Bards & Brews Poetry SLAM Tonight at Avondale Library

The Birmingham Public Library’s (BPL) popular Bards & Brews poetry performance/beer tasting series is hitting the road in August. Usually held the first Friday of each month, the August edition of Bards & Brews will travel to the Avondale Regional Library at 509 40th Street South. The program, which will be a SLAM, begins at 6:30 p.m. with live music and poetry performances starting at 7:00. Emcee Brian “Voice Porter” Hawkins will deftly guide both novice and veteran poets through an evening of verse with topics that run the gamut from romantic relationships to the local political scene. The program is free of charge and open to the public.

Special guest Barry Marks will read from his new book of poetry, Sounding. Marks is the Alabama Poet of the Year for 1999. His first full book of poetry, Possible Crocodiles, was named Alabama’s Book of the Year for 2010 by the Alabama State Poetry Society.

Craft beer will be available for sampling courtesy of the Highland Brewing Company and light refreshments will be served. Attendees must be 18 years or older to be admitted, and 21 years or older to be served. IDs will be checked.

Bards & Brews is usually held on the first Friday of the month at various locations around town. However, the September session will be held on September 14 as part of the Library’s annual Eat Drink Read Write Festival. Check out the Bards & Brews page on Facebook for more information. This program is made possible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Event: Bards & Brews SLAM
Emcee: Brian “Voice Porter” Hawkins
Place: Avondale Regional Library
Date: Friday, August 3
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free and open to the public