CRUMB #11

FEBRUARY 2023

2023, live ya life to be free!

What is behind us now, is behind us. Perhaps there are scars, maybe there are consequences, some restitution still we can offer. Scarlet becomes snow. Forgiveness. We stand up. We walk tall. We are who we are. Another year gifted us; a clean canvas onto which we paint ourselves. What will the image be? Our open microphone sessions get underway in earnest this month, February. No reason to stay at home. The community needs to hear from you and you need to hear from your community. Songs, poems, provocations, stories, heart, soul. Refine your craft, polish your voice, sharpen your heart and launch yourself upon the opportunities right in front of you.

Look out for other events coming your way too. Some nice developments re Abundance, the Bay’s co-creative manifest coming up plus individual gigs by local poets and musicians. We’ll try and get the information to you as it comes to hand.

Meantime, check out details of our open mic and guest performances on the following pages.

Peace
Mark
Golden Bay Live Poets Society

LOST DAYS 2023

These are the lost days
they shall not find us again,
the sound of the moon
is heard weeping
in the falling light,
a sad song of regret
for what we will not undo.

These are the lost days
traded all too carelessly,
the sound of silver
falling into a purse
with too many holes,
nothing was purchased,
no price was paid.

These are the lost days
waiting to be found,
the sound of tongues
speaking with fire,
sons and daughters prophesy
consume the shame,
build the tower of song.

These are the lost days
overgrown in the garden,
the sound of lilies
blooming in the fields again,
the worm of flesh
hungers no more,
perhaps we will be redeemed.

Mark Raffills

COLLINGWOOD OPEN MIC

dancing in the moonshine

Here we go for another year in the heart of Collingwood! MOONSHINE ON THE MICROPHONE is dusting off the floor at the MAD CAFE and swaying to golden beams of light! First night of the year is tomorrow, 2 February.

So come down from the valleys, come down from the hills, come down from the north and up from the south. Gather to the sound of many voices, each with a distinctive call. Bring your friends and neighbours and make a night of it.

Poems, stories and songs. Space for all. Nganga will be your host and MC this month.

MOONSHINE ON THE MICROPHONE
Open mic @ the Mad Cafe
Thursday 2 February 2023
7.00 pm. $5 on the door

A LITTLE BIT DANGEROUS

BURNING UP THE MICROPHONE

Nah, we don’t set fire to the place, literally. But artistically? Courageously? With fear and trembling sometimes? Oh yes we do!

THE DANGEROUS MICROPHONE has been turned on at the DANGEROUS KITCHEN for a couple of weeks now getting 2023 off to a magnificent start. And it is back on today, Wednesday 1 February from 5.30 pm.

The ‘list’ will be available to take your booking to perform from 5.00pm – poems, songs, stories, provocations!

So come on down for the best entertainment, great food and refreshing drinks from the kitchen and bar and enjoy simply wonderful hospitality from the friendly Dangerous Kitchen staff.

THE DANGEROUS MICROPHONE
live at THE DANGEROUS KITCHEN
every Wednesday at 5.30pm.
1, 8, 15, 22 February 2023

MICROPHONE, LIVE & WILD

ACID ON THE MICROPHONE – Mussel Inn 2023

We’ve got guests for you in 2023! And a new poster! Yeah, some open mic spots too, to get the motors running each month – poems and stories, songs and music. Then some special guests to entertain, challenge and inspire you. Like, they’ll be a tonic of encouragement for your own endeavours; they’ll illustrate just what you can do with a little courage, a little belief; they’ll drag you out of your comfort zone and throw you into the arms of your community. Remember stage diving? Had to trust the crowd to catch you. Mostly they did! So let’s get together and feel alright! Only you can make ACID ON THE MICROPHONE at the MUSSEL INN an event to enthuse, inspire and challenge.

And to kick the year off we have EMMA CALLAGHAN as our guest poet on Thursday 23 February 2023. You will know her of course. She was our representative at the National NZ National Poetry Slam last November. Won the ‘Spirit of the Slam’ Award too. Read more about her on the following page.

So gather your friends for an excellent night out at the Mussel Inn, enjoy a cold beer, tasty food and give Emma all the love and support you can muster!

ACID ON THE MICROPHONE
featuring EMMA CALLAGHAN
Live at the Mussel Inn
Thursday 23 February 2023
7.30 pm. $5 on the door

ACID ON THE MICROPHONE – Mussel Inn 2023

SHAKING UP THE MICROPHONE

EMMA CALLAGHAN – setting the microphone on fire!

Golden Bay poet Emma Callaghan is the featured poet at our first ACID ON THE MICROPHONE event for 2023.

She represented Golden Bay/Nelson in the NZ National Poetry Slam in Auckland in November last year and what an impact she made!

Emma made it through to the second round and on the way won the ‘Spirit of the Slam’ Award. Big effort there!! “She smashed it,” said the organisers. “She was amazing.” Thanks to Golden Bay Live Poets Society and the Mussel Inn for the generous sponsorship of travel, accommodation and a little cash that made it possible for Emma to get to Auckland and compete.

“What a time I had,” said Emma, “Thanks to everyone for the wonderful support.”

You won’t want to miss her thought-provoking, comfort-shaking performance on 23 February at the Mussel Inn. You will find Emma’s range of styles and subject matter inspiring and challenging. Love to see you there.

Emma Callaghan
Mussel Inn
Thursday 23 February 2023
7.30pm. $5 on the door.

EMMA CALLAGHAN – setting the microphone on fire!

NEW MUSIC

DEAR COMPANIONS

A solo album from ADAM McGRATH
of The Eastern.

“A lot of people helped me make the record,” says Adam. “But I want to get it out there now to honour my friend Paul who is very sick.

“Paul ran a record store that just had to close and that record store had a label attached and that label put out The Eastern’s last records as well as so many other great things. VIVA ROUGH PEEL!

“Paul has a little family that loves him and they need all the help and time they can get with him and the drug that might increase that time is beyond most people’s means, including Paul’s. “

That’s where this excellent and very moving album comes in. Adam is using the money from the sale of Dear Companions to help Paul and his family. You can be part of the deal by purchasing a CD or Vinyl or Download here:
Bandcamp
https://adammcgrath.bandcamp.com/
Adam’s website (you can listen to the songs here too)
https://adammcgrath.net/store
Read the full story on Adam;s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/adam.mcgrath.355

Make Use of CRUMB

subscribe to CRUMB

In CRUMB you will find all the events sponsored by Golden Bay Live Poets Society plus a few other gigs and community happenings.

If you would like to be kept up to date with open microphone events happening around the Bay, then subscribe to CRUMB here

And you can even submit a gig or event that you want us to know about.

GOT A GIG, EVENT, NEW BOOK or RECORDING COMING UP ??

Got events or gigs coming up that you’d like to let CRUMB readers know about, please email the details, jpeg pics and jpeg posters to: mark@drycrust.com or use the link below:

submit a gig or event

And if you have a new book of poems, stories coming out, or a new recording of songs, let us know and we can let our small but dedicated readership in on the action.