And Now...Featuring: is a monthly variety show that features local artists of all kinds. Poets, Music makers, Comedians, Dancers, Performance Artists...

Come early for the open jam session from 6-6:30pm (bring an instrument, borrow one!)

Then, stay for the Variety Show from 6:30-8!

Hosted by Aimee Herman

For more info or to feature for an upcoming month, email: aimeeherman@gmail.com

Fiddler Nicolette Andres is a local of Colorado. The Hardingfele or Hardanger fiddle is Nicolette's main instrument, although she began playing violin at age five. Nicolette was always surrounded by jazz and folk music. While at the University of Puget Sound studying music, Nicolette was turned onto traditional Irish music by a friend. From there Nicolette discovered Swedish traditional music, and that led to a discovery of the Hardanger fiddle, a traditional instrument of Norway. Hardanger fiddle music felt like an uncovering of a musical home to Nicolette. Although unfamiliar in ways, its transcendental, melodic, expansive qualities evoke imagery and emotion that cannot be found on many other instruments. The instrument has sympathetic strings to create drones. The music is intended for traditional dances, listening, and ceremonies. Nicolette has been studying the oral tradition of this music for the last four years, and also writes her own music. Nicolette is recording her debut EP December 2024. 

This solstice show will include traditional Norwegian folk music, original tunes, and improvisation. Nicolette will be joined for portions of the show by Graeme Danforth on cittern and Ted Stevens on guitar. 

Free! Every Monday evening, 7-9p.m. All languages welcome. Facilitated by Kelvin Tavarez.

Free! Every Monday evening, 7-9p.m. All languages welcome. Facilitated by Kelvin Tavarez.

About Nathan:
Nathan Hutchinson is a prolific multimedia artist most known for his magical realist paintings and sculptures. His art implores us to consider our relationship with the natural world and how humans might come back into right relationship with the land, non-human beings, and reintegrate ourselves as symbiotic beings in an interdependent ecosystem. This includes both inner and outer worlds. “I find that at the headwaters of all art is a healing force meant to rebind ourselves into a nature from which we are only seemingly separate.”

About Evergreen:
Evergreen is artist Nathan Hutchinson’s love letter to old-growth forests and wild open spaces in the form of exquisitely painted wilderness scenes accompanied by essays exploring the idea of healing ecological dissociation by rewilding ourselves. With over a hundred illustrations spanning the surreal to ultra-realistic, from oils to pen drawings and watercolors, this book represents the natural world in all its multiplicity, as a unified whole. Printed on 100% recycled chlorine free paper, Evergreen is a one-of-a-kind art book. A must-have for all fine art enthusiasts who concern themselves with ecology.
95% of profits go to organizations helping our last remaining old-growth forests and wild open spaces.

About Ischia:

An intricate, gutsy, and raw novel, Ischia is populated with outsiders who navigate the vicissitudes of life in Argentina and the world. Ischia, the female narrator, is the youngest in a family of seven brothers and relates her experiences as she waits for a ride to the airport. Told through dizzying would-have, could-have conditionals, Ischia overlaps and blurs the past, present, and future of three young characters defined by their lack of certainty or expectation.

These three lives unfold between disenchantment and humor, and the narration transports readers into a world of memories, desires, and dreams. The novel advances lyrically through themes both solemn and lighthearted, shaping the contours of imagined, hilarious, and surreal experiences.

Ischia hearkens back to other notable Argentine literature written in the twentieth century by Jorge Luis Borges and Julio Cortázar. In Heffes' world, the conditional tense controls the narrative, and readers only experience what would happen, not necessarily what does happen. This technique makes Ischia a novel that is difficult to stop reading and one that continues to play with form and style like other great Latin-American novels by authors such as Gabriel García Márquez, Juan Rulfo, Carlos Fuentes, Clarice Lispector, and Roberto Bolaño.

About Gisela:

Gisela Heffes is an award-winning author and Latin American Literature and Culture professor at Johns Hopkins University. In addition to her pioneer work in the field of ecocriticism and environmental humanities, she has published numerous books, essays, and articles on various topics, such as urban utopias, displacement and migration, motherhood, and Jewish Argentine literature. 

