Kerouac in Azul: A Celebration of Mexico City Blues

Hosted by Friends of Jack Kerouac

You’re invited to celebrate Kerouac in Azul with the Friends of Jack Kerouac. This poetry showcase will highlight numerous local poets with music by Johnny White.  Admission includes two tickets for a chance price drawing as well!

Participating poets include Skyla Luckey, Anthony Patterson, Tom Hallock, Greg Byrd, Pedro El Poeta, Donnie Ibn Malik, Ali McClendon, and Trey Conner.

Mexico City Blues is a poem published by Jack Kerouac in 1959 composed of 242 “choruses” or stanzas. Kerouac began writing the choruses that became Mexico City Blues while living with Bill Garver, a heroin addict and friend of William S. Burroughs, in Mexico City in 1955. Written under the influence of marijuana and morphine, choruses were defined only by the size of Kerouac’s notebook page. Three of the choruses (52, 53 and 54) are transcriptions of Garver’s speech, while others sought to transcribe sounds, and others Kerouac’s own thoughts. The choruses include references to real figures including Burroughs and Gregory Corso, as well as religious figures and themes. After finishing Mexico City Blues, while still in Mexico City, Kerouac wrote Tristessa.  (synopsis courtesy of Wikipedia)

Seating is limited. Advanced tickets required. Masks requested while inside the building.

If you would like to volunteer during this event, please CLICK HERE to sign up.

Doors open at 6PM

Poetry begins at 6:30PM

Prize Drawing at 8:30PM