CRUMB #46

JULY 2026

THE WORD

The story we tell ourselves

The story we tell ourselves can be a chain or a key. A bread crumb can be a feast or a famine. Our glass can be half full or half empty. The story we tell ourselves is the reality by which we live our lives. Deep winter thoughts for sure. But what a season for reflection, contemplation and taking stock of who we are and who we want to be.

It will be a little quieter on the open microphone scene over the next couple of months as our weekly Dangerous Microphone takes a break (last one, featuring Kabra Kadrabra on Wednesday 1 July). The Dangerous Kitchen will be closed from 5 July to 19 August 2026. The Dangerous Microphone will resume for its 5th season on Wednesday 26 August.

But of course, we will continue with our monthly events at the Mussel Inn (where myself and Leigh Strange will be the featured guests at Acid on the Microphone) and NgAng’s Gallery. Details further on.

Let’s tell ourselves a good story and live our lives accordingly.
See you somewhere!

Peace
Mark Raffills
Golden Bay Live Poets Society

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Winter's bed of stone

The dawn is slow to wake,
To stir from the bed of darkness,
To crack the sky
With a ray of light
That knows the sun’s caress

The thin covers of cold
Lie frozen on the ground,
The morning dew,
A sea of white
That whispers a silent sound

Thin, spindle orchard arms,
Nothing left to hold,
This is the season
Of slumber,
Of the naked vine I am told

Above, the hollow moon
Hangs high and alone,
Long are the nights
We lie waiting
On winter’s bed of stone

Mark Raffills

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OPEN MICROPHONE

WE ARE BACK

At least we will be on Wednesday 26 August

The DANGEROUS MICROPHONE enters its fifth year with  courageous performances and strong community connections money just can’t buy! Starts Wednesday 26 August.

Grab your friends and family and come on down for a weekly night out. Pencil Wednesdays in your calendar as the evening to meet your neighbours around the fire and  enjoy the on-going connections with travellers and visitors as you devour a night of great pizzas,  splendid entertainment and warm company. At the Dangerous Kitchen the food and beverage service is fantastic and the hostesses and hosts make you feel right at home.

On this first night of the new season we will be paying tribute to Natalie, a regular behind the Dangerous Microphone for quite some time. Sadly, Natalie went missing from Pohara on 6 July and has not been found. Bring a poem, a song or some words to share. 

Performance list open from 5.00pm.

DANGEROUS MICROPHONE
Wednesday  26 August ’26
Tribute to Natalie from 6.15.
Open Mic to follow until 9.00pm.

 

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WE ARE BACK

OPEN MICROPHONE

MOONSHINE IN AUGUST

with POT-LUCK FEASTING

on Thursday 6 August ’26, beneath a full-moon on a winter’s evening,  the microphone will be shining silver at NgAng’s Gallery in Collingwood.

I know sometimes time is tight and sometimes getting out is a bridge too far. But sometimes it is a good thing, once a month, to bolster  one another as we build this little community of support.
You will find us, down-town Collingwood at NgAng’s Gallery where the craic is good and the food healthy and hot. So come on down and bring some food to share, something to drink, a poem or two to speak and a song to sing. Or if singing is not your thing, just lend your support with a rousing round of applause to the array of performers.

The POT LUCK FEAST will start around 6.00pm with open mic kicking in from around 7.00 pm.

Love to see you again if you can make it down from the valleys and down from the coast and down from around the corner.

Moonshine on the Microphone
Thursday 6 August, 2026
NgAng’s Gallery, Collingwood
POT LUCK FEAST – 6.00pm
Open Mic – 7.00pm.
Koha

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MOONSHINE IN AUGUST

ACID ON THURSDAY

IT’S BACK TO THURSDAY IN AUGUST
at ACID ON THE MICROPHONE
where poets get to speak of those things that matter and singer/songwriters get to lift our souls with their songs. Together they make for a wildly entertaining open mic event at the MUSSEL INN where the winter fire crackles in the hearth, stories are told and a whole lot of good vibes happen.

As always, the open mic will uncover some unexpected treats as new and established performers present their work.  Participants can put their names on the performance list on the night from 6.00pm. Musician alanjahjah will kick the evening off from around 7.15pm with dinner music to dine to.

