Hello poets and poetry lovers. We are back for the petit petits after the biggest Poetica gathering with the wonderful Pádraig Ó Tuama and Miriam Lieberman last month. I’m still smiling from that night. So let’s keep going. Join us June 29 for a night of words and song at Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf. Our features are Ali Whitelock and Harry Sutherland. (bios below) And lucky for us Ali has a new book of poetry A BRIEF LETTER TO THE SEA ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS to share with us. Books will be there for purchase and signing. The open mic is as per usual. Show up and throw your name in the hat. Wine, kombucha and cheese and figs. Gonna be another night of all that feels right in the world.

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/poetica-petit-poetry-night-registration-623429994897?aff=erelexpmlt

Ali Whitelock:

I’m a Scottish poet/writer living in Australia with my French chain smoking husband.  ‘a brief letter to the sea about a couple of things’ is my third poetry collection.  ‘the lactic acid in the calves of your despair’ was long listed for the Australian Literature Society Gold Medal in 2021. My first collection, ‘and my heart crumples like a coke can’ was published in 2018. My first book, a memoir, ‘poking seaweed with a stick & running away from the smell’was launched at Sydney Writers Festival and published to critical acclaim in Australia and the UK. A few years later, after an abrupt life lesson, I took the decision to give up my spectacularly boring day job in order to write full-time. I’m currently working on my second memoir and other, you know, stuff.

Harry Sutherland is a pianist/keyboardist/composer/musical director who brings his unique voice to a wide variety of projects. He has a wealth of touring and recording experience, including with Baby et Lulu, Matt Corby, Meg Mac, Touch Sensitive, Missy Higgins, Isabella Manfredi, Donny Benet, Budjerah, Charli XCX and George Maple. He was a finalist in the 2019 Freedman Jazz Fellowship. He completed a Bachelor of Music at Sydney Conservatorium with first class honours and has studied with Neta Maughan, John Harkins, Judy Bailey, Matt McMahon and John Taylor.