News, New & Of Note

Welcome to News, New & Of Note where you'll find the latest happenings from our friends and family in the Poetry, Music and Art world. Check back often as we'll update with the latest and greatest happenings as they cross our desks here at Insomniacathon.org

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Of Note In this Holiday Season 2007, we here at Insomniacathon On-Line! wish each and every one Peace, Patience and Pace, right here, right now and throughout the New Year! Click Here for "A Wish and A Prayer"

News & Of Note - The Trip Is Over but The Journey Continues - Ron Whitehead just back from San Francisco after touring with Gerry Nicosia, Steve Dalachinsky and Rob Zoschke highlighting the release of the new book "Reflections upon The 50th Anniversary of Jack Kerouac's On The Road" brings white hot prose to Air Devil's on 12/22 with Paul K and The Weathermen and 12/28 Ron combines energies with with Scott Mertz and Freddie Wethington (both of The Shinerunners who performed at LIPS II) for Southside an amalgam of outlaw Country and Spoken Word at The Rudyard Kipling. For a reverberant reflect of Ron's experiences in San Francisco read his latest emote, "Searching For Jack Kerouac."
Just Added! - January 1st Ron Whitehead joins Paul K and The Weathermen again at Air Devil's Inn for The Annual Townes Van Zandt Tribute!





Of Note - War Is Over If You Want It - December 8th marks the day John Lennon was senselessly taken from this world. On this December 8th, Yoko Ono asks all people of the world to make it a Day of Healing. Insom brother, Michael Dean Pollock who lives in Reykjavik, Iceland where the Imagine Peace Tower resides reflects on John Lennon on this Day of Healing. Click Here To Read his story, Lennon Lightening Strikes Thrice.


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News, New & Of Note! "Reflections upon The 50th Anniversary of Jack Kerouac's On The Road" hits the Road with Ron Whitehead and Robert M. Zoschke making appearences in the San francisco Bay area! Click Here for More Details!

News, New & Of Note! American composer, musician and writer David Amram was born November 17, 1930 in Philadelphia. His eclectic use of jazz, ethnic and folk music has led him to work with the likes of Thelonious Monk, Willie Nelson, Charles Mingus, Leonard Bernstein and Jack Kerouac. Insomniacathon On-Line! celebrates his creative pioneering work and collaborations with stars from the worlds of music, literature theater and film. Click Here and join us at the Insomniacathon On-Line! David Anram 77th Birthday Party!


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News & Of Note! - The Lincoln Center Library Celebrates David Amram and the NY Shakespeare Festival - On November 17th, The New York Public Library of the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center is hosting a Shakespeare and Music series celebrating David Amram's 77th Birthday and the 50th anniversary of the opening season of Shakespeare in the Park which David was the NYSF music director and composer for their first eleven seasons.



Joining in the celebration will be cast and crew members from the the earliest days of the 1956 Lower East Side pre-Central Park era at The Public Theater. Performers including Metropolitan Opera violist Midhat Serbagi, pianist Heidi Upton,opera singers Anne McCenna and David Kellet will perform excerpts from David's opera Twelfth Night with a libretto by Joe Papp, the founder of the New York Shakespeare Festival.

Also performing will be Adira, Alana and Adam Amram with John Ventimiglia reading from David's first book Vibrations about meeting and collaborating with Joe Papp in 1956 as well as an excerpt from hids latest book, Upbeat: Nine Lives of a Musical Cat, in a chapter about David's work in the theater. The festivites start at 3 PM, admission is free.

News & Of Note! - From Louisville to New York and Beyond! - Louisville Blues jewel, Tyrone Cotton comes to the Turning Point for a double-header of smokin' soulful Blues. On 11/16 Tyrone opens for legendary Texas Blues GuitSlinger, Johnny Winter and on 11/17 Tyrone and his band take the headline and will be joined by NYC poet, Frank Messina for an evening of Blues SoulSpoke performing new excursions from the new Frank Messina and Ron Whitehead CD, "Walking Home" amongst other favorites. Either of these shows is a Can't Miss, Click Here To Reserve tickets for these fabulous shows!




News, New & Of Note - Veterans Day 2007 -
The story of a Son of a Soldier and their search for that great city in anthother world system is a reflect from Insom contributing journalist, Jeremy Hogan, from the new Ron Whitehead and Rob Zoschke (editors) book, "Reflections upon The 50th Anniversary of Jack Kerouac's On The Road" just released at this year's LIPS II Festival in London. Click Here To Read.




Of Note - Bring It Forth - the transcendent American journalist, Norman Mailer, died November 10th in NYC, he was 84. His achievements included publishing 30 books, helping found The Village Voice and twice winning the Pulitzer Prize. Click Here To Read The Village Voice's, Harry Bruinius' reflect on one of the great American writers of the 20th century. Also Of Note - Click Here To Read fellow Village Voice writer, Tom Robbins', "Why Mailer Matters - Appreciating the rascal writer who started it all."

