EMERGING AND aspiring Galway poets, along with singer-songwriter Bríd Kenny, will feature in the next Bard Yard, the new monthly open-mic event in the city, currently taking place on-line.
Bard Yard takes place on Wednesday May 20 at 8pm via Facebook.com/bardyardgalway It is hosted by Claire Van Valkenburg and the All-Connacht Poetry Slam Champion, Conor Quinlan. Poets can sign up, via the Facebook page, to read one poem. There will also be music from Bríd Kenny who released her debut EP, Doorway, in March.
Mixing poetry and music is a central idea behind this open mic. "It celebrates that time-honoured tradition between poetry and music," says Claire.The hosts were also keen to provide a platform for the arts during the Covid-19 restrictions. “We were faced with the task of not only launching a new kind of open mic, but also with figuring out how to make it successful online,” says Claire, while Conor adds, "The arts are really important right now, and creating spaces for artists to share their work will help everyone during this difficult time."
Bard Yard was scheduled to premiere at the Róisín Dubh in March, but has taken place online since the Covid-19 restrictions came into force. Once pubs can open again, it will take place in the Róisín Dubh on the third Wednesday of every month.
