Bards & Brews Goes on the Road to Avondale Library on June 3, Vestavia Hills Library in July

The Birmingham Public Library's popular Bards & Brews poetry performance/beer tasting series is going on the road from its usual home downtown this summer. On Friday, June 3, Bards & Brews will hold an open mic performance at the Avondale Regional Branch Library. On Friday, July 8, spoken word artists will be able to participate in an open mic night at the Vestavia Hills Library in the Forest.

The Avondale Library event on June 3 will feature free craft beer sampling courtesy of Avondale Brewing Co. The J. Clyde will handle the pouring. The festivities start at 6:30 p.m. with live music from Bob Marston (performing in place of Josh Wheeler), beer tasting, and light refreshments. The poetry begins to flow at 7:00 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. Admission is free and open to the public; however, attendees must be at least 18 to enter and 21 to sample beer—ID is required. For more information, call 205-226-3670, e-mail hm@bham.lib.al.us, visit the Bards & Brews Facebook page, or http://www.bplonline.org/programs/BardsBrews.aspx.