Hansberry Garden & Nature Center will inaugurate its new outdoor amphitheater in 2019 with “Open Air Open Mic,” a series of five open-mic events, each to be hosted by a different Philadelphia recording artist who will give a brief performance before welcoming others to the stage. Open Air Open Mic will take place on the third Monday of each month of our 2019 gardening season, beginning in May. The dates, with featured artists:
- May 20: Joy Ike
- June 17: Danie Ocean
- July 15: Phyllis Chapell
- August 19: Margel Overton
- September 16: Jacopo de Nicola
Shows start at 6:30 p.m. A sign-up sheet for those who wish to perform will be available 30 minutes before show time. A PA system, microphones, microphone stands, and cords (including instrument cords for a direct line in) will be provided for participants.
Open Air Open Mic’s sound system is powered by solar electricity captured by a pair of panels that rest on the roof of its stage. It is sponsored by a gift from Philly Office Retail.
We’re delighted to announce that the first Open Air Open Mic will feature Germantown-based musician Joy Ike. Polished and precise, yet buoyed with an airy grace, Ike paints with a broad palette that defies easy categorization. Born to Nigerian immigrants, the singer-songwriter has drawn comparisons to musicians such as Nina Simone, Laura Nyro, and Regina Spektor. But her percussive piano-playing and soaring vocals give homage to her African upbringing.
Joy has spent the last 11 years playing thousands of shows across the country. A write-up on NPR’s All Things Considered says “The depth of subjects she tackles in her poetic lyrics are perfectly complemented by a unique blend of neo-soul, with just the right dash of pop … a truly compelling act to watch in person, with the ability to create an intimate setting in locations big and small.”