Happy New Year!

Greetings and salutations for 2014.

We couldn't resist it, another quick showcase in the Road Show style to kick off 2014.

Tomorrow (Saturday) 4th January 1pm - 2pm 
at Art Beat 
in Re:START mall.
Catalyst’s first show of the New Year features live music and readings from: Ben Brown, Andy Coyle, and Doc Drumheller.  Copies of Catalyst Literary Arts Journal and books by the poets will be available for sale. A limited edition chapbook will be offered as a free gift for each copy sold of the journal. Hurry while stocks last!

Catalyst Road Show 6 - Jumping off the Jetty

The tenth anniversary tour of Catalyst continues with our sixth gig, this time in lovely Governors Bay, Banks Peninsula.

Featuring an impressive line up with Andy Coyle, Doc Drumheller, Fiona Farrell, Rosa Hughes-Currie, Lizzie Tollemache, Phoebe Wright.

Not only does this performance include both the current, two-time Christchurch Poetry Slam champion Pheobe Wright and 2012 Survivor Poetry winner Lizzie Tollemache it also features NZ literary luminary and Banks Peninsula resident Fiona Farrell.

Add to this the hypnotic style of Lyttelton poet and author Andy Coyle, the strident energy of Rosa Hughes-Currie and the music and words of Catalyst founder, wandering poet and teacher Doc Drumheller and it's one hell of a night at the historic Governors Bay Hotel.  If there's one night of poetry you want to get to this month, this year - this is it.

Gig starts at 8pm and is a tiny $10 on the door which also gets you a free, limited edition zine featuring the work of the poets.

Catalyst Road Show 6
Saturday 16th November, 8pm
Governors Bay Hotel, 52 Main Road, Governors Bay, Lyttelton Harbour
$10 entry includes free chapbook
 

Catalyst Road Show 5: Working Bees!

The world's slowest poetry tour trundles on!  This time we're taking a fine selection of poets out into the daylight to imbibe a little bit of community spirit.

Renew Brighton has instigated a working bee to build a community space with a pizza oven and some picnic tables at the site of the sadly missed Bridge St Bakehouse.  We thought, what about combining a community effort with some performance poetry and music?  Is this a new genre?  Who cares? 

Everyone's welcome! Feel free to come along and muck in or bring some deck chairs and refreshments to enjoy the words and music.

The working bee is kicking off at 10am and the poetry/music at 2pm.

Here's the deets:

Catalyst Road Show 5
Saturday 2nd November 2pm
91 Estuary Rd (cnr Bridge St, Estuary Rd)
working bee start at 10am.

Remember this is a empty site - bring your own chairs etc. wear sturdy footwear/weather-appropriate clothes and BYO refreshments.  The gig is free - especially for those building and making stuff - everyone else we'll ask for koha.

Catalyst Road Show 4

Returning to our roots and throwing the search tower lights on for the Lyttelton Poets.  It's Road Show time again and it's rolling around to the Wunderbar to showcase the best of Lyttelton.  Featuring Sarah Amazinnia, Ben Brown, Andy Coyle, Ciaran Fox and Rebecca Nash along with the musical stylings of Carmel Courtney and Doc Drumheller.

Catalyst Road Show w/ Carmel Courtney
Thursday 26th September 8pm
Wunderbar, Lyttelton
$10 entry incl. free limited edition chapbook

Catalyst Road Show 3 - poster

Catalyst Road Show 3 - US Slam Poets Tour NZ

Yep, we're back with another Road Show and the line up is looking sweet.

We're proud to present as our feature guests renowned slam poets from the USA Carrie Rudzinski and Ken Arkind currently touring NZ.  Ably supporting these wandering wordsmiths are Michelle Bolton, Doc Drumheller, Ciaran Fox, Kimberley Holmes and Phoebe Wright.

Catalyst Road Show 3
Thurs 13th June, 8pm
The Darkroom (336 St Asaph St)
Free + first 30 peeps get a free chapbook! 

We're at a brand new venue for the Road Show (3 gigs, 3 venues so far!) - The Darkroom on St Asaph St, and a lovely venue it is too.  We are fortunate to be hosting Ken and Carrie in Christchurch - they are incredible performers and this show is a must-see if you are at all interested in spoken word poetry.  And thanks to the Darkroom, it's FREE.  Plus the first 30 peeps through the door will get a free copy of the limited edition Catalyst Road Show 3 chapbook.  Nice!  Check out the back story for Carrie and Ken below...

