Evolution Dopen Mic
Birthed October 9th, 2014 in the Coffee Cave, Evolution Dopen Mic remains the second longest running active Open Mic in Newark, NJ, and is the flagship show of EvoluCulture. It is hosted by founding executive producer, poet and author Sean Battle.
The event now runs on the second Saturday of each month at the Cryout Cave (209 3rd Street, Rear Unit, Newark, NJ, 07107)
Nia Waqiah w/Band
Nia Waqiah w/Band
A different theme dominates the night that artists can choose to respond to, provided they sign the 10-slot open mic list.
When done in-person , In between open mic acts are the EvoluGames, where volunteers from the audience come up and compete for a prize. These games can be anything from lip sync battle, dance contest, even a freestyle game.
When done in-person , In between open mic acts are the EvoluGames, where volunteers from the audience come up and compete for a prize. These games can be anything from lip sync battle, dance contest, even a freestyle game.
Sean Battle (host)
Each night also has a feature, whom we call ASCENDED ARTISTS: Those who are elite in craftsmanship of poetry, hip hop, R&B, and more. Past features of Evolution Dopen Mic include poets RADI, Jasmine Mans, D-Black, and the late Breya “BlkbrryMolassaz” Knight; Singers Tamen Hade, Bymaddz, Daliyama, Gail Campbell Josue Simon, and Leah Jenea; Emcees Samad Savage, RAP Phenomenal, Shelley Farrell, and Khalil Jibran; and multidisciplinary artists J Read, Nia Waqiah, and the Euphony.
Jasmine Mans (Featured Poet, June 2019)
The Euphony (Featured Poet/Singer/Emcee, May 2019)
Gail Campbell (Featured Singer, December 2019)
HISTORY
Evolution Dopen Mic serves as a response to the need of the times. By the Summer of 2014 various events were on hiatus, seasonal, or concluded, or up and running with a cover of $10 or more. Poet and author Sean Battle (who has been host and executive producer from the beginning) felt the urge to create a free, weekly show for all to attend—something he had grown accustomed to since his life as a poet began with Verbal Mayhem in New Brunswick.
As the years past, the need changed: artists and art lovers need and deserve an experience beyond the open mic list, but with that came cost. January to March of 2015 saw one night of the weekly open mic turn into the ASCENDED ARTISTS SERIES, which were headlined by featured artists that were paid for their time and craft. Poet and Actor Shaheed K. Woods would be the first Ascended Artist in EvoluCulture history.
Dopen Mic at the Coffee Cave, 2014-2015
When the Coffee Cave closed in April 2015 and the show was moved next door to Burger Walla, the tradition of Ascended Artists would continue as a part of Evolution itself, as oppose to to a separate show. A $5 cover charge would be implemented to keep this going.
Other venues to host the Dopen Mic include the Gallery 211, an extension of Doitall Kelly’s 211 Media Group; Mocha Lounge; Express Newark; and the Cryout Cave, the only venue to host the show for a full calender year.
As the years passed, Evolution changed its schedule to where it’s now once a month, further insuring a quality experience for all who attend. With the mission of EovluCulture in mind, Evolution Dopen Mic is more than a show: it is a home, with fellow artists and art lovers to learn from, as well as where their first poem, song, dance, etc. was shared.
As the years passed, Evolution changed its schedule to where it’s now once a month, further insuring a quality experience for all who attend. With the mission of EovluCulture in mind, Evolution Dopen Mic is more than a show: it is a home, with fellow artists and art lovers to learn from, as well as where their first poem, song, dance, etc. was shared.
