Poetpalooza 2017

Village Lights hosts POETPALOOZA 2017: A Tri-State Poetry Summit, Friday, April 28th, and Saturday, April 29th, celebrating the arts of poetry and print and presenting readings and signings by nationally and regionally acclaimed published poets from Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, including Poets Laureate of Indiana and Kentucky. For our 6th Poetpalooza, we'll be welcoming old friends and new. This year’s Featured Independent Publisher is Ledge Mule Press, based in Bloomington, Indiana, and we will highlight the work of Hound Dog Press, a fine letterpress print shop located in Louisville, Kentucky.

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, a succession of three Indiana poets will read, including Indiana Poet Laureate emeritus Karen Kovacik. During their readings, another Indiana poet (and Dogwood), Tony Brewer, and his trusty typewriter, will 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 invited to participate - open walk-in sign-up), an encore set by the Dogwoods, and a "poetry relay."

Saturday, April 29th will begin with a poet’s meet-and-greet with mini-quiches and Red Roaster coffee. Readings by poets of Ledge Mule Press will be scattered through the day, interspersed with readings by other poets from Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky, including Kentucky Poet Laureate emeritus Richard Taylor. The evening will close with another open mic session (again, community invited to participate) and a final "poetry relay."

Poetpalooza is an annual flow-through event held 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 or group will take the stage at the top or bottom of an hour and read for 20 to 30 minutes. After reading, they will be available for signing and conversation.

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SCHEDULE

Friday, April 28

5:00p   The Reservoir Dogwoods (IN)
5:30p   Karen Kovacik (IN)  / Out front: Poetry on Demand with Tony Brewer
6:15p   Joseph Heithaus (IN)  / Out front: Poetry on Demand with Tony Brewer
7:00p   Jordan Zandi (IN)  / Out front: Poetry on Demand with Tony Brewer
7:45p   Jill Kelly Koren (IN)
8:30p   Open Mic, The Reservoir Dogwoods, Poetry Relay

Saturday, April 29

10:00a  Quiche & Coffee Meet-and-Greet
11:00a  Yalie Kamara (IN)
12:00p  Jeff Gundy (OH)
1:00p    David Watters (IN)
2:00p    Richard Taylor (KY)
3:00p    Thomas Zemsky (KY)
4:00p    Tony Brewer (IN)
5:00p    Dinner break
6:30p    Kayte Young (IN)
7:15p    Matt Hart (OH)
8:00p    Richard Hague (OH)
8:45p    Jack Ramey (IN)
9:30p    Open Mic & Poetry Relay Closer