West Cork country crossover band Shaky Dawg live

Hailing from West Cork, Shaky Dawg has been shaking up Ireland with their toe tapping country techno crossover sound. On tour to support sales of their 'Bass Ridin' for Digital Cowboys EP', Shaky Dawg's full show includes catchy covers of country classics and a healthy dose of their unique originals, including 'Rogue Trip' and 'Criminal'.

Come on down to shake the night away at Sullivan's in Crookhaven, 24 October 2009, 21:30, with Shaky Dawg.

Children's Poetry Competition open for submissions

Poems must be in English, any style, up to 60 lines. Only one poem may be submitted, and must be original work of entrant. Poems should be typed on A4 paper, one side only, and should not have been published or accepted for publication elsewhere. Poems that have won or been in the prize lists of previous competitions are not eligible. Entries are open to any nationality from any country. A completed application form must accompany all entries. Any entries received without a completed application form will be disqualified. Application forms can be requested by e-mailing PoetsExpress@darkworld.com. Submission deadline is 15 April 2010. There is no fee to enter.

Sponsored by Dark World International, Planet Mythos Video, and Poets Express, Kids Express will be expanded to an entire evening of entertainment in July 2010. This will be an all ages show, and admission to the night is free. Showcase performance poets will be appearing as special guests. This event is scheduled to be video taped and recorded for internet release.

Kids Express 2010 poetry competition for school aged children 8-12 and 13-17 is now open for submissions. Visit us on MySpace or e-mail PoetsExpress@darkworld.com for more information.

Poet/Performance Artist Kylyra live in Dublin

A well respected on-line artist with pages on MySpace, Facebook, Dark World International, and YouTube, Kylyra's popularity from her performances has grown enormously over the last year. The artist has developed a theatre style show using her poetry, music, and scripting skills. Her Dublin appearance will be the debut of her integrated show idea. "I knew right from the start that I wanted to head in this direction. The Cobblestone is a wonderful venue to premiere my idea in," Kylyra stated. With her performances already compared to Laurie Anderson, Grace Jones, and Karen Finney, Kylyra's new show promises to be a hit with a wide audience range. "The show is set around my neo-beat material with a jazz combo backing, but it also includes some of my humorous pieces. I've got two brand new poems to lay on the audience as well."

Ra is DublinÕs premier monthly spoken word showcase, featuring the best in performing spoken word -- poetry, hip hop, monologue, storytelling, diatribes, rants and more from Dublin and beyond. Each showcase features new set pieces by award-winning house wordsmiths & joined by guest musicians, and a featured guest performer. Ra maintains the most high-spirited and intense atmosphere of the Dublin spoken word scene and the house credo is one of experimentation, so expect anything. This is the spot for not only fans of the word, but even those who say: ÒPoetry? I donÕt like that stuffÉÓ . They like this stuff; itÕs on the menu the last Tuesday of every month beginning and 9 p.m. and itÕs absolutely free.

Kylyra will be appearing live at Ra@The Cobblestone, Smithfield Market, Dublin, on 29 September 2009. The evening begins at 9 p.m. Visit www.darkworld.com for more information on Kylyra.

First year of Poets Express a huge success

Shaky Dawg opened the night with a half hour set of their rollicking country-techno beats, and the audience went wild over their unique sound. Poets Express Director and host for the evening, Kylyra, guided the audience through several open mic slots. Rowena Doak (Bantry), Erik Rhodes (Ahakista), Tom Jordan (Cork), Antonionioni (Manchester), Adam Ormes (Bantry) and Kerry and Thomas (Bantry) all took open mic times to share their work. Future Dialogue got up during intermission, and set the tone for the evening break with their acoustic style.The special guests scheduled for the night showed the crowd the full range of what performance poetry can be. Dale Mawhinney from Belfast charmed everyone with his set and many of his original paintings; Tomas O Carthaigh from County Offaly shared some of his work from his books 'Passing By Our Planet' and 'Writings in Rhyme' as well as some new material; AndyN from Manchester moved with ease between simple spoken word, performances with backing music, and collaborative pieces; Scream Blue Murmur from Northern Ireland got the audience chanting and clapping with their dynamic set that they've toured the world with; Andrej Kapor from Dublin gave a charismatic and high energy performance of sophisticated urban poetry; Derek Fanning from County Offaly shared some new limericks and two songs that proved why he's called 'the voice of Birr'; and host Kylyra wound the night up with her highly theatrical and comedic style.

