Catalyst presents: Poets on the Block - live at Block Party 2023

 

A Catalyst showcase!

Featuring: Melanie McKerchar, Ray Shipley, Andy Coyle, Doc Drumheller and Ciaran Fox.

Saturday 25th November, 2pm

The Arts Centre Market

 

 

Save Our Catalyst! A new date - 10th September

A fundraising performance of poetry and music to help keep our pages turning!

Christchurch poets are stepping up to help us fill the shortfall caused by the Covid-19 lockdown: we were unable to host our regular monthly open mics for four months and we rely on those to keep publishing Catalyst. So we're pulling out all the stops in a go-for-broke heave-to featuring some of Catalyst's regulars and Christchurch favourites and new friends.

We're celebrating National Poetry Day a day early, that's how keen we are. The show will feature a little bit of music, a whole lot of poetry, prizes and surprises so if you're in Christchurch on Thursday 10th September, swing on by the ever-lovin' Space Academy for a poetic digestif. $15 on the door or $10 pre-sale.

We are so so so grateful to all these beautiful, inspiring writers for donating their time, talent and even precious books to help us raise the $$. And a very special thank you to Melanie McKerchar for having this idea and bringing it to life. Mwah! Show them your love!

Lyttelton Poets celebrating solstice in the Festival of Lights

The Republic of Road Shows - featuring The Eastern

Not content with revolutionary poetry/music shows in the form of the Catalyst Road Show, we're combining it with the Republic of Poets featuring musical accompaniment from The Stray Empire and taking the whole thing on the road with local legends The Eastern.  This will be the most epic Catalyst Road Show ever - and there's two of 'em...

Yep, this time we're sharing the love with North Canterbury - a show in Oxford and a show in Rangiora.  Two classic old-time venues recently restored and perfectly suited to a night of mesmerising spoken word combined with music and a good old fashioned knees-up and throw down courtesy of the band described as 'one of the best modern roots bands' and 'toughest-minded songwriters'.

Catalyst Road Show
- tickets available on undertheradar and on the door.

Oxford Town Hall, Sat 9th May, 8pm

Rangiora Town Hall, Thurs 14th May, 8pm

These shows have been made possible by support from Waimakariri District Creative Communities

Republic of Oma Rāpeti Press presents: Republic of Poets - a live show

Republic of Oma Rāpeti Press

Presents:

Republic of Poets
with live music by The Stray Empire
Wunderbar, Lyttelton
Thursday, April 16th, 8pm
Entry $10

Oma Rāpeti, Oma Rāpeti, Oma, Oma, Oma!


In 2014 Catalyst and The Republic of Oma Rāpeti Press launched a new republic, complete with a flag, constitution, and national anthem. To celebrate this event, we have devised a new initiative to publish an annual poetry collection by three poets, inspired by the Penguin Modern Poets series of the past. The aim of this project is to produce a high quality literary anthology focused on just three poets, allowing a broader body of work to be showcased than a regular journal appearance allows.


Volume One is subtitled 'Pioneers', reflecting both the emergence of the anthology and the vanguard poets featured, all with a history of pushing new frontiers in performance poetry in Aotearoa New Zealand.  From collaborations with musicians both recorded and live, improvised storytelling, poetry slams, cabaret, multimedia poetry theatre, poetry road shows, touring with bands, and even live vinyl recordings, these three poets have pioneered a renaissance in performance poetry in Canterbury and across Aotearoa.

Ben Brown has electrified audiences with his spoken word performances and smoky, malt whisky drawl. The excerpt from 'The Coffee Shop Philosopher', transfers his mana from the stage onto the page. Doc Drumheller’s excerpts from 'Hotel Theresa', and 'Lullabies for Insomniacs' reflect his travels as a troubadour presenting poems and songs composed in NZ, USA, and Eastern Europe. Andy Coyle’s deep velvet voice has been described as captivating and mesmerising, and his excerpt from 'Ode to the Cyclist' and other poems was recently published as a full manuscript by The Republic of Oma Rāpeti Press.

Republic of Poets Vol. One was launched at live music and poetry shows throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, as the poets took this roving republic on the road. With performances at The Wunderbar, Lyttelton, The Dharma Bums Club, Wairau Valley, The Mussel Inn , Golden Bay, and The Free House, Nelson. The success of the tour led to performances in the Word Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival August 2014, and performances at LitCrawl in Wellington, November 2014.

