Soul Sounds: an open mic for nurturing arts, building community

November 15, 2013

I recently had the opportunity to attend Soul Sounds Open Mic where the featured artist was Danez Smith, who is a spoken word artist, slam poet, and author. It was an intimate crowd of about 40 people, with some attendees even dressed in Halloween costumes. Soul Sounds Open Mic takes place at Golden Thyme Cafe in St. Paul every week, and is community collaboration between the Saint Paul Almanac and Golden Thyme Coffee Café. The goal of Soul Sounds is to create a safe, multigenerational, and diverse space for people to create and share work while engaging in active dialogue that promotes connection and community.

November 21, 2013 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Joe the Great One

October 23, 2013

Joseph Terrance Adams was born one minute and two seconds after his deceased twin brother, Jeffrey Tyrone Adams, on November 19, 1983. God rest his brother's soul. Joseph graduated from Washburn High School in 2002 and is married to Tequilla Adams. They have two "whatever they want" lifestyle-living daughters, Alana and Alayia. Joseph describes himself as "over-the-top, overprotective, and over this 'whatever they want' world my girls reside in. But they are my pride and joy, and I pride myself on being able to provide the best life possible for them. I just complain about it along the way. I'm also a 'Rebel Music'-loving Bob Marley fan. And wish Dave Chappelle was my Black President."

November 14, 2013 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Kayla Steward

October 23, 2013

Kayla Steward, 19, graduated from Saint Paul Central High School, where she started writing poetry in the sixth grade and started slamming when she was sixteen. Kayla has won two local slams and was selected through the (K.)N.E.W. MN Youth Poetry Slam Series to be a part of the MN Brave New Voices team. She is currently enrolled at Saint Paul Technical College.

A Wealth of Poetry

December 4, 2012

Last night Parthenia and I made the rounds of poetry readings. After making the scene in Minneapolis, we shot over to Lowertown in St. Paul to attend the Saint Paul Almanac-sponsored Lowertown Reading Jam at the Black Dog Cafe. “Three Artists, Three Themes” was curated by J. Otis Powell‽. He was joined by Tish Jones and Shá Cage. The cafe was warm and full of friends as three very different artists took the small stage and brought their best and most beautiful voices to their stories.

November 28th, 2012: J. Otis Powell‽ presents “Three Artists, Three Themes” at the Lowertown Reading Jam

October 29, 2012

The Saint Paul Almanac is pleased to announce the second in its 2012–2013 season of acclaimed Lowertown Reading Jams, which celebrate the rich literary history of Minnesota’s capital city. The "Three Artists, Three Themes" Lowertown Reading Jam will be presented on Wednesday, November 28th, 2012 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, curated by J. Otis Powell‽, features performances by Shá Cage, Tish Jones, and J. Otis Powell‽

July 26, 2012 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Khary Jackson AKA “6 is 9”

July 10, 2012

The Golden Thyme Coffee Café and the Saint Paul Almanac are pleased to announce the eighth "Soul Sounds Open Mic," hosted by Tish Jones! The "Soul Sounds Open Mic" series is held every Thursday, with a special pre-performance writing workshop on the first Thursday of each month. The eighth "Soul Sounds Open Mic" is presented on Thursday, July 26th, 2012, and features Khary Jackson AKA 6 is 9. 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. All ages are welcome, and there is no cover charge.

July 19, 2012 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Crystal Ruiz

July 10, 2012

The Golden Thyme Coffee Café and the Saint Paul Almanac are pleased to announce the seventh "Soul Sounds Open Mic," hosted by Tish Jones! The "Soul Sounds Open Mic" series is held every Thursday, with a special pre-performance writing workshop on the first Thursday of each month. The seventh "Soul Sounds Open Mic" is presented on Thursday, July 19th, 2012, and features Crystal Ruiz. 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. All ages are welcome, and there is no cover charge.

July 12, 2012 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with IBé Kaba

July 10, 2012

The Golden Thyme Coffee Café and the Saint Paul Almanac are pleased to announce the sixth "Soul Sounds Open Mic," hosted by Tish Jones! The "Soul Sounds Open Mic" series is held every Thursday, with a special pre-performance writing workshop on the first Thursday of each month. The sixth "Soul Sounds Open Mic" is presented on Thursday, July 12th, 2012, and features IBé Kaba. 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. All ages are welcome, and there is no cover charge.

July 5, 2012 – Soul Sounds Open Mic & writing workshop with Melanie Holst-Collins

June 27, 2012

The Golden Thyme Coffee Café and the Saint Paul Almanac are pleased to announce the fifth "Soul Sounds Open Mic," hosted by Tish Jones! The "Soul Sounds Open Mic" series is held every Thursday, with a special pre-performance writing workshop on the first Thursday of each month. The fifth "Soul Sounds Open Mic" is presented on Thursday, July 5th, 2012, and features Melanie Holst-Collins. 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. All ages are welcome, and there is no cover charge. The First Thursday writing workshop will be held an hour before the open mic begins, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

June 28th, 2012 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Sheronda Orridge

June 8, 2012

The fourth "Soul Sounds Open Mic" is presented on Thursday, June 28th, 2012, and features Sheronda Orridge. 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. Sheronda Orridge is the owner and operator of Loving Spirit Life Coach Academy LLC, a life coach for the Network for Better Futures, a writer, a spoken word artist, and a community organizer. She holds a variety of certifications including doula (birth coach), life coach trainer, and facilitator. She is the host of Loving Our Life, aired on SPNN. All ages are welcome, and there is no cover charge.

June 21, 2012 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Jake Virden

June 8, 2012

The third "Soul Sounds Open Mic" is presented on Thursday, June 21st, 2012, and features Jake Virden. 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. Jake Virden is an aspiring popular educator and poet from N.E. Minneapolis. Currently, Jake is working with the Youth Education Justice Initiative to encourage popular education for racial and economic justice and asking critical questions about his supposed indebtedness. All ages are welcome, and there is no cover charge.

June 14, 2012 – Soul Sounds Open Mic with Brittany Delaney

June 8, 2012

The second "Soul Sounds Open Mic" is presented on Thursday, June 14th, 2012, and features Brittany Delaney. 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. Brittany Delaney is an activist and spoken word artist who was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota. Brittany has been writing since she was 8 years old and traveling/performing since she was 13. She has participated in various spoken word groups including the MN Spoken Word Association, Mama Mosaic, Quest for the Voice, Brave New Voices, Teens Rock the Mic, and University-based establishments across the country. All ages are welcome, and there is no cover charge.