June 26th, 2013: Marcie Rendon presents "Anishinaabe Song/Poems for the New Millennium" at the Lowertown Reading Jam

marcie-rendon

"Back at the turn of the last century there were folks who traveled around this country documenting Native people's demise. They took photos, painted pictures and recorded our songs. This evening is about Us singing our songs/reading our poems at the beginning of this new millennium to be recorded by Us for future generations. We continue to live. We continue to create." The "Anishinaabe Song/Poems for the New Millennium" Lowertown Reading Jam will be presented on Wednesday, June 26th, 2013 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Black Dog Coffee and Wine Bar, 308 Prince Street in Saint Paul. This presentation of the popular and eclectic series is hosted by Marcie Rendon.

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May 30th, 2013 - Soul Sounds Open Mic with PaviElle

PaviElle

PaviElle hails from the Twin Cities and is an interdisciplinary artist that focuses on bringing truth to light within her art (which includes dance, writing, speaking, and political activism). She is a vocalist/songwriter/pianist who has been performing professionally since 1989. She has participated in such collectives as EduPoetic Enterbrainment, Kahlil & Everyday People, and Sinamn Jones. PaviElle has also been seen in such staged plays for Steppingstone and Penumbra theaters. Currently, PaviElle is recording her first studio album, Fear Not, which will be released this upcoming summer. And, she will be happily back to gracing stages this summer in efforts to promote her album after a five year break from performing.

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May 23rd, 2013 - Soul Sounds Open Mic with CeeWhy

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The last thing this world needs is another rapper. With anyone who can gain access to a MacBook Pro and GarageBand releasing their half-assed basement raps, I think we can all agree that we can do without another rapper. Fans deserve much more. They deserve artists: people with a healthy respect for the art form of creating music; people who have studied the likes of James Brown, Miles Davis, Prince, Nina Simone, the Funkadelics—not just another person who can flip on the switch of a vocoder. They deserve someone like Dominique “Ceewhy” Suttles.

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May 22nd, 2013: Mizna presents "If You See Something, Say Something" at the Lowertown Reading Jam

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This presentation of the popular and eclectic series is hosted by Mizna, the Twin Cities’ own nationally-recognized Arab literary arts organization, who will bring a diverse group of established and emerging writers and performers to the Lowertown Reading Jam stage. With that Homeland Security dictum "if you see something, say something" ringing in their ears, Mizna’s group of Arab American and Muslim writers will give voice to their own experience of diverse homelands. The evening will be hosted by performance artist and Mizna rep Moheb Soliman, who will present his own work along with other amazing artists of spoken word, performance, and straight-up poetry coming out of Mizna’s Silaat writing workshop series. All ages, no cover, donations accepted. Food and beverages for sale.

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May 16th, 2013 - Soul Sounds Open Mic with Margeaux Davis

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27-year-young Margeaux Davis has a sweet, friendly spirit—and this girl can groove! Described as "Jazzy... Hip Hop Soul—Etta James meets J. Dilla", Margeaux won Best Female R&B Vocal 2010 at Minneapolis' world-renowned First Avenue, and was nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal in both 2011 and 2012. She recently finished the production Rag Time at Park Square Theater in 2012, with director Gary Gisselman and is currently wrapping up her EP titled, "Won't Do It Again", at Grand Melody Music with producers Andre Dennis and Andre Reynolds.

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May 9th, 2013 - Soul Sounds Open Mic with Chris Gibson

chrisgibson

Cristopher Gibson is a writer and performance poet from Perry, OK, currently residing in Saint Paul, MN. Gibson is active in the spoken word and slam communities in the Twin Cities, and conducts writing and performance workshops at various colleges as well as more informal coffee meetings. He also plays in the local punk, hip hop, and occasional dubstep scenes. He is releasing his first book through Beard Poetry entitled, Dysfunctional: Portraits of a Small Town along with a spoken word CD.

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May 2nd, 2013 - Soul Sounds Open Mic features Inspired Works with Writing Workshop

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"Inspired Works" is a theme. Regular participants are invited to bring in a poem written by another author, perhaps someone they experienced during National Poetry Month, a mentor, a great! The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Golden Thyme Coffee Café at 921 Selby Avenue (corner of North Milton Street) in Saint Paul, MN 55104. All ages are welcome, and there is no cover charge. Every first Thursday, a writing workshop will be held an hour before the open mic begins, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

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April 24th, 2013: TruArtSpeaks presents the (K.)N.E.W. MN Youth Poetry Slam Team at the Lowertown Reading Jam

The full (K.)N.E.W. MN Youth Slam Team. Back Row: Chava, Ramaj, Mika, Laresa, Fatima, Eshay, Donte, Terrance
Ground Level: Nazeem, Kayla, Luke. Not Pictured: Joseph

TruArtSpeaks has been an active organization in the Twin Cities since 2006. TruArtSpeaks utilizes elements of hip-hop, spoken word, and the arts, to encourage literacy and develop leadership in the communities we serve, supporting a generation of vibrant young voices as they make their claim on the world. The (K.)N.E.W. MN Youth Poetry Slam Series is a program that seeks to identify six youth poets between the ages of 13-19 to represent Minnesota in the annual international Brave New Voices Youth Poetry Slam Festival. Come meet them!

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April 25th, 2013 - Soul Sounds Open Mic with Marcus Kar

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Marcus started playing music at the age of 12 in a Lutheran church choir beside his loving mother Victoria. He is currently the percussionist in the award winning Xavier Marquis band. He was previously the bassist and vocalist in the bands We Are Awesome, Ron Band, and Dolphins of Tomorrow. Born Marcus Glay Kar in Liberian West Africa and raised in South Minneapolis, Marcus grew up with a wide range of music exposure, developing a great wide appreciation of music. Some of his influences include (but not limited to) Roky Erickson, A Tribe Called Quest, Eric B. & Rakim, Jimi Hendrix, Otis Redding and of course, Prince.

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