Fisher Poets Reel In Audiences for Weekend of Poetry, Prose and Music

Astoria, Ore. Hosts 14th Annual Fisher Poets Gathering Feb. 25-27

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce:

WHAT:	Celebrating 200 years of maritime history in 2011, Astoria and its vibrant working waterfront make the perfect backdrop for the 14th annual Fisher Poets Gathering. Capturing the rhythms of life at sea in emotional free verse, raucous rhymes, salty songs and touching personal accounts, as more than 60 commercial fishermen and women will gather to share their original works. Performers hail from home ports in Oregon, Washington, Alaska, British Columbia, California and East Coast maritime communities.
WHEN:	Friday – Sunday, Feb. 25 – 27, 2011
	Weekend events include:
	-- Evening readings featuring poetry, prose, short stories, music and open mike sessions
	-- Artistic workshops in photography, creative writing and video
	-- Fishing industry discussion panels
	-- Documentary film and original video showings
	-- Independent photography and art gallery exhibits
	Event details will be posted on http://www.clatsopcc.edu/fisherpoets in January 2011.
WHERE:	Events are held at intimate venues in downtown Astoria: restaurants and pubs, the Columbian Theater and the Columbia River Maritime Museum. Local community radio station KMUN also streams Friday and Saturday evening performances online at http://www.coastradio.org.
	Astoria and Warrenton are located on Oregon’s North Coast, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean, 90 miles northwest of Portland. Once the canning capital of the world, Astoria boasts a vibrant cultural scene including art galleries, museums, restaurants, shops and Victorian homes.
COST:	Weekend admission buttons for all events will be available for a small fee. All proceeds help support travel costs for the performing fishermen and women, who gather as volunteers.
CONTACT:	For more information about the region, the event and local lodging options, call the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce at [phone] or visit http://www.oldoregon.com. Additional details, including audio clips, videos and poetry excerpts, are available at http://www.clatsopcc.edu/fisherpoets.
	Potential performers from fishing industries with original works may contact Jon Broderick at [phone] or [e-mail] for a place on the program.

* Editor’s note: Images and poetry excerpts available.