Next Poetry Open Mic

Struggling to find anyone to listen?

Come to Catalyst!
Live Poetry Open Mic
First Wednesday every month
Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St (behind Pak n' Save Moorhouse)

Next open mic:

Wednesday 1st April (no kidding!)
8pm the blackboard's open for bid'ness.

Catalyst: Not Participating in Recessions Since 2003

Well! You heeded the call to arms last month and we carried on in fine style from December. Looking forward to hearing new poetry and seeing new faces next week. Tell all your friends (and even your enemies) - we've got some solutions to the economic crisis of our own. It involves wine...


Literary journal Catalyst hosts the longest continuously running poetry/spoken word night in Christchurch. First WEDNESDAY of EVERY month, all welcome to read, perform or listen. Entry is FREE.

CAUTION! Open Minds Operating

Catalyst Poetry Open Mic Night

Wednesday 4th March, 8pm

Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St
Christchurch

Book Launch - Tusiata Avia

A special notice from our friend about her excellent new book - not to be missed!

Talofa

An open invitation to the book launch of “Bloodclot”, Tusiata Avia’s new book.

Nafanua, the Samoan goddess of war, leaves the underworld to wander the earth as a half-caste girl from Christchurch. “Bloodclot” is the astonishing new automythographical book by the author of “Wild Dogs Under My Skirt”.

Saturday 7 February, 5-8pm
Our City Otautahi, corner of Worcester St & Oxford Tce Christchurch
- part of Iva Pacific Arts Festival 09.

Catalyst: Keeping Our New Year's Resolutions Since 2003

Welcome to the '09!

Catalyst is back in business and raring to go - first open mic of the year - be the first to take the stage for 2009!

After the rip-roaring night we had to see off the year in December we can't wait to see what you've all been busy writing over the summer holidays. It better be GOOD. Anyway, come along, have a few wines - everything's good after that!

First Open Mic for 2009!
Weds 4th February, 8pm
Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St

Catalyst: Giving the gift of poetry since 2003.

Catalyst Christmas Extravaganza!

It’s the last open mic for 2008. Come send out the year in a poetic flourish!

It’s a special Xmas party this month with fabulous prizes (kindly donated by Helen Lowe) for the first ever
Catalyst Open Mic People’s Choice award.
Uncle Al’s putting on some wine specials and we’re discounting fantastic books of poetry at never-to-be repeated prices!

Come get merry with us at Al’s Bar, pick up some books for your family and friends and generally have yourself a time!

Catalyst Xmas Extravaganza
8pm, Al’s Bar 31 Dundas St
Wednesday 3rd December

Next Catalyst Open Mic

Wow! A whole month and no posts! Slap our collective wrist!

Anyway - the news is: The Open Mic this month only will happen on the second Wednesday of November. That is all. Goodnight and good luck.

Catalyst Open Mic
Wednesday 12th November, 8pm
Al's Bar 31 Dundas St
(behind Pak n' Save Our Souls)

Catalyst Poetry Open Mic

Yes! There is an open mic this week!!!

Wednesday 1st October 8pm sign up!
Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St (behind Pak n' Scab)

Be there or be Beached As!

Con Cuba hoy - Kiwi arts community goes one step further

Cuban Foreign Minister Perez Roque said, on Friday, that Washington's 50-year-old blockade is the main obstacle hindering development in the country and is making it more difficult for the Cuban people to recover from the devastation that resulted from the hurricanes Gustav and Ike.


Today members of the Kiwi arts community, (Jean Betts, Russell Campbell, Mark Derby, Jeffrey Paparoa Holman, Wanjiku Kiarie, Dean Parker, Rolando Olmedo, Martyn Sanderson and the Equuslive Collective) have launched a petition urging the active engagement by the New Zealand government in addressing this urgent issue.


Below is the new post on the solidarity webpage explaining all and, below that, some suggestions of action you could take.


