Thursday 22 December 2011

Links and Links to Links...

Here are some links to published works from some of the authors who participated in Season 1...

ANDREW HOOD:
http://www.joylandmagazine.com/stories/montreal_atlantic/i%E2%80%99m_sorry_and_thank_you

http://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/dont-come-in-here/Content?oid=2808994

BEN STEPHENSON:
http://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/holiday-fiction-more-importent-things/Content?oid=2081512

http://oncetherelivedaboy.blogspot.com/

KELSEY MCLAREN:
http://www.thecoast.ca/halifax/holiday-fiction-the-happiest-day-of-your-life/Content?oid=2081515

BEN GALLAGHER:
http://breadandpoetry.wordpress.com/author/bengallagher/

CHRIS BENJAMIN:
http://www.chrisbenjaminwriting.com/chris-benjamin-writing-blog/tag/fiction

NICOLE DIXON:
http://nicoledixon.ca/Writing.html

SUE GOYETTE:
http://www.writers.ns.ca/Writers/g/goyettesusan.html

MATT ROBINSON:
http://mattrobinsonpoet.wordpress.com/

CAROL BRUNEAU:
http://carolbruneau.com/

REMEMBERER (YORODEO, JENNER-BROOKE BERGER)
Stories from GEORDIE MILLER, LAURA DAWE, ANDREW HOOD, and JOSH TIBBETTS:
http://invisiblepublishing.com/rememberer/

JENNER-BROOKE BERGER:
http://jennerberger.com/

*I will be posting downloadable MP3 copies of every episode from Season 1 over the weekend.
Happy Holidays!

Thursday 15 December 2011

Lilah Kemp 2.0

It's still going to be called Lilah Kemp.
It's still going to be a reading series that migrates from venue to venue each month.
It's still going to be awesome.

Season Two will launch next month and each episode will have a specific theme and title. The season will be split into two parts, and will consist of eight episodes.
The first four will run from January - April 2012.
Here are the themes and titles:

SEASON 2.0

EPISODE 1: EVERYTHING WILL BE OK

January wants hopefulness.
Stories and poems about overcoming obstacles and surviving tragedies. Characters that don't give up when everything in their life turns to shit. People who find ways to stay optimistic in a pessimistic world. Stories with happy endings...or endings that at least hint toward a happy ending.
This episode will also feature a screening of the Don Hertzfeldt short film "Everything will be O.K."
There are 4 spots open for literary readings.


EPISODE 2: THEORETICAL LOVE IS NOT DEAD

February wants romance.
Stories and poems about whatever you think love might be. Scenes with wet kisses in the rain. Images of romantic trips to rocky shores or lazy days together in bed. Couples who are deeply in love but just can't make it work. Stories of heartache and rejection are also welcome.
This episode will also feature musical performances.
There are 4 spots open for literary readings.


EPISODE 3: WOCKA WOCKA!

March wants laughter.
This episode will feature funny poems, essays, blogs, letters, or short stories. There will also be two sketch comedy performances.
There are 3 spots open for literary readings.


EPISODE 4: WICKED AND WEIRD

April wants crazy.
Stories about bad behavior or surreal experiences. Tales of pill-popping freaks or tortured creeps. Horror/thriller stories are very welcome here, or stories that are just plain fucked-up.
This episode will also feature a performance from a play.
There are 4 spots open for literary readings.


The titles and themes of the last four episodes will be announced over the coming months. The second half of the season will run from August - November 2012.
If you would like to participate in the first half of season two, please choose a theme and contact me through this blog or through Facebook.

This is going to kick ass.

-Corey Mombourquette (founder/curator)

Friday 19 August 2011

Last and Next...




Lilah Kemp found a new home last month on Ontario street. Because July was such a concert and festival filled month, it was difficult to organize but everything came together nicely and the evening went smoothly. Carol Bruneau, Kathryn Bjornson, Carsten Knox, and Cory Lavender all gave great readings, and my friend Matt Packman returned to the series to play more songs under the name of CATHOLIC GAYDAR. You can listen to it here:
http://web.me.com/cmombourquette/Site/Podcast/Entries/2011/7/27_lilah_kemp_6.html

I am happy to announce that L.K. will return to BelleAire Terrace this month for another outdoor session.
Readings from:
Sue Goyette
Jane Marshall
Anna Quon
Andrew Hood
Chris Benjamin
...and a musical performance from the very talented Willie Stratton.

Wednesday, August 24th (8-11pm)
2706 Belleaire Terrace (North end Halifax)
B.Y.O.B. (and bring something to sit on!)

Saturday 25 June 2011

First Day of Summer...











That's more like it.
Not only did I have a very talented group of people participate last Wednesday - I had a turnout. A great turnout. And everyone seemed to have a wonderful time. We set up shop outside and took in some stories, songs and poems under the warm sun, cozy beside a crackling campfire. Jenner, Ben, Geordie, and Guyaume were the entertainers of the evening, and my sister Amanda shared a few poems written long ago that have never left her notebook. It's difficult to describe how nice it feels to attend one of these things but if you'd like an idea, listen to the podcast here:

http://web.me.com/cmombourquette/Site/Podcast/Entries/2011/6/23_Lilah_Kemp_5.html

Because this is an outdoor recording, there are a few added touches to each reading (such as ambulance sirens and barking dogs) but luckily these city sounds didn't seem to interrupt or distract anyone too much. The calm night went smoothly, and I am very proud of everyone.
Next month's date isn't confirmed yet but I already have a lot of great writers/performers who are interested. Can't wait!
-Corey Mombourquette (founder/curator)

Also - The podcasts from each session are now listed on the sidebar. Just click the month and you will be taken directly to the podcast. Listen. They're good!

