April 2025 Dante’s Old South
Buffalo Nichols: Texas based, Milwaukee raised, Buffalo Nichols is known as an acoustic blues guitarist and singer but that isn’t the whole story. Two albums into his career, Nichols has proven himself to be an innovative songwriter with lyrics address both personal and political themes with biting insight. His influences range from his time playing in Baptist churches to his many years playing guitar in West African music bands. His experimental and hip-hop influences are displayed as well on his 2023 album, The Fatalist’.
Nichols’ self-titled debut, released in October 2021, ascended him to the national stage, earning praise and support from NPR Music (‘Tiny Desk (Home) Concert;’ All Songs Considered ‘Best of October’) to Rolling Stone ('The Fight to Reclaim the Blues' feature; ‘Song You Need To Know’), Bandcamp Daily (‘October Shortlist’) to Guitar World, Texas Monthly to Uncut (UK), among many others.
www.instagram.com/buffalonicholsmusic/
Odessa Blaine: General oddment and possible cryptid, Odessa haunts the mountains and coffee shops of North Georgia. Her novels and short stories incorporate elements drawn from her Appalachia roots. Odessa has honed her skills as a performance storyteller and loves sharing stories with live audiences. When she's not slinking through the woods or over-caffeinating, Odessa can be found encouraging the creative passions of others by serving multiple writer focused nonprofits based in the Southeast and providing marketing and project management to small businesses.
bsky.app/profile/odessablaine.bsky.social
Jenny Bates enjoys seven poetry books, published in numerous NC and international journals. Jenny was a judge for the Poetry in Plain Sight contest through the NC Poetry Society, 2024. Her book of poems, ESSENTIAL has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize 2024. Her newest collection, From Soil and Soul is available. Jenny’s books are also available at Malaprops Bookstore in Asheville, Bookmarks, the Book Ferret and The Book House in Winston-Salem, Scuppernongs in Greensboro, NC.
redhawkpublications.com/Poetry-c120141004
www.malaprops.com
thebookhousews.com
www.bookferret.com
Cynthia Atkins: (She, Her), is a prizewinning poet originally from Chicago, IL and the author of Psyche’s Weathers, In the Event of Full Disclosure, and Still-Life with God, and Duets from Harbor Editions. Her work has appeared in Alaska Quarterly Review, BOMB, Diode, Cimarron Review, Los Angeles Review North American Review, Permafrost, Plume, and Verse Daily. Atkins has earned fellowships and prizes from Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference. SWWIM Residency, Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and Writers at Work. Atkins lives on the Maury River of Rockbridge County, Virginia, with artist Phillip Welch and their family.
More info at: www.cynthiaatkins.com
Our Sponsors:
Lucid House Press: www.lucidhousepublishing.com
Whispers of the Flight: www.amazon.com/Whispers-Flight-Voyage-Cosmic-Unity-ebook/dp/B0DB3TLY43
The Crown: www.thecrownbrasstown.com
Bright Hill Press: www.brighthillpress.org
Invisible Strings 113 Poets Respond to the Songs of Taylor Swift: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/777808/invisible-strings-by-edited-by-kristie-frederick-daugherty
We Deeply Appreciate:
UCLA Extension Writing Program: www.uclaextension.edu
Mercer University Press: www.mupress.org
The Red Phone Booth: www.redphonebooth.com
NPR: https: www.npr.org
WUTC: www.wutc.org
Alain Johannes for the original score in this show: www.alainjohannes.com
The host, Clifford Brooks’, The Draw of Broken Eyes & Whirling Metaphysics, Athena Departs, and Old Gods are available everywhere books are sold. Find them all here: www.cliffbrooks.com/how-to-order
Check out his Teachable courses, The Working Writer and Adulting with Autism, here:brooks-sessions.teachable.com