Moving Galleries

It's that time again, time to move your gallery Victoria! It's train poetry time, art replacing advertising, making commuters eyes pretty on the inside:Submit here




Also vote for your favorite poet and win five hundie! Here is a vid featuring my haiku from last season. If you vote for me it will make you prettier.

Nothing Rhymes with RRR

I am the host of a new podcast with the Australian Poetry Centre and RRR called Nothing Rhymes with RRR

It's now in it's fourth episode on the theme of sex: the poetry of lust and the language of erotica. It features Sean M Whelan, Michael Nolan and Ben Pobjie in the 'season finale' of Poet Want's A Wife, an interview with poet and prose writer Melissa Ashely author of The Hospital for Dolls along with a dip in at Sexpo. There are readings from Ezra Bix and special guest Alan Brough with excerpts from The Australian Poetry Centre's excellent publication Blue Dog. So swish your ears over to the RRR website for an oral...I mean aural poetry experience.

blush.

explode your day with this:

The Year's Most Amazing Scientific Images

This striking image actually shows part of an ox's eye, and the capillaries in it. Capillaries are small blood vessels, which act as the connective network between arteries and veins. The capillaries have been made visible by injection of an insoluble dye into the artery that supplied them.





The Grand Prismatic hot spring is a deep thermal spring, richly colored by growths of exotic heat-loving micro-organisms. Some believe they offer a glimpse of what the first life on earth would have looked like.

Elemental at the Melbourne Planetarium

Our Melbourne Arts Festival Show Elemental is in full swing! We had opening night Sunday and our next shows are on the 15th, 18th and 22nd of October.

Elemental is a unique exploration of science, mind and the infinite universe showcased under the spectacular dome theatre of the planetarium. Poets, musicians, sound and video artists – and world renowned science writer John Gribbin – have collaborated to present the world of the most literary, dazzling and passionate stars.

For centuries, poets have looked to the skies and attempted to scribble meaning into the galaxies. The novelist Peter de Vries once wrote, 'The universe is like a safe to which there is a combination, but the combination is locked up in the safe.' What if we had a key, even if only for a moment? What if we could measure, in words, what we have only imagined? Einstein took the view, 'the most incomprehensible thing about the universe is that it is comprehensible.' What if he is right?

The artists involved in this show explore four different theories of the beginnings of the universe: The Big Bang, The Theory of Everything, Dark Matter and M Theory. Are these the lost poetic lectures of the beginning of time?

The show has many exciting components: Legendary UK experimental musicians Nurse with Wound have contributed a new piece commissioned especially for Elemental, based on the theory that the resonant frequency of the Big Bang was F#. The memorable voice of the late Dr Carl Sagan – the writer and creator of the award-winning series Cosmos – is on loan for one of the works. And Martin Bush, the curator of Science Communication at the Melbourne Planetarium, uses his astronomical artistry and skill to guide us through the night sky to where the poets, sound artists and video artists await you, the audience member, alone with Science in the Dark.



Artists include:
Alicia Sometimes, Emilie Zoey Baker, Sean M. Whelan, Paul Mitchell, Ai Yamamoto, Mim Whiting, Nat Bates, Ruben Hilario, Lawrence English, Rob Kennedy, Andrew Watson, Chris Nelms, Alice Garner, Claire Fischer, and costume design by Sootie Barczak.

The North American Tour recap part 1

Well it's been an amazing 6 months, a long time in between posts and a really busy next six months coming my way! I am involved with a pretty exciting new project for this years Melbourne International Arts Festival along with a brand new spanking Liner Notes for this years Melbourne Writers Festival as well with being the Victorian coordinator for the Australian Poetry Slam. Whew! More info to follow on all those super things.
I wanted to post some pictures from our amazing North American Tour where myself, Sean M Whelan and Alicia Sometimes traveled to Vancouver, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, New York and Chicago. We saw so many wondrous things including snow covered mountains, the famous youtube otters, tons of stages and microphones, great poetry and mangoes, lots of mangoes. We traveled icy train lines, met a stunning array of Canadians and Americans and performed bucketloads of poetry.
First Stop was Vancouver. We were there for two nights and read at the The Spillious Speak n Sing. It was a beautiful city and one I would visit again. I was hankering for a little island adventure I really want to go back and explore the whole state!


some shots of downtown Vannie

The wonderfully talented Warren Dean Fulton


Alicia's book 'Soundtrack' next to a flyer from a Vancouver reading.


The incomparable RC Weslowski great poet and co-host of Wax Poetic 102.7FM (same dial as RRR woot.)