News, New & Of Note - Astrologick Comes To Insomniacathon - Gary Paul Glynn is the author of Astologick a popular weekly astrological report that offers intelligent people another look at astrology, one that utilizes the planets and signs in the way they were meant to be understood, not just fortune cookies. Click Here To Learn More about and Read the Premiere Weekly Forecast of Astrologick!




Of Note - Fred W. McDarrah - Veteran Village Voice photographer Fred W. McDarrah died in his sleep at home in Greenwich Village early Tuesday morning. He was 81. Over a 50-year span, McDarrah documented the rise of the Beat Generation, NYC's postmodern art movement, its off-off-Broadway actors, musicians, politicians, rabble-rousers and social protests. Click Here To Learn More about this visionary photographic artist.

News, New & Of Note - Multi-instrumentalist, Graphic Artist and Documentarian, Thordis "Thordeez" Claessen is an interweaving creative force in the Icelandic Music and Art scene and has brought forth a stunning new Photo Book, “Icepick - Icelandic Street Art" . The culimanation of 6 years of photos in and around Reykjavik, Icepick is a brilliant collection of street art images about the folklore, music, art and politics of Iceland. Click Here To Learn More about this dynamic artist from the Northlands!

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Of Note! On this November 2nd,,"PoorBob" Sushko weighs in with some sooth on this All Souls Day (aka Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead) 2007! Click Here to read his reflect.





Of Note! On Halloween 2003 Ron Whitehead took to the stage of The Rudyard Kipling in Louisville, KY to kick off the start of 72 hours of Poetry and Music at the 10th Insomniacathon. Click Here to view his rousing Welcome and Proclaimation in "From Hank Williams Grave to Insomniacathon 2003, Keeping The Flame Alive!" Also Click Here to view David Amram's Hymn and Harken of "Amazing Grace" . Be sure to visit The Galleria at Insomniacathon On-Line! Click Here for more Video, Pix and Page from this historic event!

Of Note On October 26, 2001, poets and musicians from around the globe converged in London, England to bring spoken word and song to the first London International Poetry and Song Festival (LIPS). Conceived in 2000 by poet and writer Richard Deakin, LIPS intention was to be an extension of the theme of contemporary performance poetry with a musical background (which has been evolving for the past 50 years into a Beatific heritage) and bring it all together in an international amalgam which still reverberates to this day, and now . . .

News, New & Of Note! - This November 10-12, LIPS II will exclaimate in celebration the continued perpetuation of this Beatific heritage at London's Marquee Club. Click Here To Learn More about LIPS past and soon to come!




News, New & Of Note! - Chicago Calling - Chicago Calling Arts Festival, Chicago-based artists will showcase performances and projects that involve collaborations with artists living in the USA and in other countries around the globe. The collaborations between the Chicago artists and those living elsewhere will be prepared, improvised, or a combination of both. Some of the performances will involve live feeds between Chicago and elsewhere. Be sure to go to WNUR 89.3 FM for some of these Live Feeds streaming on the Web!

Chicago Calling is part of Chicago Artists Month. Click on the above banners to find out more about these exciting happenings!



New Releases from . . .

News & Of Note - New Releases from Published In Heaven - October reveals three new CD's and a book from Published In Heaven. "Don't Die Yet" from Sarah Elizabeth, "Walking Home" from Ron Whitehead and Frank Messina and Ron Whitehead's "I Refuse" CD and new book "The Wanderer" are all officially released this month. In celebration of these releases there are Release performances at Ear X-tacy (October 19th, 7 PM) and Clark-Todd Hall at The Kentucky Center (October 20th, 8 PM) both in Louisville, KY. The CD's and book are now available, visit Published In Heaven On-Line for more info.



News & Of Note - The Journey Goes On - Celebrating 50 Years ofJack Kerouac's On The Road - October finds David Amram in Denver, CO from October 14th thru the 18th to celebrate Kerouac's spirit and legacy. Click Here for More Info on David's Celebration dates in Denver!

Air Check David Amram & Trio appear Live on KUVO FM on October 16th at 4 PM MDT (6 PM EDT) Click Here To Listen Live on The Web!

News & Of Note - Imagine Peace - This October 9th would have been John Lennon's 67th Birthday. On this day, Yoko Ono will dedicate the Imagine Peace Tower on the island of Videy, near Reykjavík, Iceland. The Imagine Peace Tower is a beam of light that represents light and power to the realization of World Peace, which was John Lennon's lifetime wish, and what he had worked for. You too can send your wish for World Peace by visiting www.imaginepeace.com .