Thursday 16 June 2011

Best Episode Ever!

Last month was probably the best collection of readings we've had so far. Each reader bounced off one another really well and the evening took on an accidental theme of Romance. You can listen to it here:

http://web.me.com/cmombourquette/Site/Podcast/Entries/2011/6/16_Lilah_Kemp_May_2011.html

The next Lilah Kemp will be happening at 2706 Bellaire Terrace (North end Halifax) on Wednesday, June 22nd  (8:00pm-11:00pm)
It will feature literary readings from:

Jenner-Brooke Berger
Geordie Miller
Ben Stephenson
...and also a musical performance from Guyaume Boulianne

Hope to see you there!
-Corey Mombourquette (founder/curator)
c.m.mombourquette@gmail.com

Monday 9 May 2011

Podcast from the magical Khyber Show...

http://web.me.com/cmombourquette/Site/Podcast/Entries/2011/4/30_lilah_kemp_KHYBER.html

The next session will be:
Wednesday, May 25th
6292 Yukon St.
7:30-10:30pm

Thursday 28 April 2011

THANK YOU, HALIFAX!

Lilah Kemp @ the Khyber Club:











We set up our literary salon on the third floor and took breaks in between readings to absorb great music. It worked more perfectly than I'd imagined and for a while I was skeptical - not just because of the literature/music mash-up, but because of the fact that the series had left its usual cozy house. But the Khyber show ended up being something more - it added a new element to the series and I feel that  it's now grown and expanded into something that will reach a lot more people. The musicians were all (for the most part) good friends of mine, so it felt really wonderful to bring them into this kind of environment. Matt Robinson and Danny Jacobs both gave brilliant readings, and Alison Lang and Laura Dawe were both hilarious and thoroughly entertaining. This reading session/show was a massive thing for me - Three hours long. Kristen, Willie, and Nick ended their set at precisely eleven o'clock and their uplifting music was the perfect ending for the night. I was all of these things after I said goodnight and thanked the audience:
proud - elated - relieved - excited - amazed
I'm looking forward to May because we'll be back @ Yukon St. and it will be not be nearly as stressful to organize. However, I will be organizing another bigger show at the Khyber sometime over the summer (June or July) For the next one I'm going to try and bring full bands in to play...this will much more difficult to organize and what I have planned might be too crazy and expensive to pull off, but hey - us reading series hosts are like karmic magicians. I know that sounds pretentious but if you were there last night you would have felt the love all around the room. The encouragement, the praise, the appreciation, the raw art that flung from the mouths and minds of all of these wonderfully talented people:
Danny Jacobs
Matt Packman (Catholic Gaydar)
Alison Lang
Panos Giannoulis
Laura Dawe
Alex Meade and Marc-Antoine Robertson (Soho Ghetto)
Matt Robinson
Kristen Wells, Willie Stratton

Take a bow, everyone - even those who sat in the audience. We all created something beautiful together.
p.s. - Daniel Joyce rocks.
He's like the art Jesus of Halifax.

Monday 18 April 2011



I haven't posted in a while, but the March edition @ Yukon St. was really fantastic. I was blown away by the literary majesty of Shane Beehan, Kelsey McLauren, Charlotte D'Arcy, and Abby Way. I was also very thrilled to see one guest in particular -  Jenner Berger (founder/curator of the Allan St. Reading Series and the inspiration behind the L.K. series.) I have a lot of respect for Jenner because she's one of those people who inspire other people to create beautiful things. Without her, the L.K. series wouldn't exist, and I still can't thank her enough for everything she's done for me...I think I've sent her about ten thank-you emails since I read at Allan St. last July!
Here is a link to the podcast from March:

http://web.me.com/cmombourquette/Site/Podcast/Entries/2011/4/16_Lilah_Kemp_March_2011.html

The April edition will be a mash-up of literary readings and music from local musicians. It will be happening at the Khyber Club on Barrington St. and will act as a fundraiser for the Khyber. The date is Wednesday, April 27th (8-11pm) The line-up of readers/performers:

LITERATURE:
Matt Robinson
Laura Dawe
Alison Lang
Danny Jacobs

MUSIC:
Catholic Gaydar
Panos Giannoulis
Kristen Wells
Soho Ghetto

The bar will be open and the bartender will be working for tips, so please tip if you choose to have a few drinks.
This should be a different experience than Allan St., but it should be very fun and interesting.
See you there!
-Corey Mombourquette
(c.m.mombourquette@gmail.com)

Wednesday 2 March 2011

Last Wednesday...





The Magic is Back...

That's what I felt last Wednesday, as I sat on my friend's sofa and listened to Geordie Miller read poetry. I had finished my reading and I finally had a chance to sit back and enjoy the feeling of Allan St once again. And the most beautiful thing about it was that we had all done it together. The Lilah Kemp Reading Series isn't mine - it's ours.
The L.K. series is inspired by the Allan Street Reading Series. It is a salon-style reading series, mostly held in the comfort of someone's home. There will be literary readings from 4-5 local authors every month from now until the fall. This event is open to the public and anyone is welcome. If you're a writer or if you know any writers who would like to get involved, my contact information is listed below. I'm confident that this first season of readings will inspire people to write more, and will also help writers gain confidence in their own work.
Last week's session was recorded and edited into a podcast which can be accessed via the link below:

http://web.me.com/cmombourquette/Site/Podcast/Entries/2011/2/25_lilahpodFEB2011.html

Next month's edition will be even better. All are welcome. Joins us and help us create something great!


-Corey Mombourquette
(founder/curator)

contacts:
c.m.mombourquette@gmail.com
The Lilah Kemp Reading Series Facebook Group