Listings For January

Listings After January

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Plains Humanities Alliance

The Lincoln Arts Council

John H. Ames Reading Series

Omaha Healing Arts Center Poetry Events:
OmahaSlam.com

Tuesdays With Writers

The Creighton Reading Series

the Clean Part Reading Series

the no name reading series

Nebraska Shakespeare Festival

The Backwaters Press

Logan House Press

Sandhills Press

Bradypress

Nebraska Literary Heritage Association

The Nebraska Library Commission

Omaha Public Library

A Novel Idea Bookstore

The Neihardt State Historic Site

The Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, Nebraska City

PS Collective

Brownville Lyceum

Nebraska Writers Guild

Poetryslam.com

The Morpo Review

Poets Against The War

For US and worldwide poetry listings, go to The Poetry Kit

Whisper From The Heart poetry club (from Africa, mostly student-centered)

Prairie Moon Reading & Music News (Lincoln-area readings)

The Plains Song Review blog

InTheO.com Omaha events

Omaha Nightlife

Slam Omaha
with Poetry discussion on the Art board

MidVerse.com

January

• 1/2, F-- 7-9pm, Open-Mic for musicians and poets at Old Market Tea House (517 South 13th Street, Omaha) hosted by Charmayne Harper. Come early to sign up for a spot on the schedule. Come share your talents and spoken and sung words! Pass this notice onto others! (1st Friday)

• 1/3, Sa-- 7-8:30pm, Words on the Winter Wind - poetry reading at the Hollis and Helen Baright Public Library (5555 S. 77th St., Ralston, 402/331-7636). Please call the library to register; refreshments will be served.

• 1/5, M-- 8-10pm, Poetry at the Moon, at Crescent Moon Coffee (816 P Street, Lincoln): Featured Reader, 7 - 8 pm, then open mike after. For more information, contact the Martinsons at crescentmoon@inebraska.com or see www.crescentmooncoffee.com/.

• 1/6, Tu-- 7pm, Tuesdays with Writers at The South Mill (4736 Prescott, just west of 48th and Prescott, Lincoln). Featured readers TBA. There is an open mic following the feature. For more information, contact Deborah McGinn at dmcginn@lps.org (1st Tuesday of the month)

• 1/6, Tu-- 9pm signup, 9:30 start, it's Shoot Your Mouth Off III at The Hideout (320 S 72nd St, 504-4434). An evening of poetry, comedy and chaos the way it was meant to be seen: in a bar with 50 of your closest friends! See why our regulars think this is the best free show in Omaha. Check myspace.com/shootyourmouthoff for interviews with features and more information. Bad Andy and Jim Morrison will be your hosts as open mic poetry and comedy, featured readers from Omaha's SLAM scene and free drinks prizes await you. (every Tuesday)

• 1/7, W-- 8pm-12am, Acoustic Open Mic for musicians and poets at Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso (1624 South St, Lincoln). Hosted by Spencer. For more information call 402-477-2007. (every Wednesday)

• 1/7, W-- 9pm, If you're looking for a place to enjoy some live music by The Last Few, poetry readings by local poets, and neo-soul music on a relaxed upscale level join us for The Midwest Poetry Vibe at The 1507 Ultra Lounge (1507 Farnam St, Omaha) which is now being compared to Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam. Ladies in free till 10pm, $2.00 drink specials all night long, and great entertainment. Regular admission is $5.00 after 10pm. (every Wednesday)

• 1/8, Th-- 7pm, The Nebraska Writers Collective hosts The No Coast Poetry Slam at Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso (16th and South Streets, Lincoln). Poetry: the full-contact Olympic sport. Open signup begins at 6:30pm. Show up early as we will be denoucing poet time and starting the slam promptly at 7pm. (I'm serious.) Admission is FREE - donations encouraged. Call 570-1619 or go to www.myspace.com/nocoastwriters for more information. (2nd Thursday)

• 1/8, Th-- 7-9pm, PROVOKE Poetry at The Benson Grind (6107 Maple Street, Omaha, 932-4040), an open mic hosted by Jack Hubbell; it's the poetic equivalent to that sharp pointy stick your mom always warned you about (Prissy poems of plump puppies passionately prancing with pink pom-poms will be highly frowned upon and dealt with severely). (2nd Thursday)

• 1/9, F-- 7pm, Open Mic Poetry Night at A to Z Books (507 North Jeffers, North Platte) -- ultra large bookstore. It's a fun, funny, widely varied group. Poems can be short or long, funny or touching, rhymed or free verse. Musicians too. George Lauby of The North Platte Bulletin emcees and makes you feel comfortable. (2nd and 4th Friday).

