June 19, 2023, Room 31 NYC, 7:00 PM

Digging Press presents The Lit Revue at Room 31: a literary series for cultural omnivores showcasing words and music.

7:00 PM – Doors open

7:30 PM – Show

Host: Gessy Alvarez

Readings by: Caelan Ernest, Tawanda Mulalu, and Gessy Alvarez

Music by: nellie

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Caelan Ernest is a nonbinary poet and performer. They are the author of two collections: night mode (2023) and ICONOCLAST (forthcoming in 2024), both from Everybody Press. Most recently, their work has been published in Blush Literature, them., WUSSY, Hayden’s Ferry Review, and elsewhere. They hold an MFA in Writing from Pratt Institute. They are a Publicist at Graywolf Press. They live with their cat named Salad in Brooklyn. Photo credit: Anna Louise.

Tawanda Mulalu was born in Gaborone, Botswana. His first book, Please make me pretty, I don’t want to die was selected by Susan Stewart for the Princeton Series of Contemporary Poets and is listed as a best poetry book of 2022 by The Boston Globe, The New York Times and The Washington Post. His chapbook Nearness was chosen as the winner of The New Delta Review 2020-21 Chapbook Contest, judged by Brandon Shimoda. Tawanda’s poems appear or are forthcoming in Brittle Paper, Lana Turner, Lolwe, The New England Review, The Paris Review, A Public Space and elsewhere.

Gessy Alvarez is a writer, editor, and publisher. She is the publisher of Digging Press, series editor of the Digging Press Chapbook Series, and editor-in-chief of Digging Through The Fat: a journal for cultural omnivores. Her short story collection Love the Abyss was a finalist for the 2022 St. Lawrence Book Award. Her fiction, poetry, and essays have appeared in The Acentos Review, Asteri(x), Volume One Brooklyn, Feminine Collective, and other publications. She also hosts the literary podcast Digging Through, where she interviews artists and shares her offbeat observations about art and culture. You can find more at: gessyalvarez.com.

nellie (she/her/hers) is an indie-pop singer/songwriter based out of NYC. She has been writing songs since she was a teenager, but only began performing her original writings in 2019. Her music is driven by emotional real-life experiences and focuses on relationships with family, friends, and her past self. Most afternoons you can find her street performing in Central Park, covering classics from Bob Dylan and The Beatles. You can listen to her debut single, Columbus Ohio, produced by indie duo, TOLEDO, on all streaming platforms.

The audience is invited to mingle and meet with the artists after the performance.

You can view our past events here: diggingpress.com/the-lit-revue/. 

Room 31 is a new, beautiful, intimate listening room at Arlo NoMad Hotel, hosting live events, Jazz, Blues, Roots, Americana, Poetry, and more.

All shows are 21+ unless otherwise specified.

Only 30 seats; order your tickets now!