April 21, 2016

Duane Kirby Jensen is a painter and writer from Everett, Washington. He runs Everett Poetry Nite, where you will laugh a minimum of 100 times per show, even if they have to tickle you in order to meet that quota. For some reason there are always sea gulls howling in the background when you talk to him on the phone, which makes for haunting conversations. He enjoys reading Murakami and cooking gourmet meals, and runs a poetry press. He has an affinity for acts and words with shock value, so it is rare to be bored around him. Duane’s website is www.artofduanekirbyjensen.com. [Bio by Jennifer Faylor; photo by Gary Wade.]

Michael Alden is the current co-slammaster and a past Hoodie Champion of Rain City Slam. His work has appeared most recently in Drunken Boat and Magma. He has featured throughout the Pacific Northwest, and performed at multiple regional national competitions. He currently lives in Seattle with his spouse, a very cranky cat, and many boxes of chapbooks.