Of Note - Happy Birthday Sputnik! - On October 4, 1957, Sputnik I was launched. The fact that the Russians were in space and the U.S. was not was shocking due to the military implications. On April 2, 1958. San Francisco Chronicle reporter,Herb Caen coined the term by adding the Russian suffix -nik after Sputnik I to the Beat Generation. Hence the word "Beatnik." Click Here and Learn More about the origin of the word "Beatnik" at WiKi and read a great story at The Beat Miseum of "Have The Beats Found Sputnik?



News & Of Note - 2007 Season? Yea, Now But A Memory - "Some of the greatest poetry has been born out of failure and the depths of adversity in the human experience." The Mets melted down as September dwindled away along with their mid-month seven game lead, The Mets were dealt the final blow on the last day of September, denying them the opprtunity to stand in the October Sun on a play-off field.

The Season is over for The Mets but the story goes on for The Mets Poet, Frank Messina. Click Here To Read David Shankbone's Interview with The Met Poet and his reflect and recount of the apocalyptic Mets Meltdown of 2007 at WikiNews. For more Messina, The Mets and Everything Poetry! Click Here!

News, New & Of Note! - Kerouac's Last Call - On Sunday, September 30th, actor, director, Ed Dennehy, will present a new play by Patrick Fenton entitled “Kerouac's Last Call” at Gunther’s Tap Room , (Jack Kerouac’s old hangout) 84 Main Street, Northport, Long Island at 2:00 PM.



The play deals with Jack Kerouac’s time in Ozone Park, Queens, Richmond Hill, and Northport, Long Island. It is the end of the summer in 1964, a major cultural shift is starting to happen, and on his last night in Northport, Long Island, the America Kerouac saw through a rear view mirror along side of Neal Cassady is slowly playing again in his mind. While wondering back on his road days, he receives a series of soul--searching phone calls from his daughter Jan. “Kerouac's Last Call” stars, Ed Dennehy, Jack O’Connell, Sonja Tannenbaum, Drew Keil, Sophie Vanier, and Michael Newman, music by Sue Sizza. Click Here To Learn More about “Kerouac’s Last Call”




News, New & Of Note - Fuzzy Math - Or how 160+ ganes comes to a common denominator of one. " Chased by Ghosts of Failure while staring through Victory's door" The Mets Poet, Frank Messina, gets tapped by New York Tines' Corey Kilgannon in his 9/29 feature, "A Poet of The Mets Versifies Gloom." It's not over till the last out makes the scoreboard, until then, the phrase remains the same . . . "Ya' Gotta Believe!" For more Messina, The Mets and Everything Poetry! Click Here!

News, New & Of Note! - This Land Is Your Land - World Premiere of "Symphonic Variations On A Song By Woody Guthrie" In a work commissioned by the Guthrie Foundation centered thematically around, This Land is Your Land, Paul Polivnick conducts the premiere performances of David Amram's new orchestral work,to be performed by the Symphony Silicon Valley on September 29th and 30th. Click Here To Read David Amram's Notes for Symphonic Variations on a Song by Woody Guthrie.

News & Of Note - You can hear the world premiere performance of Symphonic Variations on a Song by Woody Guthrie on line from the website of Symphony Silicon Valley. Click Here To Listen!

New & Of Note! On a beautiful late Summer night, The Bowery Poetry Club hosted "Diamonds In The Sidewalks" with David Amram and his quartet celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the publishing of Jack Kerouac's "On The Road."


Joining David in this celebration of sounds and sooth was Tim Moran, John Ventimiglia, Adira Amram, Russell Brand, Casey Cyr, Ron Whitehead, Frank Messina, Katinka Klein and Jose Pacheco.

Insom contributing journalist, Jeremy Hogan was there snapping stills and rolling video. Click Here to view The PhotoBook

And there's some great VidClips Click Here To View John Ventimiglia's "I Think Of Neal", Adira Anram imparts, "On The Roof of America" and Click Here To View Jose Pacheco and his tale of "The Night Charlie Parker Played Tenor at Montmartre Café in Greenwich Village."

Of Note - Joe Zawinul - Pioneering Austrian jazz pianist and founder of the jazz-rock group Weather Report died September 11th in Vienna at age 75. Zawinul, who rose to fame as one of the creators of jazz fusion, won widespread acclaim for his keyboard work with Miles Davis, Dinah Washington and Cannonball Adderley and is credited with bringing the electric piano and synthesizer into the jazz mainstream. Click Here To Learn More about this Jazz-Fusion titan and Click Here to View Video of a great 6 Part RetroSpect of Joe Zawinul on YouTube, Click Here To View.

Of Note On this September 11th Remembrance Day Insomniacthon On-Line brings to you, in respect and reverence to those that have lost and have survived, three New Yorker's intimations of dreams of better days and the potential we all have to make a difference.

