Next Catalyst Open Mic

Canterbury Poets Collective 2008

It's that time again! Canterbury Poets present

Poetry in Performance: Autumn Readings 2008

With the ever popular Open Microphone (where the audience vote for their favourite poet every session) and a galaxy of guest poets from around New Zealand - at the Madras Cafe Bookshop at 165 Madras St, (close to Allen Street and opposite the Polytechnic Campus). Many of you will already have the programme, but just in case - here it is again: readings start at 6.30pm (sharp!)

2 April Sue Wootton, Barbara McCartney, Sean Joyce - followed by Catalyst at Al's Bar!

9 April Geoff Cochrane, Nancy Mattson, Mike Bartholomew-Biggs

16 April Sioban Harvey, Kerrin Sharpe, Jeff Harpeng

23 April Othusitse Ricky Madibela, Jenny Powell-Chambers, Jenni Curtis

30 April Rhian Gallagher, Tony Beyer, Karen Zelas

And this week (April 2nd) it's also a Catalyst Open Mic night so how about a double dose of poetry? Come along to CPC Autumn Readings and then meander around the corner to Al's Bar for some no-holds-barred spoken word and sometimes, even poetry!

Haiku Aotearoa 2008

Haiku Aotearoa 2008
18 - 20 April
Bishop Julius Hostel
Christchurch
New Zealand

Haiku Aotearoa 2008, a conference for writers of haiku and related forms, will take place at Bishop Julius Hostel, 90 Waimairi Road, Christchurch, 18-20th April, 2008. This is the second such conference to be held in New Zealand – the first was in Wellington 2005.

New Zealand has a number of very able and internationally known writers in the field, and local interest in the various forms is growing yearly. The local group, Small White Teapot Haiku Group have assembled a programme to appeal to beginners and experts. Highlights include Richard von Sturmer’s Tanka Film presentation, and the launch of “the taste of nashi”, the third New Zealand haiku anthology.

Price for the conference is $90, or $22 for a half day session. Full board at Bishop Julius is $201.

For the brochure and enrolment form giving full details please email: haikunz08@gmail.com or visit our website www.haiku2008.com.

Catalyst Poetry Open Mic

The words that come out of our mouths! We're back, and we're saying the things that need to be said. Quite often.
Wednesday 2nd April, 8pm
Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St
Christchurch

Lyttelton Summer Street Party

If you're thinking of heading over port-side for the Street Party to end all street parties, don't forget to check out the Rose Garden between 11.30am and 1pm for some special spoken word performances by Catalyst poets in a live soundscape.

Lyttelton Summer Street Party
Sunday 24th February
10am - 6pm

The next Open Mic is also another Book Launch!

Look! What's that up on the stage? Is it a book? Is it a poem? YES! It's...
SUPER ORDINARY

Neoismist Press is very proud to announce
the launch of the fourth book of 10 x (10 + -10) = 0

Super Ordinary represents the next evolutionary step in Doc Drumheller's 10 year - 10 book experimental project blurring the boundaries of art, poetry, performance, mathematics and science. The entire project, based on a physical and visual representation of helical, intersecting DNA strands is reaching it's 'grey area' middle section. Super Ordinary is printed in stark black & white and yet covers the colourful themes of escapism, fantasy and hero worship, the abdication of responsibility by us all, the power of symbols and the lure of '15 megabytes of fame'.

Come help us celebrate the release of Super Ordinary at Al's Bar with a special super hero launch party!



Come dressed as your favourite superhero - ordinary or otherwise - spot prize for best costume/idea.

Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St, Christchurch
Wednesday 5th March, 7.30pm
Open Mic to follow

We Have Lift Off!

Launching Catalyst volume 6

Wednesday 6 February, 8pm
Al's Bar

Come help us celebrate the arrival of Catalyst's 6th volume of new writing with a tasty beverage at Al's Bar.

Christmas Wishes!

First of all a big thank you to everyone who came to Poetry at The Times this week. Those of you who did, saw and heard an interesting variety of poetry and stories from our featured poets - Andrew Coyle, Rebecca Reider, Doc Drumheller and of course James Norcliffe.

Unappreciative volleyball clubs aside, it was a fun night and the audience appeared to enjoy getting to peek behind the scenes of some of the poems being performed. Stay tuned for further nights of poetry at the Lyttelton Times Cafe next year.

That wraps up our live presence for 2007, Catalyst volume 6 is awaiting the printer's ink and ready to go. We aim to launch at our first open mic of the new year in February at Al's Bar. Probably on the first Wednesday but keep checking in here for confirmation of the date. Just to keep your appetite whetted, we'll be putting up little tidbits and ephemera right here over the summer so do keep on visiting, it gets lonely in cyberspace...

Open Mic Photos

Over the next wee while we're also going to post some photos from various open mics this year so keep an eye out for yourself if you've attended any in 2007! If you don't want to be famous, please let me know.

Christmas Subscriptions

Christmas is often stressful, especially when it comes to the pressure to buy presents for family and friends. If you're wondering what to give to folks this year, how about a subscription to Catalyst?! We offer subscriptions at a discount for 2 issues at a time - within NZ it's only $40 (incl. postage) and international subs are $50 (incl. post) . Give someone the gift of poetry this year! And at the same time support one of NZ's most vibrant and interesting lit-journals.

Poetry @ The Lyttelton Times Cafe