Featuring the WOW Poetry Jam, hosted by Teresa Waldorf

To celebrate the launch of its second season, WOW is throwing a party! Join us May 15 for poetry, music, free nibbles, a cash bar with wine and beer, and more at the way-cool West Side Theater. Starting at 7:30 p.m. some WOW poets from seasons 1 and 2 will take you on wild word-rides at the Poetry Jam, like a poetry slam but noncompetitive, hosted by Missoula’s sweetheart, Teresa Waldorf. After that, stay for the music with Separate Circles and Jesse, The Ocelot. Suggested donation is $10, taken at the door.

Words Out West thanks its production partner, Montana Public Radio; its event partner, West Side Theater; The Prop Foundation; and many individual contributors.

The nonprofit literary podcast Words Out West (WOW) was launched in February 2021 by Cole Grant and Jay Kettering, in partnership with Montana Public Radio. Spotlighting both established and emerging writers from Montana and the western U.S., Words Out West offers listeners a wide range of literary forms, genres, and styles. In each episode, our talented writers present poems, fiction, nonfiction, radio plays, songs, and other modes of verbal expression. Our goal is to bring to our listeners distinctive stories and fresh perspectives as we celebrate the tradition of writing in the West.

A fundraiser for the literary podcast Words Out West

Words Out West (W.O.W.), Montana’s new nonprofit literary podcast, launched in February of 2021 by Cole Grant and Jay Kettering, in partnership with Montana Public Radio.

Thanks to you and our other devoted listeners, we got off to a great start and are now focusing on production of Season Two.

To raise money to cover production costs for its second season, W.O.W. is hosting the WOW Audio Showcase on Friday, November 12, at the Zootown Arts Community Center (the ZACC) at 216 W. Main St., Missoula, Montana. A social hour at 6:30 pm will feature book signings by eleven local (W.O.W.) authors and other activities, with beer and wine available at the ZACC bar. The showcase, featuring readings, music, and a short play, all by W.O.W. podcast participants, starts at 7:30 pm.

Hosted by the delightful Chris Sand, Montana’s Rappin’ Cowboy, the showcase presents readings by Montana’s new Poet Laureate Mark Gibbons, author of In the Weeds; Joan Melcher, author of Montana Watering Holes; young poet and fiction writer Freya Jones; writer and storyteller Chris La Tray, author of One-Sentence Journal; and Caroline Patterson, author of The Stone Sister, plus a poetry and music performance by Shaun Gant and friend; a short play by Jay Kettering;and music from Cole Grant and Spencer Kellum.

Tickets are $15 at the door or in advance at https://showroom.zootownarts.org.

If you are unable to attend, but would still like to contribute to our Season Two production costs, please go to the Donate page and THANK YOU!

Words Out West thanks its production partner, Montana Public Radio; itsevent partner, Zootown Arts Community Center; its episode sponsors, Mountain Press Publishing Co., Murphy-Jubb Fine Arts, and The Bell Pipe & Tobacco Shop; its event sponsors, Rockin’ Rudy’s, Fact & Fiction Books, Gallery 709 (Montana Art and Framing), Shakespeare & Company, Montana Book Company, and Bernice’s Bakery; and many individual contributors.