View Frank Messina "American't Get Home - Bicycle" Read Susan Gerardi's reveal of potential sadly, senselessly lost in "Boys Dressed As Men." And view James Walck's VidClip "Remember We Will, Forget We Will Not" . This year Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Jazz trumpeter, Jacob Lane, joins us in respect and reverence with his TonePrayer "Grace" .




News, New & Of Note! The annual Howl! Festival named in honor of the groundbreaking poem by Allen Ginsberg attracts more than 100,000 visitors bringing to the clubs, galleries, parks, streets, and theaters of Manhattan's Lower East Side an explosion of poetry, music, dance, film, food, performance, painting, sculpture, and theater. Be sure to visit HowlFest 2007 - News, Events and Performances Page for ALL the details to HowlFest 2007 festivities happening in NYC September 3rd thru 9th!

News & Of Note! Celebrating 50 Years of Jack Kerouac's On The Road - September 5th 2007 marks the 50th Anniversary of the publishing of Jack Kerouac's "On The Road."

Throughout 2007, events marking this milepost have been going on all over the world. Starting in January, Kerouac’s first musical collaborator, David Amram, has been tirelessly "Chasin' Cool' criss-crossing America bringing his unique perspective and style to audiences across the country.

This September finds David bringing his year's travels to a splendorous crescendo in his friend's home town of Lowell, MA and NYC to celebrate Kerouac's spirit and legacy. Click Here for More Info on David's Celebration dates in NYC and Lowell!

News, New & Of Note! "The Mets Poet" will be appearing as a special guest during the Mets vs. Phillies Live SNY Broadcast Wednesday, August 29th at 6:00 p.m at The Clearview's Ziegfeld Theatre 54th Street (btw. 6th and 7th) NYC.Admission is $10 and includes two Mets games tickets to a September matchup vs. the Braves with each admission. Click Here to order tickets on-line.

Also Of Note! Around this time last year, August 4th to be exact, Frank Messina sat in with David Amram and the Trio to read his Mets/Baseball Poetry at The Cornelia Street Cafe'. This evening of SpokeSoul Baseball prose also ran on SNY Magazine show, Mets Weekly. Click Here to View the VidClip . For more Messina, The Mets and Everything Poetry! Click Here!

News & Of Note - The Chicago Poetry Fest - On August 25th, the poets in Chicago will gather together to celebrate the big poetry event of the year! This mega event organized and hosted by CJ Laity features dozens of poets and musicians from in and around Chicago and is a must see and hear! The Chicago Poetry Fest will take place at The Mercury Cafe, 1505 W. Chicago Ave, from 2:30 to 7:30 PM. Admission is free and open to the public. For More info visit www.chicagopoetry.com .

Of Note - Max Roach - the master percussionist whose rhythmic innovations and improvisations defined bebop jazz during a wide-ranging career where he collaborated with artists like Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Lionel Hampton and Charles Mingus passed on August 16th after a long illness, he was 83. Click Here to learn more about this great American treasure and seminal icon in the world of modern music.




News, New & Of Note - Movin' On - After 4 years together as Husband and Wife, Ron Whitehead and Sarah Elizabeth have decided to let go of the institution most commonly recognized as marriage. Neither one known to conform to conventional norms, Ron and Sarah will end their marital relationship but will continue their creative endeavours colaboratively. In final punctuation of this chapter in their lives as Husband and Wife, Ron and Sarh will be presenting Divorce Ron and Sarah Style - Movin' On - An Evening of Kick-Ass Rockin' Blaster Music and Spoken Word at The Rudyard Kipling on August 18th (7-9PM). To Learn More about Divorce Ron and Sarah Style and how they are Movin' On, Click Here to read Joanna Richards story in this weeks Velocity.

News & Of Note! - Soul Journey to The Four Winds - An Evening of Native American Music, Dance, & Spoken Word featuring Grammy nominated Tony Redhouse, Sarah Elizabeth and Ron Whitehead at The Rudyard Kipling July 21, 7PM. - Air Check - Be sure to tune in to WFPK Saturday morning 10 AM EDT July 21st for an interview with Tony Redhouse and Sarah Elizabeth. Click Here to connect to the On-Line stream!




News, New & Of Note! - Politics, Truth and Justice: The Writings of Hunter S. Thompson - On Saturday, July 21st The Aspen Institute will hold a symposium discussing the enduring qualities of Thompson’s writing, both in terms of content and style, and will examine how these qualities influenced journalism, literature, politics and counter culture. Click Here To Learn More about this event in a letter from Hunter's Son, Juan Thompson.

Of Note! Poet, Activist, Raul Salinas, a tireless crusader for human rights and social justice is one of the few remaining poetic voices from a special circle of writers including Jose Antonio Burciaga, Ricardo Sanchez, Miguel Piñero and Pedro Pietri. A people’s poet, aka the “cockroach poet,” Salinas has traveled the world as a champion of indigenous philosophies and revolutionary-humanist ideologies. It has come to our attention Raul has become seriously ill. If you would like to honor him, please write a letter to the Mexican-American Cultural Center and request that a space or room in the center be named for Mr. Salinas. Send your letters to: Warren Strauss, Director, Austin Parks and Recreation - P.O. Box 1088 - Austin, TX 78767. Click Here To Learn More about Raul Salinas.



