[1] Although it may be a little segregated or fragmented, Louisville has a pretty strong spoken word and poetry scene which is surprising to most people. It may be a little more known that we are home to one of the few remaining beat poets Ron Whitehead [3]) or a national touring and award winning slam poet (Truth B. Told [4]), but Louisville is also home to an array of talented poets and poetry events of varying styles. In an effort to bring the different segments together a little, I've compiled a list of events, groups and poets worth taking note of. (The list of notable poets is definitely not a complete one, but consists of the poets that I have the most contact with).
The poetry event 100,000 Poets for Change [5] was recently hosted in Louisville, Ky and allowed Louisville to be a part of an event happening simultaneously all over the planet. In addition to annual events I've hosted in the past like Poets, Prophets and Punks or Poetry, Pop, and Paint, there is also an annual slam poetry event hosted by 30Something Entertainment. [6]
30Something Entertainment is a poetic force in our community, hosting monthly upscale poetry related events at Jazzy Blu Cafe that often incorporate jazz music. They enforce a strict dress code and serve up awesome talent with an open mic format to a busy and mature audience. They sometimes host CD releases at their events. Cover is usually $10. Poets I've met at 30Something Entertainment events include Truth B. Told and Madison West amongst others.
Madison West [7] began writing at a young age but did not take poetry seriously until 2008. Since then she has released an album titled "Wannabe" and now tours with a group of poets called The Movement.
|  [7] |
The Word Spoken [8] occurs the second Tuesday of each month (although it may switch to Wednesdays) at Derby City Expresso on Market St at 8 p.m. It is an open mic event and features spoken word of many styles from slam to freestyle to readings. They have a pretty steady attendance of about 30 people. The event is hosted by Touch Armor Class, a spoken word and hip-hop artist.
Touch Armor Class has a style I call Hip Hop apocalyptic and has been performing poetry live since 2009, when he was asked to read at Sub Rosa: The Gypsie Courtyard. He started writing rhymes in 8th grade that were of a sillier nature but began taking poetry a ittle more seriously in 2006. He's performed in several Louisville venues, in Paducah and Huntsville, Alabama. In addition to working on recording his own solo project, he is currently in a group called Girl Next Door with N Fact and Sloe Pink. "I rotate focusing on poetry for music and poetry without music," he said. |  |
| Jimmy Besseck [9]- Jimmy is a talented wordsmith whose style is that of an amused urban observer and began writing poetry after attending Sub Rosa: The Gypsie Courtyard, where he also began performing publicly. His poems are observations of his surroundings and usually have a humorous slant. He has gone on to host his own events around town and released a book titled The Lead Standard in 2011, which is available at Carmichael's bookstore. He also runs a Facebook group known as Louisville Writers' Solidarity. |  |
Mark James [10] is a spoken word artist, writer, and photographer who says writing came very naturally for him. He began writing a few years ago as a response to boredom and began performing at Sub Rosa: the Gypsie Courtyard. Anne Lamont's Bird by Bird inspired him to write daily in June of 2010 and he has since written his first book (self published) and traveled across the country performing. He is currently focused on creating his next stage show while learning to paint with light, create installation art and make videos to elevate his abilities of self expression. His visual artwork is currently on display at Chez Moi gallery on Winkler Ave, BBC on Fourth St, and at Serendipity Cafe in La Grange. |
T-shirts with some of Mark Jame's poetry on them. |
Maplex Monk [11] is a poet with a hip hop flavor who also plays a variety of musical instruments. In addition to writing across several formats, he has been producing "The Creative Community with Maplex Monk" podcast for a few months from his home studio, which is equipped with an array of instruments and equipment.He is currently looking forward to creating a music video for one of his pieces titled "Spiral Staircase". In addition to an array of musicians and East Coast hip hop artists, his biggest inspiration comes from family. "My mother is an English teacher, and my father is a social worker and a singer/song writer/guitarist/harmonica ninja, so there's no mistaking that their influence has inspired me more than any other." |  |
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Church on the Rocks is one of the friendliest weekly open mics in town for poets. It occurs every Sunday at the Monkey Wrench [12] (beginning around 8 p.m.) and is hosted by the Troubadours of Divine Bliss and an array of guest hosts when they are on tour. An array of amazing poets and musicians have been seen on their stage from local and other areas. I've met many kind hearts at this event, including J.P. Hagan.
| JP Hagan [13] was a very talented writer and poet who passed away in 2010. It was sad news for the Louisville Creative Community. J.P.'s fiction writing style was beautiful and poetic, but he was possibly best known for his clever quips that he published in a book titled Ahum, Ahum, Ahum [13] and distributed freely to people at open mics as gifts. The books used to be available at Carmichaels, and would make great stocking stuffings if there are any left. They are full of chuckles. |  |
Matthew Presley is another poet that I originally met at Church on the Rocks. He is perhaps one of the most dedicated poets and supporters of openmics and creative music/literary events in Louisville. He's known as the Bard in Blue for the blue jacket and hat that he often wears. He began writing down his dreams in elementary school and trying to thread them together with possible story lines. He began writing poetry during his second year in college. The first several poems that he wrote were for a woman that he was dating and his love for poetry outlasted the relationship. Although he didn't become a regular open mic performer until he found Church on the ROcks, he got his start with the Louisville Poetry Guild and InKY. He added a Native American High Spirits Sparrowhawk wooden flute to his poetry reading in the last year. Since then he has made appearances and regularly attended most of the open mics in town. |  |
The Louisville Poetry Guild [14] is a local non-profit that publishes a quarterly journal called The Prism and accepts submissions via their web site.
InKY [15] is one of Louisville's longest running literary events, with an event every second Friday of the month. The events are free to attend and host an open mic portion, live music, and featured readers. They offer a small honorarium for their featured readers and have hosted writers from all over the country.
Stone Soup is a monthly poetry showcase held the last Sunday of the month at The Bard's Town from 5 - 7 p.m. There is an open mic session, live music, and featured poets. The gathering is hosted by poet Sheri Wright.
Sheri Wright [16] has published 5 books of poetry through Front Line Publishing and was recently nominated for a Pushcart Prize in addition to being nominated to be listed in the Great Kentucky Writers Series at Carnegie Center. She also hosts a literary radio show titled "From the Inkwell" on Crescent Hill Radio (which is looking for sponsors to make tax deductible contributions). In addition to writing, she offers editing and photography services. She began writing as a child but was not interested in poetry until about 2004 when she learned poetry doesn't all have to be about "unicorns jumping over rainbows". "I started writing song lyrics and got involved with wirters' groups; that's when I discovered free verse and that I didn't have to conform to a form. That opened the floodgates, and I learned I could write about the split open underbelly of things which was better than just writing about lollypops and sunshine." |  |
| Beverly Frederick is an up and coming poet in Louisville who began publicly reading her writing at Sub Rosa the Gypsie Courtyard in 2010. It took a while for her to get up the courage to take the stage but she is quickly becoming one of Louisville's poetic staples. |  |
Kentucky State Poetry Society [17] is an organization that was founded by Kentucky poets in 1966. Members enjoy an annual poetry contest, a quarterly publication called Pegasus, an annual retreat, and networking. They are also currently hosting a poetry contest for students.
Still in doubt of how awesome Louisville's poets are? Check out this playlist I made from youtube videos of them [18].