News, New & Of Note

Welcome to News, New & Of Note where you'll find the latest happenings from our friends and family in the Poetry, Music and Art world. Check back often as we'll update with the latest and greatest happenings as they cross our desks here at Insomniacathon.org



Of Note - War Is Over If You Want It - December 8th marks the day John Lennon was senselessly taken from this world. On this December 8th, Yoko Ono asks all people of the world to make it a Day of Healing. Insom brother, Michael Dean Pollock who lives in Reykjavik, Iceland where the Imagine Peace Tower resides reflects on John Lennon on this Day of Healing. Click Here To Read his story, Lennon Lightening Strikes Thrice.




News & Of Note! - Poetry Made Visible - JC Fridays Arts and Culture Celebration! - Art House Productions presents JC Fridays, a citywide celebration of free arts and culture programs happening in Jersey City. On Friday, Dec. 4th, Bistro la Source hosts an evening with artist Frank Messina. Come see Messina's dynamic creations and enjoy the fine food and spirits of Bistro la Source. Party goes from 6-10 PM. Click Here To View some of Frank Messina's paintings.

News, New & Of Note! American composer, musician and writer David Amram was born November 17, 1930 in Philadelphia. His eclectic use of jazz, ethnic and folk music has led him to work with the likes of Thelonious Monk, Willie Nelson, Charles Mingus, Leonard Bernstein and Jack Kerouac. Insomniacathon On-Line! celebrates his creative pioneering work and collaborations with stars from the worlds of music, literature theater and film. Click Here and join us at the Insomniacathon On-Line! David Anram 79th Birthday Party!



Also Of Note! - Banjo & fiddle virtuoso and founder of The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band John McEuen, invites David Amram on his 79h birthday to join him and his musical guests banjo ace Cynthia Sayer, Native American singer / songwriter Martha Redbone, bluegrass singer Jen Larsen and members from Railroad Earth and New York's Tin Pan Band for a Grand Jam and Amram Birthday Bash at The City Winery on Nov. 16th at 8:00 PM.




News, New & Of Note! - The Shape Of Water - Ice Found on The Moon - NASA confirmed on November 13th the exsistence of Water (Ice) on the Moon stemming from exploration done with the satellite known as LCROSS (pronounced L-cross) which was purposely crashed into the Moon's surface in October. In commemoration of this profound discovery we bring to you a Psalm Soundscape from the Ron Whitehead and James Walck CD, The Shape Of Water. Click Here To Listen to "The Shape Of Water" .





News & Of Note! - Sunny Days, Everything's A Okay! - Sesame Street Turns 40! - 1969 was a profound year, Man Lands on the Moon, Woodstock, a year of technological and social revolution and amidst this metamorphosis a humble children's educational television program named Sesame Street made it's modest debut on November 10th. Click Here and join the Celebration at Muppet Central!




Of Note! - The Number 40! - As we all cheer in celebration of the 40th Anniversary, Sesame Street Muppeteer, Jerry Nelson shares his reflect of his time in the Sesame Street family. Click Here To Read his impart, "39 Years On a 40 Year Old Street."



Also Of Note! - Still The Hippest Show In Town! - Happy Birthday Sesame Street!! - A beloved Fav of children around the World, David Amram, a huge proponent of exposing children to the wonders of music and cultue (and longtime musical guest on Sesame Street) sends his Birthday Greeting to The Street with The Positive Beat! Click Here To Read "Sesame Street turns 40!"

News, New & Of Note! - A Torch for Peace Burns in Toronto- The Diaspora Film Festival presents the Canadian premiere of the Teri McLuhan film, The Frontier Gandhi: Badshah Khan, a Torch for Peace on November 4th - 7PM at Innis Town Hall.

Before the Canadian premiere of the film , David Amram (who composed, orchestrated and conducted the score for the film) will perform at a special concert event for the Diaspora Festival which he created for the occasion, entitled "At Home Around the World / A Musical Mosaic in the spirit of the Diaspora. With David Amram and Friends". The event has been facilitated through the participation of Small World Music. Concert runs from 8-10 PM at The Revival 783 College Street West, Toronto, Canada.

Of Note! Over twenty years in the making, The Frontier Gandhi is about Muslim peacemaker, Badshah Khan who rose above the inconceivable violence of the Pashtun warrior culture of the Northwest Frontier Province to be pronounced "a miracle" by Mahatma Gandhi. McLuhan's film brings the Badshah Khan story to light and offers a poignant, eye-opening look at this man's vision for Peace.

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Of Note! For this year's Halloween, "PoorBob" Sushko weighs in with some Swamp Sooth on SAMHAIN (Halloween) Le Grande Sabbat, Day of the Dead, Shadow Feast, All Hallows Eve, Old Hallowmas, All Souls Day, Last Harvest and how to be a real Zombie! Click Here to read his hoot!



News, New & Of Note! - A'nen Sedjet - Four sonic soundscapes from PoorBob ( aka SiriusB ) that go beyound the boundries of Shadow and Light. Click Here to experience A'nen Sedjet . Happy Halloween!





