✦ The band DEVO has been holding up a funhouse mirror to America for nearly fifty years. They broke out of Akron, Ohio, in the late '70s with a sound that was part punk, part art experiment, and all warning signs. Their concept of 'de-evolution'—that instead of progressing, society was actually regressing—felt satirical back then. But looking around today, it feels eerily predictive. As we face cuts to public radio funding and political attacks on the arts, DEVO's vision of a culture slipping backward suddenly feels less like a metaphor and more like the nightly news. When the band was in town for Shaky Knees on Sunday, City Lights Collective co-host Kim Drobes caught up with founding members Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale to discuss the stakes for artists today, how this moment connects to their work, and what survival—and maybe even resistance—looks like in 2025.

✦ Two of Oakland Cemetery's beloved programs are coming together for a full day of music and community. WABE arts reporter Summer Evans has more on the makeup/mashup they're calling Sunday in the Park featuring Tunes from the Tombs.

✦ As summer winds down and Atlanta weather moves from merely "tolerable" and increasingly towards "pleasant," you might be compelled to engage in some outdoor festivities, and you're in luck because the East Atlanta Strut is this Saturday! City Lights Collective Engineer Matt McWilliams has more on how this neighborhood likes to let loose, throw down, and let its freak flag fly.

✦ We love visiting with our artistic community "In Their Own Words." This is where they tell us who they are, what they do, what they love, and a few things you might not see coming. What things? Who knows, there's only one way to find out. Today, we shone a light on Atlanta artist Cyrus Nelson and Atlanta comedian Dante Quitman.

✦ You can see how dancers become one with nature in the new Flux Project film "Braiding Time, Memory and Water." Created by Core Dance artistic director Sue Schroeder, the film was a collaboration with conceptual artist Jonathon Keats and composer Felipe Pérez Santiago. The dances took place along the Chattahoochee River, and the film will be screened on Core Dance's storefront each evening through October 12. WABE arts reporter Summer Evans recently spoke with Schroeder about the project.

✦ Atlanta has a rich and lasting tradition of amazing poetry open mics. In venues, grottos, parks, and cafes all over the city, people speak their loudest truths, deepest hurts, and immeasurable joys to finger-snapping audiences. Some poetry open mics come and go, and some stick and stay. The Thursday night open mic at Urban Grind is the latter. Every Thursday night for the last nineteen years, people have taken the floor and taken the invitation to speak, even if their voices tremble. City Light's Collective Co-Host Jon Goode sat down with the Owner of Urban Grind, Cassandra Ingram, and longtime host B Rock to discuss the legacy and future of the iconic event.

 

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✦ The late great Radcliffe Bailey was a painter, sculptor, and mixed media artist who produced work that was personal, global, beautiful, complex, and resonated in a way that stayed with you long after you'd seen it. He was a citizen of the world and Atlanta's own. On September 26, the Auburn Avenue Research Library will host a panel entitled "Southern Ground: The Legacy of Radcliffe Bailey and the Future of Black Southern Art." It's absolutely free, and there will be a discussion that honors Bailey's work and explores his enduring influence on contemporary Black Southern art. City Lights Collective Co-Host Jon Goode sat down with curator Karen Comer Lowe, who will be moderating the panel, and artist Shelia Pree Bright, who will sit on the panel, to discuss Bailey, his life, his art, his importance, and the upcoming panel.

✦ City Lights Collective member Shane Harrison spends his days at Arts ATL looking for cultural events to share with readers. He joins us weekly to share highlights, and today his mix includes The Atlanta Indian Film Festival and the Sweet Auburn Music Fest.

✦ ✦ Atlanta author Julie Olivia's new romance novel, "If It Makes You Happy," is described as Gilmore Girls meets the "Pumpkin Spice Café"—but a lot steamier. The slow-burn story is set in 1997 in the small town of Copper Run, Vermont, and tells the story of a recently divorced innkeeper and her new, seemingly perfect next-door neighbor. WABE arts reporter Summer Evans spoke with Olivia about this recent release.