Of Note! - Fire The Grid - On July 17, 2007 at 7:11am EDT (11:11am GMT) there will be a a massive international effort to bring together as many humans as possible, throughout the world from every corner of the globe, to simply sit and pray or meditate for one hour in a collective conection to heal our planet and to heal ourselves. Click Here To Learn More about Fire The Grid.

News, New & Of Note! - Internet Neutrality The FCC recently launched an official inquiry into Net Neutrality. They're already hearing plenty from AT&T, Verizon and Comcast - who want to be the gatekeepers deciding what you can do online. Now they need to hear from you.This may be the best chance we have this year to demonstrate to Washington that protecting Internet freedom is an issue that matters to millions of Americans. Please Tell your story to the FCC Now! Deadline is Julu 16th! . Click Here To Learn More and Make Your Voice Heard!


News, New & Of Note! - 7.7.07 - The Concert for A Climate In Crisis - Live Earth is a 24-hour, 7-continent concert series taking place on 7/7/07 that will bring together more than 150 music artists and 2 billion people to trigger a global movement to solve the climate crisis. Live Earth will reach this worldwide audience through an unprecedented global media architecture covering all media platforms - TV, radio, Internet and wireless channels. Live Earth concerts will be broadcast to a live worldwide audience by MSN at .LiveEarth.MSN.com. For complete details visit LiveEarth.org .

News, New & Of Note! - Kerouac's Last Call - On Thursday, July 5th, at 8:00 P.M., The Image Theater of Lowell, MA will present a new play by Patrick Fenton entitled "Kerouac's Last Call." The play deals with Kerouac's time in Ozone Park, Queens and Northport, Long Island. On his last night on Long Island, the America Kerouac saw through a rear view mirror along side of Neal Cassady is slowly playing again in his mind. While wondering in his past wanderlust he recieves some late night calls from his daughter, Jan. "Kerouac's Last Call" is directed by Ann Garvin.and stars Jerry Bisantz as Jack Kerouac. To Learn More about Patrick Fenton and his play "Kerouac's Last Call" Click Here!

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News, New & Of Note! - Endings and Beginnings June 29th was the last night The Pink Pony West Poetry series at The Cornelia Street Cafe will be hosted by Jackie Sheeler. For the past eight years Jackie has shared with many incredible writers and performers at The Pink Pony West. The Friday night series now becomes "Son of a Pony" with a rotating series of hosts. As one door closes another opens for Jackie with the release of her new book "to(o) long" from Three Rooms Press. There will be a release party at the Bowery Poetry Club on Saturday, June 30th (4-6 PM) also being celebrated will be author, Kathi Georges new TRP book "Punk Rock Journal." Thanks for eight great years at PPW and congratulations on the release of "to(o) long."

Of Note On this Bloomsday 2007 History sadly repeats itself in that our nation's latest involvement in "conflict" has passed the terrible toll of 3,500 lives lost. "Mistakes are the portal of discovery." do what you can to help others discover that Peace Is Patriotic.

News, New & Of Note! - Sooth From Shea Stadium - "The Met Poet" Frank Messina waxes poetic on SNY-TV's Mets Weekly magazine show with special guest, world reknown percussionist, Larry McDonald (Dub Is A Weapon, Antibalis, Spoken Motion, Gil Scott Heron, Bob Marley). The Mets Weekly show runs on Saturday 6/16, 12:30 PM (just before the Yanks/Mets afternoon game) and Sunday 6/17 at 6:30 PM and 11:30 PM (EST) Don't miss the fun from the comfort of your own living room...or favorite sports bar! Click Here for more Messina, The Mets and Everything Poetry!

Of Note - Symbol, Statement or Shill - On this Flag Day 2007, an "Observation and Perspective* by Insom alt-journalist, Jeremy Hogan inspired by an ill-flown American Flag. Click Here for Symbol, Statement or Shill .

News, New and Of Note! - Amazing Grace - "The Best concert I've ever had anything to do with. You've got to understand. Since childhood I've attended, performed at, produced, and participated in tens of thousands of concerts round the world. Last night, June 3rd 2007,The Rudyard Kipling Benefit Concert was The Best." - Ron Whitehead - Click Here to Read and See all about the Benefit For The Rudyatd Kipling!

News and Of Note! Rising From The Ashes - Doddi at Cafe Rosenberg Won't Back Down Pordur Palmasson better known as Doddi stands at the crossroads regarding the continuation of Cafe Rosenberg after the recent fire in midtown Reykjavik (Click Here for Fire Story and Pix). He is not impressed with the bullies at City Hall and Doddi's supporters have gathered to raise money and support to reopen Cafe Rosenberg in the same location. Click Here to read his story.