News & Of Note! - Poetry Night at the Intermezzo - An evening of spoken word at Intermezzo Cafe Actors Theater, 316 West Main in Louisville on October 29th featuring Jimmy Besseck, Josh English, Maree Ecrevan, William Freeman, Jessie Hasting, Erica Lawson, Mathieu Lotus, Rani Newman, Divinity Rose, Matthew Presley, James Wallace and Ron Whitehead with Elias Rector on piano. Show runs from 8 - 11pm.




News & Of Note! - A Tribute & Celebration of Jack Kerouac - October 21, 2009, will mark the 40th anniversary of the passing of Jack Kerouac. In tribute to Jack, a return performance of the Patrick Fenton play,"Jack's Last Call: Say Goodbye to Kerouac" will take place at Gunter's Tap Room in Northport, NY on Oct 24th at 2 PM.

This tribute performance will feature Drew Keil as Jack Kerouac, Sue Anne Dennehy as Jan, his daughter, Ed Dennehey as Neal Cassady; Jack O'Connell as Leo Kerouac. Phyllis March as Memere Kerouac and Stephen Ryan as the Reporter (narrator). Gunter's Tap Room is located at 84 Main Street, Northport, New York. Admission is Free, eating is limited and no reservations required. To Learn More about Jack's Last Call: Say Goodbye to Kerouac, Click Here.



Also Of Note - Kerouac's Long Island - As Jack made his farewell to New York in Northport he also spent his formative times from 1943 to 1954 in the Borough of Queens where Kerouac conceived and completed some of his most renown work such as “Visions of Body” and part of “On The Road.”



Playwright,and Kerouac Raconteur, Pat Fenton has long championed greater recognition of Kerouac in Long Island, what Fenton refers to as “the lost years of Jack Kerouac’s Life.“



In an effort to edify and facilitate scholars, students and Kerouac fans, Fenton has composed a travelogue Walking Tour book titled "Jack Kerouac's Queens - The Lost Years" that verifies the existence of these years and traces the places in Ozone Park and Richmond Hill that are significant part of the Kerouac literary legacy.



We are pleased to present Patrick Fenton's, "Jack Kerouac's Queens - The Lost Years" in electronic form here at Insomniacathon On-Line! Click Here To Learn More and travel through "Jack Kerouac's Queens - The Lost Years" .

Of Note - Imagine Peace - This October 9th would have been John Lennon's 69th Birthday. On this day in 2007r, Yoko Ono dedicated the Imagine Peace Tower on the island of Videy, near Reykjavík, Iceland.

The Imagine Peace Tower is a beam of light that represents light and power to the realization of World Peace, which was John Lennon's lifetime wish and what he had worked for.



Insom contributor, Michael Dean Odin Pollock (who lives in Reykjavik, Iceland where the Imagine Peace Tower resides) wrote a reflect on John Lennon. Click Here To Read his story, Lennon Lightening Strikes Thrice.

War Is Over If You Want It - Do what YOU can do To Give Peace A Chance!

Think PEACE, Act PEACE, Spread PEACE

Of Note - On October 7th 1955 at San Francisco's Six Gallery, a 29 year old Allen Ginsberg unleashed his poem "Howl." What was before, an evolving re-conciousness of humanity in contemporary literature, achieved a definative momentum that is still in motion more then 50 years on. As we all have found new insight when we revisit a book or poem, Chicago poet, Charlie Newman re-experienced HOWL and wrote a flurry of varations from his revisit. Click Here to read an excerpt from Charlie Newman's . . .

r e v i s i t e d

News, New & Of Note! On October 4th, Farm Aid 2009 will urge Americans to choose food from family farms, creating growing opportunities for more family farmers. Artists at the 2009 concert at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Maryland Heights, Missouri will show support for activities that keep family farmers on their land. Farm Aid 2009 will feature headliners Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp and Dave Matthews, plus a cavalcade of top artists join this 24rd annual fundraiser dedicated to Help Keep Family Farmers On Their Land!



Insom alum, David Amram, joins his pal, Willie Nelson for his 13th appearance at Farm Aid 2009! Dave checked in after his Farm Aid 2006 performance, Click Here to read David Amram's letter "On The Road from FarmAid 2006"





News and Of Note! - Lowell Celebrates Kerouac Festival! - Celebrating Jack Kerouac's life and writings, it's 4 days in Kerouac's hometown, where one can walk the streets he wrote about, listen to poetry in Kerouac Park, see films beatif , hear great Jazz and from the Merrimack to Desolation Peak, this year as Lowell Celebrates Kerouac, it also fetes the 50th Anniversary of the publication of “Doctor Sax.” Lowell Celebrates Kerouac! Festival starts October 1st and runs till the 4th. Click Here for More Info on Lowell Celebrates Kerouac Festival!

News & Of Note - Blowin' In The Wind - Mary Travers, whose rousing, heartfelt vocals with the iconic folk trio, Peter, Paul and Mary, helped make songs like "If I Had a Hammer," "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" and "Blowin' in the Wind" indelible soundscapes of the 1960's Civil Rights and Anti-War movements, passed away Sept. 16th of complications from the side effects of chemotherapy after a successful recovery from leukemia through a bone marrow / stem cell transplant. Her beautiful voice and indomitable personality will be sorely missed but her soaring, sparkling Spirit will always be In the Wind. Click Here for NYT's William Grimes' Story about this true American Musical Jewel.





