This year’s ELEVATE Art Festival examines arts and culture through the lens of our changed reality due to the COVID-19 pandemic, racial unrest, economic recession, and a divisive political climate. Dance performances being presented are dazzling, dreamlike, and defiant. They provide insight into issues that we, and our communities, are dealing with including inequity, food insecurity, and isolation, but also seek to inspire hope, resilience, and activism as we move forward. Join this year’s virtual programming from Sunday, October 4 through Saturday, October 10.

If you don't already know, LaShun Pace is not only a When We Speak TV favorite but she is also a former guest!!! 

Therefore, it goes without saying that, we will be tuning in to LaShun's  Virtual Concert on September 20th.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2020
9PM EST
INSTAGRAM:  OFFICIALLASHUN

NEWS SOURCE:  Hatchett PR

​The City of Atlanta - Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs will bring its annual ELEVATE public art festival to Atlanta’s historic West End neighborhood from Sunday, October 4 to Saturday, October 10, 2020. This year’s festival events will be virtual. 

​• Musical performances by Kebbi Williams and The Wolf Pack, The Royal Krunk Jazz Orkestra, Gritz and Jelly Butter, Tony Hightower, and Julie Dexter. 
​• Mural installations honoring civil rights leader Reverend James Orange and Black women activists from the West End community. 
• An online and in person voter registration event at the West End MARTA station. 
• A conversation with New York Times best-selling authors Pearl Cleage and Tayari Jones, who frequently feature Atlanta’s West End community in their work.  
• The opening of Hammonds House Museum’s exhibition Elements of A Revolution. 
• A conversation between the executive directors of Atlanta Contemporary and Les Abattoirs/Toulouse to discuss challenges of promoting art during COVID-19, issues of gender equality and racism in their field. Since 1974 Atlanta and Toulouse have been Sister Cities. 
• A screening of the stirring new documentary, “John Lewis: Good Trouble,” an intimate account of the legendary U.S. Representative’s life, legacy, and more than 60 years of extraordinary activism. 
• An Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performance of Lazarus created by acclaimed hip-hop choreographer Rennie Harris. The ballet connects the past and the present in a powerful work that addresses racial inequities America faced when Mr. Ailey founded his dance company in 1958 and still faces today.
• Renowned artist Carrie Mae Weems, in collaboration with SCAD, will launch RESIST COVID/TAKE 6, a public art initiative raising critical heath awareness about COVID-19 and the ways racial inequities have manifested in the pandemic. 

​Along with vision and hard work of Jazz in the Alley’s creator and Event Director, Ziggy Warfield, JITA has become one of the most sought after jazz events held in Historic Downtown Norcross, GA. The annual summer series has gained local notoriety from artists and jazz enthusiast of all ages.

​Email:  jazzinthealleyatl@gmail.com
Jazz In The Alley Website
Jazz In The Alley on Instagram 
Jazz In The Alley on Facebook
Jazz In The Alley on Twitter

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT GREG ROBBINS:
Website: http://www.gregrobbinsmusic.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregrobbinsmusic 

​WATCH THE FULL SEGMENT WITH EMRAH KOTAN ON WHEN WE SPEAK TV 

​The 2020 BET Awards were held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic but that didn't stop great performances.  One performance that When We Speak TV particularly enjoyed was Usher and Summer Walker!! 

Check out the drummer behind  Usher in this performance....Yep it's our friend Remey Williams.  We are always excited to see our friends doing big things!!!!​

Can you find Jermaine Sain singing in this video?
Happy Birthday (Gospel Style)

The Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs announced today that the 43rd annual Atlanta Jazz Festival will not take place this year. The decision to cancel one of the country’s longest-running, free jazz festivals was based on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the City of Atlanta, and the CDC and Georgia State guidelines limiting gatherings to 10 or less individuals.

The Atlanta Jazz Festival would like to thank the Atlanta Music Project, WJZA and PNC Bank for their support. Check the AJF website at www.atlantafestivals.com for information about the 2021 event.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LAURA COYLE:
Website: http://www.lauracoylejazz.com ​