Commercial Fishermen Hook Audiences with Poetry, Prose and Music During Astoria’s Annual Fisher Poets Gathering

-(Business Wire)-September 29, 2009 - Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce:

WHAT:		Weathered by ocean waves, salty spray and life on rough waters, performers young and old will dock their boats and take to the stage this February during the 13^th annual Fisher Poets Gathering. Emotional poems, rowdy rhymes, boisterous shanties, humorous readings and vivid personal stories – all inspired by earning a living in the fishing industry – will captivate audiences in the historic maritime town of Astoria, Ore.

WHO:		More than 60 commercial fishermen and women will share original works, some first written in journals below deck or told via radio during long hours at the helm. Performers hail from home ports in Oregon, Washington, Alaska, British Columbia, California and several East Coast communities.

WHEN:		Friday – Sunday, Feb. 26 – 28, 2010
		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

		Specific performers and more event details will be posted on http://www.clatsopcc.edu/fisherpoets in January 2010.

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 will also stream Friday and Saturday evening performances online at http://www.coastradio.org.

		As the former canning capital of the world, the historic maritime community of Astoria, Ore., offers a rugged, natural and artistic backdrop for the weekend’s events. Astoria and Warrenton are located on Oregon’s North Coast, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean, 90 miles northwest of Portland. Astoria is the oldest American settlement west of the Rockies and will celebrate its 200^th anniversary in 2011. Still home to a working waterfront, 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.

CONTACT:		For more information about the region, the event and local lodging options, call the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce at (800) 875-6807 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 (503) 436-1039 or broderick@seasurf.net.