Their next show will feature performance poetry and live music with the Stray Empire at the Wunderbar, Lyttelton, Thursday, April 16th, 8pm.  $10 on the door.

Tickets, books, and other merchandise will be available for sale at the venue.

“Ben Brown is a distinctive original voice”
– Apirana Taylor.

“Doc Drumheller… a marvelous poet and an extraordinary creative artist”
-- Dr. Santosh Kumar, editor of Taj Mahal Review.

"Andy Coyle: We fell in love with him at the poetry reading."
-- Laura Williamson

Performer Bios

Ben Brown (Ngati Paoa, Ngati Mahuta) was born in Motueka in 1962. He is a writer, poet and performer. Since 1992 he has published numerous children's books, short stories for children and adults, poetry and non-fiction, and is an occasional contributor to Mana Magazine who have also featured him. He tours and performs regularly around the country. In 2006 he won best picture book with the artist/illustrator Helen Taylor in the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. In 2011 he was the Maori Writer in Residence at the Michael King Writer's Centre. He was also writer in residence at Hagley College, Christchurch, in 2009. He has read and performed at the Auckland Writers Festival (2010), the APRA Music Awards (2011) the Christchurch Writers Festival (2006, 2012), the Kaikoura Roots Festival (2012) the Christchurch Arts Festival (2009, 2013) and the Nelson Arts Festival (2011). He lives and works in Lyttelton.

Andy Coyle is a performance poet based in Canterbury, NZ. In 2011 he represented Christchurch in the NZ Poetry Slam finals. He is a regular contributor to the Catalyst Open Mic Night, The Catalyst Literary Journal, and the Catalyst Road Show. Career highlights include, a ten date tour of New Zealand in 2010; writing and performing an epic poem set in Chch accompanied by a 7 piece progressive jazz/rock ensemble for the Dunedin Fringe and the Wellington Jazz Festival in 2006; a short story filmed; a play performed; a poem painted as a mural in the seaside suburb of New Brighton and festival appearances in the Wanaka ‘Outspoken Festival’, the Lyttelton Summer Festival, and the Newtown Street Festival.   

Doc Drumheller: was born in Charleston, South Carolina and has lived in New Zealand for more than half his life. He has worked in award winning groups for theatre and music and has published ten collections of poetry. His poems have been translated into more than twenty languages and he has performed in Cuba, Lithuania, Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Japan, India, Nicaragua, USA, and widely throughout NZ. He lives in Oxford, where he edits and publishes the literary journal Catalyst and teaches creative writing at the School for Young Writers.

Aaron Boot: is a local musician who has toured extensively throughout New Zealand, Australia, Europe, The UK, and Ireland. He co-wrote songs with the artist Speech Debelle on the Mercury award winning album Speech Therapy. He has worked as technician on festivals like the Big Day Out, Future Music, and has worked as a stage tech for Alice Cooper, Faith No More, The Chemical Brothers, Kenny Rogers, Rage Against the Machine, and many more of the world’s leading musical acts.

The Stray Empire is a two piece country/folk/rock ensemble playing covers and original music. Their original songs are composed on the ukulele, banjo, mandolin and guitar, combining poetic lyrics with folk and pop sensibilities. They cover songs by Townes Van Zandt, Old Crow Medicine Show, Bob Dylan, Little Feat, and many more.

Ode to the Cyclist & Other Poems by Andy Coyle - a book launch

 “the cyclist is a free spirit, a moment of faith, an endangered species, a breath of fresh air…”

Sneak preview! - Check this cover out.   We at Republic of Oma Rapeti Press are so proud to announce the release of our latest publication: the first major collection by poet, author, story-teller and performer of poetry Andy Coyle.  Along with Ben Brown and Doc Drumheller, Andy was one our featured poets in the inaugural Republic of Poets anthology.  The above image is the original cover artwork by Anita Clark (none other than Devilish Mary herself!)

Andy has been a stalwart of performance poetry and spoken word in Christchurch for the better part of two decades now, honing his craft while also writing a series of novels, touring with bands, raising a family, surviving earthquakes and running restaurants.  You know, all the easy stuff.  He's featured on Catalyst CDs, the touring 'Road Show', is a member of the Lyttelton 'band' of poets and was runner-up in the Christchurch Poetry Slam 2014.