Ken Arkind is a National Poetry Slam Champion, Nuyorican Poets Café Grand Slam Champion, published author, and featured Tedx Speaer who has performed his work in 49 States, Australia, New Zealand Ireland, the UK, and at over 150 colleges and universities. He is the Executive Director and head Brave New Voices coach for The Denver Minor Disturbance Youth Poetry Project, an independent literary arts organization dedicated to helping Colorado youth find their voices through the mediums of poetry and performance, and current Brave New Voices International Youth Poetry Slam Champions.  For more about Ken see here.

Carrie Rudzinski, named “Best Female Poet” and “Best of The Rest” at her first national poetry competition in 2008, is a full time performance poet who has performed her work across the United States, New Zealand, Australia, and India. She represented the Boston Poetry Slam at the 2010 Individual World Poetry Slam, twice at the National Poetry Slam (2010/2011), and ranked 14th at the 2011 Women Of The World Poetry Slam. Most recently, she represented Denver’s Mercury Café at the 2013 Women Of The World Poetry Slam. Her newest collection of work, The Shotgun Speaks, will be published in May 2013.  For more about Carrie see here.

 

Microfilm Digital Print: Ten Years of Printing Literary Lava (and counting!)

2013 marks ten years since the first Catalyst was published and that very first volume was also the first book project of a ten year relationship with our printers - Microfilm Digital Print.

So now, one decade and 17 books later, we're pleased to say that we're both still here and still making cool stuff together.  We've both learnt a lot and Microfilm have supported every single project and often gone the extra mile for us to make deadlines or get the best quality printing and binding possible.  They are still the most experienced small print run book specialists in Christchurch and we wholeheartededly recommend them to anyone thinking of making a book - talk to them and see what's possible!

The latest collaboration is in the form of the latest Catalyst Road Show event: Woman Scream at the Summer Pallet Pavilion.  Microfilm are sponsoring us through printing the posters and the special limited edition chapbook that comes free with entry to the event on Thursday 14th March.  Thanks Microfilm!  

And now, a sneak preview of the cover of the chapbook - if you want a copy you better come along to the gig - all the poets and songwriters performing are featured in the chapbook - don't miss out!

Catalyst Road Show presents:

Woman Scream

8pm, Thurs 14th March

Gap Filler Summer Pallet Pavilion

cnr Kilmore and Durham Sts

$10 entry includes a free limited edition chapbook

Catalyst Road Show presents: Woman Scream

The 3rd Woman Scream International Poetry Festival 2013

 

This is the first time NZ has been represented in this international celebration of womens' voices. We're proud to be showcasing a line up of some of Christchurch's many talented emerging poets and musicians as one of more than 30 countries linking up for the festival throughout March.  The all-women programme features:

Marisa Cappetta, Helen Back, Kimberley Holmes, Sarah Amazinnia, Rosa Hughes-Currie, Rebecca Nash and musicians Courtnay Stickels and Kate Anastasiou.

An open mic section will be open to all poets, male and female, with up to 2 poems each - places will be limited.  

NOTE: This event will be the only Catalyst night in March so get along to this for your open mic fix!

As with the first Catalyst Road Show event, the ticket price includes a free, limited edition chapbook featuring the poems and songs of the nights programme.

Catalyst Road Show presents:

Woman Scream

8pm, Thurs 14th March

Gap Filler Pallet Pavilion

cnr Kilmore and Durham Sts

$10 entry includes a free limited edition chapbook

Catalyst Road Show - Lyttelton

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to y'all!

We're kicking off 2013 with a bang and introducing a new series of poetry shows - Catalyst Road Show.  Yes, we're still going to be doing the open mics this year - starting off in February - but we just couldn't wait to get into it and launch our brand new baby.

Each Catalyst Road Show will happen in a different place - kind of like a tour, both in and out of Christchurch, and featuring an ever-evolving line up of poets and music.

A poetic, musical mystery tour curated by Catalyst and where else to kick things off than at our spiritual home - The Wunderbar! Entry fee ($10) includes a limited edition zine showcasing the featured poets - from the stage to the page.

Catalyst Road Show - Lyttelton, features the talents of Andrew Coyle, Ben Brown, Kimberley Holmes, Ciaran Fox and Doc Drumheller.

Here's the deets, see you there! -

Catalyst Road Show
Wunderbar, Lyttelton
Thursday 24th January 8pm
$10 entry (includes limited edition zine - while stocks last)