Your weekly breakdown of the live entertainment spots in DC this week.

I usually stay comfortable within the confines of the city on this weekly blog, but I gotta make sure that all my art a& culture lovers know about Artomatic!  Make sure you check out artomatic.org and go check out the 11 floors of visual art, as well as the 4 performing stages.  I’m performing with Immaletchufinish on the Heineken Music Stage on the 11th Floor on Friday, June 22nd 10:30pm.  It’s absolutely free! , I wanted to give a shout out to one of my favorite hip-hop and poetry groups… The PoemCees!

don’t remember when and where was the first time I caught the Natural Law, Black Piccasso  live.  Might have been at Bar-Nun, or State of the Union.  No matter where it was, it was in the 90’s and I’ve been a fan ever since.  Take your favorite elements from De La Soul and Saul Williams and blend it together on U Street and you have the PoemCees.  As this clip of their performance for Def Poetry Jam proves, they are amazing live, bringing that great hip-hop energy with or without the music.  Late last year they released their latest album, Everything You’ve Always Wanted, and are on stage this Thursday at The Upper Room at Red Lounge.  Check them out!

(note, i’m still perfecting this weekly blog, so don’t be surprised if it’s edited during the week.  check back, and forward to your artsy friends who always ask you what’s crackin’)

Busboys and Poets Open Mics

Check the Busboys and Poets website for all the poetry events this week, including Benny Blaq hosting at the Shirlington VA location, Droopy is hosting 14th & V on Tuesday with special guest Se’Lah from NJ, Jonathan Tucker is hosting at the 5th and K st location ,  and Love the Poet is hosting Hyattsville on Thursday. Click the Busboys & Poets logo to the left for more info.— $5/person.

The Garden Open Mic at Bloombars featuring Jason Pittman

Join us for DC’s only weekly variety open mic (poetry, music, comedy, storytelling, etc-ing) where the show is appropriate for all ages (please and thank you to performers). Each week includes a featured artist and guest co-host, as well as resident co-host Gowri K. Sign-up list opens at 8:30 pm and the first performer goes on at 9:00 pm! $7 donation This week we’ll have a special graduation performance by the kids from TAMIKA “LOVE” JONES’ “Heart to Art” class. We’ll also have a mini-set by guest artist JUNO BROWN (http://www.reverbnation.com/JunoBrown). Guest co-host: DREW LAW

Up and Up Open Mic

Peace & many blessings to all, this is your weekly invitation to The Up And Up Open Microphone. The show is hosted by Brother Victorious & Black Boo of Mambo Sauce and features a live painting by Demont Peekaso which will be raffled off at shows closing. Showtime is 9 p.m. and is preceded by an happy hour featuring a Dj T-Why? with food and premium drink specials. Admission is free before 8p.m. and $10.00 after. This week House Band is Sound Of The City.

The UAU Open Mic| LIV Nightclub | 2001 11th Street NW| Happy Hour 7p-9p | Free before 8p| $10 After|Hosted by Brother Victorious & Black Boo| www.theuauopenmic.com

“Wednesday Verses” at Bohemian Caverns

“This week we are featuring singer Patrice Covington at Wednesday Verses: the open mic! Looking forward to this one! This is her first time at the spot and I know she is going to kill!”  – Lorna

Stop by Wednesday Verses: THE OPEN MIC to experience the best new talent that the country has to offer- this is that place that the “Good Stuff” resides. Located in the historic Bohemian Caverns (2001 11th St NW), where legends have played, Wednesday Verses: THE OPEN MIC is where to experience legends in the making! Arrive as fly as you already are- enjoy delicious food and signature drinks in a classic Jazz club setting.

Poetry, singing, instrumental music throughout all genres are expressed on stage along side a live band staffed by super heavy musicians like Dennis Turner, Dre King, “Chris Biscuit” Bynum, Marcus Parker, Chooky Caldwell, Vohn Higgz, and Aaron Hardin. The first hour is filled the funky sounds of DJ Lance Reynolds, providing the perfect Happy Hour mix.

“Will Work For Food” at Sweet & Natural

This Wednesday, June 20th at Sweet and Natural…let’s get ready for the summer solstice! We’re featuring Mama Moon this week and how befitting… Moon has roots on the poetry scene as far back as Upper Nile Books and doing her thing with groups like, Scribes and Keys of Knowledge. She hit the legendary, Bar Nun shortly after and took off from there: “spittin”, singing and, acting and sharing the stage with the likes of such performers as: Saul Williams, Fertile Ground, Amiri Baraka and John Legend (to name a few). Doing her rock band thing in the group, Uninterrupted for close to 10 years, Moon took her performance to higher heights and for me, is that performer that needs NO microphone to be heard. She’s an artist, a mother, a wife and a dope performer across all of those boards. Please welcome, Mama Moon!

For more info, please contact Ra at: radigya@gmail.com

The Upper Room at The Red Lounge

Welcome to the Upper Room Thursdays at Red Lounge. This is where you go to experience the upper echelon of food, drink and entertainment in Washington DC. Located in the historic U Street corridor, The Upper Room is the perfect evening out with guests for fine dining and a tasty helping of DC’s finest artist. This weeks features are poet and Bloombars “The Garden Open Mic” host and curator Gowri K http://notherelong.wordpress.com/, Emcee extraordinaire Javier “Midas” Starks http://www.javierstarks.com/, Singer songwriter Juno Brown http://junobrown.com/, all hosted by our special guest Ms. Shelly Bell http://www.iamshellybell.com.

Thursday Family Poetry Night at Annie’s Art Gallery

Pass the word to teens in your family and community that Annie’s is the place to be heard and to hear uplifting lyrics and postive poetry. So bring a poem or 2 and a friend or 2 (3, 4…) to join and be part of this powerful and fun Open Mic event, (poetry, music, art and more!) at Annie’s Art Gallery (www.anniesartgallery.net) where we celebrate poetry, art and all positive forms of expression with members the community (…that’s you!) ALL YEAR LONG.

While all ages are welcome, we especially welcome youth, teens and young adults to come join in the fun at this free monthly event where you can show your friends, family and community what you’re all about. The Open Mic is waiting for you!

Thursday  #SpitDatDC at the ECAC Building

SPIT DAT is a weekly open mic held every Thursday @ 9pm at the ECAC (733 Euclid Street, NW, 2nd Floor Washington, DC 20001).  Consistently named one of the best poetry spots on the east coast because of it’s serene scene based on a sincere love of the art of poetry.  Drew “Droopy the BrokeBaller” Anderson and Dwayne B host. flowing $1 (ONLY $1!?)

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