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House Party 6 Was A Packed House!
A packed house at The Station in Beacon Hill. Photo By Mary Elworth
By Mary Elworth
House Party 6 brought singing, dancing, and poetry to an enthusiastic crowd at The Station in Beacon Hill! By 7pm, the place was packed with a diverse and intergenerational group, but it was clear that the youth would rule the night.
Host Lashaunycee O’Cain (a.k.a. kidLIO) set the tone by making sure everyone in the room was on board to support one another throughout the performances. Kicking off the open mic was vocalist Ezra Hollister, accompanied by Daniel Pak on keys) whose melodious voice lit up the room and got everyone captivated by his lyrics.
Jade Arquitt continued the energy by performing an original piece of music. Singer-songwriter Mary Elworth performed an acoustic version of her original “Set You Free.” Next up was Joseph soulfully covering the CNCO hit “Tan Fácil” with the support of Arquitt, Pak, and Thaddeus Turner respectively on bass, guitar, and drums.
Singer-guitarist Zo (Zoser Dunbar) wowed us all with a cover of Ed Sheeran’s Don’t. Later he got everyone singing and grooving along with a mashup of Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s “Thrift Shop” and Blackstreet’s “No Diggity.”
Zo freestyling with spontaneous a jam band at The Station. Photo by Mary Elworth
Next up were Twinn (Jonathan Burgos), Virgilio Carbajal, and Noah Predko, who rocked the audience in each of their own performances. Singer-songwriter Dominique Estrada stepped up to the mic and gave us a taste of what she's been working in the studio.
Then came time for the poets in the room to have their say. Carlynn Newhouse brought the room to a philosophical hush with her powerfully crafted verses, followed by Azura Tyabji, who also delivered a poignant message steeped in wisdom and observation.
Azura Tyabji delivers wisdom through poetry at House Party 6. Photo by Mary Elworth
Songwriter and musician Ezrael Sarmiento professed his appreciation for the city of Seattle, followed by a fitting performance of his original “Seattle Skies.”
Muliti-talented kidLIO closed the first round of performances with an original poem illustrating capitalism in society and demonstrating resistance to it.
Joseph. Photo by Mary Elworth
Twin & His Crew of Supporters, Fans, and Family. Photo by Mary Elworth
Much Love to The Station in Beacon Hill for Hosting Us! Photo by Mary Elworth
House Party 4
Close To The Sun. Photo by Mary Elworth
House Party 4 was lit!!! We were a little hesitant to do it during spring break, but the stars aligned and the room was packed! The sign up sheet was completely full within 20 minutes of doors opening, thanks to the incredible Monica Elenes (Hip Hop Artist Residency), who got all of the performers got on stage. Politically-charged rapper ZAG rocked his new single "Ahmed," which he premiered at More Music at The Moore. Lashaunycee surprised us with a new song called "Someday Maybe," with beautiful melodic hooks (she needs to bring a choir next time) intermingling with her introspective rap verses. Joseph sang a beautiful cover of CNCO's "Tan Fácil." And to close it out, Close To The Sun put on a dance party that got everyone out of their seats (and even flat on the floor). Big thanks to DJ Funky Fresh Fernando for setting a great vibe and keeping the energy high between sets. Incredible night of music. If you missed it, don't worry, House Party 5 is coming your way in early May - stay tuned!
ZAG. Photo by Mary Elworth.
Joseph. Photo by Mary Elworth.
Photo by Mary Elworth
House Party 3
The House Party is always one of our most popular events. Our name for an open mic, a House Party is where you'll see a singer-songwriter taking risks and trying out that new song they've been working on or a rapper freestyling a verse to a beat played by a band who all just met for the first time. Collaboration and improvisation are always welcomed at a House Party! In fact, at House Party 3 in February, two parents got our of their seats and performed a song together, with co-founders Daniel Pak and Thaddeus Turner holding it down on drums and bass (anyone got a video of that performance?). The coolest thing about a House Party is to see a diverse group of folks from different neighborhoods coming together to celebrate youth voice, creativity, and community building at its finest. All through music!
House Party 4 will be on Friday, April 14, 2017 at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center. Doors open and sign ups start at 5:30pm, and the open mic runs from 6-8pm. Light snacks and refreshments provided. All ages welcome, and as always, every House Party is free to the general public thanks to our partnership with 4Culture, Office of Arts & Culture, and Youngstown Cultural Arts Center.
First Annual House Party Fundraiser
Ann O. Photo by Daniel Pak
In August 11 family and friends gathered at the beautiful home of board member Shawna Angelou for our first annual fundraiser house party. Featuring performances by Jawzilla, Ann O, Soulchild Elle, Ezrael Sarmiento, and Noah Woycke, the backyard bash was a blast, with dinner and drinks generously donated by Dahlia Lounge, Uli's Famous Sausage, Pyramid Breweries, and Waters Winery. Thank you to everyone who came out and helped raise over $5,000 to keep the doors to the studio and the stage open for our young recording artists!