The Awakening of the Groove
Story by Tony E. Boyd, Contributing Writer
There's a
groove growing in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
All of Northwest Arkansas for that
matter.
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| Aisling Thornton reading "An American Poem" by Eileen Myles |
There's an unmistakable awakening of the heart and soul of the city.
Now don't get me wrong, art has long been a big part of what the city was
about. All manner of visual and performance art have been born and raised here
over time. But the groove is relatively new. A groove that permeates the soul,
lifts the spirit, and fills the heart. This is evidenced in the musical, spoken
word and poetic performances popping up over town. I was lucky enough to attend
one such performance Saturday, March 7th, 2015.
The Poetic
Justice Open Mic Nite, sponsored by Umoja Soul Writers Group, and HandsUpNWA was held at The
Common Grounds Gourmet Espresso Bar on Dickson Street. (Poetry and espresso
just seem to go hand in hand, doesn't it?) It was a laid back atmosphere from
the gitgo.
 |
| "Black Lives Will Matter" by Juana Washington |
Before the evening's event started, various participants and
onlookers ambled in, exchanginggreetings and hugs, shaking hands, laughing and
joking. It was a jovial atmosphere, spurred on by the night's MC, Jared Carter.
Jared handled the crowd like a seasoned performer, keeping things moving along
and filling in the gaps with humor.
To kick things off, there was an acapella
song performed by Tina "Tina G." Gaston and Jared "Jared
C." Carter. The soulful voices
intertwined as the crowd bounced to the beat. Afterward, Jared and Tina each
performed a poem for the appreciative crowd. Next on the mic was Elliott Roeder
who brought along saxophone accompaniment. His delivery was subtle and subdued,
the essence of his prose slowly sinking in. The night was about justice and
injustice.
 |
| Haley Smith reads her poem "Heirlooms." |
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| Stacy "LIFE" Harper |
Following
Elliott, Juana Washington stepped to the mic and sent a metaphorical fire
through the crowd. Her commanding presence and strong vocals added to the
voracity of her message. She combined her prose with hints of gospel, oratory
inflections held the audience in rapt attention from start to finish. Don't
just plead for justice, demand it.
Alexander Ross stepped to the mic to read a piece that he found particularly poignant, leaving the stage to thunderous snaps (as is the custom of poetry slams). Between each new performance, Jared steps up to offer glib remarks and encouraging any and all to participate if so inspired.
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| Alexander Ross |
At this time, he introduced an aspiring poet by the name of Curtis. Curtis stepped to the mic and launched into his stirring poem about injustice, inequality, and assumptions. The combination of his words and his delivery was the complete performance. The night continued with performances by Johnston Ewing, Mr. Ladebac, Kaia Hodo, Aisling Thornton, Haley Smith, F. L. Jones, L.I.F.E., Laasean Willis, Anne Shelley, and Marie. Its unfortunate that I had to leave before the end of the night.
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| Steven "Ladebac" Toston talks about "Just Us" or Justice |
So, please come and experience the Awakening of a New Groove on April 24, 2015 at Common Grounds as Umoja Soul Writers Group along with HandsUpNWA entertain you with Poetry, music, laughter and Justice for all!
To see more Photos of Poetic Justice, click HERE!
Story and photos by Tony E. Boyd, Contributing Writer