✦ Visual artist and music enthusiast Kosmo Vinyl bought his first LP when he was nine and spent the next several decades immersed in music before beginning his professional career at London's pioneering indie label, "Stiff Records." In 1979, Kosmo started working exclusively with "The Clash" and stayed by their side until the punk icons disbanded in 1986. Over the years, Kosmo's record collection became legendary. In 2014, he began posting about his favorite releases on social media for his series, "Kosmo's Vinyl of the Week." In January, he began joining City Lights weekly to share the stories behind the records he treasures.

✦ Atlanta artist and puppet creator Chantelle Rytter is known for weaving magic into the streets of Atlanta. If you've ever been to the Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade, then you've likely seen her in action. Here on the City Lights Collective, she covered our "Collective Joy" beat, talking about events that bring community together in the most beautiful, artistic, and sometimes quirky ways. On Saturday October 4, Rytter and the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons will host "Where the Weird Things Are," an event that's set to transform the Old Fourth Ward Park. Now this isn't your typical parade — it's an entirely unique experience- a stationary "upside down parade" where giant mystical creatures come to life, and we get to parade around them. City Lights collective co-host Kim Drobes recently caught up with Rytter to learn more about the Collective Joy that awaits us on October 4.

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✦ Since 2010, The Goat Farm has served as home to artists of all types in Atlanta. After a brief period of renovations, it reopened in 2024 and is now bigger and better than ever. You can see it in all of its glory at this year's second annual SITE festival. Sprawling over the whole 12 acres of the Goat Farms property will be exhibitions and installations of all kinds. City Lights Collective producer Josh Thane spoke with the goat farms' design and creative director, Allie Bashuk, about the upcoming SITE festival.

✦ City Lights Collective member and award-winning Atlanta comedian Joel Byars is one of the hardest-working people in the business. He hosts many comedy events around town, and his podcast, "Hot Breath Pod," aims to uplift his fellow comedians. Byars joins us weekly to share his picks for this week's must-see Comedy, and today his mix includes an Atlanta version of "Mom's Unhinged" and two nights of Josh Johnson at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center.

✦ Harriet Tubman was more than just the operator of the Underground Railroad. She also led a Civil War raid that freed more than 700 enslaved people in a single day. That dramatic chapter of the war is the focus of "COMBEE," the Pulitzer Prize–winning book by historian and Emory alum Edda Fields-Black. The author is back in Atlanta on Monday, September 29, at the Georgia Center for the Book. Fields-Black recently spoke with "City Lights Collective" member Alison Law about the Pulitzer Prize and bringing COMBEE's untold stories to life.

✦ And I'm Kim Drobes. It's time now to hear from our artistic community In Their Own Words. This is where they tell us who they are, what they do, what they love, and a few things you might not see coming. What things? Who knows, there's only one way to find out. Today, we shine a light on the band Solid State Radio.

✦ In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, which began on September 15, The Gallery at Abernathy Arts Center presents "Caminos Compartidos." Showcasing vibrant and diverse works by artists of Latin origin, the exhibition is on view through October 30. WABE arts reporter Summer Evans spoke with the curator of the exhibit, Carol Santos.

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✦ But first, one of the special things about the Atlanta art scene is the small and intimate art galleries that focus on a particular artistic style. City Lights Collective member Katina Pappas-DeLuca sat down with Anja and Jumbe Sebunya, the founders and curators of aKAZI ATL, to learn more about their gallery of contemporary African art and their upcoming exhibition titled "Peace, Reconciliation, and the Potential for Transformation."

✦ This Saturday, September 27, the Avondale Estates Town Green will transform into a surf rock haven, featuring a lineup of local and national bands serving up a full day of reverb-drenched, beach-ready tunes. With DJs, vendors, and free admission, it's an all-ages celebration of the classic surf rock sound. City Lights Collective producer Josh Thane caught up with festival organizer Richard Hawes to dive into what makes this year's Southern Surf StompFest a must.