News & Of Note - I'll Die For Your Sins If You Live For mine - NYC author, poet, autobiographer, and punk musician, Jim Carroll died Sept.11th (see NYT Story) in NYC, he was 60. Best known for his 1978 autobiographical work, The Basketball Diaries, Carroll was also a seminal part of the NYC Punk scene during the 70's with his band, The Jim Carroll Band as well as a fixture in the Lower East Side poetry scene running with the St. Mark's Poetry Project crew. Click Here To Learn More About Jim Carroll at catholicboy.com.





News & Of Note! - National Dance Instutute Jams! - Musicians and friends gather on Sept 13th for a live concert to benefit the children and programs of the National Dance Institute. Founded in 1976 by Jacques d’Amboise,the NDI fosters a love of the arts and a curiosity about the world and has transformed the lives of over 2 million NYC public school children in a design to teach every child to transcend barriers of language, culture, and physical challenges.



Led by NDI Music Director Jerome Korman, the concert will feature: The Villa-Lobos Bros, Roderick Jackson, Ching Juhl, Chanda Rule, Tim Harrison, Neal Kirkwood, Matt Fetbrandt, Seiko Akita, Yakir Ben-Hur, Greisha Alexiev, Todd Keller, Paul Livant and past NDI composer and conductor (Chakra, Amerimusica) David Amram who has been commissioned to write a new piece for NDI's 2010 season. Concert takes place at PS 41 Auditorium116 West 11th Street (at Sixth Ave) at 6 PM. Admission: Minimum donation of $25 All proceeds to benefit National Dance Institute. Click Here and Watch The NDI Kids JAM! Can't make the show but would like to make a contribution? Click Here To DONATE NOW!






Of Note On this September 11th, Remembrance Day, Insomniacthon On-Line brings you, in respect and reverence to those that have lost and have survived, three New Yorker's intimations of dreams of better days and the potential we all have to make a difference.Read Susan Gerardi's reveal of potential sadly, senselessly lost in "Boys Dressed As Men." View Frank Messina's "American't Get Home - Bicycle" And view the James Walck VidClip "Remember We Will, Forget We Will Not" .



News, New & Of Note! The annual Howl! Festival, September 4th - 6th - Named in honor of the groundbreaking poem by Allen Ginsberg attracts more than 100,000 visitors bringing to the clubs, galleries, parks, streets, and theaters of Manhattan's Lower East Side an explosion of poetry, music, dance, film, food, performance, painting, sculpture, and theater.Click Here for complete Howl! Festival 2009 Schedule!

Pix, Clips and Page from kindred Keepers of The Flame! Join us in celebrating the LifeArtSpirit of Allen Ginsberg! Click Here to Enter!





News, New & Of Note! - "My destiny is to be pulverized" - Jan Kerouac: A Life in Memory is the first biography of post-Beat novelist and poet Jan Kerouac. Edited and conceived by acclaimed Jack Kerouac biographer, Gerald Nicosia, this new book is a touchstone collection of memoirs, photos, and an extensive interview with Jan Kerouac, which bring into sharp focus the life and work of this seminal post-Beat writer. Jan Kerouac: A Life in Memory is available at geraldnicosia.com , City Lights Bookstore, The Beat Museum, Book Passage and Mill Valley Book Depot.

“Money is the root of all evil” For I will Write In my will “I regret that I was not able To love money more.” - Jack Kerouac, Chorus 238 Mexico City Blues - Jan Kerouac: A Life in Memory brings poignant punctuation to the sad reality of the academic elitist's reliance on the ruthlessness of money and power in their maniacal quest to control literature. Click Here To Read "Jan Kerouac Could Drive a Stick Shift" Charles Plymell's review of Jan Kerouac: A Life in Memory at wordjunkys.com.

Of Note! - Long Time Gone - This August 15th marks the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock Music and Art Fair in Bethel, NY. As it has been said, "One Picture Is Worth a Thousand Words" and the Burk Uzzle photo of the blanket-wrapped couple epitomized the humanity of the moment and galvinized the image's synonymity to the happening. In celebration of Woodstock’s 40th anniversary, the Laurence Miller Gallery in NYC is presenting Uzzle's photography from Woodstock through August 20th.

Also Of Note! - And The Road Goes On Forever! - It has come to light in a recent NY Daily News article that the couple in Uzzle's iconic pix, Nick and Bobbi Ercoline of Bethel, NY, are still together 40 years down the Pike! Click Here To Read NY Daily News' Jim Farber story!

Be Sure To Visit www.woodstock.com too!

Peace, Love, Music!

News & Of Note - It's Not About Technique . . . It's What You Have To Say - Virtuoso guitarist and inventor, Les Paul, whose solid-body "the Log" electric guitar and recording studio innovations changed the course of 20th-Century popular music, died Thursday, August 13th in White Plains, N.Y. . He was 94.- Click Here To Read Associated Press' Nekesa Mumbi Moody's report.



Doing What He Loved . . . Loving What He Was Doing! - Click Here For Great Video of Les Paul at VideoSurf!

Without Les Paul, Rock and Roll would be considerably different. As a player, inventor and recording artist, Les Paul provided the building blocks for the genre. Les Paul did it all and had tremendous fun doing it. He will be missed but most assuredly, not forgotten.





