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      The Poets Co-op Open Poetry Readings were a community-based poetry reading series in Loveland, Colorado for most of a decade. Featured readers ranged from national acclaimed poets to regional award winning poets.  Many of our featured readers were simply extremely talented local poets just starting their careers.  Participants at the open reading portion of the events ranged from first time readers to published and polished professionals.  Readers spanned in age from 4 to 94. We embraced all styles of poetry and all shared a common passion for original poetry. The reading was always hosted by M. D. Friedman with the first reading on March 21st of 2002 at the old Java Lounge on Fourth Street in downtown Loveland.  In the Fall of 2004, the series moved to the Loveland Museum where the last reading was held on November 4, 2010. Most of the readings were recorded live and these recordings make up an archive of over 1000 audio files that are now available for your listening and/or downloading pleasure without cost.  If you enjoy a particular poet's work please click on his or her name if it is blue to email them and say thank you. (You can also still read about past featured poets from the 2005 Fall Series, 2006 Spring Series, 2006 Fall Series, 2007 Spring Series, 2007 Fall Series, 2008 Spring Series, 2008 Fall Series, 2009 Spring Series , 2009 Fall Series, 2010 Spring Series or 2010 Fall Series.)

Click to listen to over 1000 ARCHIVED RECORDINGS from our past open readings.

    “The open mike reveals so much about people’s inner feelings,” said Tom Katsimpalis, curator of interpretation at the Loveland Museum/Gallery. “That’s what poetry is about. Things can be expressed in poetry in ways that they can’t be expressed in other mediums.” -- Shelley Widhalm, Loveland ReporterHerald, 9/30/2009

   Please enjoy a special tribute the poets wrote and read for Tom Katsimpalis, former curator of the Loveland Museum and long time friend of the Poets' Co-op.

    Be sure to check out our Special Tribute in honor of Gene Hoffman.

   (Don't forget to also visit the special studio recorded selections at www.mp3poetry.com featuring many internet poets from around the world. These include several experimental spoken word MP3's as well as several more with musical backing recorded at Mad Dog Music Studio. )

   We also host TV show featuring poetry readings on the first Sunday of each month from 7:00 - 7:30 pm in partnership with Boulder County Comcast Cable Channel 54.  The Poet's Co-op TV Show features both Colorado and National Poets with an emphasis on performance poetry. You can download or watch I-Pod ready video excerpts from these shows or the full half hour program for free at www.videopoetry.org.   Please contact our host and event coordinator, M. D. Friedman, if you are interested in becoming a featured poet one of TV Shows.

 

The following performances of our past featured readers are available for free download below. They are also available as part of our archive of over 1000 recordings or as part of our Poets' Co-op TV Show Podcast.  Click to subscribe to this podcast and/or put into I-Tunes.