From February through May of 2024, the Sundress Reading Series will be back in person at Pretentious Beer Co. in the Knoxville Old City. This year’s iteration of the reading series will feature two headlining poets with an open mic to follow.
The Sundress Reading Series is an award-winning literary reading series previously hosted on-ground in Knoxville, TN, just miles from the Great Smoky Mountains. An extension of Sundress Publications and the Sundress Academy for the Arts, the Sundress Reading Series features nationally recognized writers and performers from around the US while also supporting local and regional nonprofits.
Our events will take place on Thursdays from 7-9PM EST. The Spring 2024 series run during the following dates: February 22, March 21, April 18, and May 16.
Performers will receive publicity across Sundress Publications’ social media channels in the lead up to their event, an opportunity to sell books, and a $100 honorarium thanks to generous grants from the Witter Bynner Foundation for Poetry and the Tennessee Arts Commission. We are currently seeking readers for our series with an emphasis on marginalized voices; you may note in your cover letter if you identify as a person of color, a trans and/or nonbinary writer, a queer writer, and/or a disabled writer.
To apply to perform for the spring, send 6-12 pages of poetry, a 50-100 word bio, CV (optional), a brief video of you reading one of your poems, and a ranking of preferred reading dates to sundresspublications@gmail.com. Please make sure the subject line reads “Reading Series Application – Your Name.”
Applications to participate as a performer are open and the deadline to apply is November 15, 2023. Those selected will be notified by early December.
Find our more or to view some of our past performers and schedules.