✦ City Lights Collective members Jasmine Hentschel and EC Flamming, the creatives behind Atlanta's visual art print magazine, "GULCH", want you to get out and engage with the city's art scene. They've been joining us weekly since the show launched, spotlighting five standout happenings. Today, they'll cover Atlanta Art Fair's return to Pullman Yards for its second year in operation, an immersive indoor/outdoor art festival at Goat Farm's sprawling 12-acre campus and kick off the fall season at Atlanta Contemporary with a roster of exhibition openings.

✦ Nature's natural patterns often look like stitched-together works of art. Whenever you look at the underside of a leaf or up close at the petals of a flower, symmetrical patterns and lines are on display. In Myrtie Cope's solo exhibition "Nature Embroidered," she photographs nature and landscapes, then hand embroiders them with cotton or silk thread...enhancing nature's patterns with texture. Her work is on display at Blue Heron Nature Preserve's indoor gallery through October 22. WABE arts reporter Summer Evans spoke with Cope about her exhibit.

✦When you start your career in music backing Shelia E and Prince in Tokyo when you're eighteen, and your most recent accomplishment, three decades later, is writing songs for Beyonce's Cowboy Carter, the Grammy award-winning album of the year, you might ask, what else could you possibly want to do? Well, Soul and R&B legend Raphael Saadiq has an answer for you. Mr. Saddiq spoke with City Lights Collective Co-host Jon Goode about his latest project, "The No Bandwidth Tour: One Man, One Night, Three Decades of Hits." It's part music, part storytelling, and all Raphael Saadiq.

 

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✦ From a memorable guest appearance in the hit TV show "Atlanta" to a leading role in the slasher "I Know What You Did Last Summer," Atlanta resident Tyriq Withers has spent the past three years skyrocketing into one of Hollywood's most desired newcomers. Now, he's taking on his most anticipated role yet in the upcoming Jordan Peele-produced thriller "Him." Withers plays Cameron Cade, an aspiring professional football player who, after a week of training with his childhood sports idol, realizes the price of fame and the sacrifices required to be considered one of the greatest of all time. City Lights Collective member Kenny Murray spoke to the young star about his acting journey and what viewers can expect from the film.

✦ Going to Brunch in Atlanta can seem like a sport. Even if you know some tricks for navigating the notoriously long lines, the cost can sometimes price people out of the game. In our mini-series, "Brunchin' on a Budget," we look at a few special Atlanta Brunch spots that can help you keep your wallet intact. Today, for the final installment of the series, WABE arts reporter Summer Evans takes us to Eat My Biscuits in East Point.

✦ National Food Service Worker Day is September 25, and the new Atlanta-made Horror/Comedy, "We're So Dead," is premiering just in time. Food service workers primarily produced the film through a crowdfunding campaign and opening night proceeds benefit The Giving Kitchen. City Lights Co-host Kim Drobes has more.

✦ Musical scores enrich the content they surround and help create the mood and tone of films, television, and even video games. Dr. Scott Stewart has been studying and teaching this aspect of music for decades, and he joins us occasionally for Music in Media. In this segment, he breaks down the sounds behind some of entertainment's most popular offerings. Today, he talks about the scores of this past season of Summer Blockbusters.

✦ We love hearing from our artistic community In Their Own Words. This is where they tell us who they are, what they do, what they love, and a few things you might not see coming. What things? Who knows, there's only one way to find out. Today, we hear from Atlanta artist Eddie Farr.

✦ What does it mean to reckon with your past and the place you call home? John T. Edge, the Emmy Award-winning host of "TrueSouth," documents his attempts to do just that in his new memoir, "House of Smoke: A Southerner Goes Searching for Home." Out now, the book offers an unflinching look at his successes, failures, and the complicated stories he inherited from his family and the South. City Lights Collective member and "Bookmarked" contributor Alison Law recently talked to Edge ahead of his upcoming Georgia appearances.

