ACID ON THE MICROPHONE
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A special anniversary concert will be held at the Mussel Inn on Thursday 14 November 2024, starting at 7.00pm. $5 on the door.
The life blood of Live Poets has been the local performers who have fronted up to the open microphone month in and month out, written words until their fingers bled and their hearts almost burst. These warriors of the word set about to entertain, and to be encouraged by, the ever-present audience.
Over the years, first-time tentative readers have developed into accomplished performers, scrawled pieces of paper have become published collections of poems and performers have gone on to represent the region at the national Poetry Slam, won poetry awards, performed at festivals and toured their own works around the country.
And there have been many voices we will not hear again. In 1996 Golden Bay Live Poets published a book of collected poems called On Cloth of Gold – a selection of original poems from those who helped the momentum in those early days. Many of the poets are still in the Bay, others have faded into the shadows of time.
Now, as it was and always will be, the role of the poet and poetry is an ever-brightening light in a gathering darkness. The spoken word affords opportunity to light a candle, plant a flower and speak its mind. Thirty years of Golden Bay Live Poets has been a fruitful season indeed. It has given great exposure to poetry in the Bay, and introduced people to an art form they might never have considered before.
The format of the anniversary concert will include invited performances by those who have been part of Golden Bay Live Poets over the years, invited singer/songwriters will share their music and a roll of honour section where poems from some of our late, great Golden Bay poets will be read.
Love to see you there!
