Bloomsday is back! On Sunday, June 16, at the James Joyce Pub, the award-winning annual salute to famed Irish writer James Joyce returns with spoken-word performances from a host of local actors and writers. New at this year’s event (the third) is a free Irish music concert from The Waymarkers following the readings, mostly drawn from Ulysses, that seemingly forbidding 1922 novel that revolutionized Western literature. The event begins about 5 p.m. and no tickets or reservations are needed.
Returning performers include Santa Barbara Film Festival Executive Director (and Independent writer) Roger Durling, award-winning local performers Matt Tavainini and Lark Batteau, storyteller Michael Katz, and the (entwined by marriage) poet/writers Chryss Yost and George Yatchisin (another Independent writer). Bloomsday also welcomes new talent to the pub stage, including actor/producer Bill Egan, TV film and theater veteran Henry Brown, and Santa Barbara actors Rachel Brown and James McCarthy. Local teacher and actual Irish person James Claffey will lend some authenticity as well.
“We’re thrilled to be able to continue what has become a great early-summer tradition,” said co-producer Jim Buckley, himself the author of numerous best-selling nonfiction children’s books. “The response from the literary and performance community continues to be strong, and we hope we get some new fans this year.”