We are very proud to welcome two fantastic poets to Albany on Tuesday, November 5 at Valentine’s for Nitty Gritty Slam #57. Eirean Bradley and Leah Noble Davidson are on their “Fall Frontal Assault” tour and are making a stop in the Capital Region for one night only. You are not going to want to miss this dynamic duo of spoken word performers as they come to town in support of their University of Hell Press books.

Eirean Bradley is a NW writer/musician/artist who believes that like most things poetry is best done loudly and without embarrassment. He was the long-time host and organizer of the Portland Poetry Slam (the largest and most punk rock slam on the west coast) has been published in over 35 zines and small press books, and has performed in all 48 continuous U.S. states.

He’s an 8-time National Poetry Slam competitor, a two-time NPS Finalist, and has opened for: P.J. Harvey, Fiona Apple, Soul Coughing, DJ Hurricane and the John Spencer Blues Explosion. His long overdue book the I in team is “brilliant, bawdy, bold, and biting, and also accurate about the state of man and the human condition.”

Leah Noble Davidson has enthusiasm up the wahoo. Trained originally as a storyteller, she’s been writing and performing poetry for well over a decade. She’s competed on a national level and gets slam poets into classrooms as the Portland Poetry Slam’s Community Coordinator. She’s been published in various magazines, journals, and small press zines including, but not limited to Alberta Street Anthologies, Blur, Night Bomb Press, Small Doggies, Harper Perennial, and Love and Car Crashes.

Her debut book Poetic Scientifica is “at once urgent and gorgeous and brutal.” Portland named her “ruthlessly charming,” and her calling card says “Asker of Questions,” call her whatever you want: she’s coming to your city.

In addition to these spoken word rock star featured guests, we will have our 57th poetry slam and open mic.

Season Three of NGS is getting more and more exciting with each slam. After the dust settled (and we washed our brains) from the Inappropriate Slam we had a new third place points leader in Sarah McCormick. Poetyc Visionz is still on top with Bless just one point behind him. What will happen to past Team Nitty Gritty members as the the season marches on? Where are Algorhythm and Daniella this year? And has anyone heard from Hat Guy?

We have seen some new faces at the last few slams and we are thrilled to have so many new voices take the stage. Who will enter the fray this time around and join us for another great night of poetry and spoken word. The road to NPS 2014 has begun and there is still time to get on board. The next stop is NGS #57.

Albany Poets, Urban Guerilla Theatre, and The Frequency North Reading Series have brought slam back to Albany with the Nitty Gritty Slam.

NGS takes place at Valentine’s (17 New Scotland Ave.) on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday’s of each month.

If you’re not into slam, but want to get on stage and share your work, we have an open mic before the slam.

Sign up begins at 7:00pm, open mic starts at 7:30, and then Thom Francis starts the slam at 8:00pm.

Admission is $5.00 ($3.00 with student ID). This is an 18+ show.

For information on the rules and format of the Nitty Gritty Slam and to meet the team, go to http://nittygrittyslam.com/.