Con Cuba hoy- Kiwi arts community goes one step further

"Playwrights, poets, film makers and musicians have rallied to a request from their Cuban colleagues to call on the US to lift the economic blockade and in doing so have gone one step further and initiated a petition calling on the New Zealand Government to take decisive action to aid the Cuban people in the face of the devastation wrought by hurricanes Gustav and Ike.


The petition coordinator, film director and playwright Paul Maunder, has called others in the Kiwi cultural community to "assert their solidarity as a national grouping" and request the Prime Minister to grant immediate aid to Cuba and intensify its efforts to have the US blockade of the country lifted.


The recent hurricanes have left Cuba devastated and it will take billions of dollars for Cuba to recover. A recovery Paul notes "that is made hugely more expensive and problematic because of the hypocritical US economic blockade of the country."


"For some reason, Cuban's 'human rights failings' (which includes presumably their ability to cope with these hurricanes with less loss of life than any of the other countries afflicted, including the US) means that this small but significant country, must be punished further, now that they have been punished so severely by the politically indifferent hurricanes."


The petition calls on the NZ Government:

(i) to actively urge the US to lift the blockade,

(ii) to grant Cuba immediate aid,

(iii) and to be willing to support NGO agencies in the usual manner, if any wish to activate an aid programme with Cuba.


Included among the petition initiators are Jean Betts, Russell Campbell, Mark Derby, Jeffrey Paparoa Holman, Wanjiku Kiarie, Dean Parker, Rolando Olmedo, Martyn Sanderson and the Equuslive collective.


The petition is here

The Artists call is here


Action you could take:

Circulate this broadly

Urge the artists, writers, musicians, poets, etc, that you know, to sign on

Circulate this to your local media/ drop copies at your favourite café

Raise the issues relating to the blockade with your MP and/or other election candidates

Raise the issues relating to the blockade at union / community group / sports club meetings

Urge your favourite aid agency / NGO to get involved

--

Cuba Solidarity Christchurch

Spoken Word Event

Just plugging some good friends of ours! If you like your spoken word and poetry gritty, atmospheric, charged and powerful - this is the gig for you.

Their media release follows:

Poetry, Stories, Songs

with AJ Coyle, Ben Brown and I am the Light*

Thursday 25^th September 2008 Wunderbar, London St Lyttelton, ChCh

AJ Coyle’s annual Wunderbar performance is happening on 25^th of September this month and promises to be an upbeat celebration of the magic of words and the imagination, featuring powerful poetry performer Ben Brown, soulful and enigmatic singer I am the Light*, and guest appearances from an exciting array of local musicians.

AJ Coyle is one of Christchurch’s most innovative performers and a captivating story teller. The show will showcase some new material and will include a preview of advance copies of ‘Subreal Urban Myths’ a collection of poetry and stories set in and around Christchurch’s Cathedral Square.

In 2006 ‘Subreal Urban Myths’ first appeared as a performance piece featuring a soundtrack composed by brother James Coyle, keyboardist for reggae groups Hikoikoi and Safari, and folk duo Jessie James. The show was performed with a seven piece jazz/rock ensemble at the Harbourlight Theatre, Lyttelton; the Dunedin Fringe Festival, and the Wellington International Jazz Festival.

“There is a natural sense in the current urban consciousness that the world is on a ticket to human powered self-destruction. “Freedom” is a conundrum and apathy rules. Andrew Coyle’s Subreal Urban Myths explores individual journeys in this environment; each character deals with a collective or global consciousness in their own ways. Their stories form a collective subreal; a narrated and implied groundswell of a population that is on the threshold of a new existence.” - James Coyle

Guest Poet Ben Brown

Ben Brown is a multi published Lyttelton poet well known for his gripping and gruelling spoken word performances. A poet of the old school he has the capacity to grip the audience member by the throat and drag them through a fascinating world full of vivid characters, black humour and great damn lines.