News, New and Of Note For over 2 decades The Rudyard Kipling has been the hallmark of alternative entertaiment in Louisville and the most gracious host of many an Insomniacathon. On June 3rd, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Ron and Sarah Elizabeth Whitehead play a Benefit for Preservation of The Rudyard Kipling.

Of Note On this Memorial Day 2007 we stand in mindful respect for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and bring to you a passage from the Frank Messina poem "The Corresponding Breeze"

And in honor and respect for those who have lost we bring you a VidClip of Joan Baez at Camp Casey in Crawford, TX asking the question once again, "Where Have All The Flowers Gone."

Of Note Happy Birthday Bob Dylan! - We here at Insom celebrate Bob and his great contribution to the Americam Literary Landscape. Fellow Insom alum, Frank Messina was at Dylan's 60th B-Day Bash where he read his B-Day Salute "For Bob Dylan" for Bob and the crowd on that day 5 years ago. Click Here to read Frank's Bobby D B-Day reflect. Happy Birthday Bob! May You Stay Forever Young!

News, New and Of Note! - 20,000 Km, 66 Days, 25 Countries, 2 Bikes, 1 Coast - On May 19th, Chris Schweizer and Stephan Schacher will embark on an exceptional journey. Starting in Istanbul, these two travelers will mount their Harley-Davidson motorcycles and navigate the coast of Europe in 66 days taking them to the northernmost point of Europe.

The journey has begun and the team has been posting entries of Vid, Pix and Text to the True-Spirit Log Book. Click Here and Learn about the freedom dream of True-Spirit.

News, New & Of Note! With the 2007 Baseball Season in full swing, "The Mets Poet", Frank Messina is back in the stands cheering the Amazin's on. As in the 2006 season, SportsNet New York is catching "The Met Poet" on the run, at the Ball Park and about town, tapping him for some Mets sooth as the 07' season steams along. Catch him on the SNY magazine show, "Mets Weekly" on Saturdays and Sundays. Click Here for SNY's broadcast schedule for air times. Also Of Note! On August 4, 2006, Frank Messina sat in with David Amram and the Trio to read his Mets/Baseball Poetry at The Cornelia Street Cafe'. This evening of SpokeSoul Baseball prose also ran on SNY Magazine show, Mets Weekly. Click Here to View the VidClip and be sure to check out Messina, The Mets and Everything Poetry! Click Here to Read Messina's latest SpokeSoul Baseball prose!

News and Of Note On April 23rd, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and tireless author of books on the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement and Professional Sports David Halberstam died in a car crash south of San Francisco. He was 73.

Almost a month to the day prior to his death, Alt-Journalist, Jeremy Hogan, was at one of his lectures in Indiana. Click Here to read his "Reflects of David Halberstam."


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News and Of Note On April 19th downtown Reykjavík experienced one of the largest fires in the capital city's modern history. Home to some of Reykjavík's oldest houses, nearly 100 firefighters fought the blaze for over 24 hours. Amongst the buildings ravaged by the fire was Cafe Rosenberg, Iceland's oldest Jazz/Blues/Folk music venue and home to countless other musicians, poets and performers. Click Here for Fire Story and Pix

Of Note On April 22, 1970, 20 million people, 2,000 colleges and universities, 10,000 grammar and high schools and 1,000 communities mobilized for the first nationwide demonstrations on environmental problems. Congress adjourned for the day so members could attend Earth Day events in their districts. The response was nothing short of remarkable, and the modern American environmental movement took off. Click Here for more History detail -

Much has come to protect and nurture this tiny blue marble we all live on but there is is still much more to do if we are to survive in spite of ourselves. In honor of all the efforts past, present and yet to come, two poems. Read Novelist Saulander Evans' "Hunger for a Better Tomorrow" and from his last book, A Man Without A Country, read Kurt Vonnegut's "Requiem".

Mother Earth is our only home. Click Here to Learn 10 Ways you can do your part to help perserve her for our future generations. Think Green! - Happy Earth Day!

News and of Note - So It Goes - American counterculture Novelist, Essayist and Playwright, Kurt Vonnegut Jr. died Wednesday night, April 11th, as a result of injuries sustained from a fall several weeks ago. He was 84. Sparking the imagination of a generation, Vonnegut's dark humor tackled the basic questions of human existence in his self-designed alternate universes but not all of Vonnegut's themes were metaphysical. With a wry, witty blend of science fiction, jokes and philosophy, he took on the banalities of consumer culture, politics and the destruction of the environment. To Learn More about this great American literary titan, Click Here.

