An Evening with Regie Gibson: Massachusetts' First Poet Laureate

Red, White, Black, & Blues

The Rants, Chants, & Coos of a Literary-Musician.

Event Description
The world is an especially tough place right now, and we all need a space where we can slow down, reflect, and connect. Join Regie Gibson, Inaugural Poet Laureate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the award-winning global funk ensemble Atlas Soul for a passionate and poignant evening of storytelling, spoken-word poetry, music, and song.

This two-part performance will be a thoughtful, bluesy, funky, jazzy, and moving exploration of what it means to live, laugh, and love as a human being.

Regie Gibson
Whatever you think about poetry, Regie Gibson will make you rethink it. Named the Commonwealth’s first Poet Laureate, he doesn’t simply recite poetry—he performs it. He becomes it!
Regie has lectured and performed widely throughout the U.S., Cuba, and Europe. Representing the United States in Italy, he competed for and received both the Absolute Poetry Award in Monfalcone and the Europa in Versi Award in Laglio, Lake Como.

An actor and multidisciplinary artist, Regie is the creator of The Shakespeare Time-Traveling Speakeasy, a theatrical literary concert exploring the life and works of William Shakespeare. He is also the Artistic Director of Arts for Social Cohesion, a social transformation organization that uses the arts and pedagogy to strengthen relationships within and between communities.

Regie serves on the boards of the New England Poetry Club, GrubStreet, and the Lexington Symphony, and teaches at Berklee College of Music and Clark University.

On May 30, 2025, Governor Maura Healey appointed Regie the Inaugural Poet Laureate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Most recently, on July 4, Regie performed his poem “The Song of Massachusetts” with the Boston Pops at the Esplanade.

Atlas Soul
Atlas Soul is a multiple award-winning band performing original music that celebrates polyrhythms and melodies rooted in Afro-Mediterranean traditions, infused with organic deep funk, jazz, and intelligent hip-hop. Electrifying live performances and audience participation are their trademarks!

Atlas Soul has performed at scores of major venues and festivals, including the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Kennedy Center, Festival International de Louisiane, the Boston Globe Jazz Festival, Joe’s Pub, Montreal’s Festival International Nuits d’Afrique, and more.

Musicians:
Jacques Pardo: Composer, Saxophone, and Electric Guitar
Perry Bakalos: Electric Guitar
Nadjim Kebir: Drums
Fernando Huergo: Electric Bass