After the open mic session we introduce our guests for the evening, Golden Bay’s very own gypsy band KABRA KADABRA. Read more over…

 ACID ON THE MICROPHONE is presented by Golden Bay Live Poets Society and gives you poems, stories and music too!

ACID ON THE MICROPHONE presents
Open Mic  from 7.30pm – 8.30 pm
Guests: KABRA KADABRA after 8.30 pm
Thursday 20 August 2026
$5 on the door.  Mussel Inn

 

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ACID ON THURSDAY

ACID ON THE MICROPHONE

KABRA KADABRA

the fire and the gypsy

KABRA KADABRA is a lively local gypsy-folk band weaving together the musical threads of the Balkans and beyond.

Fronted by Golden Bay vocalist Hera Livingston, joined by the rhythmically-nimble acoustic guitar of Rye Morgan and a rotating cast of musical friends. On this occasion Mónica Naudín, singing with latino soul,  Julian Briggs  percussion/guitar and Paul Candish, percussion.

This spirited ensemble brings the fiery pulse of Eastern European folk traditions to life. You may not understand a single word, but that hardly matters — the rhythms speak for themselves.

ACID ON THE MICROPHONE 
Open Mic  from 7.30pm – 8.30 pm
Guests: Kabra Kadabra after 8.30 pm
Wednesday 20 August, 2026
$5 on the door.  Mussel Inn

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KABRA KADABRA

Regional Poetry Slam

poetry slam in september

GOLDEN BAY/NELSON REGIONAL POETRY SLAM GOING TO BE HAPPENING LIVE AT THE MUSSEL INN ON THURSDAY 17  SEPTEMBER. BUT WE HAVE NO ENTRIES YET, SO ENTER NOW BY EMAILING: mark@drycrust.com

Nelson Live Poets  will be joining us too, so its gearing up to be a wonderful night of spoken word performances!! 

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 in November.

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

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 in November. So the winner must be prepared to travel to Auckland to represent the region.  Airfares will be provided by Golden Bay/Nelson Live Poets Societies from our Creative Communities grant money.

Sound like you?  Enter the Slam now by using the comments section below or by  emailing: mark@drycrust.com

 

 

 

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poetry slam in september

SOME OTHER GIGS AND EVENTS

SOME MORE GIGS

WORD SAVVY POETRY GROUP

Every Tuesday, Takaka Library.
10.30 am to 12.00pm.
Write poetry, read poetry, bring your favourite poem and discover new poets with other poetry lovers.

A BARREL OF
FABULOUS LIVE SHOWS
FOR THE MONTH
OF JULY

 

Thursday 2 July
 QUIZ Night. 7.30pm.  All welcome

Monday 6 July
SINGALONG around the piano
with CRAIG DENHAM. 7.30pm. All welcome. Koha appreciated

Tuesday 7 July
ACOUSTIC TUNESDAY
with CRAIG & NATE 2.00pm. Pay what you can

Mussel Inn continued

Monday 13 July
SINGALONG around the piano
with CRAIG DENHAM. 7.30pm. All welcome. Koha appreciated

Thursday 16 July
QUIZ  Night.  7.30pm.  All welcome

Saturday 18 July
40 YEARS BELOW – A YEAR IN ANTARCTICA. Roger Lusby recounts his experience through images, poems and song and humour.
A fundraiser for the Takaka Collingwood trail.
7.00pm. Pay what you can

Monday 20 July
SINGALONG around the piano
with CRAIG DENHAM. 7.30pm. All welcome. Koha appreciated

Wednesday 22 July
LIVE POETS – ACID ON THE MICROPHONE   Open mic from 7.30. Guests Leigh Strange & Mark Raffills from 8.15. All welcome $5 door

Thursday 23 July
CARNIVEROUS PLANT SOCIETY   $20 Tickets  $25 door

Monday 27 July
SINGALONG around the piano
with CRAIG DENHAM. 7.30pm. All welcome. Koha appreciated

Thursday 30 July
QUIZ  Night.  7.30pm.  All welcome

MORE DETAILS OF MUSSEL INN GIGS HERE:
https://www.musselinn.co.nz/Entertainment

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

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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.

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