The winners of Kids Express were announced on the night. Siofra Martin, who's work was chosen for Eurochild 2009, gave a presentation of her poetry before the winners were announced. The winner in the 8-12 year old category was 'Across The Water' by Ruby Sullivan. Ruby was present, and gave a performance that proved she's a young poet to keep an eye on. The winner in the 13-17 year old category was 'The Journey' by Erin Barclay. ErinÕs mother Jane got up to present the poem for Erin. Both Ruby and Erin received engraved trophies, a Kids Express 2009 winner's certificate, and a surprise gift.

The audience was appreciative of the entire night, and looking forward to future events. Kylyra announced her team would be back next year for another show. Poets Express was made possible by the kind support from JackieBlueWear, McCarthy Sports, Tom Jordan, Planet Mythos Video, Dark World International, and local sponsors from the Bantry area. Visit http://groups.myspace.com/PoetsExpress or e-mail PoetsExpress@darkworld.com.

Kids Express short listed entries announced

Within three days of announcing Kids Express the competition was thrown open to international entries as requests from parents and kids poured in from across Ireland and around the world. Entries were received from Ireland, the UK, and India. The outstanding selection of poetry impressed the judges tremendously, and narrowing the list down was difficult.

The short listed entries for the 8-12 year old category are:

- Aiobh Manning, Ballymaclode, Co. Waterford, 'Writing (impossible!)'

- Ruby Sullivan, Clonakilty, Co. Cork, 'Across the Water'

- Sadhbh Sullivan, Bere Island, Co. Cork, ' Dusky'

- Ruhee Parelkar, Gujarat, India, 'A strange new world!'

- Claire Quill, Bantry, Co. Cork, 'Sharing is Caring'

The short listed entries for the 13-17 year old category are:

- Ciar‡n Darcy, Bantry, Co. Cork, 'Graduation'

- Thomas McCarthy, Ballinadee, Co. Cork, ' Love and Marriage'

- Erin Barclay, Skibbereen, Co. Cork, 'The Journey'

- Sam McCarthy, Navan, Co. Meath, 'Trees'

- Aoife Quinn Clarke, Navan, Co. Meath, 'Summer'

Congratulations to all the short listed entrants! We hope to see you in Bantry on 11 July 2009 when we announce the final winners during Poets Express. Remember, the evening will be video taped (Planet Mythos Video) and professionally recorded (Dark World International) for internet release. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Music provided by Shaky Dawg and Future Dialogue. Refreshments will be available. This is a free admission, all ages show.

Poets Express announces guest performers!

Hosted by international performance artist, poet, and author Kylyra from Dark World International, Poets Express aims to provide the audience with a full variety of performance poetry from the beginner to seasoned stage performers, as well as a wide selection of poetic styles. "I carefully chose the special guests for the evening," according to Kylyra. "Tomas (O Carthaigh) and Derek (Fanning) both represent the very best of Irish poetry; their words capture the history, the landscape, and the spirituality of Ireland. VisionGhost's work has an epic, gothic nature to it, and AndyN's easy flowing, often quirky poetry will be an excellent contrast. Cah-44 has a hard hitting, syncopated rhyming style with an urban feel, while Dale Mawhinney paints free verse poetic images with his words that are as striking as his paintings. Scream Blue Murmur's spoken words, music, chants, and beats are sure to rock the audience from their seats, and I'll be adding my own upbeat theatrical style to the night as well."

Poets Express is a new night celebrating performance poetry in Bantry, West Cork, on 11 July 2009, 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at Bantry Boys' Club. The evening will have open time slots of five minutes each for anyone to get up on stage and share their work. Music will be provided by Shaky Dawg and Future Dialogue. Admission is free, and refreshments will be available. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. This event will be video taped and recorded for internet release. Poets Express gratefully acknowledges the kind support of Dark World International, Planet Mythos Video, JackieBlueWear, McCarthy Sports, and the fine businesses of Bantry.

The final list of special guest performers appearing at Poets Express in Bantry, West Cork, Ireland on 11 July 2009 includes international, UK, and Irish performers. With open time slots available to fill out the night of entertainment, Poets Express promises to be the poetry event in Ireland this year! Visit http://groups.myspace.com/PoetsExpress or e-mail PoetsExpress@darkworld.com for more information.

Special Update on Kids Express poetry competition

Kids Express is a new poetry competition for school aged children, ages 8-12 and 13-17. The competition is now open for submissions. Winners will be given the opportunity to perform their poem on stage this summer at Poets Express, a new night celebrating performance poetry in Bantry, West Cork, on 11 July 2009, 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at Bantry Boys' Club. A completed and signed application form must accompany all entries. Application forms are available in PDF or Word doc format. E-mail PoetsExpress@darkworld.com to receive an application form.

I am expanding Kids Express poetry competition to ALL school aged children, regardless of whether or not they can make the event to perform their poem. I've spoken to a wonderful young lady, Siofra, who is going to help me out for the evening. She's a poet herself, a singer, musician, and quite a performer, and she's agreed to read the winning entries if the applicants aren't there.

