Your weekly breakdown of the live entertainment spots in DC this week.
If you know just a little bit about me, then you know that I’m a huge fan of my favorite fruit…WATERMELON!! This Friday, August 3rd, come join me and some of my favorite artists as we celebrate National Watermelon Day at Sankofa Video & Books Cafe (2714 Georgia Ave NW, Washington DC). Here are some highlights of previous Watermelon Day shows!
It’s absolutely free, and will feature the incredible artistic talents of Christylez Bacon, Shelly Bell, Komplex, Mary Bowman, 2 Deep, Mama D and many more, while being hosted by “The Host with the Most” Droopy Anderson. There will be FREE Watermelon and it will be your first opportunity to buy my new, limited edition mp3 player loaded with every song I’ve ever recorded.
Bring the family! and bring some fun, watermelon related whatever! SEE YOU THERE!
Busboys and Poets Open Mics
Check the Busboys and Poets website for all the poetry events this week. Chris August is the guest host at Shirlington on Monday. Holly Bass hosts 5th and Kst Wednesday. Komplex aka Mr. Keep On Moving hosts at the Hyattsville location on Thursday. The highlight of Busboys week will probably be Tuesday night at the flagship 14th & V station with guest host Diana Bui Feature Tahani Selah. Tahani Salah is a performer, poet, and activist based in Brooklyn, New
York. She currently serves as a youth outreach coordinator and Board
Member with Urban Word NYC. She is also a member of the Nuyorican Slam
Team and author of the forthcoming book Respect The Mic. Tahani has
also been featured on HBO’s Def Poetry Jam. She is passionate about
peace and activism and carries that into the classroom as a high
school educator, showing how life creates art and using it all as a
tool of expression.
Tahani has also lent her talents to the cause of MDGfive.com, a
website that uses the power of art and social media to increase
community engagement in the fight to improve maternal health and reach
Millennium Development Goal number five by 2015. Her contributions
include a poem entitled “Mother, your strength is beyond compare”. She
rhymes, “Your eyes are random and brown, blue and green. Your eyes are
only one element of a canvas of beauty and this is what we are born
from.
As an artist dedicated to bringing light and solutions to communities
where people’s voices have been silenced, Tahani has performed at a
number of the world’s famous stages including the Apollo Theatre in
New York City to universities in South Africa and Germany. She is a
graduate of Columbia University.
The Garden Open Mic@ Bloombars feat Kannikki Jakarta with guest co-host Jessica Philie
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
Guest co-host: JESSICA PHILIE Jessica Philie is a founding member of the DC Guerrilla Poetry Insurgency (GPI) and hosts their open mic every third Tuesday at Bossa in Adams Morgan. She has lived in DC for 17 years and is a member of the small business community. Jessica loves NPR and follows politics, which gives her fodder for many pieces and a headache. She thinks everyone should practice an art form and rhythm connects us all.
Featuring: KANIKKI JAKARTA KaNikki Jakarta has shared the stage with Jill Scott, Raheem DeVaughn, and Lyfe Jennings. She has toured the US and the UK and has been heard on stages from churches to theaters and on the radio waves of 96.3fm 95.5fm, 96blx fm, Interfaith Voices, 97.5fm and a host of other radio and internet radio shows. This poet/author has stepped outside of the poetry genre and released two novels, IN REAL LIFE and THE COLOR BLUE and she is currently working on the next installment of the series entitled THE OTHER SIDE OF PRETTY, due to be released this year. Wearing many hats– poet, host, American Sign Language Interpreter, and event planner– she is also the founder of NUSPA (National Underground Spoken word Poetry Awards). If you think that something she says on the mic might change your life, you’re probably right. http://www.facebook.com/kanikkij http://www.twitter.com/kanikkij
Up and Up Open Mic
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 Wednesday Verses: the open mic at Bohemian Caverns featuring Donavyn Deanegelo, 8pm! This brother always gives 110% when he touches the stage.. you are going to love this! See you there 🙂” – 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 featuring Goldie Deane
Aww, yeah!…Goldie is black! (hee hee, that’s funny cuz…she is) and she’s doing her thing once again at “Will Work For Food” this Wednesday, August 1st! Sweet and Natural 4009 34th St Mt Rainier, Md. Goldie is an inspiration: Writing, acting, and moreover…providing a program for young women to express and grow. Please welcome, Ms Goldie Dean. Show at 8:30p. Hosted by Ra Brown. See you there!
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!?)
Bomani Armah is The Watermelon Man 