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

Next Poetry Open Mic...

I repeat: Wednesday 5th December, 8pm!

the infinity we swim in

The New Zealand Poetry Society's 2007 Anthology, the infinity we swim in, Is Now Launched!

From Helsinki to Hamilton, California to Canterbury, Queensland to Queenstown, the latest instalment in the annual NZ Poetry Society's anthology series showcases the winners of the 2007 international poetry and haiku competitions and features the work of more than ninety poets from across the globe. There are poems about birds, dogs, angels with sinewy feet, phone calls, jewellery, a praying mantis, a repository for lost socks, and constellations. Poems about love and loss and longing, about our relationships to each other and to the world around us. There are poets whose names will be familiar to fans of contemporary NZ poetry, as well as new names who will surely go on to become the stars of the future.

"poems of genuine quality demanding further consideration"
- James Norcliffe (judge, Adult Open section)

"This contest achieved what I'd hoped it would: much fine new poetry"
- Bernard Gadd (judge, Junior Open section)

The NZ Poetry Society is proud to present the infinity we swim in to the wider literary community. Inquiries to info@poetrysociety.org.nz

Coming Soon...

This Machine Kills Fascists

Announcing a very special event, dedicated to not losing sight of what protecting our freedom is for...

Change to Next Poetry Open Mic

Whoa there a moment! There's been a slight change of plan for the next open mic night.

Due to special circumstances we have had to move our night from the traditional Thursday to the first Wednesday in November. Just this once so mark it in yer diary. We'll be back to Thursdays thereafter.

Wednesday 7th November 8.00pm
Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St

just keeping ye on yer toes...

Next Open Mic Night

Roll up! Roll up! Roll up!

The spoken word is alive and well and invading the nightlife of the city!

Thursday 4th October, 8pm onwards
Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St
Christchurch

Hosted by none other than that long haired lout Unkle Travelling Kez, so long in the wilderness now returned to the fold. Bring yer poetry.

See you there!

The Open Mic That Came in From the Cold

What took us so long? Well, apart from a much needed winter sabbatical, some world-spanning travelling by one editor and the nomadic, criss-crossing of Aotearoa by the other, well not much really.

In fact Uncle Travelling Kez is still out of town, scouring the countryside, collecting experiences, second-hand books and sunsets. But with the marvellous invention of the computer and world wide interweb, we’re able to bring to you exciting news and announcements!

The Timely Return of your Favourite Evening of Poetical Pontification!

Yes that’s right, Catalyst Open Mic returns – with a brand new, central city venue!

Catalyst is pleased as punch to announce that we are coming to you live from Al’s Bar in Dundas St, Christchurch (between Manchester & Colombo Sts, opposite Smiths City carpark and Pak n’ Save. Al’s Bar is the venue for many great live music acts from both Aotearoa/NZ and abroad and now it can add spoken word & poetry to that growing list. Fellow Lytteltonian, Uncle Al Park has invited Christchurch’s favourite poetry open mic night in from the wilderness, like the shivering, homeless little lamb it was.

So now it’s even easier for all you lovely Christchurch people to come and enjoy the only regular poetry/spoken word soiree in town.

Same time, same dates, new venue! First Thursday of the month, 8pm. All welcome, bring yer own writing to test in front of a live audience!

The first night is going to be an extravaganza just to kick things off and usher in the springtime of your literary year.

Catalyst Poetry Night -
Thursday 6th September, 8pm

Catalyst & Neoismist Press is very proud to announce the official launch of Reality Myths by Doc Drumheller.

As part of our triumphant return to Christchurch the Catalyst Open Mic night will also feature this book launch with live readings by Doc Drumheller.

Reality Myths is the latest instalment of Doc’s ten book project 10 x (10 + -10) = 0 and represents his 3rd book of experimental restriction method poetry. Published in limited editions and forming part of a reader-constructed visual work don’t miss out on your chance to get a signed copy of Part 3 of this totally unique literary project.

Proudly supporting NZ Book Month September 2007 Celebrating NZ Books and NZ Writers http://www.nzbookmonth.co.nz/

Coming Soon – the launch of Catalyst 6…

Holding Pattern

I'm not myself when you're not here
I'm in this holding pattern...

from the lyric of Holding Pattern by Lindon McCormack, published waaay back in Catalyst Vol. 1 - yes we're in this holding pattern as far as our open mic nights are concerned. Looking for a new venue to bring you our brand of unpredictable, maybe even unintelligible, live spoken word.

