Shaddap You Face singer-songwriter Joe Dolce will feature at Chamber Poets reading in Woodend this month.
While his multi-million-selling hit was a novelty song, there is also a more serious side to his creativity.
Dolce became interested in poetry in the early 70s, when he played improvised guitar while a poet recited famous classical poetry.
This led to a lifelong appreciation of poetry, and in 2009, Dolce began to write poetry and essays professionally.
He wrote an essay on Leonard Cohen, focusing on the quality of Cohen’s poetry and lyrics.
He published his first poetry collection Hatbox in 2010, and his work is being published in many literary journals in Australia.
“I began my relationship with creative language as a songwriter and I developed my skills as a poet primarily in the service of a better song-lyric,” he said.
“There are poets who have influenced my writing but also who acted as mentors seeing something in me before I could see it myself. Poets, after all, are kind of like family.”
In 1981 Dolce received the Advance Australia Award and in 2010 he won the 25th Launceston Poetry Cup when he was the headline attraction at the Tasmanian Poetry Festival.
Dolce released his third collection of poetry recently, At the Noisy Café and last week launched a cookbook of his favourite recipes, Joe Dolce Cooks.
This cookbook has been shortlisted for the prestigious Gourmand International Cookbook Award. Dolce will be selling and signing his merchandise including cookbooks, poetry books and tea towels during this special event in Woodend.
Chamber Poets will be held on Saturday, December 9 from 1pm to 4pm at the Woodend RSL.
The afternoon will include an Open Section for poetry and original songs, with music from house band Black Forest Smoke. Food and drink available. Admission is by donation. All those interested welcome to attend.