Heffes’ debut novel, Ischia, was published in 2000 in Buenos Aires (Argentina). The novel, an experimental book about an unnamed narrator and protagonist who, along with her friends, wanders through the margins of different cities, especially Buenos Aires, searching for something they don’t know and seems unfathomable, has been translated and published in English with Dallas-based Deep Vellum Press. The first one of a trilogy, Ischia was followed by Praga (2001) and completed with Bruselas (published altogether in 2005).

Her bilingual works comprise the illustrated novella Sophie La Belle y las ciudades en miniatura / Sophie La Belle and The Miniature Cities (2016), and the poetry collection El cero móvil de su boca / The Mobile Zero of Its Mouth (2020), translated to French, Portuguese, Sweden and German, which was praised for addressing the environmental crisis from an intimate and personal angle, especially the experience of extinction, the loss of biodiversity, and the way the future may look for our children.

Nu Bass Theory seamlessly blends electronic beats, soulful synth melodies, intricate samples, and mesmerizing vocal harmonies. This Denver-based outfit crafts a rare slice of electronica that maintains the groove, extending an irresistible invitation to an alternate lounge world dance party.

Nu Bass Theory's music celebrates diversity and innovation, transcending traditional genre labels to create a sonic journey where the boundaries between electro, pop, and jazz effortlessly dissolve. Enter their realm, where each performance fuses electronic prowess and live instrumentation, promising an unforgettable experience that defies expectations. Whether captivated by the infectious energy of their produced beats, pocket, or mantra-based vocal style, Nu Bass Theory invites you to join them on a sonic adventure. In Denver and beyond, they are the architects of a new era in electro-pop-jazz. The rare slice of electronica that maintains the groove, Nu Bass Theory sets the stage for a musical movement, inviting all to dance, listen, vibe, and create friendships.

Two video game creators go head-to-head in this delightful, queer enemies-to-lovers workplace romance debut. Set in Boulder, Colorado!

Cat Li cares about two things: video games and swoony romances. The former means there hasn't been much of the latter in her (real) life, but when she lands her dream job writing the love storylines for Compass Hollow—the next big thing in games—she knows it’s all been worth it. Then she meets her boss: the infamous Andi Zhang, who’s not only an arrogant hater of happily-ever-afters determined to keep Cat from doing her job but also impossibly, annoyingly hot. 

As Compass Hollow’s narrative director, Andi couldn’t care less about love—in-game or out. After getting doxxed by internet trolls three years ago, Andi’s been trying to prove to the gaming world that they’re a serious gamedev. Their plan includes writing the best game possible, with zero lovey-dovey stuff. That is, until the man funding the game’s development insists Andi add romance in order to make the story “more appealing to female gamers.” 

Forced to give Cat a chance, Andi begrudgingly realizes there’s more to Cat than romantic idealism and, okay, a cute smile. But admitting that would mean giving up the single-player life that has kept their heart safe for years. And when Cat uncovers a behind-the-scenes plan to destroy Andi’s career, the two will have to put their differences aside and find a way to work together before it’s game over.

Bio:

Tara Tai is an Asian American writer living in Boston, where they spend most of their time playing TTRPGs and romancing video game NPCs. When they're not lost in imaginary worlds, they are annoying their wife Audrey and dog Gingko. Single Player is their debut novel.

Tuesday January 28th at 6:30PM

Shadows of Enlightenment

Author Bio:
Sarito Carroll is a passionate memoirist who, at nine years old, joined the tumultuous Osho Rajneesh movement in the late 1970s. With a unique perspective shaped by her experiences growing up within a spiritual community, Sarito’s writing explores the complexities of belonging, trauma, the struggle to break free from cultic ties, and the long journey toward self-acceptance.

