North County Poets Wrap Up Season at Parlor Cafe
.JPG) Hanna Lauerman performs a set at the Rambling Poets' season finale at the Parlor Cafe in North Adams. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Rambling Poets has developed a close-knit group of performers and fans over the past two years.
Thursday night marked the group's "season finale" at the Parlor Cafe, an event that attracted well-known slam poet and co-founder Jacob Snow onstage, breaking his year and a half hiatus.
"I came out tonight to support the poets here and to support my friend putting it on," said Snow, performing as Phoenix. Snow said he used poetry to come out of his "shy kid" shell and is now one of the loudest audience members in the cafe.
There wasn't a seat available for the three-hour slam competition hosted by co-founder and managing director Christian Phiffer, although past events have been standing room only. Audience members applauded, snapped fingers, vocally responded to the poets and hung on every word. Random judges were selected to score the contestants, although audience members often indicated their disagreement with results.
The winner was Curtis Asch, a frequent favorite.
Rambling Poets says its dedicated to creating safe spaces for poets to perform their pieces and develop their skills, and to supporting poets and poetry.
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts student and feature poet Hanna Lauerman spoke about the community the Parlor Café and Rambling Poets has created for her and others to be a part of.
"When I first came to North Adams I was resentful of the small-town lifestyle," she said. Lauerman said she felt undirected until she applied for a job at the cafe on a whim.
She shared that a friend saw her enjoying school more after getting the job. Lauerman attributes her gained affection for school to the community created at the Parlor Café and by the artists that perform there.
Although the season for Rambling Poets has ended, open mics at the Parlor Café will continue every Friday night with performances starting around 7:30 and a signup sheet available at the bar.
Tags: poetry, slam competition,
