(photo courtesy of Rosie Lindsey Photography)

This past 1st Wednesday of April (aka 04.03.19) Mad Swirl continued to whirl up our mic madness at our mad mic home deep in the heart of Deep Ellum… the Regal Room!

This month, Mad Swirl Press officially launched, “Black Sparrow Dress” by Dallas poet and spoken word performer Opalina Salas with illustrations by Mad artist Madelyn Olson. And what a launch it was! Opalina performed a handful+ of her poems from her collection to a standing-room only house. Almost every soul in the Regal Room bought themselves a copy and seemed pleased that they did.

If you didn’t get you a copy last night, here’s the official tease for Opalina’s full-color, 82-page poetry collection:

“Black Sparrow Dress is about recalling the past and letting go. It’s about the town I call home and the poets I call friends. It’s about love and remorse, outrage and abandonment, but also hope. It’s about a woman’s journey through changes; aging, addictions, laments, misgivings, to eventual empowerment.”

If that got your want going, visit Amazon NOW and get yourself your very own copy for the real-deal of $20! (for a limited time, 2 for $40;)

HUGE GRATS to all you mad poets, performers, artists and musicians who helped swirl us up a mighty fine & celebratory night!

Here’s a shout out to all who graced us with your words, your songs, your divine madness…

Hosts:

Johnny O
MH Clay

Swirve:

Chris Curiel (trumpet)
Clark Walker (drums)

Mad Mic Cast:

Johnny O
MH Clay
Tamitha Curiel
Carlos Salas
Cortlynn Blankenbaker
Suza Kanon
Chris Zimmerly
Lisa Carmen
Monika Bell
Brett “BA” Ardoin
Taylor Teachout
Ursa Minor
Lynette Sharp
Niko
Cassie
Nico Loraine
Elliot Hill
Jett
Lanny
Maribel
Sig

BIG ol’ thanks to Swirve for stirring the Swirl the best way in the world!

More BIG thanks to Regal Room’s Thad Kulper for making us sound mighty fine on the mic.

And lastly, but never leastly, thanks to ALL WHO CAME to support our launch of Opalina’s creative love-child down in the Deep neck of the Ellum & shared this loving, laughing, lasting night of poetry and music with us!

May the madness swirl your way! ’til next 1st Wednesday…

Johnny O

P.S. In case you missed the LIVE feed, your eye can spy on the Swirl’n scenes that was right here…

Feature Set:

Open Mic: