If all you need is love, there is plenty to both give and receive at Tuesday Verses. 

Since 2001, Richmond’s local spoken word poets have gathered weekly at Tropical Soul Café for Tuesday Verses.  Over the years, the open mic performance has garnered its own dedicated group of regulars while local band Chkn Grease has been backing performers there for the last three years.

Lorna Pinckney is the host and founder of Tuesday Verses.  As the founder of Richmond’s original monthly poetry showcase Soul Kitchen that began in 1999, Pinckney thought that Tuesday Verses would be a better way to welcome local poets and other performers to the stage more often. 

Pinckney, a native of Brooklyn, New York, said she knew just what Richmond needed after she found the cultural landscape lacking when she first moved here. 

“I was familiar with the atmosphere of openness that Verses has today, but we didn’t even have anything like Verses back in Brooklyn,” Pinckney said. 

“I wanted a venue where people could feel comfortable to perform and enjoy the show, and the only way they can do that is if they feel loved.  We do Verses because we work everyday and want to have a place to perform and relax.”

Tuesday Verses helped to prime the local cultural climate for other poetry events such as Lyric Ave, Slam Nahuato and Slam Richmond.  Pinckney says she attributes the success of Tuesday Verses to God and her friends who volunteer to help her continue to bring local talent to the stage every week.

Verses has appeared at local colleges and universities including Virginia Commonwealth, Virginia State and Virginia Union.

On Saturday, Pinckney and company will be taking the show on the road once again when Tuesday Verses appears at the Tyler Haynes Commons Pier at the University of Richmond.  Regulars slated to perform include Al Walker, Casandra, Chkn Grease, DJ Jamal, Dyore, Iman Shabazz, L. Boogie, Narrator, Nickey and Texas Pete.

This summer, Tuesday Verses will also co-sponsor the fourth annual Block Party with Ezibumuntu Dance Company in downtown Richmond.  The event will happen on Saturday, August 9th on Main Street between 4th and 5th Streets.

Even so, Pinckney wants the audience to understand that they can expect a welcoming atmosphere and a good time on both Saturday and Tuesday. 

“You don’t have to look cute to come out to Verses,” Pinckney said.  “And when you walk in the door, we’re going to talk to you regardless because you can’t have an open mic if people’s hearts are closed.”

Event Preview
Who:  Tuesday Verses
When:  Saturday, April 19, 8 p.m.- 10 p.m.
Where:  Tyler Haynes Commons Pier, University of Richmond
Tickets: FREE

When:  Tuesday Apr. 22 8 p.m. - midnight
Where:  Tropical Soul Café 314 N. 2nd Street
Tickets: $7

Thanks for reading the article, Darryl. 

Tuesday Verses happens every Tuesday at Tropical Soul Cafe on 314 N. 2nd St. in downtown Richmond starting at 8 p.m.  Admission is $7.

You should probably get there early to get your name on the list.

Please let me know when your open mic night is,I would like to share my poetry with my home town for the 1st time.Thanks,Darryl

Thanks for reading, Al.

Yeah, I started checking out Verses back in 2002 when I first came to Richmond.  I left Richmond in 2004 and recently moved back, but I’m glad that Verses is still going strong.  Richmond’s cultural scene wouldn’t be the same without it, so I thought Brick should cover it.

Verses is where I found my footing as a poet and gave me an atmosphere of love