If great art comes from suffering, there were plenty of hard knocks to be had in embattled Belfast, Northern Ireland. That’s where poet Adrian Rice grew up and published collections including Impediments and The Mason’s Tongue. Nobel Prize recipient Seamus Heaney said that Rice “has a nice sense of what he is up to as […]
Spoken word events around Asheville The Asheville spoken word scene, vibrant since its ’90s-era heyday, has continued to grow steadily over the years. Between several ongoing reading series, there’s now a network of vibrant, recurring events where a large rotating cast of local poets (from polished veterans to earnest students) strut their stuff and […]
LAST CALL! Xpress seeks submissions for a special April issue. Deadline for short-form poems is Friday, March 14.
Local poet and performer Griffin Payne, pictured above, teaches theater-workshop participants how to share their stories in new and creative ways. The weekly workshops are for people affected by mental illness, whether directly or indirectly, and is sponsored by the National Alliance on Mental Illness Western Carolina. (Photo by Max Cooper)
Each week in July, different jazz artists and poems will be discussed at pack Memorial Library as part of a month-long series.
Upcoming readings, book launches, book signings and two writing contests contest.
Get into the spirit of hearts and flowers (or whatever manifestations of love spring to mind) with two special events (poet Daniel Ladinsky at Malaprop’s and Asheville Symphony at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium) slated for this weekend.
Asheville’s most famous writing student, actor James Franco, was commissioned by Yahoo! News to write a poem about the inauguration of President Barack Obama, taking place today, Jan. 21, in Washington D.C. It focuses on the history of Asheville and its most well known visitors, including Obama.
In this, the second installment in a two-part story on the much-loved local used bookstore, we learn about rare and crazy book finds, music events and the story behind the “Drink. Smoke. Read.” slogan.
Local poet Barbie Angell launches her new book of “poems for children and the child-like,” with a Sunday, Sept. 30 event at Altamont Theatre. There’s a 6 p.m. set for children and a 7 p.m. set for everyone. David Earl also performs.
What do you get when you cast a world-class artist, a devoted environmentalist, and a poet laureate together on one stage? Answer: a very fine alchemy, where art, science, and education merge, and — if the featured guests have their way — the results may provoke social transformation.
Poet Ekere Tallie is not afraid of sensitive topics, from her family’s experiences in the Jim Crow South to her life as an African American in a post-September 11 age.
Poets Daniel Ladinsky and Tracey Schmidt will read at Malaprop’s on Saturday, Feb. 18. World musician Chris Rosser adds accompaniment. Because the event sold out, a second reading has been added for Sunday, Feb. 19.
If your New Year’s resolution was to read more, or at least spend more time in the vicinity of books, here’s a good start. An author event, a book signing, and the return of The Flood Reading Series to Posana.
On hand at the Sept. 23 launch in Sylva: Authors Barbara Duncan, Brent Martin, Thomas Rain Crowe, Charles Frazier, Wayne Caldwell, Keith Flynn, George Ellison and Jon Lane, plus artist Robert Johnson.
Mr. Whipple is coming to Montford Books and More. Does that mean you can’t squeeze the Charmin? (Let’s hope not.) We’re talking about Mr. Lee Whipple, of course, the local author and singer with a penchant for Grunge-era angst enclosed in the streaked Chrysanthemum-burst aurora of intergalactic travel. Don’t squeeze the nebulae.
The Mountain Xpress Poetry Bash will close out Saturday’s events, with beer, music and a reading from poet Brian Sneeden, winner of the 2011 Mountain Xpress poetry contest.
Asheville-based poet Julian Vorus reads “Poetica Violencia” in the Glen Rock Hotel in the River Arts District. This video is part of the Poetry Xpress video series, highlighting the works of local poets for National Poetry Month.
Word Slam’s upcoming contest for middle and high school students spotlights beats and rhymes at the Altamont Theater on April 30.
Asheville-based poet Chall Gray reads “Car Commercial Sketch #4” on the rooftop level of the Rankin Parking Deck.
An attentive crowd turned out Friday night for the finalists of the 2011 Mountain Xpress poetry prize. Rooftop poet and Asheville Vaudevillian Brian Sneeden claimed the top honor. Asheville Poetry Review’s Keith Flynn did the final judging.