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✦ The Out on Film festival has not only been a place where the diverse voices of the LGBTQ+ community can see themselves on the big screen, but it has also served as a safe haven, a place of education, and a family reunion. City Lights Collective co-host Jon Goode sat down with Festival Director Jim Farmer to discuss the origins of the event and what you can expect from Out on Film today.

✦ For the last several years, a tiny yet momentous structure has popped up on sites of significance throughout Atlanta, inviting visitors to step inside moments of history. Charmaine Minniefield's "Praise House" Project replicates gathering spaces of worship that glued Black communities together since the days of slavery and beyond. The next installation for "The Praise House" will be at South View Cemetery in Lakewood Heights on September 21. There, they will honor the victims of the 1906 Atlanta Race Massacre, an outburst of horrific violence that killed dozens of Black citizens. WABE arts reporter Summer Evans spoke with Minniefield about this new site of remembrance.

✦ City Lights Collective member Shane Harrison spends his days at Arts ATL looking for cultural events to share with readers. He joins us weekly to share highlights, and today his mix includes the latest in the "Off the Wall" film series and a look at this weekend's Japan Fest.

✦ Visual artist and music enthusiast Kosmo Vinyl bought his first LP when he was nine. He spent the next several decades immersed in music and began his professional career at London's pioneering indie label, "Stiff Records." In 1979, Kosmo started working exclusively with "The Clash," who were once billed as The Only Band That Matters, and stayed by their side until the punk icons disbanded in 1986. Over the years, Kosmo's record collection became legendary. In 2014, he began posting about his favorite releases on social media for his series, "Kosmo's Vinyl of the Week," and he joins us weekly to share the stories behind the records he treasures. This week, he tells us about Hoagy Carmichael's "Hong Kong Blues."

✦ Atlanta's own Improvement Movement has been making waves across the city and beyond with lush vocal harmonies, clever arrangements, and a sound that refuses to sit neatly in one genre. Now, they're bringing that energy to the main stage at this year's Shaky Knees Festival. City Lights Collective producer Josh Thane spoke with keyboardist Zach Pyles and drummer Tony Aparo from the band ahead of their upcoming Shakey Knees performance about how they came together, the influences behind their music, and what's next for this rising Atlanta favorite.

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✦ When two of Atlanta's most innovative arts institutions—the Atlanta Opera and the Alliance Theatre—join forces, the result is bound to be something extraordinary. Their latest collaboration is a powerful new production of Fiddler on the Roof, the musical that has captivated audiences for generations. City Lights Collective member Zachary Brown recently spoke with two of the show's actors, alongside leaders from the Alliance and the Opera. They discussed the show's enduring relevance and how Fiddler on the Roof speaks to both the past and the present.

✦ The National Center for Civil and Human Rights will have its grand reopening on November 8, after being closed since January. WABE arts reporter Summer Evans shares more.

✦ Recently, stories have been circulating about the dropping number of major motion pictures being produced in Georgia, and consequently, Atlanta's film industry is in flux.  But what about the work coming from independent filmmakers? Is there a way to help our ecosystem thrive again by pushing to make marketable, mainstream indies from start to finish locally?  Atlanta filmmaker Ben Hall certainly thinks so, and his newest production, "Remote," aims to serve as an example. The movie explores what happens when problems related to human emotions, like grief and loneliness, collide with non-human solutions, like Artificial Intelligence. Ahead of the movie's premiere at the Tara Theater on September 20, City Lights Collective co-host Kim Drobes sat down with Hall to learn more about the film and his thoughts on the future of Georgia-made indie movies.