Ben was recently crowned champion of performance poets in Christchurch winning his way to the top in an evening of knock out poetry at the Dux de Lux as part of The Press Christchurch Writers Festival 2008.

Ben will be performing his poems and will be accompanied from time to time from some of the local musicians. Ben will also be reading from his short story work Dogtown Blues, a hard hitting account of life in small town New Zealand.

Support Act: I am the Light*

I Am The Light (Malisa Palalagi) began gigging at age 16 and since then has played in numerous bands such as ska band 4Manbob (CHC), pop-punk band All Left Out (AKL) and currently plays in post-hardcore outfit Mona Vale Falls and folk/soul duo The Gentlys.

This diverse cross-section of genres has given Malisa endless amounts of inspiration for her own song-writing creations. I Am The Light* is an intriguing layer-cake of sounds, ideas and creativity. She is hoping to record some of her latest collaborations with other local artists later this year.

Catalyst 7: The Original Branch Manual - Launch Photos

Christchurch Writers Festival 2008
Al's Bar - Saturday 6th September

Andy Gibson

Ben Brown with Tono & The Finance Company

Tono

Jody Lloyd with Tono plus Doc Drumheller

Jody Lloyd (Trillion) with Tono & The Finance Company

Catalyst 7: The Original Branch Manual - Launch Photos

The Press Christchurch Writers Festival 2008
Al's Bar - Saturday 6th September

Lindon Puffin & Doc Drumheller

Lindon Puffin

Rachel Douglass & Le Mot Cafe

Demarnia Lloyd

Ciaran Fox & Andy Gibson

Poetry is Free Speech - Speak Freely!

Catalyst 7: The Original Branch Manual

I just wanted to write about the significance of this volume in terms of what Catalyst is trying to achieve. At Neoismist Press we have a very human interest in numbers and their significance as well as patterns in mathematics so we can't resist doing something special for our 7th edition. Choosing to celebrate all the things we have achieved so far in Catalyst's 5 year history we wanted to represent them in this volume - poetry, visual art, design, spoken word and innovation. So on the occasion of our 5th anniversary and our 7th edition we have chosen to produce another CD volume containing 7 poems + 7 songs and in the accompanying booklet - 7 artists work. The innovation comes in the format of Catalyst 7 - forgoing the book format altogether and opting for a CD/booklet inside a DVD case.


We have long been fans of the quirky innovation of literary journal McSweeneys and have sought to emulate (with a miniscule budget)in some small way this playful approach to publishing Catalyst within New Zealand's literary scene. So far, we have largely been overlooked. Eschewed by arts funders and ignored by the literary press in New Zealand we have quietly continued to innovate and push boundaries all 'on the smell of an oily rag'. We may be small but we are proud. Catalyst was the first literary journal in NZ to commit to releasing CDs of spoken word. The polish and production of the first Spoken Word volume of poetry (accompanying Catalyst 4) drew praise from the music scene and silence from literary circles. However a raft of imitators and clones followed - poetry CD releases from other publications and poetry groups followed including the impressive series from Auckland University Press of Classic NZ Poets in Performance, Contemporary NZ Poets in Performance and lastly New NZ Poets in Performance.


Meanwhile Catalyst continues to quietly agitate in the shadows of such literary collossi. Catalyst 7: The Original Branch Manual once again breaks new ground in shifting it's format. In the first collection of spoken word (Catalyst 4), music was chosen to act as backing for the poets, enhancing and illuminating the delivery of the poem. This time round the exploration of the resonance between poetry and music is by direct contrast of songwriting and poetry. 7 songs were selected based not only on their musical quality but also their lyrical content. By juxtaposing the poems directly next to and overlapping the songs an alchemical reaction seemed to occur. In the words of Doc Drumheller "accidental synergy" even though the songs and poems were composed and written quite independently. The result of this experiment is The Original Branch Manual - Catalyst vol. 7.

The Press ChCh Writers Festival

presents

The Original Branch Manual: Catalyst 7 - LIVE!