Her debut memoir, In the Shadows of Enlightenment, captures her efforts to reconcile a past filled with both joy and pain, attachment and rage, as she seeks to reclaim her voice after decades of silence. Through themes of resilience, group dynamics, and self reflection, Sarito's work resonates with anyone who has faced an unconventional upbringing or childhood trauma.

Now residing in Boulder, Colorado, Sarito is committed to telling the truth, even when it may be painful for others. When not writing, she works as an acupuncturist and Realtor. Outside of work, she enjoys long walks, listening to music, and taking time to unplug from the world.

About the Book:
In the Shadow of Enlightenment is the gripping story of Carroll’s childhood inside the Osho Rajneesh cult—one of the most controversial spiritual movements of the 20th century. While in the commune, Sarito was submerged in a world where devotion and freedom clashed with manipulation, sexual misconduct, and neglect. This was the life she knew until the movement collapsed amid scandal and criminal charges in 1985, when sixteen-year-old Sarito was thrust into a society she knew little about.

In 1978, nine-year-old Sarito Carroll’s life took an unexpected turn when her mother brought her to India to visit the ashram of guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (later known as Osho). What was intended to be a brief trip over her summer vacation quickly became permanent when her mother decided they would stay and join the ashram. Three years later, when Rajneesh relocated to the United States, twelve-year-old Sarito arrived alone to Oregon, becoming one of the first thirty-five settlers at what would become Rajneeshpuram—a bold and controversial city built on the Big Muddy Ranch. The commune soon attracted thousands of devotees, lured by the guru’s promises of love, spiritual enlightenment, and a utopian society free from conventional constraints.

Now, decades later, after battling shame, fear, and self-doubt, Sarito breaks her silence to expose the abuse, exploitation, and disillusionment she endured in the Rajneesh community. She stands up against this formidable spiritual institution that promised liberation while concealing dark secrets behind its facade of love and joy. With raw honesty and heart-wrenching clarity, she recounts her fight to reclaim her identity, confront the community’s betrayal, and heal on her own terms. It is a powerful story of survival, resilience, courage, and hard-won freedom.

In the Shadow of Enlightenment is a profoundly moving exposé about the hidden dangers lurking behind charismatic leaders and spiritual movements. It will inspire and challenge you to question where you place your trust.

Tuesday February 4th at 630PM  

Beautiful Solutions: A Toolbox for Liberation

Our problems are global and interconnected, and our solutions must be too. The stories featured in this new anthology amplify ancestral and community wisdom to help us all imagine a different way of doing things. With over 70 contributors, this toolbox of collective wisdom and know-how shows us that another world is not only possible, it’s already under construction.

Co-editor Nathan Schneider, a professor of media studies at CU Boulder, will introduce the book. He'll be joined by leaders in the Colorado solidarity economy, who will talk about their work and how you can get involved in building a more just and sustainable economy.

https://beautifultrouble.org/beautifulsolutions

Unicorn hits is a queer-driven 4-piece rock and roll tapestry from the 14th century. From dark ballads to chugging riffs, weird sounds escape through shrapnel guitars and a roiling double-drummer rhythm section. Sometimes they are quiet, if you ask nicely...

A line up of readers sharing stories about various forms of love—platonic, romantic, and everything in-between. It's all about love without limits! 

Singer-songwriter Paula Gayatri delivers poetic, intimate performances dripping with soul. Early influences like Joni Mitchell, Indigo Girls, and Bach have woven with her years of chanting and meditation at a yoga ashram. Please join us to celebrate the release of her first solo album, Between Music & Love.

Third Turn is the latest jam band trio out of Fort Collins, Colorado. The 3 piece fuses funk, jazz, good ol’ rock and roll and then some into original music, and some tasteful covers. With Matt Keller on guitar and vocals, the wonderful Phillip Nelson on the bass guitar, and the incredible Rory Stone on the cans, these guys will open up a new world within every song, so don’t miss the party!

mud & marrow’s fusion of thick vocal harmonies, West African percussion, and poetic eco-femme rage invites listeners into creative action. We are five Denver-based women creating all-original music influenced by our diverse backgrounds and experiences. Audiences are struck by our energy, unique instrumentation, and the beautiful power of being a badass group of diverse women claiming our space within the Colorado music industry.  Compared to Rising Appalachia and Erykah Badu, each song we write is its own little ecosystem.  Visit us at mudandmarrow.com or @mudandmarrowmusic.

