Hip Hop, Reggae and Poetry find the right balance at The Apollo Series

The new open stage event, The Apollo Series, returns on Saturday, April 28, at The Haven, 12 Hillcrest Avenue, with an eclectic and diverse line-up that fuses different musical genres with poetry. Scheduled to perform on the second staging since its first in January are local rapper Scantana, alongside electronic band Pseudokhule, Reggae songstress Lila Ike and spoken word poet Chereese Lavonne.

Part-showcase, part-open stage, The Apollo Series features three main performers as well as an opportunity for musicians, poets, dancers and comedians to share their talents.

“Our first staging was excellent,” says host and organiser, Simon the Writer. “All of our acts delivered and our open stage revealed a lot of exceptional talent. We were also very pleased with the attendance of our patrons who we must thank for their overwhelming support.”

January’s initial staging of The Apollo Series was headlined by poet Simon the Writer, local Hip Hop collective The Council and Reggae artiste Koro Fyah.

The Apollo Series features what Simon the Writer calls ‘rotating sets’, where the night’s scheduled acts deliver their performances and then return to the stage later to deliver another. In between the headliners’ sets, the stage is open for a short period to willing performers in the audience.

“We saw all types of talents from people at all levels,” says Simon. “Some were already pros who were in attendance and chose to share. For some, it was their first time, and they did well with the encouragement from the crowd.”

On April 28, one can expect the open stage to be just as engaging, as well as see top-notch showings from the night’s featured performers. Scantana, known as the ‘man with the most grammar’, will display his skill over music produced live by Pseudokhule, while Lila Ike, who is part of Protoje’s In.Digg.Nation Collective, will be joined by her musicians for an interesting, acoustic set. The lone poet Chereese Lavonne, who recently started her own open mic series titled Speak, will provide the literary element for the night.

Admission is $500 and showtime is 8PM.

The Apollo Series is being presented by A.C.T.I.O.N. Jamaica and is sponsored by the Main Event Entertainment Group and Marketing Plus Communications.