News, New & Of Note! - The Importance Of Being Iceland - Poet and post-punk heroine Eileen Myles new book is an expospective reflect of her recent travels to Iceland. In her Travel Mindscript is a collection of essays, observations and perspectives from a deliberate position of "inbetweenness" illuminating the underlying mind-maps she has navigated in and through her travels. Click Here To Order "The Importance Of Being Iceland" by Eileen Myles from Amazon.com.



Back on May 3, 2008, Eileen Myles, along with other poets, writers and musicians from around the World, gathered at Stora-Klopp (Big Rock) in Iceland for a collective celebration of the Spoken Word and Song hosted by internationally renown Icelandic novelist Olafur Gunnarsson at his farm outside Reykjavik. Click Here To Learn More About "Beat Day At Stora-Klopp."




News & Of Note! - Late Summer Sky Show - The annual Perseid Meteor Showers will reach their peak on Tuesday night when the Earth plunges deeper into Comet Swift-Tuttle’s debris stream. The show begins at nightfall with "Earthgrazers" – spectacular fireballs and long-tailed meteors streaking low in the sky as the comet’s radiant rises over in the horizon. Visit Meteor Showers On-Line to Learn More About The Perseids.





News & Of Note! - Jack's Last Call Comes to Castello di Borghese Vineyard and Winery - A Live Performance of Pat Fenton's Audie Award - nominated audio drama, Jack's Last Call: Say Goodbye to Kerouac will be performed at The Castello di Borghese Vineyard and Winery in Cutchogue, LI. This performance features Drew Keil as Jack Kerouac, Kimberly Sherbach as Jan Kerouac, Jack O'Connell as Leo Kerouac, Phyllis Marsh as Memere Kerouac, Ed Dennehey as Neil Cassady and Stephen Ryan as The Reporter. This performance is on Sunday, August 2nd (2 - 4 PM) Rain or Shine - Under the Tent. Admission is $10.00 (suggested donation at the door) No reservations required, bring your lawn chair. Meet & Greet with the playwright & cast (4 - 5 PM) following the performance. Click Here for furthur details. To Learn More about Jack's Last Call: Say Goodbye to Kerouac, Click Here.





News, New & Of Note! - Gabrielle Kerouac's Will Ruled A Forgery - On July 24th, Pinellas County, Florida, Probate Division.Judge George W. Greer ruled that Gabrielle Kerouac's purported will is a forgery. Both medical and handwriting evidence indicates that Gabrielle Kerouac was incapable of signing the will and that the signature on the document was not hers.



So what happens now? But maybe a better question is why this happened. Jack Shea ( Producer / Director of the film, "Who Owns Jack Kerouac?") said, " The fight for ownership of the physical stuff of Kerouac is interesting only insofar as it is an ironic illustration of the suffering and transience inherent in material things, which Jack wrote about and knew all his life, but that's as far as it goes." Is this as far as it goes? Time will tell.

News & Of Note! - The Perigean Tide - The Moon swallows the Sun and day turns to night over distant cities with exotic-sounding names: Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan, Hangzhou and Shanghai where millions of people swarm into the streets, banging pots and lighting strings of firecrackers while cloistered Buddhist monks chant a low, droning chorus, invoking the deities of protection and mercy. On Tuesday evening, July 21, the New Moon / Total Solar Eclipse reaches totality at the final degree of Cancer resulting in the longest solar eclipse of the 21st Century. Learn More About this astronomic event and it's cosmic ramifications at Gary Paul Glynn's Astrologick Weekly Forecast at Insomniacathon On-Line!




News, & Of Note! - One Small Step for Man - Forty years ago July 20th, Apollo 11 landed on the Moon fulfilling President Kennedy's 1961 call to reach the Moon by the end of the decade. Although the original videotapes were taped over by NASA, alternate tapings from various sources have been collected and digitally enhanced and restored. Click Here To View video from NASA.

News, New & Of Note! - Full Count Comes to Louisville! - The Mets Poet, Frank Messina, reads from his new book, Full Count: The Book of Mets Poetry. at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory the first ever poetry reading in the famed company's 125-year history! This happens on the MLB All-Star Game day, July 14th in the Pee Wee Reese Gallery at 4:00PM, Frank will also sign his book at this historic event which is free and open to the public! To Learn More About Frank Messina, The Mets Poet, Click Here!

News & Of Note! - This Land Is Your Land - The 12th Annual Woody Guthrie Festival - WoodyFest, commemorating the life and music of Woody Guthrie will be held on July 7-12 in Woody's hometown of Okemah, Oklahoma. This year has another Stellar Line-up which finds David Amram making his his fifth consecutive appearence along with Adam Amram who'll both be accompanying The Woody Guthrie Poets at The Methodist Church on Saturday, 7/11 from 1- 3 PM. Click Here To Learn More About WoodyFest!

Also Of Note! - The World Premiere of David Amram's "Symphonic Variations On A Song By Woody Guthrie" was performed by the Symphony Silicon Valley on September 29th, 2007. Click Here To Read David Amram's Notes for Symphonic Variations on a Song by Woody Guthrie.

Now you can hear the world premiere performance on line from the website of Symphony Silicon Valley. Click Here To Listen!

