Bards & Brews Serving Up Shakespearean Tribute at Central Library, April 1

Birmingham Public Library's popular Bards & Brews poetry performance/beer tasting series returns Friday, April 1, at the Central Library. Music from Suzanne Beaudry starts at 6:30 p.m., poetry performances begin at 7:00 p.m. The event will be an Open Mic night and is sponsored by the law firm of Wallace, Jordan, Ratliff & Brandt, LLC.

There will be a very special tribute to the Bard himself in celebration of the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death. The tribute was the brainchild of Kimberly West, an attorney at the firm who also teaches classes in Shakespeare and trial law at Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law. Read more about the event at this link: http://ow.ly/105SUa.

As always, Master of Ceremonies Brian “Voice Porter” Hawkins will deftly guide both novice and veteran poets through an evening of verse with topics that can include relationships, politics, social justice, and even the best way to get a ticket to see Hamilton. Beer tasting will be available courtesy of Good People Brewing Company and there will be a few samples of mead provided by The J.Clyde.

Admission is free and open to the public. Attendees must be 18 years or older to be admitted, and 21 years or older to be served beer. IDs will be checked at the door.

The festivities start at 6:30 p.m. with live Renaissance music from Suzanne Beaudry, beer tasting and light refreshments. The poetry begins to flow at 7 p.m. with Brian "Voice Porter" Hawkins serving as host. The event is made possible by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information, call 205-226-3670, e-mail agraham@bham.lib.al.us or visit the Bards & Brews Facebook page or www.bplonline.org/bardsbrews.