Emergent Arts Theatre to Present AN EVENING WITH POEZ AND ROLLIE TUSSING, 5/13

Emergent Arts Theatre presents New York-based poet-performer POEZ, with local folk treasure Rollie Tussing May 13, 2014, 8 PM, at the Mix Studio Theater, 8 N. Washington Street, Ypsilanti, Michigan.

"My audience is people who want to hear poetry that actually says something - and says it out loud." Paul L. Mills, author of Bowery Poetry Books' "The Poetry Dollars", took the name POEZ and came to New York to perform in the street in 1977 in protest against what he considered the pretentious drivel to be found in the poetry press. Soon he was gathering crowds, and booking shows, in clubs, theatres, on radio and television, in New York, Paris, London. At that time no one was performing poetry. Five years later, everyone was.

Rollie Tussing will play and sing his special brand of jazz/folk/blues he calls "raggedy-folk", or "jug-band jazz".

Formerly a purveyor of fine jungle tonics and elixirs, Rollie Tussing currently lives in a bramble covered snow globe. Sometimes he plays his brand of raggedy-folk music to an audience of polite spiders. He thought himself a jazz musician, but all the jazz cats called the raggedy sounds emanating from his various home-made instruments "bluegrass". All the bluegrass pickers called it "blues" and all the blues guys called it "jazz". Maybe he'll call it raggedy- folk music heavily influenced by the un-popular music of the 78rpm era, or just "jug-band jazz".

Don't miss this special event!

Admission is $20. Bring receipt from Haab's Restaurant for day of show and receive a $4 discount or rebate. Tickets are available online at www.emergentarts.com or by calling (734) 985-0875 for pay-at-the-door reservations.