News Release

San Francisco - The San Francisco Writers' Grotto will present Grotto Nights IV, Groove: Sounds Meet Words, at the San Francisco Main Library, Civic Center on Wednesday, June 12 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. Groove will bring together cutting-edge writers, filmmakers, audio artists and other performers from The Grotto, a literary group and workspace founded to encourage a sense of community among local writers and filmmakers. A reception will follow at The Grotto on 26 Fell Street (near Van Ness and Market).

Groove performers include spoken word performer and author Beth Lisick reading from her new book, This Too Can Be Yours; music writer Richard Henderson reading about the Conet Project (unexplained shortwave transmissions that are the subject of much conspiratorial hysteria and conjecture); filmmaker Jamie Metzger, previewing his documentary Off the Charts, that uncovers the strangely fascinating characters in the "song-poem" industry; actor/solo performer/human beatbox Yuri Lane performing excerpts from his one man show Soundtrack City (a sonic journey through San Francisco); composer/ performer Pamela Z, performing work that combines operatic bel canto, spoken word, electronic processing and sampling technology.

The Extra Action Marching Band will lead the audience down the street to The Grotto and jump-start the party. EAMB is a phenomenon of incredible musicians, anywhere from 10 to 50, playing samba rhythms with brass band brilliance, causing spontaneous dancing and laughter on impact (www.extraaction.com).

Special Producers for Groove are Emmy-award winning filmmaker Xandra Castleton (producer of the KQED series Independent View and curator of the El Rio Outdoor Cinema series) and award-winning filmmaker and writer David Munro (her partner in Grotto Films). Grotto Nights Director is author and documentary filmmaker David Ewing Duncan.

"I've curated dozens of shows with films and music, and the Groove lineup feels like an outrageous concentration of talent," says co-producer Castleton. "It's a mix of approaches, stories and styles that can only lead to some unexpected conclusions by the night's end. We hope to spark some very memorable discussions about the role of sound and rhythm in our lives and language at the after-party and in the days to follow."

"We're excited about Groove and about hooking up with this group of performers," says Grotto Nights Director David Ewing Duncan. "With each Grotto Night, we're trying to build new bridges in the literary and arts community in San Francisco."

Grotto Nights' premiere underwriters are Wired Magazine, Stag's Leap Winery, and Craig's List. Other underwriters include Gordon Biersch Brewery, Say Cheese Catering, Central Booking.com, Marino Inc. Public Relations and Hi-Impact Communications.

"Grotto Nights" is co-sponsored by the San Francisco Public Library and the Friends and Foundation of the San Francisco Public Library, a private nonprofit organization dedicated to providing funds and support to the SF Public Library.

Po Bronson, Ethan Canin and Ethan Watters founded the San Francisco Writers' Grotto in 1994. The space houses 21 members, who individually and collaboratively produce best-selling novels and non-fiction books, critically acclaimed films and award-winning national and local magazine stories. Entertainment Weekly called The Grotto "one of the few solid American literary communities outside the media centers of New York and LA."

The Friends and Foundation is a nonprofit organization committed to raising the standard of excellence of our library system by funding programs and services beyond what is allocated in the City of San Francisco's budget. Some examples include funding for children, teen, and adult programming in every branch in the system, computer training classes, exhibitions, and library furnishings ranging from desks to computers. The Friends & Foundation supports the free and equal access to information for all.

Media contact: Sarah Stabile
Hi-Impact Communications
415.504.9475
sarah@hiimpactcommunications.com

All programs at the San Francisco Public Library are free.

For more information, please call: (415) 557-4277.