• 1/10, Sa-- 2-4pm, Its a family event at Love's Jazz & Arts Center (24th & Lake Streets). This one-of -a kind venue is geared around the needs of our seniors & children who have as much to contribute to the Spoken Word stage as any of us. Join us for "G" rated poems and Fun, Fun, and more profound inspiration from some of Omaha's legendary wordsmiths. For more information: Neville Murray, director of LJAC 402-502-5291 OR Empowerment Services for Youth, Director -Mrs. T. Nedds 402-612-0986. (2nd and 4th Saturday)

• 1/10, Sa-- 4-5:45pm, X Poetry CommUNITY,Open Mic @ The Spot is back! Join us at Charles B. Washington Branch Library (2868 Ames Ave, Omaha). This is an open mic event with occasional features. Hosted by prahduct and God's Gift. This event is FREE and open to the public, just come in and join us in the "The Spot" located inside the library. For further info contact God's Gift at ywright08@yahoo.com or prahduct at productoftha88@yahoo.com, (402)659-8353. (Every 2nd and 4th Saturday)

• 1/10, Sa-- 7pm, The Occasional Kearney Poetry Slam at the UNK Experimental Theater in the basement of the Fine Arts Building. Hosted by Sam Sinnerman Stecher (email at samstecher@yahoo.com, doors open for sign up at 6:30. Admission is free and open to the public. This is a hybrid cover/original composition slam, meaning standard PSI rules apply plus: 1) Cover poems must be identified as such and the author must be credited, 2) Four judges will each score the performance on the 0 to 10 scale, 3) For original poems the low score will be thrown out, 4) For cover poems the high score will be thrown out.

• 1/10, Sa-- 7:30pm, the Omaha Healing Arts Center Poetry Slam and open mic (1216 Howard, Omaha). It's the longest-running slam in Omaha, often featuring some of the best performance poets in the nation. Open mic starts at 7:30 followed by the slam, show early as signup is limited. Tonight is a qualifier for the April Slam Team Finals, so the top 3 make it in to the April show. Hosted by Matt Mason and Zedeka. $7 suggested donation. Call 345-5078 or go to OmahaSlam.com for more information. (2nd Saturday of every month)

• 1/12, M-- 8-10pm, Poetry at the Moon, at Crescent Moon Coffee (816 P Street, Lincoln): Featured Reader, 7 - 8 pm, then open mike after. For more information, contact the Martinsons at crescentmoon@inebraska.com or see www.crescentmooncoffee.com/.

• 1/13, Tu-- 9pm signup, 9:30 start, it's Shoot Your Mouth Off III at The Hideout (320 S 72nd St, 504-4434). An evening of poetry, comedy and chaos the way it was meant to be seen: in a bar with 50 of your closest friends! See why our regulars think this is the best free show in Omaha. Check myspace.com/shootyourmouthoff for interviews with features and more information. Bad Andy and Jim Morrison will be your hosts as open mic poetry and comedy, featured readers from Omaha's SLAM scene and free drinks prizes await you. (every Tuesday)

• 1/14, W-- 11:45am-1pm, "Wednesday Words," at the Nebraska Arts Council, (Historic Burlington Place Bldg, 1004 Farnam Street, Lower Level, Omaha) featuring writers who have been awarded with the The Nebraska Arts Council's Individual Artist Fellowships in Literature. Bring your lunch and enjoy the show. While you are here, drop by the Fred Simon Gallery to see some of artwork from our best Nebraska artists. Today features Kelly Madigan Erlandson. (second Wednesday)

• 1/14, W-- 8pm-12am, Acoustic Open Mic for musicians and poets at Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso (1624 South St, Lincoln). Hosted by Spencer. For more information call 402-477-2007. (every Wednesday)

• 1/14, W-- 9pm, If you're looking for a place to enjoy some live music by The Last Few, poetry readings by local poets, and neo-soul music on a relaxed upscale level join us for The Midwest Poetry Vibe at The 1507 Ultra Lounge (1507 Farnam St, Omaha) which is now being compared to Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam. Ladies in free till 10pm, $2.00 drink specials all night long, and great entertainment. Regular admission is $5.00 after 10pm. (every Wednesday)

• 1/15, Th-- 5pm, Ink Slingers' Slam (a poetry slam for high school students only) at McFoster's Natural Kind Cafe (302 S 38th St, Omaha). Sign-up starts at 5:00 and the slam starts at 5:30 p.m. Two rounds, 3 minute time limit, must be your own original work! Hosted by Kayla Ostronic. If you have any questions, e-mail KaylaO410@aol.com. (3rd Thursday of every month)

• 1/15, Th-- 7pm, The Nebraska Writers Collective hosts The (Insert Title) Poetry Slam at Jones Coffee (11th & G Streets, Lincoln). Tryst the Assassin and your friends at the Star City Slam present a second occasion every month to prove once and for all that you're better than your friends by getting better scores from strangers in a coffee shop who decide to skip Grey's Anatomy and suckered into being judges at a poetry slam. Come join us as we double the size awesomeness by slamming our faces off! (3rd Thursday)