LAUNCH EVENT featuring live performances from musicians and poets featured in CATALYST 7

Saturday 6^th September, 8pm
Al’s Bar, 31 Dundas St

$10 door entry (or free with purchase of Catalyst $25)

Another Literary Gold

for Innovative Canterbury Journal

Literary Arts Journal Branches Out, Provides Manual

Lyttelton-based literary arts journal Catalyst is launching another trail-blazing edition as part of The Press Christchurch Writers’ Festival 2008. Exploring the resonances between music, lyrics and poetry The Original Branch Manual: Catalyst 7 presents a little audio alchemy by playing with the ‘accidental synergy’ within music, evocative poetry and the sung lyric.

Another 1^st for Christchurch in Poetry-Music Fusion.

Defying definition and bending genres has always been a feature of Catalyst. This volume breaks out of the book format altogether and marks the return of the spoken word CD from the first journal in New Zealand to produce and release a ‘poetry in performance’ recording.

This second outing for the spoken word feature once again takes the lead in fusing poetry with music in a new and interesting way. Performance poets are paired successfully with beautiful, evocative and lyrically interesting New Zealand songs in a seamless aural landscape lovingly prepared by musical auteur Jody Lloyd. “She'll Be Right acts are often renowned for a sincere and thought provoking lyrical approach.” says Lloyd, “Just as brilliant lyrics come alive on the page, brilliant poetry comes alive with music.” Editor and Publisher of Catalyst Doc Drumheller emphasises the impact of Lloyd. “Through the skill and vision of producer Jody Lloyd, what has resulted is a hybridised form that invites the listener to interpret layers of sensuous details.”

Doc Drumheller

Alchemical Literary Journal Discovers ‘Accidental Synergy’

Catalyst 7: The Original Branch Manual sees the journal once more collaborating with critically acclaimed producer, rapper and founder of She’ll Be Right Records label, Jody Lloyd. A Christchurch stalwart and staunch ‘natural accent’ rapper, now based in Melbourne, Lloyd brought various artists from She’ll Be Right Records together with poets gathered by Catalyst editors Doc Drumheller & Ciarán Fox in a fresh audio-literary experiment. “We approached poets who have had success both on the stage and the page and looked for music by songwriters enriched by thought provoking lyrics.” says Drumheller. “We aimed for more of an ‘accidental synergy’ instead of a deliberate crossover when fusing these elements.”

Trillion aka Jody Lloyd

Featuring 7 local poets including Christchurch luminary Bernadette Hall; acclaimed author and poet Ben Brown and exciting emerging voices Danielle O’Halloran and Sean Joyce in performance with 7 New Zealand musical acts including Demarnia Lloyd, Lindon Puffin, John White & Trillion. Punctuated by 7 New Zealand visual artists, the journal is taking it’s 7^th release to heart.

Lindon Puffin

Demarnia Lloyd

Drumheller concludes “The Original Branch Manual, Catalyst 7 is the tangible conclusion of this experiment between Neoismist Press and She’ll Be Right Records. Now this mix of written, visual and aural work invites you to add a kinaesthetic layer, by shaking your hips or tapping your feet and take the project to a new dimension.”

John White

Background on Catalyst

Founded in 2003 by Neoismist Press, Catalyst has focused on presenting new and emerging New Zealand writers alongside significant writers from here and abroad. Committed to high quality design and production as well as risk-taking and innovation, Catalyst has challenged the conventional literary journal format. This is the 7^th volume from the young upstart of the New Zealand literary scene which is rapidly gaining international attention due to the calibre of featured poets and its distinctive art & design. Catalyst has previously published such internationally significant poets as South African poet laureate Keorapetse Kgositsile, founder of Poets Against War Sam Hamill, and president of the World Haiku Association Ban’ya Natsuishi. The Original Branch Manual: Catalyst 7 has been funded by Creative Communities - Christchurch.