Gig & Air Check - Just back home from The Wanderer Tour Ron and Sarah Whitehead celebrate National Poetry Month with an evening of poetry and music in the Moving Mystery Theater Presentation of Plowed Earth at The Rudyard Kipling on April 14th (7-9 PM). Click Here to Listen to the Mp3 of Plowed Earth from the Ron Whitehead and James Walck CD, "The Shape Of Water". Air Check - Be sure to tune into Dan Roberts' KZYX&Z radio show "Rhythm Running River" where you'll hear in studio Wanderer troupe interviews and live excerpts from their performance at The Saturday Afternoon Club in Ukiah, CA. Show airs on April 15th 3 PM PST (6 PM EST) Click Here To Listen Live!

News and of Note! The fabulous Louisville Blues song-stylist, Tyrone Cotton, opens for Grammy Nominee Bluesman, James Hunter at the legendary Turning Point in Piermont, NY on Sunday April 8th.



News and of Note! "The immaculately hip aristocrat," Lord Buckley was the epitome of cool. His comic philosophy intertwined Be-Bop word-jazz virtuosity with highly eloquent British emote which he swung like Bird's Horn and delivered in the tongue of The Bard himself. On Saturday, April 7th all Lords and Ladies are invited to convene in celebration of this visionary of spontaneous American poetry and humor at The Sir Oliver Trager Lord Buckley Birthday Bash at The Bowery Poetry Club. Musical vibrations will be provided by David Amram, John DeWitt, Kevin Twigg, Marc Greene and Steven Skollar sustaining the cerebral skatilogical stylizations of Steve Ben Israel, Tom Calagna, Richard Corey, Robert Dick, John Kruth, Jason Eisenberg and MORE! This Natal Gala begins at 7:00 PM, a splendid time is guaranteed to all!

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Of Note - National Poetry Month - Started in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, National Poetry Month brings together publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, schools, and poets around the country to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Click Here to Learn More about National Poetry Month!




News & Of Note! - AIR CHECK - The Wanderer Tour will be making a couple of radio appearances this week. First at KRUSH, Santa Rosa, CA on Wednesday March 28th at 3 PM, PST (6 PM EST) Click Here to Listen Live. And on Thursday March 29th at KMUD, Redway, CA at 1 PM, PST (4 PM EST) Click Here to Listen Live.

Of Note Spring Forward, Look Back Celebrations of Spring were born of Earth's natural cycles of light and darkness, of life and death. Ancient cultures took note of the change in seasons and made offerings to their local gods to receive blessings for the year. On March 20, 2007, at precisely 8:07 P.M. EDT (March 21, 00:07 Universal Time), the Sun will cross directly over the Earth's equator. This moment is known as the Vernal Equinox. Click Here to Learn More of this Physical and Metaphysical point of transition.

New and of Note! In celebration on this St. Patrick's Day 2007, a Story some Prose and an Illuminatae in salute to those of like Heart that take to the road for The Wanderer Tour.
Click Here for this year's offering.



News, New & Of Note! For the past four years, across the United States the American people have voted, lobbied, vigiled, and marched to end the US war in Iraq. On the heels of January’s massive march on Washington (see Jeremy Hogan's PhotoFeature) March 16-19 is a National call to all people of conscience to participate in the act of Nonviolent Civil Disobedience to end funding for war in Iraq and to bring the troops home. Click Here and visit the Declaration of Peace website to learn what you can do, where you can go to lend your voice to a Declaration of Peace!

In Voice of Dissent, Reveal and Affirmation, read the Global Version of the Ron Whitehead classic,
"I Will Not Bow Down"

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Of Note In the early Spring of 2003, Ron Whitehead, NYC poet, Frank Messina and fellow Kentuckyians Andy Cook and Sarah Elizabeth crossed the Atlantic on The War Poets Tour to perform in Iceland, The UK and Ireland. In observence of yet another year of "Poetry Amidst a World of Struggle" Click Here to see and hear their experiences.



News & Of Note! As The War in Iraq still persists, so does Poetry Amidst a World of Struggle and finds Louisville Folk, Blues great, Tyrone Cotton joining Frank Messina, Ron and Sarah Whitehead and Andy Cook regrouping for The Wanderer Tour. The Journey begins March 21st at The Rudyard Kipling. Click Here to view all the dates as The Wanderer Tour makes the way West.



News, New & Of Note! March 16-17 will be two days Jam Packed with films, poetry, and jazz in celebration of the release of photographer, film maker, Chris Felver's, new book "BEAT" David Amram, Philomene Long and M.S. Garvey are just a few of the guest performers that will be appearing at The Beyond the Baroque Gallery and The Robert Bergman Gallery. Click Here to visit Chris' website for all the details and to view a great VidCollage of "BEAT"

News, New & Of Note! George Wallace and Friends present -- "Scroll To Lowell" a benefit reading at The Bowery Poetry Club, March 15th, 6:30 PM to help bring Jack Kerouac's "On The Road" manuscript to his hometown of Lowell Massachusetts this summer. Tentative guests include Simon Pettet, Jason Eisenberg, Eero Ruuttila, LZ Nunn and special guest Yesod.. $6 admission at the door, proceeds will go to the cause.