Ode to the Cyclist and other poems is Andy Coyle’s first published volume of poetry.   The title poem celebrates the cyclist as a boundary crosser, a trickster, and the collection is full of those colourful characters who occupy the margins, the wandering poet, the lizard skinned junky, the urban shaman, the Christmas loner, the idealistic artist, the madman on the bus, the forgotten seaside destination, the voices on the wind, the long gone goddess, and the ghostly memories of an invisible city.

We're going to be holding a launch event for Ode to the Cyclist and other poems at the next Catalyst Open Mic night so if you're in the shaky city, head on down to the Twisted Hop on Ferry Rd, Woolston to get your advance copy, hear the words from the poets mouth and generally celebrate in the good old fashioned way with us. 

To whet your appetite, here's what we've got to say, as printed on the back cover:

Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race.  H. G. Wells (1866-1946)

‘The cyclist is a boundary crosser, a trickster…’ Andy Coyle - Ode to the Cyclist

Ode to the Cyclist and other poems is Andy Coyle’s first collection of poetry. It highlights the best of Andy’s poetry over the last ten years, much of which has featured in the Catalyst literary journal.

The collection includes regional poetry from Bank’s Peninsula and Christchurch. It includes poems which explore the role of the poet in modern society. And through the image of the cyclist, tempts the reader into considering the role of the boundary crossers, the ones who can interpret the simple information hidden within the daily cycles of life, -sun, earth, moon, personality, -and through those equally simple and complex information sources, and through the simple joys of cycling and observing, to take pleasure in our world.

   

Also included in this selection is the poem Invisible City, Andy’s response to the loss of his city through earthquake. Andy was included in a group of artists who were invited to access the central city red zone (which was guarded by the army and only open to demolition teams) after the earthquake, to document an artistic response. Those responses, along with Andy’s tendency to cycle around the perimeter of the red zone in the bizarre darkness that was created by this red zone, formed the starting point for the poem.

About the Author:

Andy Coyle is a writer of poetry, fiction, theatre, songs, and menus. In both 2011 and 2014 he represented Christchurch in the NZ Poetry Slam finals. He is a regular contributor to the Catalyst Open Mic Night, The Catalyst Literary Journal, and the Catalyst Road Show. He has toured poetry around New Zealand and has appeared in a number of literary festivals, street festivals, performance festivals and Jazz festivals. He has had a short story filmed, a play performed, and a poem painted as a mural in the seaside suburb of New Brighton.

Pioneers of a new Republic - Oma Rāpeti launches Republic of Poets series

The Republic of Oma Rāpeti Press is proud to announce the first of a new series of poetry anthologies to complement the on-going publication of Catalyst. 

Inspired by the legendary Penguin Modern Poets series, the Republic of Poets will be a showcase of three emerging New Zealand poets, allowing a broader sample of poets' work to be presented beyond the limits of even a 'feature' slot in Catalyst.  

We've been working on this idea for a while and it's now time to let the ol' cat out of the bag.  Volume One of Republic of Poets is subtitled: 'Pioneers' and features three poets who have been something of latter day pioneers in the renaissance of performance poetry in Christchurch (and is a nicer way of referring to our inaugural feature poets than 'guinea pigs').  Republic of Poets Volume One 'Pioneers' features the work of Ben Brown, Andy Coyle and Doc Drumheller.

It's been a labour of love for Oma Rāpeti and we're pretty proud of the resulting book which has been partly funded by Creative Communites Christchurch City.

The book is being launched with a short tour of the upper South Island by the impressive live show of the three poets.  Below is the media release - feel free to spread the word and if you can't make it to see the show, write to us to buy your very own copy.

The Republic is Coming - Long Live the Republic!

Christchurch poets Ben Brown, Andy Coyle, and Doc Drumheller will raise the flag of a new republic with poems and songs when they launch a combined collection of poetry and other writings in June.

The three poets are part of the crew that performs regularly at the legendary Catalyst Open Mic, and Catalyst Road Shows and they will be performing their poems and music at the following events:

Wunderbar Lyttelton, Thursday 12^th June

Dharma Bums Club Blenheim, Saturday 14^th June

Mussel Inn Golden Bay, Sunday 15^th June 

The Free House Nelson, Monday 16^thJune

The Republic of Oma Rāpeti Press publishes Catalyst literary arts journal, founded by Drumheller in 2003. The press will publish the new anthology from the three poets as part of their new ‘Republic’ venture.  The on-going project will produce a high quality literary anthology of three New Zealand poets each year. Republic of Poets Volume 1: Pioneers, is funded by Christchurch City Creative Communities.

