CRUMB #20

THURSDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2023

THE WORD

HOLDING THE SPACE

If there is merit in seeing things through to their conclusion then maybe there is something to be said for commitment, for lasting the distance, for travelling the road, for being true to your heart.

Got to say what a privilege to look around this place in which we live and see the time and effort people put in to holding space for others to grow, to enjoy and to make community.

Big thank you to the Mussel Inn, The Dangerous Kitchen and the MAD Café on that score for the hosting of our open microphone events and holding a place for our gatherings.

Another month of open mics coming up at these cornerstone venues. Details in the pages following. And we have the Regional Poetry Slam coming this month too as well as the 30^th Anniversary of Nelson Live Poets and a gig from Dominic Hoey, Isla Huia and Liam

Come on down to the microphone! Last the distance, cross the line….

Peace
Mark
Golden Bay Live Poets Society

STICKING IT OUT

STICKING IT OUT

Sticking it out
and lasting the distance
takes some fortitude
and a power of persistence

Through the wilderness
the sand and the thirst
pushing aside
the pain and the hurt

Beside still waters
smooth is the way
blessing is granted
by the light of the day.

Completing the race
and crossing the line
we run to the end
make the most of time.

Stretching the moment
right through the years
takes some determination
some laughter and tears.

Mark Raffills

OPEN MICROPHONE

IN COLLINGWOOD

IN COLLINGWOOD, on the first Thursday of each month, MOONSHINE ON THE MICROPHONE takes place in the MAD Cafe.

With a reputation for being the most eclectic of all the open microphone event in the Bay, Moonshine on the Microphone offers a place to sing, to tell a poem or just to chill.

Thursday 2nd of November is the date for the next gathering so come on down for a good piece of rural night life, some good company with songs and poems to stir your soul.

Moonshine on the Microphone
Thursday 2 November 2023
7.00pm. Koha
MAD Cafe, Collingwood

POETRY SLAM & FOLK SONGS

ACID ON THE MICROPHONE

Poetry Slam + Callie & Joy

The Regional Poetry Slam plus folkies Callie & Joy light up Acid on the Microphone this month. It is going to be a fabulous night!

Poetry Slam participants will need to report in at 7.00 pm for briefing. A little music to calm the nerves from Alan will start around 7.15 pm.

The poetry slam will replace our usual open microphone session and will kick off around 7.30 pm. All details on the following page.

Following the Slam Callie and Joy will take the stage with their infectious brand of folk songs – both originals and some stunning covers. Callie and Joy are a relatively new musical duo so really looking forward to hearing them in action with their fresh take on an established genre.

It would be absolutely tremendous to see you at the Mussel Inn for this night of spoken word and song.

ACID ON THE MICROPHONE
featuring the Regional Poetry Slam
plus folk singers Callie & Joy
Thursday 16 November
7.30 pm. $5
Mussel Inn

REGIONAL POETRY SLAM

THE POETRY SLAM IS ON!

GOLDEN BAY / NELSON
REGIONAL POETRY SLAM 2023

LIVE. AT THE MUSSEL INN THURSDAY 16 NOVEMBER, 7.30 PM.

A POETRY SLAM is a spoken word event where poets ‘slam off’ against each for the honour of representing the Golden Bay/Nelson region at the National event in Auckland, November 24 and 25

Competitors come armed with three poems, each no more that three minutes long. No props are allowed – just your voice.

The event is run over three rounds, with competitors dropping out until three are left in the final round. Each round is judged by random audience judges who mark each performance out of 10. After round one, the top scores go through to round two and from round two the top scores go through to round three.

The winner will flown to Auckland to represent Golden Bay/Nelson in the National finals which take place the following weekend. So the winner must be prepared to be in Auckland on 24 and 25 November. Fares, accommodation and a little spending money provided by Golden Bay Live Poets Society, The Mussel Inn and NZ Poetry Slam.

Sound like you? Enter the Slam by emailing: mark@drycrust.com

Here’s a brief summary of the rules:

• You will need three poems, each one to take no more than three minutes to perform/read.

• Performed from memory is the norm for a Slam but for this event you may have notes to prompt you or you may read your poem if you wish.

• During your performance you will get a warning at 2 minutes 45 seconds and another at 3 minutes. For every ten seconds you go over the three minute limit you will lose half a point.

• Random audience judges will score you out of ten on both your performance and the quality of your poem. There are five judges. The top score and the bottom score are ignored by the score keepers and only the three middle scores count.

• The Slam will be run in three rounds; all entrants will perform in round one. The lowest scores will drop out for round two. Again, the lowest scores drop out at the end of round two and the final round, round three, will consist of the remaining three performers.

Following the SLAM live music from Joy and Callie
It’s going to a grand night of spoken word and stunning song

GOLDEN BAY/NELSON POETRY SLAM
Thursday 16 November,
7.30 pm, $5
Mussel Inn,

OPEN MICROPHONE

OBSERVING THE DANGEROUS MICROPHONE

Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water! The Dangerous Microphone serves as a reminder to be observant, to be aware and to neither slumber nor sleep. The times in which we live demand our attention, our commitment, our resolute steadfastness, our compassion and our love.

When like minds gather, when hearts are linked by love, the immovable begins to move! Come on down to The Dangerous Kitchen each Wednesday night between now and Christmas and see the immovable… The hospitality is first rate; the menu will leave you well satisfied and the crac will be just what your soul needs.