Coming Soon! Alchemy of the Islands

Put it in your diary folks, the next Neoismist Press launch event:

Alchemy of the Islands:

an Anthology of New Zealand and Cuban Poetry

Wednesday 13th August, 6pm
Montana Wednesday Evening
Philip Carter Family Auditorium
Christchurch Art Gallery
Free entry
Readings, images and music with a Cuban flavour.

Next Poetry Open Mic

Come howl the eternal 'yes' at Catalyst's Poetry Open Mic!

Wednesday 6th August, 8pm
Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St
BYO poetry!

You bring the poetry, Al's got the wine specials!!

Tribute to Hone Tuwhare

We are very proud to be a part of this event honouring one of our greatest and much loved poets.

media release from Christchurch Art Gallery follows:

Artists pay tribute to Hone Tuwhare

Performance artists from around New Zealand will gather at Christchurch Art Gallery to honour one of the country’s great literary voices.

Tribute to Hone Tuwhare will take place in the Philip Carter Family Auditorium on Friday, 27 June at 7pm. Admission to the event is free.

The tribute will feature performances by Apirana Taylor, Tusiata Avia, Bernadette Hall, Brian Potiki, Jeffrey Paparoa Holman, Danielle O’Halloran, Ben Brown, Doc Drumheller, Ciaran Fox and others.

Tuwhare received national acclaim with the publication of No Ordinary Son in 1964 - the first collection of poetry in English by a Māori writer. Over the course of his career, Tuwhare amassed a body of work including poetry, plays and short fiction.

Recognition and honours poured in. The University of Otago awarded him the Burns Fellowship in 1969 and 1974. He served as Berlin Writer in Residence in 1985, and received the University of Auckland Literary Fellowship in 1991.

Tuwhare became the second Te Mata Poet Laureate in 1999. In 2003, he received an Icon Award from the Arts Foundation New Zealand and a Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in poetry. He also won two Montana Book Awards for poetry: in 1998 for Shapeshifter, and in 2002 for Piggy Back Moon.

Hone Tuwhare pioneered a new style of New Zealand writing, imbuing his work with a distinct Māori voice. When he passed away in January of this year, he left behind an unrivalled literary legacy for generations of artists to follow.

Next Catalyst Open Mic Night

Wednesday 2nd July, 8pm
Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St, Christchurch
BYO poetry!

remember: the open mic happens the FIRST Wednesday of EVERY month. Pass it on...

Outlaw Poets

Wow, what a fantastic night at the Lyttelton Times Cafe. A good crowd turned out to see a special night of poetry celebrating the Beats and their legacy. The 'pot-luck' format worked out pretty well after all - and the night ended with an incredible 3 voice reading of Ginsberg's 'Howl', 'America' & Corso's 'Bomb'.

You shoulda been there. Seriously.

Featured poets were:

Andrew Coyle
Ben Brown
Marissa Johnpillai
Doc Drumheller
Ross Brighton
Ciaran Fox
Phil

Special thanks to Andrew for helping organise the night and the Lyttelton Times Cafe for getting it together for us.

A tribute to the Beat Poets

Next Catalyst Open Mic

Canterbury Poets Collective 2008

It's that time again! Canterbury Poets present

Poetry in Performance: Autumn Readings 2008

With the ever popular Open Microphone (where the audience vote for their favourite poet every session) and a galaxy of guest poets from around New Zealand - at the Madras Cafe Bookshop at 165 Madras St, (close to Allen Street and opposite the Polytechnic Campus). Many of you will already have the programme, but just in case - here it is again: readings start at 6.30pm (sharp!)

2 April Sue Wootton, Barbara McCartney, Sean Joyce - followed by Catalyst at Al's Bar!

9 April Geoff Cochrane, Nancy Mattson, Mike Bartholomew-Biggs

16 April Sioban Harvey, Kerrin Sharpe, Jeff Harpeng

23 April Othusitse Ricky Madibela, Jenny Powell-Chambers, Jenni Curtis

30 April Rhian Gallagher, Tony Beyer, Karen Zelas

And this week (April 2nd) it's also a Catalyst Open Mic night so how about a double dose of poetry? Come along to CPC Autumn Readings and then meander around the corner to Al's Bar for some no-holds-barred spoken word and sometimes, even poetry!