✦ City Lights Collective member and award-winning Atlanta comedian Joel Byars is one of the hardest-working people in the business. He hosts many comedy events around town, and his podcast, "Hot Breath Pod," aims to uplift his fellow comedians. Byars joins us weekly to share his picks for this week's must-see comedy, and today his mix includes a 1UP local comedy showcase and a live show from a Daily Show correspondent.  

✦ For nearly 90 years, The Earl and Rachel Smith Strand Theatre has stood on the historic square in Marietta and served as both a cultural anchor and a community gathering place. Once a glittering movie palace, and later a fading relic, the theater is now a thriving hub for live performance, film, and celebration. The Strand's story is one of resilience, and the inventive people who refused to let its lights go dark. City Lights Collective producer Josh Thane brings us this story ahead of the Strand's 90th birthday.

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✦ On the 4th Monday of each month at Red Light Café, there's a variety show dedicated to chaotic goodness. It's called 'Joy Deficit' and the show always starts with a communal primal scream. City Lights Collective member Katina Pappas-DeLuca recently caught up with Joy Deficit's founder and host, Gina Rickicki, to tell us more about the scream and the show that follows.

✦ The Fulton County Arts Council does so many things. From undergirding and showcasing rising artists to highlighting established talent, to elevating the profile of Atlanta and Georgia on the international stage. With all of that, the Fulton County Arts Council is also still dedicated to partnering with local organizations to create stellar programming that is accessible to all. On September 26 at 7:30 pm, the arts council, in partnership with Art Farm at Serenbe, will be bringing jazz and soul vocalist extraordinaire, Rhonda Thomas, to Gainey Hall in Chattahoochee Hills. City Lights Collective Co-host Jon Goode recently discussed the upcoming night of Jazz with David Manuel, the director of The Fulton County Arts Council.

✦ Although Atlanta has a relatively small Italian population compared to other U.S. cities, the Italian industrial footprint thrives in Georgia. This week's "The Made in Italy Expo" spotlights how the country is showing up in the Southeast, and WABE arts reporter Summer Evans has more.

✦ City Lights Collective members Jasmine Hentschel and EC Flamming, the creatives behind Atlanta's visual art print magazine, "GULCH", want you to get out and engage with the city's art scene. Each week they spotlight five standout happenings, and today their mix includes an Atlanta stop for Adam Davis's project to capture 20,000 tintypes of the black diaspora at Atlanta Center for Photography, experimental installation at Say That Studios which takes place inside a room-sized camera obscura, and work from environmental artists at Spruill Gallery that's sure to spark some existential questions about your relationship with nature.

✦ Atlanta has culinary experiences that range from fine dining to dining that's simply fine, but a good glass of wine can elevate any meal. City Lights Collective members Tory and Sawyer Vanderwerff believe you should feel just as inclined to pull out the corkscrew regardless of the star level of your meal. They spend their time looking for the best and most unpredictable food and wine pairings throughout Georgia, and today, they share what happens when Magic City meets Chateau Elan.

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✦ Produced at Assembly Studios in Atlanta, CBS's "Beyond the Gates" follows the relationships, rivalries, and secrets that follow the residents of the fictional gated community of Fairmont Crest. The fall season of the first African American daytime soap opera kicked off on Monday and features a diverse lineup of veteran talents and fresh faces. Two of the latter include actors Colby Muhammed and Ambyr Michelle, who play rival sisters Kat Richardson and Eva Thomas. The two burgeoning scene stealers recently spoke with City Lights Collective member Kenny Murray about their personal career journeys and what's ahead for the freshman daytime drama.

✦ We love hearing from our artistic community In Their Own Words. This is where they tell us who they are, what they do, what they love, and a few things you might not see coming. What things? Who knows, there's only one way to find out. Today, we hear from Atlanta artist Demetri.