National
Women's History Month

News, New & Of Note! Insomniacathon On-Line! celebrates National Women's History Month 2007 and the release of "Bowery Women Poems" This book is an entertaining, highly readable, challenging and stimulating amalgam of work ranging from elegant classical poems, free-flowing “slam” to experimental forms. The poets, too, are diverse: multi-ethnic, teens to octogenarians, academics to drop-outs, urban to rural. Click Here to Learn More abour this fantastic new book from the Bowery Books series.

Also Of Note! In honor of National Women's History Month 2007, a pooling of the wealth the women at Insomniacathon On-Line! bring to a Global Literary Renaissance! Click Here to View!

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Laissez Les Bon Temps Roule!!

Of Note! On this year's Mardi Gras,"PoorBob" Sushko weighs in with some sooth on this Fat Tuesday 2007! Click Here to read his reflect.




Of Note The Chinese New Year begins on Sunday, February 18th, celebrating the Year of the Pig. The Boar is considered to be honest, sincere, hard-working and forgiving of others. This new year is known as a yin-fire Pig, with fire on top, conquered by water below; a indication that we're entering a year of considerable turmoil, disharmony and struggle, shaking things up before a time of calm and order takes its place. Click Here to Learn More about the Year of the Pig.




News, New & Of Note! George Wallace, editor of Poetrybay, kicks off a new monthly event at The Bowery Poetry Club, set for the third Thursday of every month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. The series will feature poets in performance from local, national and international scenes. Kicking off the series on February 15, 2007 is Wallace, with guest poets Patricia Carragon and Sarah Herrington of the Bowery Poetry Women. $6 admission.

News, New & Of Note! World Sound Healing Day "The Sound Heard Around the World" For five minutes, this Valentine's Day sound healers, meditators, peace activists and lovers of all humanity and sentient consciousness will send a Sonic Valentine to the Earth with the Heart sound "AH" filled with the intention of Peace and Love! Click Here to Learn More about this Global Sonic Event!

News, New & Of Note! January 27, 2007 found Alt-Jouralist, Jeremy Hogan, back on the streets of Washington D.C. along with 250,000 Americans protesting the war in Iraq. With George W. Bush proposing a “surge” of 21,000 more Americans to be sent to Iraq to help them defend themselves from themselves, a question comes to bear . . . Click Here to read "Is This 2007 or 1965?"

News, New & Of Note! Due to skyrocketing operational costs, Louisville's Players, Poets and Pavaneurs are rallying on January 21st for an evening of entertainment to benefit the Preservation of The Rudyard Kipling. For over 2 decades The Rudyard Kipling has been the hallmark of alternative entertaiment in Louisville and the most gracious host of many an Insomniacathon. Doors open at 5:00 PM. Click Here for More Details.

News & Of Note! - AIR CHECK - Poet/punk-rock star Charlie Newman guest hosts Wordslingers, Chicago poets just off the streets and out of the slams on WLUW 88.7 FM Sunday, January 21 8:00-9:00 PM (CST). Featured artist is Fractal Edge Press founder Wayne Allen Jones. Click Here to Listen Live!




News, New & Of Note! Art House Productions presents The First Annual Snow Ball. Hosted by Def Poetry Jam, Regie Cabico on January 20, Victory Hall, Jersey City. A fundraiser for Art House Productions' large scale, multimedia production of "Camino Real" by Tennessee Williams, there will be a silent auction and amongst the items on the block will be paintimgs from Frank Messina. Music by the Dave Willocks Jazz Duo, with late night DJ Dancing Tony. For more info go to www.arthouseproductions.org

In Rememberance On this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day read these poems fromJeremy Hogan and Charlie Newman . May Peace Be.




News & Of Note Over the weekend Alice Coltrane and Michael Brecker passed away. The mark they both made creatinely in this world will remain indelible.

News, New & Of Note! Icelandic Vocal Stylist Siggi Palma has a new CD "Stories" Insom alum Michael Dean Odin Pollock lent hand and heart from a lyrical end and co-penned 4 tunes on this 10 song CD that sways in a sultry souful wash. Click Here and listen to "You" and make sure to visit his website www.siggipalma.com for more info and Mp3's!

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News, New & Of Note! On Wednesday, January 3rd David Amram and special guests performed at the Cafe Trieste San Francisco. Click Here for Pix from this gig!

 

To View News, New and Of Note - 2006 Click Here!

 

Check back often as we'll update with the latest and greatest happenings as they cross our desks here at Insomniacathon.org!