The run sheet for each evening will be on site from 5.00 pm for participants to book their spot. Take risks, live dangerously, speak boldly! The Dangerous Microphone waits for you.

The Dangerous Microphone
Wednesdays, 5.30pm
1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 November.
The Dangerous Kitchen

SPOKEN WORD

DOMINIC HOEY, ISLA HUIA, LIAM JACOBSON

Dominic Hoey’s new collection of poetry, The Dead Are Always Laughing At Us, is being released this month by Dead Bird Books.

To celebrate this release, Dominic will be hitting the road alongside fellow Dead Bird Books poets, Liam Jacobson and Isla Huia (both of whom have recently released their own titles in 2023 to critical acclaim) and will be performing at the Mussel Inn on Thursday 30 November. Tickets from Dead Bird Books website here: www.deadbirdbooks.com/tickets or here: Dominic Hoey, Isla Huia & Liam Jacobson tix $20 waged/$10 unwaged. Door sales, if available, will be $25 waged/$15 unwaged.

And the bio info

Dominic Hoey is a poet and bestselling author. Through his Learn To Write Good writing course, Dominic has taught thousands of students how to think dyslexic. He also works with rangatahi with the Atawhai program, helping them with their mental health and self-esteem.

Isla Huia (Te Āti Haunui a-Pāpārangi, Uenuku) is a te reo Māori teacher, writer and musician. Her first book,’Talia,’ was released by Dead Bird in May 2023.

Liam Jacobson (Kāi Tahu) is a poet, artist, maker (etc.) from Manurewa, South Auckland. They’ve shared poems in alleys, pubs and galleries across Aotearoa and overseas. Liam’s debut poetry collection, ‘Neither’, was published by Dead Bird Books in September 2023

This promises to be a great poetry event. All three poets will have their books for sale at the show too. Don’t miss it. The word like you have never heard!

Dominic Hoey, Isla Huia & Liam Jacobson
Poets
Live at the Mussel Inn
Thursday 30 November
7.00pm. $20

LIVE POETS CELEBRATION

NELSON LIVE POETS 30TH ANNIVERSARY

Nelson Live Poets Society celebrates 30 years of spoken word

Nelson Live Poets Society will hold a concert to mark the 30th Anniversary of their gatherings at Yaza Café on Thursday 23 November 2023. Starting at 6.00pm. $5 on the door. The format will include invited performances by those who have been part of Nelson Live Poets over the years and a roll of honour section where poems from some of our late, great Nelson poets will be read. MC will be Mark Raffills and copies of David Manning’s original feature article on the Renaissance of Poetry in Nelson (1994) will be available as a take-home memento of the occasion.

Manning’s article, Renaissance of Poetry in Nelson, was published a year after ‘occasional Nelson poet’, Mark Raffills, started an open mic night for poets. Manning’s was an empathetic piece of writing that captured the spirit of what was happening and profiled many of the early contributors and performers.

With the support of Graham and Pam Savidan, owners of Faces Café Bar, the open mic night was intended as a season of warm winter fire-side evenings. Thirty years later and the gatherings continue.

There have been some small intervals along the way and venues have changed – from Faces to Chez Elco, Yaza Café, Devilles, Vic Rose, The Free House, Royal Hotel, Whakatu, NMIT Student Centre, Prince Albert and currently The Earth Hub, to name a few – but through it all the poems have kept on rolling and the performers have grown in stature and in number. From 2024 Nelson live Poets will return to YAZA Café.

Front folks have changed from time to time too, each bringing their own twist to the monthly gatherings as they have taken up the challenge of keeping the spoken word alive and loud. Mark Raffills, Jessica Le Bas, Mary Thornton, Carol Ercolano, Roger and Deirdre Lusby, Cat Woodward and Dylan Mackie have all shared duties.

Guests have come from all over the country to perform at Nelson Live Poets. Sam Hunt, David Eggleton, the late Hone Tuwhare. and Vincent O’Sullivan have been among them. And there have been many more – a veritable list of who is who from the poetry, slam and spoken word worlds.

Local poets with a national reputation have also featured, including the late Rachel Bush, Gordon Challis and Panni Palasti, along with Jessica Le Bas, Mark ‘Sharkface’ Thomas and Cliff Fell.

And then there has been the life blood of Live Poets: the local performers who have attended 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 Nelson region at the national Poetry Slam, won poetry awards, performed at festivals and toured their own works around the country.

Nelson Live Poets helped Joe Bell launch Golden Bay Live Poets in 1994 and there have been groups started in Motueka and Mapua – all inspired and encouraged by the original city gathering.

You are all invited to come and celebrate at YAZA Cafe – love so much to see you there!

Nelson Live Poets Society
30th Anniversary Concert
Yaza Café, Nelson
Thursday 23 November 2023. 6.00pm. $5

NEWS BRIEFS

To Remember

MONDAY NIGHT SING ALONG
Monday night sing-a-long with Craig Denham has started again at theMussel Inn. The sessions will run right through until Christmas. So bring your voice and love of song at 7.00pm every Monday.

ISABELLE WOLFF
Returning to NZ from Germany for the summer and beyond! A stunning songstress and entertainer, Isabel will be headlining her own gig at the Mussel Inn, 27 December 2023. 8.00 pm.

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.