THE WORD

Lifted Higher

by the open microphone

It is the song and the poem. It is the tune and the word. It is the heart of the human that is lifted higher and higher; lifted by the singer and poet, by the artist and dancer, by the worker of wood, the carver of stone, by the musician who plays and the quiet one who prays. Such is the joy and magic of the open microphone.

From there we are lifted and our souls learn to dance. Our confidence is nurtured. Our understanding is enlightened. We learn of the spirit by which others survive. We join hands in laughter and hold each other tight. We learn to see differently, to hold to truth and shun the lie.  And in the flame of the fire standing against the wall, our shadows stand tall. We learn we are one community together and two apart. Healing like a river. Sojourn in a tent. Turn on the microphone. We ain’t finished yet..

And just like that we are into August and the frost lies on the ground, sparkles in the morning sun as winter prepares for the last run home. No better place of a winters evening than a cosy community gathering behind a microphone,  beside the flames of a fire.

Coming up this month open microphones at MAD Café, (Moonshine on the Microphone)The Mussel Inn (Acid on the Microphone) and, at the end of the month, The Dangerous Kitchen reopens (The Dangerous Microphone). And don’t forget the Monday Sing Along with Craig Denham at The Mussel Inn as well as The Mapua Literary Festival happening in September.

Love to see you at one of these events if you can make it.
Peace
Mark
Golden Bay Live Poets Society

The Piano Man

PIANO MAN

for Craig Denham

He is the piano man
playing for the Monday night
bit-piece choir,
he knows every tune
they conspire to sing,
he’s got all the lyrics,
plays all the songs
of their heart-felt desire.

He is the piano man
playing for the Monday night
bit-piece choir,
he plays all the notes
both low and sometimes higher,
he is the pied piper
leading all the voices
along a tight rope wire.

He is the piano man
playing for the Monday night
bit-piece choir,
he dances the keys
of the kingdom,
his fingers are on fire,
his hands, he said,
they were for hire.

He is the piano man
playing for the Monday night
bit-piece choir,
he never fails to show up,
no engagements prior,
come on, he grins,
let’s sing our hearts out,
this is not the time to retire!

Mark Raffills

OPEN MICROPHONE

THE MICROPHONE IS OPENING

The Dangerous Microphone is still on its winter break as the the crew take some time to replenish their hearts and energy, And that gives us all some time to replenish our own selves! One thing we have learned maybe over this wee break is that you ‘don’t miss your water until your well runs dry!’ And if that’s the case we will no doubt be looking forward to taking up where we left off at the end of this month.

Wednesday 30 of August is our scheduled started date and thereafter, every Wednesday throughout September. So get prepared, brush off your voice, dust off the guitar, book a date with friends and get ready to go again!

For performers, the booking sheet will be open from 5.00 pm.

The Dangerous Microphone
Wednesday 30 August 2023
5.30pm
The Dangerous Kitchen

COMMUNITY SING-A-LONG

Hazy shade of winter

Winter is still sounding like a warm fire on a Monday evening at the Mussel Inn with choir master Craig Denham conducting the season!

Yep the fire is in the hearth, Craig is at the piano playing every song you ever knew. And the voices rise in seven part harmony to lift the roof just a little bit!

Happening every Monday evening from 7.00pm, this community gathering gives you a chance to sing all your favourite songs – and you can play along on your acoustic instrument too if you like.

Informal. family-gathering type of get together that is a lot of fun. Come and check it out.

Community Sing-A-Long
Craig Denham
Every  Monday
Mussel Inn, 7.00pm.

MAPUA LITERARY FESTIVAL

Mapua Literary Festival

PROGRAMME MAPUA LITERARY FESTIVAL

Mapua Programme

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.

LITTLE BITS

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

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

Nice Time @ The Barn #3
Sunday 25 September, 3.33 pm
The Barn 143  Rocklands Road. Koha.

Details opposite page