News, New & Of Note! - Reflects of Joujouka 2009 - World musician, poet and Insom contrib, Michael Dean Odin Pollock weighs in after his 2009 visit to Joujouka to celebrate the Boujeloud / Pan rite with his son, Marlon Pollock and the Master Musicians of Joujouka. Click Here To Read His Story!

News, New & Of Note! - Theodore Bikel: The First 85 Years -Stage / screen actor and folk legend, Theodore Bikel, a lifelong social justice advocate, will be feted by Family, Friends and Colleagues celebrating his LifeLoveWork devoted to art and activism with a star-studded 85th birthday benefit concert at Carnegie Hall on June 15th at 7:30 PM with the proceeds going to the The Juvenile Law Center, a non-profit law firm dedicated to protecting the rights and well-being of children in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.

1963 Newport Folk Festival (l-r) Peter Yarrow, Mary Travers, Paul Stookey, Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, The Freedom Singers, Pete Seeger and Theodore Bikel singing "We Shall Overcome" - Photo by John Byrne Cooke.

Also Of Note! - The Newport Folk Festival Turns 50! - The Newport Folk Festival was founded in 1959 by Theodore Bikel, Oscar Brand, Pete Seeger and George Wein, founder of the already-well-established Newport Jazz Festival, and his partner, Albert Grossman. Click Here To Learn More About Newport 50!

News & Of Note! - From Louisville to New York and Beyond! - Louisville Blues jewel, Tyrone Cotton comes back once again to the Turning Point for another evening of his soulful Blues on June 6th. Click Here To Reserve tickets for this fabulous show!





News & Of Note! - The Master Musicians of Joujouka - The Boujeloud Rite 2009 - On June 5 - 7, Morocco's Sufi trance Masters, The Master Musicians of Joujouka, once again will be celebrating in a music festival, the The Boujeloud Rite. For a Day and a Night a small group of guests (Icelandic musician and Insom contributor, Michael Dean Odin Pollock and Marlon Pollock in attendance) will stay in the village of Ksar El Kebir with the Master Musicians of Joujouka and their families with a visit to the 8th century sanctuary of Joujouka's patron saint, Sidi Ahmed Schiech, and to the cave of Pan / Boujeloud. That evening at the cave there will be a full performance of the Boujeloud Rite devoted to the healing trance music of Joujouka. To Learn More about this wonderous celebration of Music and Spirit, Click Here!





News & Of Note! - A Weekend of Amram! - The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music Jazz at the Conservatory Series presents, "A Weekend with David Amram" on May 30th and 31st. This weekend long celebration features David's Jazz, Latin, Film, Poetry and World Music compositions. David is joined by a grand line-up of singers, musicians and poets for this weekends festivities, Click Here for more details. tix and times.





Of Note On this Memorial Day 2009 we stand in mindful respect for those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.




American author, columnist and storyteller, Garrison Keillor imparted A Sonnet For Memorial Day on his Variety Radio show "A Prairie Home Companion" back in 2004. Click Here To Read "A Sonnet For Memorial Day.

Peace to each selfless soul that sleeps; Rest to each faithful eye that weeps . . .





News, New & Of Note! - Back To The Land of Fire and Ice - Singer, Songwriter and Poet, Michael Dean Odin Pollock is back in Reykjavik and will be performing at Cafe Rosenberg on May 17th, 9:00 PM bringing home his intrinsic style of RootsBlues to his Homeland.

News, New & Of Note! - Talkin' Bout' . . . - The Midnight Ramble - NYC poet, Frank Messina, will make a special guest appearance on May 16th with Jazz Fusion sensation band, Hipmotism led by Levon Helm's long-time sax-sideman, Erik Lawrence. The legendary Levon Helm headlines this very special event. Limited amount of tickets on sale now! Click Here For Tickets and More Info!




Of Note! - The Wesak Moon - On Saturday morning, May 9th, two minutes past midnight, the Moon becomes Full in Scorpio as it moves opposite the Sun in Taurus, marking the Festival of Wesak. What makes this Full Moon unique is its deep spiritual symbolism, celebrating the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha, invoking the Buddha-nature of humanity. More than a religious observation or new age gimmick, the Wesak Full Moon is an annual event of profound spiritual significance that goes far beyond one’s personal affiliations and beliefs. Astrologick at Insomniacathon On-Line's Gary Paul Glynn has a wonderful illumanae on the Festival of Wesak, Click Here and bathe in the glow of the story / meaning of The Wesak Moon .





News, New & Of Note! - Forever Young - On May 3rd, Singer, Songwriter and tireless Activist, Pete Seeger turns 90 years young. A huge cadre of compatriots are gathering at NYC's Madison Square Garden for a sold out show titled The Clearwater Concert: Creating The Next Generation of Environmental Leaders which is a benefit concert celebrating the LifeLoveWork of their grand friend's Birthday at 5 PM (Click Here To View Invitation and Celebrating Line-Up).

l-r - David Amram, Pete Seeger, Odetta and Toshi Regan at the Clearwater Festival, Beacon NY Summer 2008 - Photo by Maxine Smith and John Economos -

Amongst this stellar line-up will be Roland Moussa with the Native American Indian Cultural Alliance. Joining the Alliance will be long time friend and compatriot of Pete, David Amram. David wrote a note for Pete and has been so kind to share his note. Click Here To Read David's "To Pete on his 90th" .

