The Town of Carrboro, North Carolina will be exploding with poetry from October 18th to the 21st.
The West End Poetry Festival, now in its 12th year, is expanding to 4 days, with an open poet’s reception on Wednesday hosted by the Speakeasy at Tyler’s, a full evening of Curated Open Mic poets and live jazz at 2nd Wind on Thursday, featured poets reading at Flyleaf Books on Friday evening and a full day of workshops, panels and readings on Saturday, October 21st.
All parts of the Festival are free and open to the public.
Over 50 poets will participate, including nationally significant writers such as:
Jaki Shelton Green, first Piedmont Laureate and member of the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame.
Tyree Daye, winner of the American Poetry Review Honickman First Book Prize for River Hymns.
Paul Richmond, publisher and Beat Poet Laureate for the state of Massachusetts,
And many more published and unpublished poets.
Wednesday night’s Poet Reception and reading at Tyler’s Speakeasy in downtown will also feature a showing of Truth Underground, a highly-respected local film which examines the lives of three spoken word poets, produced by Warner and Company. Poets and filmmakers will be present for discussion.
All evening events begin at 6:30PM.
On Thursday night at 2nd Wind on Main Street, over 30 invited poets will perform, and Mahalo Jazz will offer counterpoint during the Showcase section. Paul Richmond and Gary Phillips will emcee. Late night will include an open mic circle of poets, one poem at a time.
Friday night at Flyleaf Books, which is often standing room only, will begin with a wine and cheese reception. Featured poets are Fred Joiner, Miriam Zafar, Jennifer Whitaker, Brad Strahan and Celisa Steele, former Carrboro Poet Laureate.
Saturday is a day-long event, beginning with a reading by Jaki Shelton Green at noon and ending with a reading by Tyree Daye around 7PM. In between are workshops and panels, including a panel on the Poetry of Resistance and readings by young immigrants, including Loan Tran, Jose Romero, Adé Oh and Omololu Babatunde.
The Poetry of Resistance panel will be filled by Cantrice Penn, Tema Okun, Mike James, Marquis Love and Evelyn Dove Coleman.
Pizza from Amante will be offered in the afternoon. Last event of the day: readings by Carrboro Poet Laureate Gary Phillips and featured poet Tyree Daye, with time for questions and conversation.
“Poetry, Poetry. Poetry will be ringing its bell in Carrboro this October.” Carrboro Poet Laureate Gary Phillips
For further information please see www.westendpoetryfestival.org or contact Gary Phillips at garfield@boxturtleroad.com
