Holley’s music and his outsider status he will bring a new dimension to the African Diaspora series.

Lonnie Holley began making art at the age of twenty-nine. By that time, Holley, who grew up the seventh of twenty-seven children in Jim Crow-era Alabama, had been a gravedigger, a dishwasher at Disney World, pronounced brain-dead after a car accident, and once, as a very young child, been traded to a neighbor by his adopted guardian for a pint of whiskey.

(Some of Holley’s stories might not hold up to very strict fact checking, but now, at the age of sixty-four and respected worldwide as an artist, he tells them well.)

Holley’s art is now in museum and private collections worldwide, and in the pst decade he has added music to his accomplishments, performing for often awestruck audiences at museums, universities and clubs throughout the United States and Europe.

Writing for The New York Times in 2014, Mark Binelli has said, “In terms of genre, Holley’s music is largely unclassifiable: haunting vocals accompanied by rudimentary keyboard effects, progressing without any traditional song structure — no choruses, chord changes or consistent melody whatsoever…Backstage, only a few minutes before showtime, I learned that each of his pieces is actually a one-time performance; his words and music, whether in the studio or on a stage, are entirely improvised.”

Lonnie Holley’s performance at The South Dallas Cultural Center is a rare opportunity for the Dallas audience to experience this remarkable, mesmerizing, and uniquely American artist. Asked recently after a performance at the De Young Museum in San Francisco whether he thought he was ready for Broadway, Holley answered, “I am Broadway.”

 

 

Map of venues in Deep Ellum

INDEPENDENT BAR & KITCHEN – REGAL ROOM | 2712 MAIN ST

4-5 PM // DaVerse Lounge at Lit Hop

DaVerse Works is a spoken word performance and youth development program for middle and high school students, providing a safe haven for self-expression. The program integrates a formal curriculum—that teaches critical literacy skills through spoken word and poetry—with open-mic showcases for teens and young adults. This is a program of education nonprofit Big Thought and Journeyman Ink.

5:30 – 6:30 PM // MadSwirl at Lit Hop

Mad Swirl is a platform, a showcase and a stage for the many artists in this mad, mad world of ours. Mad Swirl takes the many sides of art and showcases at their website and on stage at City Tavern in Dallas (1st Wednesdays). Mad Swirl recognize s the madness of creation, the madness of life, the madness of art and tries to get the mad swirl of it all into as many heads as possible. Basically, Mad Swirl is an outlet…an electronic, print and live-wired creative outlet. Poetic line-Up: Johnny O , MH Clay, Opalina Salas, Chris Zimmerly, Desmene Statum, Brett Ardoin, Tamitha Curiel, Carlos Salas, and music madness swirled up by Chris Curiel.

KETTLE ART | 2650-B MAIN ST.

4 – 5:30 PM // Significance Imposed: A Reading at Lit Hop

A collaboration between The White Rock Zine Machine and MakeShift Photorama, this showcase demonstrates a love affair between the written word and the photographic eye. This group exhibition features twelve local photographers paired with twelve local writers in a collision of words and images. Each visual piece is illuminated through a unique, poetic vision, producing a passionate road trip through the wide open spaces distinctive to Texas. Featuring Diane Durant & Christopher Stephen Soden, Don Essmiller & A. Kendra Greene, Devyn Gaudet & Andrew Koch, Justin Goode & Caitlin Pryor, Jason Lee, Paxton Maroney & Dan Collins, Erin Reeves & Leslie Aguilar, Rachel Rushing & Robin Turner, David Simpson & Lisa Huffaker & Tim Cloward, Patti Simpson & Joe Milazzo.

6 – 7 PM // Dancing Tongue at Lit Hop

Dancing Tongue is a poetry/performance ensemble which takes the spoken word, scrambles it with music, visual art, movement and video to demonstrate that literature is, indeed, a lively art. Joining highbrow sensibilities with low cost aesthetics, the troupe has performed in galleries, bars, theaters, festivals and universities around Dallas since 1990. The current edition of Dancing Tongue features: Tim Cloward, Kim Corbet, Lisa Huffaker, Fran Carris, and Richard Allen.

7:30 – 8:30 PM // Dallas Fiction Writers Showcase

The biggest names writing fiction in Dallas, will be here to talk and read from recent works introduces you to the vibrant scene of fiction writing in Dallas. Authors reading will include: Sanderia Faye, Kathleen Kent, Blake Kimzey, and Jacob Rubin.

 

 

 

9:30 – 10:30 PM // Pandora’s Box at Lit Hop

Pandora’s Box Poetry Showcase loves a good party and great poetry so please join us at the ever ready Deep Vellum Bookstore for a night of poetry, music, love, laughter, and muse-inspired fun. This evenings features will include: JAZMON THE HEALER, James Madison West, Taylor Teachout,and Matthew Haines

DRUGSTORE COWBOY | 2721 MAIN ST.

4:30-5:30PM // Dallas Poetry Slam at Lit Hop

The Dallas Poetry Slam is one of the oldest, most recognized, and respected poetry slams and/or open mic in the state of Texas. There is a slam or open mic every Friday at Heroes Lounge. This edition of Dallas Poetry Slam will feature a mixture of Dallas Slam Team poets and open mike poets.

6-7PM // Southern Mythologies at Lit Hop

This Deep Ellum Lit Hop showcase brings together six incredible artists living, working, and creating in Texas. Featuring work from: Leslie Marie Aguilar, Greg Brownderville, Stevie Edwards, Christopher Beard, Trista Edwards, and music by Kim Nall.
7:30 – 8:30 PM // Poets On X+ at Lit Hop

Poets on X+ is an open mike collective that meets the second Friday of every month at Lucky Dog Books in Oak Cliff. This showcase brings together some of their superstar performers: Ofelia Faz Garza, Hector Nico Ortiz, Nadia Wolnisty, Tom Farris, Kristine Spinner, Johnny Olson, Cj Critt. Mc’d by Carlos and Opalina Salas.

9 – 10 PM // Verse & Rhythm at Deep Ellum Lit Hop

Verse & Rhythm was founded in the Fall of 2012 with the intention of bringing local artists together to perform their spoken word, poetry, literature, music and other forms of artistic expression. Verse & Rhythm is held monthly on the last Saturday of month at the Oak Cliff Cultural Center and features a different artist every month. There is an open mic where all are welcome to participate. This edition of Verse & Rhythm will feature Rafael Tamayo, Brandon Jackson, Priscilla Rice, La Bell, Lyn Lyric.