• 1/17, Sa-- 1-3pm, Mojo's Saturday Poetry Magazine at Mojo's Coffee House (4826 Dodge St, Omaha). Led by David "The Professor" Hufford, bring your new poems, seasonal poems, topical poems, summer poems, incidental poems, experimental poems, hot, sweaty poems, funny poems, academic poems, form poems, and other poems with "juice." For more information, email DavidPHufford@yahoo.com. (3rd Saturday)

• 1/18, S-- 2pm, the John H. Ames Reading Series Readings by Nebraska Authors in the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors (3rd Floor, Bennett Martin Public Library, 136 South 14th St., Lincoln, NE, 402-441-8516). This month features Robert McEwen. Chadron State College professor and arborist Robert McEwen was born in Chicago, Illinois, but has lived in Nebraska for a number of years. He earned a PhD in English from UNL in 1985. His new book, Old Rags and Iron: The Irish American Poetry of R.F. McEwen, features works from his Irish roots. For more information, call 402-441-8516, email heritage@lincolnlibraries.org.

• 1/19, M-- 8-10pm, Poetry at the Moon, at Crescent Moon Coffee (816 P Street, Lincoln): Featured Reader, 7 - 8 pm, then open mike after. For more information, contact the Martinsons at crescentmoon@inebraska.com or see www.crescentmooncoffee.com/.

• 1/20, Tu-- 9pm signup, 9:30 start, it's Shoot Your Mouth Off III at The Hideout (320 S 72nd St, 504-4434). An evening of poetry, comedy and chaos the way it was meant to be seen: in a bar with 50 of your closest friends! See why our regulars think this is the best free show in Omaha. Check myspace.com/shootyourmouthoff for interviews with features and more information. Bad Andy and Jim Morrison will be your hosts as open mic poetry and comedy, featured readers from Omaha's SLAM scene and free drinks prizes await you. (every Tuesday)

• 1/21, W-- 8pm-12am, Acoustic Open Mic for musicians and poets at Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso (1624 South St, Lincoln). Hosted by Spencer. For more information call 402-477-2007. (every Wednesday)

• 1/21, W-- 9pm, If you're looking for a place to enjoy some live music by The Last Few, poetry readings by local poets, and neo-soul music on a relaxed upscale level join us for The Midwest Poetry Vibe at The 1507 Ultra Lounge (1507 Farnam St, Omaha) which is now being compared to Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam. Ladies in free till 10pm, $2.00 drink specials all night long, and great entertainment. Regular admission is $5.00 after 10pm. (every Wednesday)

• 1/23, F-- 4pm, the no name reading series, at SUR tango bar et cafe (1228 P street, Lincoln,(402)438-1222). the no name reading series is free and open to the public and is run by the graduate students in the english department of the university of nebraska-lincoln. it aims to support the creative talent that comes out of the department by promoting that talent throughout the greater lincoln community. tonight's reading features Kate Kostelnik and Laura Madeline Wiseman. for more information on the no name reading series, call Cody at 402/472.0666. (every other friday)

• 1/23, F-- 7pm, Open Mic Poetry Night at A to Z Books (507 North Jeffers, North Platte) -- ultra large bookstore. It's a fun, funny, widely varied group. Poems can be short or long, funny or touching, rhymed or free verse. Musicians too. George Lauby of The North Platte Bulletin emcees and makes you feel comfortable. (2nd and 4th Friday).

• 1/24, Sa-- 2-4pm, Its a family event at Love's Jazz & Arts Center (24th & Lake Streets). This one-of -a kind venue is geared around the needs of our seniors & children who have as much to contribute to the Spoken Word stage as any of us. Join us for "G" rated poems and Fun, Fun, and more profound inspiration from some of Omaha's legendary wordsmiths. For more information: Neville Murray, director of LJAC 402-502-5291 OR Empowerment Services for Youth, Director -Mrs. T. Nedds 402-612-0986. (2nd and 4th Saturday)

• 1/24, Sa-- 4-5:45pm, X Poetry CommUNITY,Open Mic @ The Spot is back! Join us at Charles B. Washington Branch Library (2868 Ames Ave, Omaha). This is an open mic event with occasional features. Hosted by prahduct and God's Gift. This event is FREE and open to the public, just come in and join us in the "The Spot" located inside the library. For further info contact God's Gift at ywright08@yahoo.com or prahduct at productoftha88@yahoo.com, (402)659-8353. (Every 2nd and 4th Saturday)

• 1/26, M-- 7pm, Naked Words Open Mike at the Benson Grind (6107 Maple Street, Omaha, 932-4040). Poetry, Frivolty, the Occasional Pop-Tart. Hosted by Heidi Hermanson, email prairie.sky@gmail.com for more information. (last Monday)

• 1/26, M-- 8-10pm, Poetry at the Moon, at Crescent Moon Coffee (816 P Street, Lincoln): Featured Reader, 7 - 8 pm, then open mike after. For more information, contact the Martinsons at crescentmoon@inebraska.com or see www.crescentmooncoffee.com/.

