The Salem Athenæum welcomes a new regular feature: The Theatre of Words and Music!  These fun, bi-monthly events include a literary reading, concert, pop-up art gallery and open mic.  Learn more at www.thetwm.com.

The September TWM will feature readings by Ben Courchesne and Janaka Stucky with music by As the Sparrow.  There will also be posters by Kaleigh on display.

Ben Courchesne is a poet and teacher at Roxbury Latin.

Janaka Stucky is the author of The Truth Is We Are Perfect and the Publisher of Black Ocean as well as the annual poetry journal, Handsome. He is also the author of two chapbooks: Your Name Is The Only Freedom and The World Will Deny It For You. His poems have appeared in such journals as Denver Quarterly, Fence and North American Review, and his articles have been published by The Huffington Post and The Poetry Foundation. He is a two-time National Haiku Champion and in 2010 he was voted “Boston’s Best Poet” in the Boston Phoenix.

As the Sparrow is a folk influenced rock-swing band based around the songwriting of Mark Damon and Crystal Araiza. The band at times reaches 7 members, including; guitar, upright bass, banjo, trumpet, violin, drum kit, and ukelele. Damon draws from the energy of big band swing music as well as the intimacy and poetry of folk music.

Contact organizers Shari Capland and Casey Roland with questions or suggestions for future programs at theatreofwordsandmusic@gmail.com.