BONK! turns 8 this month and we're celebrating at the brand new Gallery on 16th street. Doors open at 5:30pm.

We've got the Kenosha/Racine Poets Laureate Program folk this month, as well as the fabulous Kenyatta Formerly Known As Kesera and FEATherWOLF from Appleton. Peep game on our features below:

JESSIE LYNN MCMAINS (aka Rust Belt Jessie) is a writer and zine-maker, and the 2015-2017 Poet Laureate of Racine, Wisconsin. She has been self-publishing her work in zines and chapbooks since the mid-‘90s, and has been performing spoken word across the U.S. and Canada since 2001. Her words have recently appeared in The Chapess, New Pop Lit, Rising Phoenix Review, Voicemail Poems, and Paper & Ink, amongst other places. When not writing or performing her own work, she teaches workshops on memoir, zines, and poetry.

BRENT MITCHELL is a poet, musician and theologian from Texas. As a songwriter, Brent has written songs in publishing houses on music row, for Bug Music, Tree Publishing, with writers from Sony Records and Decca Records and with publishers at SESAC. His kudos include a number of CDs, a 2005 Grammy listing for his song Hand of God, performances on PBS's Texas Music Cafe, as well as at South by Southwest, and at a number of festivals. His songs are included on the soundtrack of the movie Partners in Crime and have been recorded by Colin Boyd, Bonnie Whitmore, and other artists; and he has shared the stage and studio with a long list of top Americana, Indie, and blues acts throughout the country, as well as in other countries. He now resides in Kenosha Wisconsin where he is the Poet Laureate. He also was a performer at the very first BONK! event, 8 years ago.

A powerhouse performer and spoken word artist, KENYATTA "THE LYRICAL LIONESS” is currently the president of the WI chapter of P.O.E.T (People of Extraordinary Talent). She is frequented on the local and national circuit, including performing on the main stage at the Black Women’s Expo as well as being selected as a featured performer for the Last Poets. She is a published author having five (5) pieces published in the P.O.E.T anthology Volume 1 entitled “Closed Mics Don’t Get Fed” and released a powerful single titled “G Girl”. She was also managed by and the opening poet for the legendary Strawberri Taylor and the Verbal Intercourse staff; performing at venues around the country. Her most recent accomplishment was being named the 2015 POET/HOST of the year, 2016 National Poetry Award winner for Video of the year and the first poet to ever perform at the UniverSoul Circus.

FEATherWOLF is a duet project based out of Wisconsin, consisting of Sam Luna and Shaun Marie. Meeting in late 2015, both musicians decided to collaborate and began writing together as a duo. Both bring a unique sound to their shows by singing their own originals of different genres, while then coming together to perform original, old country-style duets. Both coming from different parts of the country, they have recently just finished their debut album, To: You, From: Me, a conceptual album that follows the universal story of a relationship between a man and a woman. In addition, they have made a personal commitment to raising money to provide underprivileged students the chance to rent or buy instruments, as well as receive music lessons, through their Making Noise program.

BONK! is made possible by the Racine Public Library, the Racine Community Foundation, the Osborne and Scekic Family Foundation, the Friends of the Racine, WI Public Library, Olde Madrid restaurant, the Racine Arts Council and Olympia Brown UU Church.

See you there!