News & Of Note! - The Bluesmasters Series at B.B. King's Club & Grill - An incredible evening of various Blues styles covering Delta and Chicago Blues, Louisiana Swamp and Texas Blues too at the legendary B.B. King's Club & Grill in NYC. Apearing will be recording session sensation Cornell Dupree featuring PaPa HooDoo Texas Guit-Slinger Lance Lopez and legendary Nashville Bluesman Johnny Jones on May 1st. Show starts at 7:00 PM sharp, Tickets are $20 in Advance, $25 Day of Show. General admission seated show - First come, first seated - Standing room at bar. A David Kramer Production.



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News & Of Note! - Jack's Last Call Comes to Huntington - A Live Performance of Pat Fenton's Audie Award - nominated audio drama, Jack's Last Call: Say Goodbye to Kerouac will be performed at The Book Revue in Huntington, LI. This performance features Drew Keil as Jack Kerouac, Sue Ann Dennehy as Jan Kerouac, Jack O'Connell as Leo Kerouac, Sonya Tannenbaum as Memere Kerouac and Ed Dennehey as Neil Cassady. This performance is on Saturday, April 25, 7:00 PM. Admission is free but reservations are suggested. Click Here for furthur details. To Learn More about Jack's Last Call: Say Goodbye to Kerouac, Click Here.




Of Note - Earth Day 2009 - On April 22, 1970, 20 million people, 2,000 colleges and universities, 10,000 grammar and high schools and 1,000 communities mobilized for the first nationwide demonstrations on environmental problems. Congress adjourned for the day so members could attend Earth Day events in their districts. The response was nothing short of remarkable, and the modern American environmental movement took off. Click Here for more History detail -



Much has come to protect and nurture this tiny blue marble we all live on but there is is still much more to do if we are to survive in spite of ourselves. In Honor and Solemn Reminder we bring forth a poem by the great American counterculture Novelist, Essayist and Playwright, Kurt Vonnegut Jr. from his last book, A Man Without A Country, read Kurt Vonnegut's "Requiem".

Mother Earth is our only home. Click Here to Learn How You Can Do Your Part to help preserve our Planet for our future generations. Think Green! - Happy Earth Day!

Of Note - National Poetry Month - Started in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets, National Poetry Month brings together publishers, booksellers, literary organizations, libraries, schools, and poets around the country to celebrate poetry and its vital place in American culture. Click Here to Learn More about National Poetry Month!

News, New & Of Note! - New Season, New Stadium, New Dreams - The New York Mets start the 2009 season at a new stadium. Citi Field is the new home of the Amazin's and they'll be playing their first exhibition game against the Boston Red Sox on April 3rd.



In grand tandem fashion, "The Met Poet", Frank Messina will be celebrating the new season with readings from his new book, Full Count: The Book of Mets Poetry.



There will be a jam packed week of Messina Mets mirth starting at the Happy Ending Lounge hosted by Gelf Magazine, April 2, 8 PM then a special appearence at The Cornelia Street Cafe with David Amram and Quartet on April 6th, 8:30 PM.



April 8th finds the Met Poet Live from Little Italy on the Giambotta Dolce Radio Show hosted by Maryann Maisano, broadcast live from Grotta Azzurra Ristorante in Little Italy at 8 PM on the Dolce Channel.



Wrapping the week up it's The World Premiere official reading and book signing of Full Count: The Book of Mets Poetry. happenning at Barnes & Noble 18th St NYC on April 9th, 6 PM - 7:30 PM.



For more Messina, The Mets and Everything Poetry! Click Here!





News & Of Note! - A Conscience In Touch with Humanity - The Centennial Celebration of Nelson Algren - The Algren Committee of Chicago celebrates the 100th Birthday of writer, poet, Nelson Algren on March 28th. Algren, the author of such masterworks as Chicago: City on the Make, The Man with the Golden Arm and Never Come Morning would of been 100 this March 27 and although Algren died in 1981, his legacy and spirit burn white hot in his home town.




The Algren Committee (which Insom contributor, poet Charlie Newman is a member) is dedicating this year's Algren Celebration to Studs Terkel (who was one of the founders of the Nelson Algren Committee which was formed in 1989) and will be a jam packed evening of poetry, music, art and media all in the Algren vein.

This year's Celebration takes place at St. Paul’s Church - Acme Art Works, 2215 W. North Ave. in Chicago. Festivities start at 8 PM. To Learn More about Nelson Algren and this year's Celebration program Click Here and visit www.nelsonalgren.org.

Of Note Spring Forward, Look Back Celebrations of Spring were born of Earth's natural cycles of light and darkness, of life and death. Ancient cultures took note of the change in seasons and made offerings to their local gods to receive blessings for the year. On March 20, 2009, at precisely 7:44 AM. EDT , the Sun will cross directly over the Earth's equator. This moment is known as the Vernal Equinox. Click Here to Learn More of this Physical and Metaphysical point of transition.




News, New & Of Note! - Astrologick expands to a Weblog - Astrologick Editor and Creator Gary Paul Glynn is pleased to announce that Astrologick has launched www.astroblogick.com a weblog version of what is here at Insomniacathon. Insomniacathon will still be running the Weekly Astrologick Forecast that you have come to know but will be adding links to www.astroblogick.com to extended astrological content that Gary Paul Glynn will go into greater detail on specific subjects. Also in the works will be monthly astrology forecasts, personal profiles and other intriguing content. Be sure to visit www.astroblogick.com for even more Cosmic connectivity!





