Tag Archives: Rocco De Giacomo

Thanks to all who sang Happy Birthday to livewords

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We were grateful to all who came out on February 3rd — over 100 through the course of the evening -to celebrate our 3rd birthday. And thrilled to sharp, shiny, glittering pieces that so many heard the words of Ian Burgham, James Dewar, Rocco de Giacomo, Liz Howard, Stephen Humphrey, Jim Johnstone, Mike Lipsius, Sachiko Murakami, Shannon Maguire, Shawn McLeod, Cathy Petch, David Silverberg, and Dane Swan. It was a privilege to have these fine fellow-travellers “in the house.”

A well-mannered shout out to the Sachiko Murakami for asking the gathered multitude to sing a chorus of Happy Birthday to this wee three reading series.

If  poets were all to exiled from the city so it might be well-governed (Plato, Republic 607d), then we can’t think of a better bunch of souls to be exiled with.

We were sorry to have regrets from Gillian Savigny and Blair Trewartha but we understand that gravity of job demands, the perils of snow and the damn frustration of an absence of transportation. We look forward to having Gillian and Blair at livewords later this year.

NEXT UP: We have the Insomniac Press Showcase night at livewords on March 3rd with Angela Hibbs, Catherine Graham, Jeff Latosik and more TBA.

In the meantime be sure to check out these fine reading Toronto reading series:

A Night of Hosts: the livewords third anniversary party!

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We are 3 on the third of February!

Celebrate livewords’ birthday with “a night of hosts:” short readings by the hosts of a wide array of Toronto reading series.

Join us at the Black Swan, 154 Danforth – 2nd floor - [map] on Thursday, February 3rd

Doors at 7:30 p.m. - Readings from 8:00 p.m.

Readings by:

Hosted by Edward Nixon

Plus surprise guests, complimentary snacks, and reasonably priced booze.

Join our Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/index.php?#!/group.php?gid=26261284591

A great evening @ livewords: fab readers, a translation winner, and a door prize

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Thursday, June 25 was one of our best ever livewords evenings @ Cervejaria. Thanks no small measure to our large and appreciative audience!

A decorous and appreciative bow to our readers Jacob Scheier, Rocco De Giacomo and Nashira Dernesch. In the admittedly bias opinion of host Edward Nixon, they each gave the best readings he has heard them do to-date. In particular Rocco seemed to have the ‘holy burn’ about him. Nashira had an emotional hold on the audience that became stronger through her reading. Jacob read favourites from More to Keep Us Warm along with new pieces to a closely listening audience that responded with warm applause. He also seemed, in some of his newest work, to prove the adage that one can indeed become ‘more Canadian’ when one lives outside the country.

Congratulations to Pelayo Matute who won our Poetry in Translation open mic with a reading of his own translation of Frederico Garcia Lorca. Our volunteer contest judges Lisa Young, Yorgos Stamatopoulos and Josh Stewart were enthusiastically unanimous.

And grateful shout-out to Charlie Huisken & This Ain’t the Rosedale Library for donating our door prize Poets in the Peaks by John Suiter, won by audience member Laurie Fredheim.

De Giacomo + Dernesch + Scheier = this Thursday night June 25

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This Thursday night:

Rocco De Giacomo: Rocco is a widely published poet whose work has most recently been accepted in the literary journals Vallum and The Carolina Quarterly and has recently appeared The Antigonish Review and Tower Poetry. A full length collection of his poetry is expected out in the fall of 2009 through Quattro Books. His fifth and latest collection of poems, Catching Dawn’s Breath (LyricalMyrical Press, Toronto) was launched in March of 2008. Rocco is a member of the council for the Art Bar Poetry Series and a member of the bpNichol Coordinating Committee.

Nashira Dernesch: Nashira grew up in the village of St. Jacobs, Ontario, and studied at the University of Toronto before being accepted into York University’s Creative Writing Program. She was co-editor of the literary journal Existere for three years and won the Art Bar Poetry Series’ annual Discovery Night in 2006. Her first chap book, It’s No Secret You’ll Feel Better (believe your own press), sold out within 2 days of its
publication and is now in its second printing. Her second chap book, This Snowing Under, was recently published by Emergency Response Unit. She is currently working on a full-length collection.

Jacob Scheier: Jacob is a Toronto born writer living in New York City. His debut poetry collection More to Keep us Warm (ECW Press) was the winner of 2008 Governor General’s Award. The book was also listed amongst 2008′s ‘the best in verse’ by the Winnipeg Free Press. Scheier’s poems have also appeared in several literary journals. He is the former head editor of existere, York University’s Journal of Arts and Literature and is currently a regular contributor to the Toronto alternative weekly, NOW Magazine, and the NYC progressive newspaper, The Indypendent.

Plus Poetry in Translation Open Mic Contest – click here for details.

Hosted by Edward Nixon

@ Cervejaria, 842 College Street (just west of Ossington)
7:00 p.m. Doors Open
7:30 p.m. Open Mic Sign-Up
8:00 p.m. Performances Commence

Click here to RSVP on Facebook