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| Thea Hopkins: A few guitar lengths from Somerville |
Boston National Poetry Month Festival,
2019
Now, with more music!
By Kirk Etherton
This year's Festival is April 3-7 (see
website below). As a Somerville resident, poet, and musician, I
always enjoy writing about it from a "Somerville perspective."
This year's photo is—for a change—of an artist who lives just
over the line, but still in "Camberville." (Or is it
"Somerbridge?")
Thea has released several CDs, and
tours extensively. On Saturday, April 6, she'll bring her uniquely
fine singing and guitar playing to the Commonwealth Salon, in Boston
Public Library, Copley Square. As in previous years, this is where
much of the Festival takes place.
Saturday is the Festival's biggest day,
and it includes lots of Somerville folks. Doug Holder, founder and
publisher of "Ibbetson Street Press," will start with a
tribute to Sam Cornish, Boston's first Poet Laureate. Somerville
resident, poet, and State Rep. Denise Provost is a featured reader.
Lloyd Schwartz, the City's newest Poet
Laureate (plus a Pulitzer Prize-winning music critic), will share his
poetry—as well as other creative observations. Our former Poet
Laureate, Gloria Mindock, is also a publisher: when I host the "Panel
on Craft and Publishing," she'll have many insights to share.
Berklee professor Lucy Holstedt (yes,
of Somerville) will read some of her own poetry, and provide piano
accompaniment for a number of other featured readers. Lucy also
produces the Festival's always-popular "Evening of Poetry, Music
& Dance," which this year is Thursday, April 4.
The New England Poetry Club was founded
over 100 years ago. Hear what the NEPC is up to these days, from
Somervillians Hilary Sallick (Vice President) and Linda Conte
(Treasurer)—plus Mary Buchinger, President.
Sunday at the Commonwealth Salon,
Somerville singer-songwriter Madelyn Holley, age seven, will probably
be making her third Festival appearance. (Last year, she performed a
really good song about fish.) The great claw hammer banjo player Yani
Batteau, who was a City resident for years, will perform a number of
original and other songs.
Oh...and Somerville's incomparable Bert
Stern will be one of 10 Keynote Poets I'll have the honor of hosting
at the BPL on Friday afternoon.
Somerville establishments that
generously help to make this a FREE festival include: the UPS Store &
Business Center on Somerville Avenue; Siam Ginger Thai Cuisine; and
Master Printing & Signs.
Thanks also to Market Basket, for
helping to promote the Festival. (You can probably find one of the
Festival's fine printed programs at the front of the store.)
These are all great local businesses
I've relied on for years. Special thanks to the Sater family: without
them, we wouldn't have the Arts at the Armory (or The Middle East
Restaurants & Nightclubs, over in Central Square.)
Don't forget to take a good look: http://www.bostonnationalpoetry.org
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