Words left in the dark tend to be lonely. Without an audience, a reader or perhaps only a sympathetic ear, talent rusts from disuse like an old hinge. Writing needs to be shared, and The Writer needs to be showcased for their contributions to keeping the art of “storytelling” alive. The Open Mic still lives. The InKY Reading Series [4] will kick off its Fall season tonight and display a healthy helping of words – both spoken and sung.
The InKY Reading Series is a free monthly show of music and literature that allows both established authors and amateur scribblers to impart their work in the intimate and “artistically delicious” atmosphere of The Bard’s Town [5] restaurant and lounge. With featured writers hailing from Boston, Los Angeles, St. Louis, Atlanta, Portland, Chicago, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, as well as from every urban and rural region of Kentucky, InKY has no shortage of diverse voices. Tonight’s headlining authors are two established, regional writers, Julie Marie Wade and Erin Keane; their readings begin at 8pm and will follow the musical stylings of Cadillac Young, who takes the stage at 7:30pm.
Currently a doctoral candidate and graduate teacher in the Humanities program at the University of Louisville, Julie Marie Wade is a local and well-awarded writer. She is the author of two collection of lyric nonfiction, Wishbone: A Memoir in Fractures (Colgate University Press) and Small Fires (Sarabande Books), as well as two collections of poetry, Without (Finishing Line Press) and Postage Due (White Pine Press). Wade is also a recent recipient of an Al Smith Individual Arts Grant from the Kentucky Arts Council and the Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Memoir.
Wade’s co-star for the evening is Erin Keane, an established poet and familiar face in Louisville’s literary scene. In addition to writing articles for popular local publications such as the LEO and Velocity, Keane is also the author of two poetry collections, including her most recent novel in verse Death-Defying Acts (WordFarm). Keane is a recipient of the Al Smith Fellowship from the Kentucky Arts Council and also serves as a poetry editor of Strange Horizons. She currently teaches in the core faculty of the National University MFA program.
InKY is also a venue for aspiring writers to share their talent with a fresh, receptive crowd. Open Mic begins at 7pm, and allows writers of every shape and style the opportunity to bring their words out of the dark. Many featured InKY writers first cut their literary teeth at the Open Mic before becoming published authors. Sign-ups for a turn in the spotlight begin at 6:30pm for six to eight three minute spots.
Skip the club scene, and head out with your friends for a quirky and erudite night of music, good beer and words!
Schedule
6:30PM Open Mic sign-ups
7:00—7:30PM Open Mic
7:30—8:00PM Live music
8:00—9:00PM Featured readers
The Bard’s Town [5] is located at 1801 Bardstown Rd on the corner of Bardstown Road and Speed Avenue
For more information about the InKY Reading Series or for a list of all featured writers visit www.louisvilleliteraryarts.org [6]
Photo: Courtesy of Louisville Literary Arts website www.louisvilleliterarts.org [7]