Of Note - Sorrow and Appall - On this marker day of "Shock and Awe" the conflict in Iraq began March 19, 2003 and sadly continues. As there is a new Administraion diligently trying to repair the damages done over the last 8 years, the People once again resound, Peace Now!



In honor and respect for those who have lost we bring you contributing Insom Alt-Journalist, Jeremy Hogan's VidClip of Joan Baez at Camp Casey in Crawford, TX asking the question once again, "Where Have All The Flowers Gone."

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Also Of Note In the early Spring of 2003, Ron Whitehead, NYC poet, Frank Messina and fellow Kentuckyians Andy Cook and Sarah Elizabeth crossed the Atlantic on The War Poets Tour to perform in Iceland, The UK and Ireland. In observence of yet another year of "Poetry Amidst a World of Struggle" Click Here to see and hear their experiences.





Of Note! - St. Patrick's Day at Insomniacathon On-Line! - Love, Faith, Hope - In celebration on this St. Patrick's Day 2009, we are pleased to share a story of An Evening with Alphie McCourt as told by NYC Writer, Author and Playwright, Patrick Fenton. Click Here To Read Pat Fenton's "An Evening with Aphie McCourt." Happy St Patrick's Day 2009!





News, New & Of Note! - World Premiere of "Saint Misbehavin' - The Life and Time of Wavy Gravy" - Ripple Effects Films and Director, Michelle Esrick are thrilled to announce the World Premiere of "Saint Misbehavin' - The Life and Time of Wavy Gravy" at the SXSW 2009 Film & Music Festival. Click Here To Learn More!

News, New & Of Note! - "A Moment of Life" - David Amram and a stellar ensemble gather to celebrate the work of Robert Frank at The National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC on March 4th at 2:10 PM.

Presented in honor of Looking In: Robert Frank's "The Americans" Joining David will be Andrew Simpson, Piano, Steve Brinegar, French Horn, Benjamin Greanya, Bassoon, Pepe Gonzalez, Bass, David McDonald, Drums and Noah Getz, alto saxophone.

National
Women's History Month

News, New & Of Note! Insomniacathon On-Line! celebrates National Women's History Month 2009 with a pooling of the wealth the women at Insomniacathon On-Line! bring to a Global Literary Renaissance! Click Here to View!

News, New & Of Note! - The East Coast Premiere of David Amram's "Symphonic Variations On A Song By Woody Guthrie" - Will be performed by The Pioneer Valley Symphony at The Academy of Music in Portsmouth MA on February 28th at 7:30 PM

The world premiere performance of David Amram's "Symphonic Variations On A Song By Woody Guthrie" was performed by the Symphony Silicon Valley on September 29th, 2007. Click Here To Read David Amram's Notes for Symphonic Variations on a Song by Woody Guthrie.

Also Of Note! - This performance was recorded and is available to listen to on line from the website of Symphony Silicon Valley. Click Here To Listen!

Of Note! - A Celebration of An American Voice - On February 24th, Family, Friends, Artists and keepers of The Flame will gather to celebrate in Words and Song the LifeLoveWork of singer, songwriter and social activist, Odetta at Riverside Church in NYC at 7 PM. This celebration is free and open to the public with doors opening at 6 PM. Scheduled to lend Heart, Mind and Soul in song and word are David Amram, Maya Angelou, Harry Belafonte, Oscar Brand, Tom Chapin, Guy Davis, Ruby Dee, Emory Joseph, Wavy Gravy, Geoffrey Holder, The Holmes Bros., Marie Knight, Maria Muldaur, Bernice Reagon, Sonia Sanchez, Pete Seeger, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Josh White, Jr., Peter Yarrow along with more special guests YTBA

Memorial Celebration for Odetta

Live! on WBAI 99.5 FM - www.wbai.org

New & Of Note! - The orginal Progressive FM Radio station WBAI FM 99.5 will be broadcasting Live from Riverside Church at 7 PM (EST) and streaming Live on the Web! Click Here To Listen Live!

l-r - David Amram, Pete Seeger, Odetta and Toshi Regan at the Clearwater Festival, Beacon NY Summer 2008 - Photo by Maxine Smith and John Economos -

Also Of Note! Long time friend and compatriot, David Amram, shares a touching reflect of his good friend. Click Here To Read his reflect "For Odetta".



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Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!

Of Note! On this year's Mardi Gras,"PoorBob" Sushko weighs in with some sooth on Fat Tuesday 2009! Click Here to read his reflect.




Of Note - Mood Indigo - The man who brought "The Historic Approach to The Positive Music" for over 3 decades in Philadelphia, DJ and Musicologist for WRTI 90.1 FM , Harrison Ridley, Jr. passed on February 19th. A tireless champion of the music, Harrison was also a passionate educator teaching at West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, the Clef Club, Temple University Center City, the Villanova University Honors Program, and the African-American Studies Department at Temple University. His smooth, endearing radio persona was punctuated with his trademark "Yes Indeedy." Harrison Ridley, Jr. was a true original and an icon in the Jazz Radio world. Click Here To Learn More About Harrison Ridley, Jr.