Second stop: Ottawa. In this stunning city we ran around twirling in the sparkling snow, everywhere you looked it was like a Meg Ryan movie. The locals thought we were bananas, excitedly grinning and jumping, making snow angels. We performed as part of the AB series at on The National Arts Centre’s Fourth Stage and it was a wonderful night. Max Middle did some super cool sound poetry and it was hosted by CBC Radio’s Alan Neal. The Ottawanians were amazing, Glenn Nuotio and Kevin Matthews (who taught me how to skate on the canal)were particularly generous and hosted us Aussies with flair.
We also received an invitation from The Australian High Commissioner, his Excellency Justin Brown, we had snacks and a dangerous amount of day-wine meeting all the interesting poetry people of Ottawa.


Alicia and Sean, thrilled in snow.


Max and Glen at CBC Radio


Snow covered tables at the University.


Max Middle on stage at the Arts Centre


Downtown Ottawa

The next morning after the gig we woke up at an hour I'm not comfortable to say and took a long snowy train journey to Toronto...




Sean modeling my travel pillow.

Unfortunately I was sick in Toronto so I missed that gig but Sean and Alicia said it was electric! Doh! Next stop was Montreal... TBC...

Indifeed!

Us US tour monkeys have been featured on Indifeed! New York's coolest Podcast showcasing the best poetry and spoken from around the states and beyond check it Sean M Whelan, Alicia Sometimes and mee!

It's usually hosted by the devastatingly cool Mongo Bearwolf. But this week it's hosted by the wondrous effervescent lemonade bubble poet fantastical Cristin O'Keefe Aptowicz(pictured)
She talks about the Australian spoken word Scene in Melbourne and relays her experiences performing both there and at the Sydney Opera house. We are silly excited to be sharing the stage with her and Shappy for our gig at the Bowery Club in New York on the 15th Feb!
Zam!

North American Tour!

Myself and my two poetry bosom buddies Sean M Whelan and Alicia Sometimes are about to go on tour!
We have been invited to perform at the Festival Voix d’Amériques in Montréal so our dates are shaped like this

Vancouver
Wednesday Feb 4 2pm Wax Poetic 102.7FM
Co-op radio
Then at 7.45pm
The Spillious Speak n Sing
Cottage Bistro 4468 Main street

Ottawa
Friday February 6
11:30am
An invitation from The Australian High Commissioner! His Excellency Justin Brown
the High Commissioner's Residence, 407 Wilbrod Street.

Then the next night:
06 Feb 2009, 7:30PM, Hear from Melbourne - National Arts Centre - Fourth Stage
53 Elgin Street Ottawa, Ontario Hear from Melbourne.
Four of Australia’s Hottest Performance Poets!
The A B Series in association with Kevin Matthews presents four acclaimed Australian performance poets,
Alicia Sometimes,
Emilie Zoey Baker,
Justin Ashworth and
Sean M Whelan,
on The National Arts Centre’s Fourth Stage.
The evening’s program will be hosted by CBC Radio’s Alan Neal. Cash bar Reception and book/CD signing to follow
Tickets $18 available at The National Arts Centre Box Office and online through Ticketmaster http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=42371229108&h=H4tjO&u=O8XB0
also check the website here at
http://abseries.org/node/63

Toronto
Feb 7th, 08:00 PM @ Cervejaria 842 College. Toronto, Ontario Cost:$5
:A night of Poetry and Poets slammin, reading and jazzin Emilie Zoey Baker, Sean M Whelan and Alicia Sometimes along with Toronoians David Silverberg and crew plus American poet Christian Drake $5

Montreal
February 8-13, 2009 Festival Voix d’Amériques FVA showcase February 10, 8.30pm
MEL versus YUL ou Melbourne meets Montréal Casa Del Popolo
4873, Boulevard Saint-Laurent
with Emilie Zoey Baker, Sean M Whelan, Justin Ashworth and Montrealers Corey Frost, Puggy Hammer and The Capital of Plastic Daffodils. Hosted by David McGimpsey

Going Down Swinging #27 launch
Lancement de la revue
Wednesday February 11, 5 – 7pm Casa Del Popolo
4873, Boulevard Saint-Laurent with Emilie Zoey Baker, Sean M Whelan, Justin Ashworth, David Prater and Montrealers Ian Ferrier, Victoria Stanton and Fortner Anderson.

New York City
15 Feb 2009, 06:00 PM - The Bowery Poetry Club
308 Bowery Street (Between Houston and Bleecker) New York City, New York Emilie Zoey Baker, Cristin Aptowitz O’keefe, Shappy, Sean M Whelan and Justin Ashworth Three of Australia’s top performance poets battle it out with New York’s finest, a night of spoken word, sass, vagina’s, spacemen, music and the word moist. mail@bowerypoetry.com
212-614-0505

Chicago
22 Feb 2009, 08:00 PM - The Green Mill Bar in Chicago. Green Mill Jazz Club 4802 N. Broadway Ave. Chicago, Illinois 60640,
Best Slam in Illinois! the Uptown Poetry Slam. Sean M Whelan and Emilie Zoey Baker book: 773.878.5552
email: greenmill@comcast.net
web: http://www.greenmilljazz.com/poetryslam.html


Then after that I am heading to Mexico for a writing holiday. My head is already deep in the fascinating world of ancient and contemporary Mexico. maybe see you on the road...

