Sabrina Charville (left) with poet and singer Claire Fontaine.
MARIGOT–What could be nicer than spending a relaxing evening on a grassy lawn under a starry sky listening to live poetry recitals and music?
That’s what’s in store for the second edition of the Yard Open Mic event planned for this coming Saturday, August 12, at the Charville residence at 96, Rue de Sandy Ground, opposite the Sandy Ground Cultural Center. Based on the success of the first edition in July it promises to be equally successful. As venues go, this residence sitting behind a walled-in garden with a huge grass lawn dotted with flowers, shrubs and fruit trees at one end is perfect for holding such an event.
The open mic evening is organised by the curiously named Coffee and Soda Biscuits Association created in May 2017 by Sabrina Charville following the death of her grandmother. The name comes from back-in-the-day when food was scarce and coffee and soda biscuits were offered to guests as an alternative, the biscuits being a type of cheap cracker manufactured in the old days by Nabisco.
“My grandmother was very keen on keeping local culture alive, so I thought it appropriate to do something in her honour,” explained Sabrina. “She loved poetry and songs. That’s what inspired me to do this and we have this beautiful garden that we don’t make enough use of. She used to say when I pass don’t have a wake with a lot of food, just offer coffee and soda biscuits. That’s how the name came about.”
The association’s objective is to promote local poetry, song and dance, and cultural activities. Members are working on various projects. This weekend’s event will feature poets, dancing, jewellery modelling, and more. Along the perimeter of the garden food will be on sale, soups, pizza cooked the old fashioned way on rocks, local punches and juices etcetera. Local art will also be on display.
“We are inviting the public to come out on Saturday, bring a blanket and pillow or an outdoor picnic chair and enjoy the show,” Sabrina stated. “As it’s an open mic event anyone who wants to demonstrate their talent can do so. The first part is for the featured artistes and the second part of the show is for audience members to show off their talent.
“We will have a couple of tents set up as we did last time and chairs but as long as the weather is fine most people will sit out in the open. The grass will be cut and treated so there should not be anything nasty to bite you.
“We are asking poets to sign up for the event on the Coffee and Soda Biscuits Facebook page (coffee.sodabiscuits) where you will see a link or by email at coffee.sodabiscuits@gmail.com.
Entry fee is US $10 or 10 euros which can be paid on line or at the entrance. Donations are also welcome. Security is assured and there is ample parking available. The show starts at 8:00pm with doors open at 7:00pm.
Poets who have signed up in advance will have about five minutes to present their work from a small stage or by mingling with the audience. Sabrina pointed out the show will be a good experience for both seasoned performers and artistes less used to public speaking as the venue presents a platform to build confidence.
“You never know who might be in the audience watching and listening, so something like this can lead to more opportunities in the future,” she said.
One of the poets who dropped by during the interview was Marie-Claire Langlais, better known by her performing name Claire Fontaine. She participated in the first open mic event, describing it as a “wonderful” experience. She will be reciting one poem and singing a song. As an established singer she has worked with other artistes and performed at multiple shows on the island.
“My themes are very deep, I don’t write poetry that is common,” she explains. “I write about the universe, quantum physics, religion and spirituality, and subjects that people are not that comfortable touching on. When I sing I use emotions from experience but when I do poetry I delve into the realm of theory of what if or what could be, or why. But singing is a sure thing. For me singing is the answer and poetry is the question.”
Sabrina thanked her parents for allowing her to hold the event on the property. For more information or to contact Sabrina call (0690) 47.72.83.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/68326-2nd-yard-open-mic-poetry-music-evening-this-saturday
View comments
Hide comments