Trio of artists to perform at First Fridays in Narrowsburg

NARROWSBURG, NY — The First Fridays Contemporary Writers Series for August will host Turner Roth of Milanville, PA, Allysen Callery of Providence, RI and Cheryl Boyce Taylor of New York City at the Tusten-Cochecton branch of the Western Sullivan Public Library on Bridge Street on August 1.

All First Fridays start with an open mic at 7:30 p.m. Sign-up is at 7:00 p.m., and all are invited to come and read a short poem of your own or one by a favorite author.

Roth is an up-and-coming writer from the Upper Delaware area. He will be reading selections from his work created at the 2007 Kenyon College and 2008 Bard College Young Writers programs. This is his debut reading before he heads off to classes at Simon’s Rock College.

Bob Gulla of The Providence Phoenix, in his review of Callery’s “Hopey,” wrote, “There’s something magical about Allysen Callery’s new album. It has a dreamy quality that feels mysterious and bewitching. The opening tune, ‘Feathercap,’ sounds somewhat like Sandy Denny, with a subtle soprano sweetness. In fact, a British folk influence permeates her new CD, ‘Hopey.’ Allysen’s acoustic guitar sits in a pocket well behind her vocals with muted tones, and the delicate accompaniment is haunting in the frailest way, as if Allysen is afraid that any noise might disrupt the mood.”

Born in Trinidad and raised in New York City since the age of 13, Boyce Taylor has been writing poetry since her son Malik was born. The world was in the throes of the black power movement, the women’s movement, and the war in Vietnam. After hearing Nikki Giovanni read, Boyce Taylor began writing poetry to make sense of her life, and this new world she was attempting to shape for her young son.

In 1994, Boyce Taylor was the first Caribbean woman to present her work in Trinidadian dialect at the National Poetry Slam. Along with her New York team, they won third place. She has toured the country as a road poet with Lollapolooza, and recently performed for Mamapolooza in New York City.

For more information call 845/252-3360.