The Southern literati will take over Third Man Records on Oct. 11 for a Literary Death Match, presented by Humanities Tennessee, Porch Writers’ Collective and Third Man Books as part of the Southern Festival of Books. The collaboration will bring together an eclectic mix of music and literature lovers and creators for an exciting, live event in the name of the written word.
Performed and celebrated in 55 cities worldwide, this marks the debut of the Literary Death Match craze in Nashville. Authors Bret Anthony Johnston (More Than Heavy Rain), Patricia Lockwood (Motherland Fatherland Homelandsexual), Adrian Matejka (The Big Smoke) and Abraham Smith (Only Jesus Could Icefish in Summer) are appearing on behalf of 26th annual Southern Festival of Books, which begins on Friday, Oct. 10 and continues through Sunday, Oct. 12.
Bringing new meaning to the saying “bury yourself in a book,” the authors will challenge each other to their (literary) death. Johnston, Lockwood, Matejka and Smith will read their most electric work for seven minutes or less and be judged by the discerning tastes of Ben Swank (co-founder of Third Man Records), Antonya Nelson (acclaimed author of short stories) and Teresa Mason (owner and operator of the delicious Mas Tacos Por Favor).
The judges will go back and forth spouting outlandish, off-the-wall commentary based on the categories of literary merit, performance and intangibles, eventually selecting their two favorites to advance to the finals. The finalists will compete in a (vaguely) literary competition to determine who takes home the Literary Death Match crown!
Doors will open at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11 for the 8 p.m. event. Tickets are $15 and they can be purchased at http://thirdmanstore.com/third-man-live. Please note that this is a 21 and older event.
The Southern Festival of Books, presented by Humanities Tennessee is a free, three-day celebration of the written word that attracts more than 25,000 attendees to meet their favorite authors, and be introduced to talented, up-and-coming writers. Attendees travel to Nashville from all over the country to experience the weekend’s abundance of authors, books, food, entertainment and culture. The Third Man Rolling Record Store will be parked at the event on Saturday, October 10th with our mobile library and plenty of copies of Third Man Books’ first commercially available anthology, Language Lessons: Volume 1 for sale. For more information, visit humanitiestennessee.org.
Action figures from this event placed in with the Monkey Band would be highlarious… or at least a comic book chronicle of the event… but even a compilation chapbook with DVD and TMR Comedy Collection vinyl wouod be cool
Sublime and intriguing like a good debate. I hope it is recorded for us overseas discerning fans.
Oh, and as a note to Teresa Mason. I went to Mas Tacos the last time I was in Nashville. Some of the best Tacos I ever had. And there was a very piece on Mas Tacos on the Food Network. I think on Diners,Drive In and Dives.
@Swank – and a very nice piece featuring you Swanky on the NY Times travel on Nashville. Great, great feature on Third Man Records there. You spoke brilliantly and did TMR proud. I hear Hollywood calling your to be one of their new leading men for films! :D :)
This event sounds so amazing. I would have loved to go to this. Wish I lived closer to Nashville so I could attend all the great events that TMR does. I think you guys have to open up a TMR in NYC as well. :) :D Keep up the great work and all the great events that you do!
@StormieHaworth, so good to see your face-I mean mask- again! :-D Congrats on your book; a very satisfying accomplishment, I’m sure. Would LOVE to be at this and most every TMR event but too many miles and obstacles in my way. Woe x3 is me!!! …But our patron saint of music, Jack White & Company wield a Mighty Horseshoe Magnet of Allurements and Sundry Delights to keep all my senses happily Tuned In! Lol. Look forward to hearing/reading /seeing how this Literary Death Match unfolds.
Being a songwriter wasn’t enough for me, I had to tell stories in another way too so I became a book author and self published in 2010. I’ll bring some books and novelas that I cherish to share with anyone who might want a copy of to trade books. Love Stormie. @thirdmanrecords
I wanna shoot the video for this…
I’m damn close to moving down just for these events. So cool.
And John Muir lands a vicious blow to Dillard’s Jaw….DOWN GOES DILLARD, DOWN GOES DILLARD!