Yaryan

Books will be for sale and authors will sign after the show.

Doors open: 1:30 p.m. Readings: 2:00 p.m.

This event is Free & In-Person at Beyond Baroque. Masks are required while inside our center.

Event attendees are expected to behave in a respectful and considerate manner while in our space. Beyond Baroque reserves the right to remove individuals from our events, virtual or otherwise, if they are not respecting the space, fellow attendees, or performers.

If you can’t join us in-person the event will be livestreamed on Beyond Baroque’s YouTube channel at the scheduled time of the event.

Please RSVP if you are planning to attend this event. We accept walk-ins, but priority will be given to people that have registered. Limited seating is available; we recommend arriving early.