Stay tuned all you loyal poets and fans - we will return...

into the heartland
home, where the hope still stands
awaiting return...

Next Open Mic

Thursday 5th July

Catalyst - Poetry for Dummies
since 2003

The rumours are true! It's the return of Unkle Travelling Kez and he means to shake up your winter lethargy with a veritable green curry of poetry. Come one, come all!

Open Mic - Images

As promised, in my dimly-remembered past entries, some images from recent Catalyst Open Mic nights at the glorious Wunderbar.

With thanks to those lovely poets featured here:

Cris Fulton in full swing

Helen Lowe

Ross Brighton

See! Looks like fun don't it? You should get along! Honestly it's great!

(They're the first Thursday of every month)

Next Catalyst Poetry Open Mic:

Thursday 3rd May, 8pm
Wunderbar, Lyttelton
featuring the one, the only - DOC DRUMHELLER!
Yes, he's back!

Poetry Open Mic for Open Minds

Yes indeedy - The Catalyst Open Mic is the first Thursday of every month at the ever-lovin' Wunderbar. Come one, come all!

Poetry loves you and wants to be your friend!

In fact there's one this week:

Thursday 5th April, 8pm
Wunderbar, Lyttelton (see the link in the sidebar)
BYO poetry (we'll supply the rest)

Canterbury Poets' Collective 2007

Canterbury Poets' Collective presents:
Autumn Readings 2007

Yes another year has gone by and it's time once again to revel in the plethora of poetry that's accumulating in Canterbury! Along with Catalyst's monthly open mics, during autumn you'll be able to see live poetry every week!

The CPC have announced their autumn season of readings to be held at Madras Cafe Books
(proud stockists of Catalyst!)

Canterbury Poets present Poetry in Performance Autumn Readings 2007
Open microphone and guest readers

Wednesdays 6.30pm (note new time)
Madras Café Bookshop, 165 Madras St – licensed and BYO.

$5 entry Win a $20 MCB voucher – audience vote for the best open mike poet each night

March 14 Tom Weston, Fiona Farrell

March 21 Emerging Poets: Gail Collier, Mary Fitzgerald, Helen Lowe,
Melissa Moore

March 28 David Gregory, Joanna Preston

April 4 Helen Bascand, Lynn Tara Austin, Jeffrey Paparoa Holman

April 11 Andrew Paul Wood, Andrew Bell

April 18 Poetry in Translation

April 25 Anzac Day - no reading

May 2 Helen Jacobs, James Norcliffe

Everyone most welcome

Open Mic - Open for Business

Next Catalyst Poetry Open Mic:
Thursday 8th March, 8pm
Wunderbar, Lyttelton

Bring yer poetry or other creative writing and share it with the world.
Or at least, the hearty souls who are listening...

yeah, I know we used this image before but I like it OK?

Catalyst Presents: Jim Christy

Jim Christy & Le Mot Cafe
LIVE at the Wunderbar
Saturday 17th February, 8pm door sales $10

Catalyst is proud to once again play host to one of North America's most entertaining & compelling performance poets Jim Christy.


Born in Philadelphia before hopping all round the continent, Jim Christy now lives in Canada. He is an established writer of poetry, feature articles, reviews and biographies with published volumes on Bukowski and Kerouac among others as well as books of his own poetry, several mystery novels, short story collections and travel writing. In 2002 he released a CD of spoken word/jazz called A Night in Grombalia. Also an established and successful visual artist, Christy has exhibited widely and has work in private collections throughout the world.


It's been a few years since Jim was last in NZ and we can't wait to hear his brash and brassy spoken word accompanied by the Le Mot Cafe (special edition) band at the Wunderbar.


A cover charge of $10 will apply and the evening will NOT feature an open mic.


Catalyst's next poetry open mic will be Thursday 8th March, 8pm

Happy New Year

Greetings to everyone, kia ora tatou! 2007 is upon us and we're looking forward to a new season of open mic nights, new books and general, all-round, literary arti-fartiness.

Stay tuned right here as always for updates on when, where and who (if not why).

But right now I can tell you that the first Catalyst Poetry open mic at the Wunderbar will be:

Thursday 1st February, 8pm.
bring yer stuff!