“The project is inspired by the Penguin Poets series of the past”, explains Doc Drumheller.

“The launch in Golden Bay and Nelson of this initial collection will be the Republic’s first venture and will be complete with a flag, constitution, and national anthem! You won’t want to miss it!

“We have a continuing interest in experimental and non-traditional forms of poetry and writing often neglected in literary journals,” says Doc.

“As such you will find song lyrics, script/screenplay excerpts, spoken word, rap and performance texts, visual poetry, graffiti, artwork and design included in the pages of Catalyst and in our live performances.”

Each poet brings to the performance their own particular take on the literary world. All three are established writers and performers in their own right who have earned various awards and have chalked up many accomplishments throughout their careers.

Such has been their skill and enthusiasm for their writing and poetry craft, that they have earned themselves some status as pioneers in the field of performance poetry in Christchurch and have established themselves on a national and international level.

Ben Brown (Ngāti Paoa, Ngāti Mahuta) was born in Motueka in 1962. He is a writer, poet and performer. Since 1992 he has published numerous children's books, short stories for children and adults, poetry and non-fiction, and is an occasional contributor to Mana Magazine who have also featured him. He tours and performs regularly around the country. In 2006 he won best picture book with the artist/illustrator Helen Taylor in the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. In 2011 he was the Maori Writer in Residence at the Michael King Writer's Centre. He was also writer in residence at Hagley College, Christchurch, in 2009. He has read and performed at the Auckland Writers Festival (2010), the APRA Music Awards (2011) the Christchurch Writers Festival (2006, 2012), the Kaikoura Roots Festival (2012) the Christchurch Arts Festival (2009, 2013) and the Nelson Arts Festival (2011). He lives and works in Lyttelton.

‘Ben Brown is a distinctive original voice’ – Apirana Taylor. See also: http://www.bookcouncil.org.nz/writers/brownben/html

Andy Coyle is a performance poet based in Canterbury, NZ. In 2011 he represented Christchurch in the NZ Poetry Slam finals. He is a regular contributor to the Catalyst Open Mic Night, The Catalyst Literary Journal, and the Catalyst Road Show. Career highlights include, a ten date tour of New Zealand in 2010; writing and performing an epic poem set in Christchurch accompanied by a 7 piece progressive jazz/rock ensemble for the Dunedin Fringe and the Wellington Jazz Festival in 2006; a short story filmed; a play performed; a poem painted as a mural in the seaside suburb of New Brighton and festival appearances in the Wanaka ‘Outspoken Festival’, the Lyttelton Summer Festival, and the Newtown Street Festival.  

Doc Drumheller: was born in Charleston, South Carolina and has lived in New Zealand for more than half his life. He has worked in award winning groups for theatre and music and has published ten collections of poetry. In 2007 he participated in the 12^th Havana International Poetry Festival, where he was asked to represent New Zealand on the International Board of Poets in Defence of Humanity.

In 2009 he participated in the 5^th World Haiku Association Conference and The Druskininkai Poetic Fall in Lithuania, where he became the New Zealand Ambassador to the Republic of Užupis. In 2010 he participated in the World Haiku Festival Pécs, Hungary and won first prize in the ginko haiku writing competition.

In 2011 he travelled to India where his book ‘In Transit’, 100 haiku in 11 languages, was published. He performed poetry and music at the Cyberwit office in Allahabad and at the Sahitya Akademi in New Delhi and then went on to represent New Zealand at the 2^nd Tokyo International Poetry Festival and 6^th World Haiku Association Conference in Japan.

In 2013 he performed in Sofia, Bulgaria with the Bulgarian Rock Band, La Text launching a feature of Bulgarian poets in Catalyst Volume 10 and Contemporary New Zealand Poets published in Sofia’s Literary Newspaper.  He represented New Zealand at the 7^th International Haiku Festival Constanta, 2013 Romania. He won 1^st prize for the festival haiku writing contest, 2^nd prize in the festival anthology contest and was awarded a diploma for excellence in haiku, from the Constanta Haiku Society.

He lives in Oxford, where he edits and publishes the literary journal Catalyst and teaches creative writing at the School for Young Writers.