By Thomas Ivory, Jr. (Photos by Ben Irwin)
Each spring, the Quonset Hut Hemp Cooperative celebrates the beginning of a new growing season by hosting a Quoncert out at the hemp farm. A “quoncert” is a concert in a quonset hut, and a quonset hut is a prefabricated structure of corrugated metal having a semicircular cross section.
Besides being a festive occasion, the intention of this annual gathering is to advocate for, and create awareness about, the many benefits and uses of industrial hemp – which is a cultivated plant grown for fiber, seed, and flower. And yet, in between the music and speeches and advocacy, a different opportunity arises – one of artistic importance: a chance to recite poetry. And this year included performances from several GuloGulo Poetry Collective board members.
The tradition of incorporating poets between the bands dates back before the Quonset Hut days, but it is still an important practice celebrated here, today.
An additional excitement for this evening was the honoring of a successful incorporation of the GuloGulo Poetry Collective as a non-profit 501c3, and with a new website!
So on a Thursday night in late April – before the FoCoMX music festival weekend – poets and musicians assembled at a quonset hut outside of town to present their art, amplified.
The poetry lineup included performances by one of GuloGulo’s senior editors, Jacob Sadler; then the GuloGulo treasurer Hannah Cross delighted us on her banjo; while later, GuloGulo co-chair Morgan Hurtado gave us serenity with her poetic songs; and the show closed with a high-energy performance from GuloGulo’s website content manager, Ben Irwin.
We stayed up late and got home safe, while some slept in their cars.
A special thanks to our rotating musicians: DJ Shirty, Briq Bandit, and ChinMusic.
Hemp Hemp Hooray!