Haiku Aotearoa 2008

Haiku Aotearoa 2008
18 - 20 April
Bishop Julius Hostel
Christchurch
New Zealand

Haiku Aotearoa 2008, a conference for writers of haiku and related forms, will take place at Bishop Julius Hostel, 90 Waimairi Road, Christchurch, 18-20th April, 2008. This is the second such conference to be held in New Zealand – the first was in Wellington 2005.

New Zealand has a number of very able and internationally known writers in the field, and local interest in the various forms is growing yearly. The local group, Small White Teapot Haiku Group have assembled a programme to appeal to beginners and experts. Highlights include Richard von Sturmer’s Tanka Film presentation, and the launch of “the taste of nashi”, the third New Zealand haiku anthology.

Price for the conference is $90, or $22 for a half day session. Full board at Bishop Julius is $201.

For the brochure and enrolment form giving full details please email: haikunz08@gmail.com or visit our website www.haiku2008.com.

Catalyst Poetry Open Mic

The words that come out of our mouths! We're back, and we're saying the things that need to be said. Quite often.
Wednesday 2nd April, 8pm
Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St
Christchurch

Lyttelton Summer Street Party

If you're thinking of heading over port-side for the Street Party to end all street parties, don't forget to check out the Rose Garden between 11.30am and 1pm for some special spoken word performances by Catalyst poets in a live soundscape.

Lyttelton Summer Street Party
Sunday 24th February
10am - 6pm

The next Open Mic is also another Book Launch!

Look! What's that up on the stage? Is it a book? Is it a poem? YES! It's...
SUPER ORDINARY

Neoismist Press is very proud to announce
the launch of the fourth book of 10 x (10 + -10) = 0

Super Ordinary represents the next evolutionary step in Doc Drumheller's 10 year - 10 book experimental project blurring the boundaries of art, poetry, performance, mathematics and science. The entire project, based on a physical and visual representation of helical, intersecting DNA strands is reaching it's 'grey area' middle section. Super Ordinary is printed in stark black & white and yet covers the colourful themes of escapism, fantasy and hero worship, the abdication of responsibility by us all, the power of symbols and the lure of '15 megabytes of fame'.

Come help us celebrate the release of Super Ordinary at Al's Bar with a special super hero launch party!



Come dressed as your favourite superhero - ordinary or otherwise - spot prize for best costume/idea.

Al's Bar, 31 Dundas St, Christchurch
Wednesday 5th March, 7.30pm
Open Mic to follow

We Have Lift Off!

Launching Catalyst volume 6

Wednesday 6 February, 8pm
Al's Bar

Come help us celebrate the arrival of Catalyst's 6th volume of new writing with a tasty beverage at Al's Bar.

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!

Catalyst 5 Preview

Catalyst is 5 issues old/young and like any person, growing up can be a scary time with many questions and seemingly not enough answers to go around. This issue of Catalyst is brought to you in, and dedicated to, the spirit of Peace. In a time of perpetual war (and Orwellian prophecy come true) Poetry and Art must shoulder it's own perpetual burden - that of speaking truths, opening communication and allowing glimpses into what might be possible if we put down the guns.

The feature poet for Catalyst 5 is US poet and peace advocate Sam Hamill. We quote him in the editorial:

“One thing we as poets can do is build stronger intercultural bridges. The better we know and talk with one another, locally and internationally, the more difficult misunderstanding becomes.”

“Inasmuch as our work demands the reinvention of ourselves, we must also thereby reinvent our country. And the world. Imagine a world without war.”