✦ 23-year-old singer ivri has carved out a distinct place for herself in the internet's hyper-saturated music scene. She made her debut at the age of 15, posting faceless snippets of her singing on Instagram that garnered hundreds of thousands of views and a dedicated fanbase that has stuck with her for the better part of a decade. Now a seasoned musician with millions of monthly listeners worldwide, Ivri released her debut album, "Tower of Memories," last month, and is embarking on her first headlining tour across the country. Ahead of her Atlanta performance at Masquerade on September 16, she spoke with City Lights Collective member Jacob Smulian and began by explaining what it was like to take a leap of faith and move to New York City, by herself, at only 18 years old.

✦ Starting in the 1880s, each year on September 1, every single lease in the City of Atlanta—yes, the entire city—expired and renters moved out and into new homes…on the exact same day. Wagons jammed the streets. Furniture everywhere. Tempers flaring. Back pain? Guaranteed. From utility workers following behind to reset phone lines and gas, to real estate tycoons begging for more rental properties. So how did it all work? And when did it finally disappear? City Lights Collective member and self-proclaimed history nerd Victoria Lemos has more.

✦ Atlanta's first-ever full-time string quartet is celebrating 20 years with a free concert tomorrow, September 12. WABE arts reporter Summer Evans shares more about the Vega Quartet.

✦ There are not many places and productions where Orisha Mythology, Caribbean folklore, dance, and Black Punk music all come together to create an artistic gumbo that is sure to stick to your ribs and blow your mind. In Atlanta, we are in luck because F.Punk Junkies is such a production, and 7Stages is the place to see it. City Lights Collective co-host Jon Goode caught up with some of the people creating this magical, mystical theater experience in Little Five Points.

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✦ Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will perform a special one-night-only concert on Friday, September 19, and everything on the program is special. Superstar pianist Lang Lang will be the soloist for Beethoven's Majestic Emperor Concerto, and the internationally acclaimed conductor Gemma New will direct the ASO in two works by Mozart. WABE icon and City Lights Collective member Lois Reitzes recently spoke with New to discuss the exhilarating beauty of Beethoven's and Mozart's work.

✦ City Lights Collective member Shane Harrison spends his days at Arts ATL looking for cultural events to share with readers. He joins us weekly to share highlights, and today his mix includes the world premiere of Atlanta playwright Topher Payne's latest comedy, and four upcoming performances from the Atlanta Ballet at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre.

✦ Atlanta's catching its annual case of mural mania once again with the upcoming Forward Warrior Festival. The all-day creative celebration is this Saturday, September 13, in Cabbagetown. Each year, the walls of Wylie Street, right by the Krog Street Tunnel, are transformed with works of new art. Atlanta artist Peter Ferrari founded the festival, and when he spoke with City Lights Collective co-host Kim Drobes, he discussed both the history and the future of community-driven events.

✦ Visual artist and music enthusiast Kosmo Vinyl bought his first LP when he was nine. He spent the next several decades immersed in music and began his professional career at London's pioneering indie label, "Stiff Records." In 1979, Kosmo started working exclusively with "The Clash," who were once billed as The Only Band That Matters, and stayed by their side until the punk icons disbanded in 1986. Over the years, Kosmo's record collection became legendary. In 2014, he began posting about his favorite releases on social media for his series, "Kosmo's Vinyl of the Week," and he joins us weekly to share the stories behind the records he treasures. Today, he shares the story behind the New Miles Davis Quintet's version of "Just Squeeze Me."

✦ Robert Frost once urged us to "take the road less traveled." Atlanta photographer Geo Gerard chose a different path—riding his bike along every road within the I-285 perimeter. From 2020 to 2022, he documented the journey, capturing everyday moments of awe, joy, and humor. The result is "All the Roads Taken," a new exhibit on view at Gallery 100 through September 25. WABE arts reporter Summer Evans spoke with Gerard about the project.

✦ Have you ever been curious about the people running in groups along the sidewalk or on the sidewalk or along the beltline? Well, City Lights Collective member and WABE Studios intern Oli Turner decided to lace up her sneakers and catch up with some of Atlanta's many run clubs.

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