Liner Notes #7 ACDC's Back In Black +Benefit for the North American Tour!

‘Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution’
— Brian Johnson


Babble presents Liner Notes #7: AC/DC’s Back In Black! The Liner Notes series is Melbourne’s hottest spoken word ticket, a poetic tribute to a classic album. Babble invites a bunch of writers, comedians, artists and poets to respond to each track off a killer record, which they then perform in sequence. The house band, The Crumbling Beauties, perform wild interpretations of the songs in between, with the stupidly charismatic Michael Nolan as host.

In the past, Liner Notes has tackled Madonna's Like A Virgin, The Velvet Underground & Nico, David Bowie's Hunky Dory, Nirvana's Nevermind and The Cure's Head On The Door. A special encore performance of Like A Virgin also attracted record crowds at this year’s Fringe Festival.

On 17 December Liner Notes interprets the ultimate Aussie classic, AC/DC’s 1980 legendary Back In Black. What better way to celebrate the long-awaited new Acker/Dacker album?

This special night is also a fundraiser to help three Liner Notes regulars to take their poetry to the world, à la AC/DC. Alicia Sometimes (of Aural Text on RRR) Sean M Whelan (CEO of Babble) and Emilie Zoey Baker (multi-slam champion) have been invited to perform in Canada at the Festival Voix d’Amerique, as well doing an Australian Showcase performance at New York’s famous Bowery Club and Chicago’s Green Mill bar.

So dress in you finest Acker/Dacker wear to vie for the Best Bogan Award.

Raffles throughout the night with brilliant prizes including a Northcote fun day prize pack with gift vouchers to all the coolest shops like Subterranian, I Dream a Highway, Willow Bar and Meine Liebe plus lovely things from T2, records from Off The Hip and Collectors Corner and loads of books from the book gods.

Track list is as follows:

1. "Hells Bells" – EZB
2. "Shoot to Thrill" – Ben Pobjie
3. "What Do You Do for Money Honey" – Alicia Sometimes
4. "Givin' the Dog a Bone" – Justin Heazelwood
5. "Let Me Put My Love into You" – Paul Mitchell
6. "Back in Black- The Solid Boge Dancers with Helen Wheels and Sandy van Panel.
7. "You Shook Me All Night Long" – Yana Alana
8. "Have a Drink on Me" – Sean M Whelan
9. "Shake a Leg" – Ian Bland (JVG show RRR)
10. "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" – Josh Earl

Hell’s Bells, it’s gonna be grouse!
So shake a leg, pull on your uggies, down a can o’ bourbon & coke, and head to Bar Open. We promise to shake you all night long.

THIS is what we do for money, honey.

and it'll only cost you a tenna
Wednesday, December 17, 2008, 8:00pm, Bar Open
317 Brunswick St Fitzroy

snap walking

Inspired by Gracia Haby and her beautiful Blog I took my camera out walking today and found myself snapping the things that I like most about my hood. I like to travel a different way each day, finding myself in hidden places, finding secret nooks and mysterious crannys, as well as a few grannys along the way.


My favorite laneway


weeping willows in the sunshine


Two lilies in love. As I was taking this pic a wee grandma with a matching wee dog came up and informed me that it's a 'sin' to have lilies in Australia, she said 'They rip em out, but the lilies keep on growing, they have a strong will to live.'


Ducks circle around a drowned shopping trolley


a puzzle piece to someone's life.

Where the wild things are.


and below my knees...

A ghost car parked in the tall grass

Cnr of Gertrude and Smith

Looking over the fences, what's growing down there?

The Confession Files

What does it feel like to witness a crime and stay silent? How can you suddenly snap one day and hurt the person you love? Why ruin everything you have worked desperately to keep? Can there ever be absolution, atonement, forgiveness? The Confession Files is a night of monologues, poetry, passion and lyrical confession of crimes.
Join writers
Sean M Whelan,
Emilie Zoey Baker,
Paul Mitchell
and alicia sometimes
on a search to explain deeds that often defy explanation.
Directed by Kieran Carroll.

As part of the Exploration Series at La Mama.


12th -14th October.
Sun, Mon, Tue.
7.30pm
$12
La Mama Theatre
205 Faraday Street Carlton, Australia
bookings 9347 6948