Wilbo Promotes Peformance Poetry and Slam

Poetry Reading and Slam
at the Livery Brewing Company
The New Moon Reading Featuring
Jimmy Lee Bridgman
the Poet Laureate of the New Territory
Wednesday, March 29, 2006 7 – 9:30 PM

This Wednesday night, 3/29/2006 is a new moon. A new moon doesn't show any light at all. One hardly knows the moon is still in the sky until the following nights. This New Moon Wednesday, we are pleased to feature Jimmy Lee Bridgman, one of the founders of poetry in Benton Harbor and the New Territory in 1995. Jimmy Lee learned his poetry in the seventies while memorizing the verses of the "Last Poets" with his friends. Content to recite the work of famous poets for years, out of the depths of sadness, he wrote a poem to mourn his brother's death in 1994. Discovered by Brad Bigford at a weekly open mike at Art's Restaurant in the New Territory, Jimmy Lee began writing and performing new works, supported by Brad's encouragement and his fans at Art's. By April 1999, Jimmy Lee's had the poems and styles to win one of the first slam competitions at Michigan State University. In the summer, Mr. Lee is known for teaching slam poetry technique at New Territory festivals to young and adults, including Ms. Leslie Pickell, the proprietor of the Livery. Come see the man most responsible for the rising tide of poetry in the New Territory this Wednesday night.

On Wednesday, the Livery also welcomes slam poets from Southwest Michigan who are coached by Slam Master Tracey Smith of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Wandering Wilbo, our traveling poet from Royal Oak, Michigan will be wrapping up his tour of duty at Cook Nuclear Plant soon, and Tracey has graciously stepped forward to keep our scene alive. There's one item he needs before he goes forward, and Mr. Wilbo will present it to him Wednesday night. To give it away partially, Tracey has persisted in bringing a jug from a microbrewery in Kalamazoo on his car trip to Benton Harbor. What's up with that? After Wednesday night, he'll no longer need to try putting new beer into an old bottle. Film at Eleven.

Please bring your friends and your poems, old and new.


Poetry Reading and Slam