-- Sam Hamill

Sam founded a significant movement called Poets Against War after refusing an invitation to attend a White House function to celebrate "Poetry and the American Voice". As a pacifist, Sam felt he could not in good faith attend in the light of the USA's 'shock and awe' invasion of Iraq and what he sees as poetry's mission to spread international understanding. But instead of merely avoiding a conflict of conscience, Sam called on fellow poets to "reconstitute a Poets Against the War movement like the one organized to speak out against the war in Vietnam...to speak up for the conscience of our country and lend your names to our petition against this war”

The 'accidental groundswell' begun by this has seen the establishment of a website and what is now the largest anthology ever published with more than 20,000 poems from every corner of the Earth represented.

Catalyst 5 has endeavoured to uphold this spirit of peaceful international dialogue with our most international issue to date. From the editorial by Doc Drumheller:

This landmark 5^th issue of Catalyst celebrates a United Nations of literature in its many forms. With poet and founder of Poets Against War Sam Hamill as feature writer, a haiku sequence from Ban’ya Natsuishi, the President of the World Haiku Association, a selection of Bengali Poets, including prominent Indian poet Prabal Kumar Basu and a special section of poetry from ten Cuban Poets. All this and work from more international writers, cross pollinated with established and emerging voices from all over New Zealand.

Last year I had the honor and great pleasure of participating in the Third Wellington International Poetry Festival with Sam, Ban’ya, Prabal and a cast of fine New Zealand and International poets. Experiencing the poets many voices in English and their native tongues was both stimulating and inspiring. The theme for the festival was Disarmament and Peaceful Dialogue. During the four days we heard many powerful, beautiful and at times extraordinary expressions of peace and poetry. One line that stuck with me was from the Irish poet John Deane, when he said the best way to write an anti war poem is to write a love poem.

So on Thursday 21st December, we at Neoismist Press are proud to present our small contribution to Peaceful Dialogue around the world with the range of voices represented in Catalyst 5. Sam Hamill again:

Poetry is an important bridge. Our poetry absolutely blossomed in the last century, in a very large part thanks to the influence of poetry from all over the world. That cross-pollination is essential to us and to our allied poets abroad. We need to know what every "they" have to say. We need to reaffirm ancient values and the practice of compassion. We need to remind people lost in materialist culture that, yes, poetry matters—just as it always has. Maybe even more, because it crosses boundaries more efficiently than ever before.”

- Sam Hamill

Catalyst volume 5: We Come in Peace

Stay tuned here for sneak previews of Catalyst volume 5, feature articles and other miscellany of an incredibly significant and interesting nature...

Announcing: Catalyst 5 Official Book Launch

Neoismist Press is unbelievably pleased (not to mention relieved) to announce the official launch date for Catalyst volume 5!

There will be a special launch function at the ever-lovin' Wunderbar in Lyttelton for all those located in the Christchurch vicinity on Thursday 21st December at 7pm. It will feature live readings from several poets and writers featured in this issue as well as the familiar ramblings and mellow tones of Catalyst's two editors Doc Drumheller and Ciaran Fox.

So those details again, all nicely laid out for those of you who hate having to read the whole article just to get to the important details:

Catalyst volume 5
Official Launch
Thursday 21st December
7pm, Wunderbar - Lyttelton
(there will also be an open mic following the launchy-thing)

Don'tcha just love making books?

US poet Namaya @ the Wunderbar 26th November

GOD, SEX & POLITICS (f@$k yeah!)

A small but vocal audience came along on Sunday to see Namaya (and a spectacular sunset) at the Wunderbar. Ably warmed up by our own Doc Drumheller who encouraged the audience to yell "F*#k yeah!" every time the key words for the night: "God", "Sex" or "Politics" were mentioned. Like it or not, he'd created a beast that Namaya enjoyed wrestling with for the rest of the show. Rambling and improvising his way through a set of stories and poems ranging from fearsome Catholic nuns to post-mortem love affairs.

for more info on Namaya see www.vermontpoet.com

NAMAYA