Holler 11 and some other stuff

Holler Poets Series finds unlikely home to quench a literary thirst

The Holler Poets don’t shout, but they sometimes lean into the microphone to be heard over the noise of the bar.

Yes, the bar. Al’s Bar, the seedy-chic establishment at Sixth and Limestone in North Lexington, features live music, a great jukebox, possibly the city’s shortest beer list and literary enlightenment.

About once a month for the past year, Kentucky writers of poetry and prose � some of whom grew up in hollers � have gathered at the bar to read from their works.

The first event, marking the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war, was called “Poets for Peace.” The next, on Wednesday, is “Holler 11: Poets for Peace in the Mountains.” In this case, “peace” would mean an end to the blasting that takes off the tops of mountains to get to the coal below.

Among the authors who will be reading: Silas House, Erik Reece, George Ella Lyon and Jane Gentry Vance.

Read it all and watch the embedded videos.

Then come to Holler 11 at Al’s Bar, corner of Sixth and Limestone in Lexington, on Wednesday, March 25, at 8:00 o’clock.
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You can watch the original Poets for Peace reading on YouTube.

Here is out current Poet Laureate, Jane Gentry:

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Also of interest: Audio of Affrilachian Poets reading in Chicago from Chicago Public Radio.

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And on other fronts, today is the twentieth anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill — 11 million gallons of oil into Prince William Sound. But, of course, our SCOTUS in their wisdom decided Exxon had suffered enough.

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And it’s Doc Watson’s birthday.