October 2016 – Vampires in the Sunburnt Country

Words Out Loud returns to Babushka lounge in Ballarat on Thursday, November 24, 7-9pm, for its next session of spoken word.

To mark the final event of the year, Jessica Wilkinson will headline. Jessica is the founding editor of RABBIT: a journal for nonfiction poetry, which celebrates its 20th issue in November. She has published two poetic biographies, marionette: a biography of miss marion davies (Vagabond 2012) and Suite for Percy Grainger (Vagabond 2014). She is currently writing up a third, on choreographer George Balanchine, research for which was undertaken at the NYC Public Library and Harvard under the Marten Bequest Travel Award. She is Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at RMIT University, Melbourne.

Writers, readers, poets — all word lovin’ folks with a hankering to share the love are invited along, with five-minute open mic spots on offer. Babushka has excellent sound and backing tracks can be accommodated. You won’t find a friendlier venue. Sadly, Babushka has announced it is likely to close at year’s end, so this a chance to farewell this most excellent host.

The event has a nominal theme of “on the edge”, but as always, performers are encouraged to take the theme and run with it for their 5-minute slots — or ignore it altogether!

Entry is free.

Keep up to date at the Facebook page: www.facebook.com/wordsoutloud/.

Spring clouds over the lake.

Winter still has its wet, icy hands on Ballaratia (September was our wettest one yet), but there have been a few days when spring’s been in the air: cherry blossoms have been and gone, trees are showing their shoots, cygnets are on the water. The botanical gardens and the Lake Wendouree shore opposite have become valued places of peace and fresh air — with bonus Pokemon. But mostly a tranquil stroll with seasonal reflections. Here’s a few shots snapped on the hoof when the sun’s been out. As Eric said, it can’t rain all the time.