Paul Emery presents True Stories: Celebrating Bill Gainer’s Poetry and Literary Legacy

Sunday, October 11, 2:00pm

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.

So come join us to celebrate his words and raise a glass to the true, yet unacknowledged, poet laureate of Nevada County… Bill Gainer.

Tickets available HERE

https://www.onthestage.tickets/show/paul-emery-music/6a863035062656cc1ea6dd7a/tickets#/productions-view