Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam
The Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam and Slam is an award-winning weekly feature at The Lizard Lounge located at 1667 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge, MA. The Jam and Slam happen every Sunday at 7:00 pm and is hosted by Blake Newman with weekly guest co-hosts. There’s a $10 cover charge; patrons must be 21 or older to enter.
The Blake Newman Group, a collective of Boston’s finest musicians, provides a foundation for spoken word performances. A featured poet, sometimes of national prominence, performs each week. The group’s uncanny ability to deftly provide improvised accompaniment, which perfectly complements each performance, has captivated audiences weekly for over 25 years.
Whether you’re a Boston-area local or are exploring the region for the first time, you owe yourself a visit to this inspiring and entertaining event. Your impression of live poetry and all its possibilities will be forever changed!
The Improper Bostonian, which awarded the Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam/Slam “Best Poetry Series 2017,” said of the evening: “We highly recommend scuttling into the Lizard Lounge for this Sunday night tradition, still going strong after 20 years. First comes a slam with eight poets competing for a $100 prize. Then the featured poet takes the stage—headliners range from national names to local talents like Tufts lecturer Tanya Larkin and TED Fellow Iyeoka Ivie Okoawo. ….accompaniment from the [group] puts the poetry in motion, and you can bring your musings for the open mic that caps off the night.”
History of the Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam
The Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam was started in 1997 by the sax player, actor, and podcaster Jeff Robinson. In 1994 Jeff performed as the “Muse” in Lowell Massachusett’s Merrimac Repertory Theatre’s World Premier production of the late Jon Lipsky’s “Maggie’s Riff.” The play is based on Lowell native and legendary poet/author Jack Kerouac’s novel “Maggy Cassidy.” Jeff’s character is invisible to all other actors except Kerouac in the play. He was Jack’s muse in the play and improvised behind Kerouac’s poetry in the production. He received rave reviews, and the experience sparked his idea to start what he labeled “Poetry Jam.”
LIZARD LOUNGE POETRY JAM
The doors open at 7:00 pm every Sunday, and we start with our “Poetry Slam.” The “Featured Poet” will start roughly at 8:30 pm, accompanied by the Blake Newman Group. After the Featured Poet, we have our “Open Mic,” also accompanied by the Blake Newman Group. There’s a $10 cover charge, and the Lizard Lounge is a 21+ venue.
BEST POETRY SERIES
The Improper Bostonian says that the Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam is the "Best Poetry Series" in the greater Boston area!
He then formed the initial version of the Jeff Robinson Trio consisting of Jeff on saxophones, Blake Newman on acoustic bass, and his cousin, drummer Dwight Hart, on drums. The Trio has had very few changes in personnel since. Legendary drummers Jerome Deupree and Phil Neighbors replaced Dwight, but Blake Newman is the constant that has continued the Poetry Jam since its inception.
Jeff Robinson “retired” from the Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam on Sunday, February 19, 2023 (his birthday!) after over 25 years of hosting and managing the weekly event. The Jeff Robinson Trio is still active. Check for them at local and regional venues and festivals.