This year’s ELEVATE Art Festival examines arts and culture through the lens of our changed reality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have experienced racial unrest, economic recession, isolation due to social distancing, and a divisive political climate. The festival theme is Equity, Activism, Engagement, and through our programs we seek to provide hope, inspiration, and food for your soul. Join this year’s free virtual programs from Sunday, October 4 through Saturday, October 10.  It’ll be streaming live via Facebook, YouTube and website. Check elevateatlart.com for details.  Below is the music lineup.

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.

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. 

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​Thank you for being a part of the City Winery Atlanta family. These have been trying times for everyone, and we are so grateful for your continued support. 

The length of our temporary closure is unclear at this time, but we are optimistic that it will only last a short while. Ultimately, that timing will be dictated by uncontrollable factors that we are hopeful will work in our favor sooner than later. 

This decision is not one that we took lightly, and one that has been made in order to preserve the continued existence of City Winery. I believe we will return stronger than ever to serving you, our incredible guests, putting on concerts, hosting private parties, and supporting our amazing team members, but for now, we are truly in survival mode.  Although this process has been more painful to endure than we initially thought, we will get through this. 

In the meantime, take care of yourselves and your communities, and if you are able, please consider supporting City Winery by:

• Making a donation to our Employee Relief Fund 
• Ordering our award-winning wine for home delivery*, with free shipping on 6+ bottles 
• Becoming a member of our wine club* 
• Attending an upcoming CWTV livestream show 

Please note that throughout this pause, we are still accepting private event inquiries, and our team is available to help you plan life’s special moments - safely.

We will continue to communicate with you on our efforts throughout this pause, and we look forward to sharing hopeful news of safely reopening soon.

Peace, 
Michael Dorf
Founder & CEO, City Winery 

*All wine orders will ship from City Winery Hudson Valley during this temporary pause

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.

​If you are a true "SPEAKER" that follows When We Speak TV, you will know that Julie Dexter was the first live music concert I attended when I moved to Atlanta in 2008.  Back then, I wasn't really familiar with the Atlanta music scene, nor any of the indie artists in the city but I was invited by my business partner, Chet, so I went......and to make a long story short, I have been a Julie Dexter fan ever since.  

​I always make the reference that Julie Dexter is my Beyonce.  What I mean by that is, although I would love to meet Beyonce, I get just as anxious when I see Julie Dexter, as I would if I saw Beyonce!  I really admire Julie because not only is she a great vocalist but she is also a supporter of When We Speak TV!  You may remember that a few years back, I sat down and spoke with her at the release of her album, New Again.  

​Since then, she and I have definitely seen one another on several occasions at musical events like the Atlanta Jazz Festival....and of course this year, she performed at the Jazz In The Alley Concert Series, which When We Speak TV is an official partner!

I think it goes without saying that Julie Dexter is one of our favorite people, that's why I am so excited to have the opportunity to speak with Julie Dexter for a segment of  What Do YOU Speak? 
Definitely take a moment to watch it ...BELOW IS A SNIPPET FROM THE INTERVIEW ......and find who told Julie that, "The Best Thing A Woman Can Be Is A Singer" , which changed her life.  I hope you enjoy it!  

NEWS SOURCE:  Atlanta Jazz Festival

While the annual Atlanta Jazz Festival postponed its Memorial Day Weekend event due to COVID-19, the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs (OCA) is excited to announce the launch of Atlanta Jazz Festival Sessions to celebrate 31 Days of Jazz this year.
Traditionally, the Atlanta Jazz Festival has hosted 31 Days of Jazz as live events that take place around metro Atlanta during May leading up to Festival weekend. This year, select Atlanta jazz artists have recorded their sessions that will be available at 9 p.m. each night beginning Friday, May 1 through Friday, May 29.

The OCA has selected a specially curated list of exceptionally talented local singers, musicians and bands to record 30-minute sessions resulting in unique virtual music experiences showcasing a mastery of jazz. The video recordings will be posted at 9 p.m. each night on the Atlanta Jazz Festival’s Facebook page, and then will be available on the official Atlanta Jazz Festival website the next day.

The Phil Davis Quartet will kick off the Atlanta Jazz Festival Sessions series on Friday, May 1, at 9 p.m., followed by Mike Burton and Joe Gransden with Kenny Banks Sr. on Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3, respectively.

​OCA will release the first full week of artists filled with venerable performers on Monday, May 4, including Gritz and Jelly Butter, Kathleen Bertrand, Myrna Clayton and Julie Dexter. Check the AJF website frequently for performance updates, the new festival date, and other events.