News & Of Note! - Jack's Last Call nominated for Audie Award! - Patrick Fenton's radio/stage Play, Jack's Last Call: Say Goodbye to Kerouac has been nominated for an Audie Award in the Audio Drama category. The Audies (produced by the Audio Publishers Association) is the only awards program in the U.S. entirely devoted to recognizing distinction in audiobooks and spoken word entertainment. The 2009 Gala will be held on May 29 at the New York Historical Society in New York City, New York. Congratulations to Pat Fenton, Sue Zizza, cast and crew for recieving the nomination!





News, New & Of Note! - And On It Goes - A New Year, new vistas, new perspectives and that ribbon of Highway that leads on to the Now. The Road's call continues and finds the Faithful hitting the bricks for parts both near and far.



February 16th finds Storm Generation poet, Ron Whitehead at the Granada International Festival of Poetry in Granada, Nicaragua.





This year's Festival is hosting more than 100 poets from over 50 countries in a grand CELEBRATION OF POETRY that involves all Nicaragua where all the particpants, native and visitor, carry out a National Party of International Magnitude. Click Here To View the Program for El Festival Internacional de Poesía de Granada.

New and of Note! On this Valentine's Day 09' join the Insom Love Fest with a couple of VidClips of affectionate prose from David Amram, and one from Frank Messina. Also a soulful ballad Mp3 to swing and sway with your baby from Gamble & Huff hitman, Bunny Sigler (with James Walck laying down the big bottom) on "Can You Feel It" Happy Valentine's Day!





News & Of Note! - Now Is Still The Time! - David Amram at Large! - As in his seemingly indefatiguable fashion, David is beating the bricks as well. The beginning of February finds David at the University of Cincinnati for I Gave Away The Sky - A Celebration of the Life and Legacy of Gregory Corso.

This celebration started Jan 20 and goes through through Feb 6 commemorating the Spirit and Aesthetic of Gregory Corso. During this 18 day celebration of the LifeLoveWork of Gregory Corso there will be concerts, readings, lectures.

Since 1956 when they first met, David was a huge propponent of Gregory and feels honored and blessed to be at I Gave Away The Sky. David performs An Evening of Music with Jane Carver on Tuesday, Feb. 3 - 7PM at Cincinnati Memorial Hall.

Also Of Note - Corso - The Last Beat - This movie is a NOT MISS - Directors Advanced Screening / Free and open to the public - Friday, February 6 - 5:30 PM - University of Cincinnati, DAAP Building rm. 4400. Click Here To Learn More About Corso - The Last Beat .

Of Note! - The Year of The Ox - The Chinese New Year begins on Monday, January 26th, celebrating the Year of the Ox. The Ox, (or the Buffalo) symbolizes prosperity through strength and hard work. The Ox is dependable, calm and modest. Those born under the sign of the Ox are fortunate to be stable and persevering.The Ox year brings success only through discipline and hard work. To Learn More about the Year of the Ox Click Here. Kung Hei Fat Choi - Happy New Year!

Of Note & In Rememberance As President-Elect Obama and his Vice-President-Elect Biden made their way from Philadelphia to Washington D.C. I heard a man say along their way, "I can now Dare to Hope." On this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day read these poems fromJeremy Hogan and Charlie Newman . May Peace Be.

News & Of Note - "One's Art goes as far and as deep as one's Love goes" - Heralded as one of America's most celebrated Painter's, Andrew Wyeth passed on in his sleep at his family home in Chadd's Ford, PA on January 16th, he was 91 years young.



In a career that spanned over 7 decades, Wyeth's realist, figurative paintings of rural life in Pennsylvania and Maine split the critics at a time when High Modernism was at the forefront.



In a time where fashion predicated bombast Abstract Expressionism, Wyeth chose to speak quietly, seeking beauty in sentimental illustrative recount, capturing the serene beauty of his beloved Chester County realm of farms, fields winding roads and the everyday people who provided the inspiration to his imaginative minds-eye. Fashion comes and goes but great Art lives forever and so will the LoveLifeArt of Andrew Wyeth.





News, New & Of Note! - World Premiere of David Amram Piano Concerto No. 1! - Pianist Jon Nakamatsu with Symphony Silicon Valley of San Jose under the baton of conductor, Paul Polivnick will present the World Premiere of David Amram's Piano Concerto No.1 - "Three Songs: A Concerto for Piano and Orchestra" on January 15th at The California Theatre in San Jose, Ca. Concert begins at 7:30 PM, There will also be repeat performances on January 17th and 18th. Also Of Note! - San Jose Mercury News Reporter, Richard Scheinin was at the Premiere. Read his story, Pianist Nakamatsu and Symphony Silicon Valley debut spellbinding Amram concerto .

presents


News & Of Note! - From The Town to City - "Jack's Last Call" comes to NYC! - Patrick Fenton's stage/audio play "Jack's Last Call" comes to Theater for the New City, January 10th for a reading starring Ron Ryan as Jack Kerouac, Anna Lisa McClelland as Jan, Jack O'Connell as Leo, Mary Tierney as Memere and Tim Babcock as Neal Cassady. Doors open at 7:00pm, Suggested Donation $5.Click Here for Directions to Theater for the New City!