Sunday, October 11, 2:00pm
Nevada Theatre, Nevada City, California
$20 Suggested Donation (includes a book of poems by Bill Gainer)
Hosted by Julie Valin and Todd Cirillo with readings from:
Will Staple
The Poetry Crashers
Matt Amott
Rose Murphy
Evan “Mikey” Myquest
Laura Gerhart & Jude Bischoff
Bishop Randall
Laura Martin
and other special guests
Paul Emery, Julie Valin, and Todd Cirillo wish to invite the community to take part in this extraordinary tribute and celebration of Bill Gainer: his poetry, words and enduring contributions to the literary community of Nevada County and beyond. The event will feature performances of Bill’s poetry by Julie Valin, Matt Amott, Todd Cirillo, Will Staple, The Poetry Crashers, Rose Murphy, Laura Gerhart, Jude Bischoff, Bishop Randall, Evan Myquest, Laura Martin & other special guests. Donations will include a free book of poems by Bill at the show. The event will be as entertaining, boisterous, and loving as the man himself. Stories will be told by performers and audience members alike; some accurate, some less so, but all true. In true Bill Gainer fashion, audience participation is always encouraged.
Bill Gainer left the great room on June 19, 2026. For over forty years Bill was a driving force in the Nevada County literary scene―and nationally―as a prolific writer and storyteller, recognized for his performance style and true stories. Bill was a poet, producer, promoter, the editor and publisher for R.L. Crow Publications, and one of the founding contributors to the “After-Hours” Poetry movement. He was the catalyst of the Nevada County Poetry Series for over 15 years, making our small-town poetry series sought after by legends of literature such as Gary Snyder, Michael McClure, Quincy Troupe, and Diane DiPrima. His books include: ROXY, Lipstick and Bulletholes, The Mysterious Book of Old Man Poems, A True Story, A Little Smoke, A Note in the Window, The Fine Art of Poisoning, and more. His impact on and support of the Nevada County literary scene cannot be understated or duplicated. Arguably, few have done more for the Nevada County poetry scene.
Bill fell in love a lot and he loved BIG, he missed you terribly until the next time he saw you. He was known for lingering hugs, unflinching support for others in the arts and long introductions to very short poems. Not only did he attend events, he purchased the work whether it was a nationally recognized writer or someone’s first book. His life, as his poetry, are filled with humor, masterful storytelling, a focus and acknowledgement of those big feelings, the ones most keep in the dark, but he insisted on pulling them out under the barroom lights. His poems and personality are simple, to the point, relatable to working people and the well-studied, equally, because he believed in filling the heart and not the page. He believed in fearless connections and sharing secrets under the moon. His passions included red meat, strong bourbon, Tom Waits, moments of beauty, well written poetry and the many friends and family he held close.
So come join us to celebrate his words and raise a glass to the true, yet unacknowledged, poet laureate of Nevada County…Bill Gainer.