Jan Figurski, the musician/poet we all so enjoyed at the Oct. 2nd event, will reprise his role as musician Jan 2nd (Thursday), prior to  featured poet Carrie Lee Connel's reading. 

In October, Figurski sang his own compositions, played acoustic guitar and blew an incredible blues harmonica, accompanied on piano by Geoff Johnson and on drums by Kevin Heslop.  

In January, from 6:30 to 7:00 and again during the intermission, Jan will perform solo.  Pure, acoustic Jan Figurski. 

Figurski has one published recording: Screen Door Slam, Live at the Tostal. He currently plays mandolin, guitar, and harmonica, and has sung with a variety of acoustic roots groups, including Paper Moon, and Love Child. 

Interview with Jan Figurski leading up to his Oct. 2013 featured reading.
Biography relating to Figurski's poetic career

Biography of Carrie Lee Connel, Jan. 2nd Featured Poet

THE EVENT

WHERE: The Mykonos Restaurant at 572 Adelaide St. North, London, Ontario. The restaurant has a large, covered terrace just behind the main restaurant, which comfortably holds 60 poetry lovers. Mediterranean food and drinks are available. Overflow parking is available across the side street and in the large lot one block north, in front of Trad’s Furniture.

WHEN: Thursday, January 2nd. Most of our events are held on the first Wednesday of the month, but this time that is New Years Day, a holiday. 

LIVE MUSIC: Jan Figurski will perform, beginning at 6:30 as well as later during the event.

FEATURED POET: Carrie Lee Connel will begin reading shortly after 7:00, followed by a Q&A.

OPEN MIC: Following the featured poet, there is about 1.5 hours of open mic. Each open mic poet has five minutes to read (which is about two good pages of poetry, but it should be timed at home). Those who want to read will write their names in a spot of their choosing on a list at the book table at the back. They will also be asked to check 'yes' if they don't mind being photographed and videotaped during their reading. (Note: First come, first served. There are fifteen spots.)

RAFFLE PRIZES: Anyone who donates to London Open Mic Poetry Night receives a ticket for a raffle prize, three of which will be picked. The prizes consist of poetry books donated by Brick Books and The Ontario Poetry Society. Donations are our only source of income. We still haven't paid off our initial debt.

Sharon Bee will sing and play piano at London Open Mic Poetry night on Dec. 4th at the Mykonos Restaurant. The singer-songwriter will be on the stage from 6:30 to 7:00 and again during the intermission at 8:00.

Bee is a classically trained pianist, an award winning composer and a piano teacher. She also teaches music theory and music history. She has performed at many venues and festivals, composed the music & lyrics for three complete musicals (as well as incidental music for several plays), and has developed the music for a series of radio plays being produced out of Halifax, one of which is Old Wounds – the Firefly tribute.

In between these activities, she writes her own music and lyrics - her first CD was released in the summer of 2004 and now her second CD has just been released -a collection of music from the Old Wounds Radio Drama. 
Her voice, as inspiring as it is beautiful, has been described as "a voice like an angel"  and has been compared to Tori Amos and Kate Bush (among others). Her writing has also been described as reminiscent of Canadian Jane Siberry.

Bee's singing has been described as "ethereal and irresistible", "warm and soothing", “radiates strength and conviction”, "one of the great new and relatively unknown Canadian talents" and "truly unique - and decidedly Canadian".

Sharon Bee is a graduate of the Faculty of Music at the University of Western Ontario (Classical Piano Performance). She was born and raised in Toronto – Don Mills, and currently resides in London, Ontario. 

Listen to samplings from Sharon Bee's two CDs. 




THE EVENT

WHERE: The Mykonos Restaurant at 572 Adelaide St. North, London, Ontario. The restaurant has a large, covered terrace just behind the main restaurant, which comfortably holds 60 poetry lovers. Mediterranean food and drinks are available. Overflow parking is available across the side street and in the large lot one block north, in front of Trad’s Furniture.

WHEN: December 4th, the first Wednesday of the month, as with most of our events. 

LIVE MUSIC: Sharon Bee  will begin at least by 6:30. There is also an intermission also with live music.

THE FEATURED POET: M. NourbeSe Philip will begin reading shortly after 7:00, followed by a Q&A. Read our interview with NourbeSe and five of her poems. 

OPEN MIC: Following the featured poet, there is about 1.5 hours of open mic, ending about 9:00 pm. Each poet has five minutes (which is about two good pages of poetry, but it should be timed at home). NOTE: WE WILL NOT BE SELECTING NAMES AT RANDOM, BUT, AS IS TRADITIONAL AT MOST POETRY OPEN MICS, POETS WILL WRITE THEIR NAMES IN A SPOT OF THEIR CHOOSING ON A LIST AT THE DOOR. They will also be asked for their email addresses and whether or not we can photograph and videotape them reading.

RAFFLE PRIZES: Anyone who donates to London Open Mic Poetry Night receives a ticket for a raffle prize, three of which will be picked. The prizes consist of poetry books donated by Brick Books and The Ontario Poetry Society. Donations are our only source of income. We still haven't paid off our initial debt.

EBOOK ANTHOLOGY: Our annual ebook is an anthology of the poets who have read during the year, including both the featured poets, with one or two poems by each, and the open mic readers, with from one to a few, depending on length, from each of those who wish to participate, no matter how many times they read. The ebook will then be available on Amazon at the end of the season, at a few dollars each, used to help offset expenses. If anyone gives us more than several poems, we will select from them. All poems that are included must have been read at the events during the season. The ebook will include a short biography (up to seven lines) of each poet. This must be included with the poems. We may also add a photo of the poet reading at the event. This hasn’t been decided yet. To keep transcription errors from creeping into the poems, the preferred way to get them to us is by email. Those who don’t use email can give us a copy at the events. A cautionary note: Some poets may not want certain poems to be included in the ebook because it would make them unacceptable for later publication in certain poetry journals. Erik Martinez Richards will edit and publish the anthology. His email address is erikf1944@hotmail.com