• 1/27, Tu-- 9pm signup, 9:30 start, it's Shoot Your Mouth Off III at The Hideout (320 S 72nd St, 504-4434). An evening of poetry, comedy and chaos the way it was meant to be seen: in a bar with 50 of your closest friends! See why our regulars think this is the best free show in Omaha. Check myspace.com/shootyourmouthoff for interviews with features and more information. Bad Andy and Jim Morrison will be your hosts as open mic poetry and comedy, featured readers from Omaha's SLAM scene and free drinks prizes await you. (every Tuesday)

• 1/28, W-- 8pm-12am, Acoustic Open Mic for musicians and poets at Meadowlark Coffee & Espresso (1624 South St, Lincoln). Hosted by Spencer. For more information call 402-477-2007. (every Wednesday)

• 1/28, W-- 9pm, If you're looking for a place to enjoy some live music by The Last Few, poetry readings by local poets, and neo-soul music on a relaxed upscale level join us for The Midwest Poetry Vibe at The 1507 Ultra Lounge (1507 Farnam St, Omaha) which is now being compared to Russell Simmons Def Poetry Jam. Ladies in free till 10pm, $2.00 drink specials all night long, and great entertainment. Regular admission is $5.00 after 10pm. (every Wednesday)

• 1/29, Th-- 7pm, Poetry Slam in Vermillion, SD at the Coffee Shop Gallery (24 W Main Street). $5 at the door. Sponsored by the Vermillion Literary Project. For more information, see http://www.usd.edu/orgs/projlit/vlpslam.cfm (last Thursday of the month)

• 1/29, Th-- 7-8:30pm, the Park Teen Center Underground Open Mike Coffeehouse Night. Open mic/slam poetry/hot cocoa/coffee/acoustic music for Grades 8 thru 12 at Park School (855 S 8th St (basement of the school), Lincoln). For more info, call 402/441-9471. $1 cover. (last Thursday of the month)

• 1/31, Sa-- 2pm, Poetry roundtable at Blue Bottle Coffeehouse (508 N. Main St. Fremont, 402/941-2583). (Last Saturday)

Coming Up:

• 2/4, W-- 7-8:15, SouthEast Community College presents Brian Bedard and Jim Reese in Hawk’s Landing (Norfolk). Brian Bedard’s story collection Grieving on the Run (Snake Nation Press, 2006) won the Serena McDonald Kennedy Fiction Award, several of his stories have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, and the South Dakota Council of Teachers of English honored him as the 2008 South Dakota Author of the Year. Jim Reese’s most recent collection of poetry, These Trespasses (Backwaters Press, 2005, 2006), includes poems nominated for the Pushcart Prize, and he is the 2008 and 2009 National Endowment for the Arts Writer-in-Residence at the Yankton Federal Prison Camp.

• 2/25, W-- 7-8pm, SouthEast Community College presents David Bristow in Hawk’s Landing (Norfolk). David Bristow is associate director for research and publications at the Nebraska State Historical Society, the editor of Nebraska History magazine, a former managing editor of Nebraska Life magazine, and the author of A Dirty, Wicked Town: Tales of 19th Century Omaha (Caxton Press, 2000), and a forthcoming book for young adult readers, The Sky Sailors: True Stories of the Balloon Era (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux).

• 3/17, W-- 7-8pm, SouthEast Community College presents Maria Mazziotti Gillan in Hawk’s Landing (Norfolk). Maria Mazziotti Gillan is Founder and Executive Director of the Poetry Center at Passiac County Community College, Director of the Creative Writing Program and Professor of Poetry at Binghamton University-State University of New York, editor of the Paterson Literary Review, and the author of eight books of poetry, the most recent, All That Lies Between Us (Guernica Editions, 2007), winner of a 2008 American Book Award.

• 4/11, Sa-- Noon-6pm, 10 years of poetry slam in Omaha reading and celebration at the Omaha Healing Arts Center (1216 Howard St., Omaha). More info and list of readers TBA.

• 4/11, Sa-- 7:30pm, 2009 Omaha Poetry Slam Team Finals at the Omaha Healing Arts Center (1216 Howard St., Omaha). 12 poets who've qualified at the monthly poetry slam from December-March qualify for tonight's competition. The team will compete at the National Poetry Slam this August in Miami.

• 4/24-26, Brownville's Wine, Writers & Song Festival in Brownville, NE. More info coming.