HELP ME SPREAD THE WORD! Entries still need to be accompanied by an official application and release form. You can get a PDF or Word doc file sent to you if you e-mail me at PoetsExpress@darkworld.com.

Children's Poetry Competition open for submissions

To enter, you must be between the ages of 8-12 or 13-17. Only one poem per person is allowed, and it must be your original work. A completed and signed application form must accompany all entries. Application forms can be found at Bantry Library, Fast.net, Bantry Youth Cafe, Organico Cafe, Bantry area schools, or e-mail PoetsExpress@darkworld.com. Any entries received without a completed and signed application form will be disqualified. Submission deadline is 30 May 2009. There is no fee to enter. If you cannot be available to perform your poem at Poets Express in Bantry, West Cork, Ireland on 11 July 2009, a substitute will be on hand to perform your poem for you.

Poets Express is a new night celebrating performance poetry in Bantry, West Cork, on 11 July 2009, 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. at Bantry Boys' Club. Special guests include Manchester performance poet AndyN, Dublin non-visual video poet VisionGhost, and Cork poet Tom‡s î C‡rthaigh, author of 'Passing By Our Planet' and 'Writings in Rhyme'. The evening will have open time slots of five minutes each for anyone to get up on stage and share their work. Music will be provided by Shaky Dawg and Future Dialogue. Admission is free, and refreshments will be available. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. This event will be video taped and recorded for internet release.

Kids Express, a new poetry competition for school children, ages 8-12 and 13-17, is now open for submissions. Visit http://groups.myspace.com/PoetsExpress or e-mail PoetsExpress@darkworld.com for more information.

Poet/Performance Artist Kylyra debuts KyPoetry live in UK

A well respected on-line artist with pages on MySpace, Facebook, Dark World International, YouTube, Sensitize, Coffee Connection, and FleadhSpace, Kylyra's popularity from her writing and music has grown enormously over the last year. Encouraged by Manchester poet and author Andy Nicholson, Kylyra has decided to bring her new performance poetry project, KyPoetry, to Manchester for her debut appearance. "Andy has been a constant source of inspiration and encouragement to me," according to Kylyra. "He premiered first my audio work, then my video work. It seemed only right that my debut performance should also be at his event."

Kylyra has been busy in the studio preparing for her debut and finishing her first release as KyPoetry. "I was thrilled when he [Andy] asked me to be a special guest at Poets and Picnics on 29 April. I was already in the studio recording for KyPoetry, and his invitation seemed to come at just the right time for me. I've written brand new material for the night, and am looking forward to meeting all my friends from the internet in person."

Poets and Picnics is the April instalment of 'Poets and...', the north west's best tasting open mike night. Organised by Andy Nicholson, Gary Morris, and Amanda Speakman (collectively known as Trio Writers) and hosted by madman Alex Humphrey, 'Poets and...' is a bi-monthly night of poetry held at Bolton Rugby Club, Avenue Street, Bolton, BL1 3AW. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the evening is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. Admission £1.

Kylyra has announced her UK debut performance with KyPoetry at Poets and Picnics on 29 April 2009. Visit www. darkworld.com for more information.

Poet and Performance Artist Kylyra announces new project, KyPoetry

KyPoetry combines Kylyra's poetry, music, and performance skills into a dynamic listening experience. "I wanted to do more than simply read my poems aloud," according to Kylyra. "In the words of James Joyce, 'Poetry, even when apparently most fantastic, is always a revolt against artifice, a revolt, in a sense, against actuality'. KyPoetry is my revolt against actuality. It is impossible to recreate some of my recordings in a live setting. The use of panned voices, effects, and complex sounds moves out of actuality and into the realm of the fantastic."

The massive amount of interest in KyPoetry on the internet has garnished Kylyra an interview with Setting Sun, several appearances on the internet radio show Lit Media Reviews on BlogTalk Radio, and a special slot on the Midnight's Muse podcast in January 2009. Kylyra will be making her live performance debut with KyPoetry at Manchester's 'Poets and...' in April 2009. Additional performances in Ireland will be added later in the year and announced at the official KyPoetry page at Dark World International.

Kylyra is scheduled to release a CD of KyPoetry in late 2009. Currently in the studio recording new material, Kylyra is "carefully selecting sounds and effects that add to the pieces and enrich the listener's experience of each poem". Four poems have been released on the internet, including two free MP3 downloads. As an added bonus to Dark World International visitors, Kylyra has provided accompanying notes on poetry, vocal production, and background production for available MP3s.

Poet and recording artist Kylyra is pleased to announce the web premiere of her new audio poetry project, KyPoetry. Visit www. darkworld.com for more information.