Footloose In America

photo by Ted Felton 

Bud Kenny is a performance poet who has performed a numerous venues across America. In 1998 & 99 he was part of the National Poetry Slam, was the founder of the Arkansas Grand Slam and Hot Springs' Wednesday Night Poetry Readings. He has helped produce numerous poetry festivals and worked with such notables as Allen Ginsberg, Lawerence Ferlinghetti and Russian master poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko. While introducing him at a performance in Cambridge, MA. the founder of slam poetry, Marc Smith, said, "Here is my hero!"  

 While on the road, the Kennys produced poetry shows to finance their journey. No admission was charged, but they did pass the hat and sell Bud's self published poetry books. In this photo, Patricia is performing one of her works to a crowd in a farm field near Marshfield, MA. This was the fold down stage on the back of the new wagon. On the white poles are speakers for the sound system. For night time shows stage lights, were also attached to these poles. All of which was powered by the solar panels.Bud and Patricia met at The Poet's Loft in Hot Springs, AR. Bud opened the coffee house in 1997. They were married on The Poet's Loft stage on New Year's Eve 2000.

These performances weren't always done on the portable stage. This one took place in the town square of Rochester, Vermont. Some of Bud's poems are included on this site.