Village Lights hosts POETPALOOZA 2018: A Tri-State Poetry Summit, presenting readings and signings by nationally and regionally acclaimed published poets from Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, including three Kentucky Poets Laureate. For our 7th Poetpalooza, we'll be welcoming old friends and new. This year’s Featured Independent Publisher is Larkspur Press, a fine letterpress print shop located in Monterey, Kentucky. The printer, Gray Zeitz, a poet in his own right, has been named a Treasure of the Commonwealth of Kentucky and featured on NPR’s All Things Considered.
Poetpalooza will kick off Friday evening, April 28th, with a return appearance by the ever-popular Reservoir Dogwoods, spoken word performance group par excellence. Following the Dogwoods, two Indiana poets will read, while another Indiana poet (and Dogwood), Tony Brewer, and his trusty typewriter, provide “Poetry on Demand” in front of the store “as the mood strikes and the weather permits.” The evening will wrap up with an open mic session (members of the community encouraged to participate - open walk-in sign-up) and an encore set by the Dogwoods.
Saturday, April 28th will begin with a poet’s meet-and-greet with mini-quiches and Red Roaster coffee. Readings by poets of Larkspur Press will be scattered through the day, interspersed with readings by other prominent poets from Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, including former Kentucky Poet Laureate Richard Taylor, immediate past Kentucky Poet Laureate George Ella Lyon, and curent Kentucky Poet Laureate Frederick Smock. The evening will close with another open mic session (again, community encouraged to participate).
Poetpalooza is an annual flow-through event, held in our upstairs Reading Room during regular business hours, with books from the participating poets and the Featured Small Press available for purchase. It is free and open to the public. Visitors can stand, sit, browse, listen, come and go, throughout the event. Each poet will take the stage for 20 minutes. After reading, they will be available for signing and conversation.
For more information on Poetpalooza visit our events calendar at www.villagelightsbooks.com
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1610587562389041/