Trident Author Series

Alison Hawthorne Deming

Tuesday April 15 - 6:30PM-7:30PM

BLUE FLAX & YELLOW MUSTARD FLOWER

&

THE GIFT OF ANIMALS

About Alison:

Poet, essayist, and editor Alison Hawthorne Deming, grew up in New England, steeped in literary and naturalist traditions. Recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, she has published six books of poetry and five books of nonfiction, with two books out in 2025: the poetry collection Blue Flax & Yellow Mustard Flower (Red Hen Press) and the anthology The Gift of Animals: Poems of Love, Loss, & Connection (Storey Press). She coedited with Lauret E. Savoy the anthology The Colors of Nature: Culture, Identity, and the Natural World. She served as Poet-in-Residence at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens for the Language of Conservation; and the Milwaukee Public Museum and Milwaukee Public Library for Field Work, both projects sponsored by Poet’s House in NYC. Her other awards include fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Borchard Foundation, Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, Stegner Fellowship from Stanford University, and Walt Whitman Award from the Academy of American Poets. She is former Agnese Nelms Haury Chair in Environment and Social Justice and former Director of the UA Poetry Center. Currently she is Regents Professor Emerita at the University of Arizona. She lives in Tucson, Arizona and Grand Manan, New Brunswick, Canada.

New Books:

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR NEW BOOKS BY ALISON HAWTHORNE DEMING

BLUE FLAX & YELLOW MUSTARD FLOWER, Red Hen Press, (Pub date, March 4th 2025)

“Alison Hawthorne Deming’s new collection, Blue Flax & Yellow Mustard Flower is a rich catalog of the Anthropocene, including history, research, and initiative. In the tradition of Rachel Carson, Annie Dillard, and Pattiann Rogers––Deming pays extraordinary attention to the natural world. With skillful use of scientific detail, music, place, and the power of naming things, she sounds an alarm and a call to action. Moving deftly from the short lyric to the long narrative to prose: “each word an act / of defiance against the unspeakable.” Poem after poem reads like a “little locus of beauty to counter the decay.” This collection is an homage to naturalists and explorers, to environmental consciousness, to curiosity and to service––it is a lyric acknowledgement of the delicate balance of life.” --Ellen Bass

“Alison Hawthorne Deming is not a poet for whom environmental writing is merely a subject or an aspect of her brand.  For this true poet, nature is nothing less than a beyond-one’s-own-life existential presence.  As with Merwin, Snyder, and Hillman, I read Deming’s complex work both for its powerful engagements with nature and the vivifying inventions of its music.  Blue Flax & Yellow Mustard Flower provides us such abundance: vigilance but also awe, documentation alongside discovery, and formal designs that range from quantitative syllabics to the open fields of free verse and prose poetry.  In the end Deming’s artful strategies are—as in areas as diverse as physics, sociobiology, and grammar—deeply relational.  Each “chatter, dirge, thesis, and psalm” is what it is in vital symbiosis with the rest.” --David Baker 

THE GIFT OF ANIMALS, Storey Press (Pub Date, April 1st )

The Gift of Animals is a wonderful book, the rare treasure that you will want to give to all your friends, even as you keep a copy close beside you. Brilliantly selected and meaningfully arranged, the poems unfold one after another – perfectly observed, rambunctious, hilarious or heartbreaking, astonishing, revelatory or mysterious, loving. In our cosmic loneliness, the company of animals is a great gift that asks in return only that we notice them, respect them, keep a safe place for them on Earth. The poetry of The Gift of Animals is a beautiful invitation to that moral relationship.   — Kathleen Dean Moore, author Earth’s Wild Music

