We at Beast Crawl Literary Festival dearly miss our friend J. de Salvo. He was the founder and editor of The Bicycle Review & Pedestrian Press which published many great works. J was a prolific writer and exemplary performer. He had a profound understanding of literature and knew how to read it. For that, he saw the highest good in the writers in his midst and did his best to promote them. In his memory, we created the J. de Salvo Open Mic.

This year, we have a special guest writer, performer, and all-around excellent gentleman Charlie Getter hosting the group reading. Charlie is the author of four poetry collections, and his work has appeared in numerous anthologies, journals, zines, and other publications. He’s a founding member of the Collaborative Arts Insurgency (CAI), the group of artists, poets, emcees, and musicians responsible for the genesis of the ongoing 16th & Mission street arts workshop that takes place every Thursday on the street corner at 16th & Mission in San Francisco’s Mission District.

Show up for this open mic on time at the spot on the map and Charlie will manage sign-ups! The location is a basketball court with sculptures on 12th street, behind 1111 Broadway and WeWork. Questions? Check with us at the Information Table.

Leg: 1 4:00PM Venue: "Sculpture Basketball Court"

Beast Crawl Literary Festival created the Reginald Lockett Memorial Open Mic to commemorate the life and contributions of poet Reginald Lockett. Reginald was a founding member of the Black Students Alliance at San Francisco State University. He would later return to teach creative writing there, as well as at City College of San Francisco, Laney College and College of Marin. He was a tenured instructor of Language Arts at San Jose City College for the last 20 years.

A dedicated teacher, Mr. Lockett was best known as a poet. He was also the owner and publisher of Juke Box Press, which published many other poets and raised thousands of dollars for Hurricane Katrina victims with the publication of "Words upon the Water."

Reginald was the author of "Where the Birds Sing Bass," which won a PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Award in 1996, "Good Times & No Bread," "The Party Crashers of Paradise" and "Random History Lessons," published by Creative Arts Books in 2003. (Source)

Where the Birds Sing Bass
SF Gate

This year's host is Nazelah Jamison, a world-class poet and performer based in Oakland. She is a talented and energetic performance poet, actress and vocalist based in Oakland CA. Born in Bamberg, SC, Nazelah had a love of performance from a very early age, taking her first dance lessons at the age of 4.

Nazelah discovered Poetry Slam in 1999 and began to compete, subsequently going to the National Poetry Slam Competition 5 times on various Bay Area teams. She produced the Oakland Poetry Slam & has coached Team Oakland to Nationals. Since 2000, she has been hosting many Bay Area spoken word events as well. (Source.)

Poem: "Last Resort"
Book: Evolutionary Heart

Venue: District Oakland Leg: 2 5:30PM