The Gift of Animals offers us a fascinating treasure trove of the most surprising (re)connections to oysters, flamingoes, snakes, and a whole lyrical host of other dazzling heartbeats that beat the same as ours, no matter how many chambers. This collection of fins, fur, scales, and wings echoes a most satisfying call back to our mutual, extraordinary home: Earth.  –Aimee Nezhukumatathil 

This gorgeous collection of encounters feels like an antidote to species loneliness, providing a multifaceted lens on our desire for communion with the more-than-human world. --Robin Wall Kimmerer

Tuesday July 8, 2025

7PM

Belle Ling was born and raised in Hong Kong. Her poems have won numerous international awards, including the Playa Residency’s Fellowship in Oregon (2014), the UK's Oxford Brookes International Poetry Competition (Second Place in the ESL Category, 2016), the New York State Summer Writers Institute Scholarship (2017), the Hong Kong’s International Proverse Poetry Prize Anthology Place Award (2018), and the Aesthetica Creative Writing Award in UK (Shortlist, 2022). She was also a Co-Winner of the Australian Book Review’s prestigious Peter Porter Poetry Prize (2018). Her poetry manuscript, Rabbit-Light, was Highly Commended for the Arts Queensland Thomas Shapcott Poetry Prize and her other poetry collection, Grass Flower Head, was shortlisted for The Puncher & Wattmann Prize for a First Book of Poetry. She has been an invited author at the Brisbane Writers Festival, the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, the Goethe-Institut Hongkong, the New York’s Mongrel Writers Residence, and the Chinese Diaspora Poetry Festival in the UK. She holds a PhD in Creative Writing from The University of Queensland and a Master of Creative Writing from The University of Sydney. She is now serving in the Core Team of Guild Hong Kong to mobilize strategic creative industry partnerships. 

 Nebulous Vertigo:

 Formally daring poems that ask a compelling question: if fate can never be changed, how can we embrace its weaving?

The realm that belongs to Nebulous Vertigo is both visceral and vibrant, and it is mysteriously familiar. If you come close to it, you will hear how rains eat, how a silken tofu revolts, how the Chinese word for “beans” turns into a speaking persona, and how a telephone bridges the surviving and the afterlife. In Nebulous Vertigo, everyday life is inevitably lost to the inevitable fate. And yet, with unexpected quivers, our fate and life keep surprising us. 

Traveling through the cha chaan teng in Hong Kong, you can hear how Mrs. Suen, Mr. Yuen, and Waiter Kuen carry out intriguing conversations; astounded by the night sky in Paris, you will see how constellations narrate the lovers’ quirky destiny; and all the way through the Sayama Hills in Tokorozawa, you will be surprised by the turnings and upturnings of the myths told by a Japanese Uncle. Nebulous Vertigo, as its title beckons, “sighs an unreal cloud / for the fated sun to rise.” If fate can never be changed, how can we embrace its weaving? Every attempt, as the poems suggest, can be calmingly adventurous, unobvious yet magnanimous.

REX OGLE is an award-winning author and the writer of nearly a hundred children’s books, comics, graphic novels, and memoirs—most notably Free Lunch, which won the ALA/YALSA award for Excellence in Non-Fiction.  

He has written under several pseudonyms, including Trey King and Honest Lee, but is currently focused on reimagining classic literature as modern or fantastical graphic novels as REY TERCIERO, under which he penned bestselling Meg, Jo, Beth, & Amy, as well as Northranger, nominated for both a Harvey and GLAAD Media Award. 

Born and raised (mostly) in Texas, Rex moved to New York City after college to intern with Marvel Comics before moving over to DC Comics, Scholastic, and Little Brown Young Readers.  As an editor, he championed over a dozen NY Times Bestsellers and worked (and often wrote) on major brands such as X-Men, Justice League, Star Wars, LEGO, Power Rangers, Transformers, Minecraft, Assassin’s Creed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Neil Patrick Harris’s Magic Misfits.  

Now, Rex lives in Los Angeles where he writes every day—that is, when he’s not outdoors hiking with his dog, playing MarioKart with friends, or thinking up new ideas for books