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DEVO at Shaky Knees | Sunday in the Park featuring Tunes from the Tombs | East Atlanta Strut | Atlanta comedian Dante Quitman | “Braiding Time, Memory and Water”  | Urban Grind Open Mic Night

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DEVO on de-evolution, arts funding, and why their music still resonates today

The band DEVO has been holding up a funhouse mirror to America for nearly 50 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.

“Sunday in the Park featuring Tunes from the Tombs” hosted at Oakland Cemetery this weekend

Two of Oakland Cemetery’s beloved programs are coming together for a full day of music and community on Sept. 28 from noon-7:30 p.m. WABE arts reporter Summer Evans has more on the mashup they’re calling Sunday in the Park featuring Tunes from the Tombs.

Sunday in the Park returns to Oakland Cemetery for its 47^th year this weekend. The festival was originally inspired by the Victorian tradition of picnicking at cemeteries with one’s family. This year, they are combining Sunday in the Park with their annual music festival Tunes from the Tombs, which had to be cancelled this past summer due to inclement weather. The festival will include guided tours of the cemetery, a historical costume contest, an artist market, food trucks and live music. The event begins at noon on Sunday, and proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Historic Oakland Foundation.

East Atlanta Strut returns this Saturday with merriment and neighborhood spirit

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.

This year’s East Atlanta Strut will take place on Sept. 27, and it’s set to be bigger than ever. Now in its 28th year, the goings-on at the Strut are as diverse and unique as the inhabitants of East Atlanta.

The festivities begin early at 8:30 a.m., with a 5K run winding its way through the neighborhood. Then the parade kicks off at noon, proceeding down Glenwood Avenue into the heart of the East Atlanta Village. You’ll see art groups, dance troupes, marching bands and so much more, including the yearly Strut Queen, the honor bestowed upon one of our community’s most vivacious drag queens. Ridiculous competitions are a significant part of the Strut, including Leaf Blower Madness.

“Nobody else has Leaf Blower Madness, where you blow a Kleenex box through an obstacle course with your leaf blower and race against other people. We also have the Wing Toss, a contest where you have to eat wings and properly dispose of them in a trash receptacle, from a distance. It will be 12 feet from the table where the people are eating,” said Michelle Rice, a long-time volunteer with East Atlanta Strut.

You can find more information about the day’s activities on their website.

“In The Own Words” spotlights Atlanta artist Cyrus Nelson and comedian Dante Quitman

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. Today, we shine a light on Atlanta artist Cyrus Nelson and comedian Dante Quitman.

Core Dance screens Flux Project film “Braiding Time, Memory and Water” on storefront

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 in downtown Decatur each evening through Oct. 12. WABE arts reporter Summer Evans recently spoke with Schroeder about the project.

Urban Grind’s Thursday night open mic marks 19 years as a cornerstone of Atlanta’s poetry scene

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, while others stick around and stay. The Thursday night open mic at Urban Grind is the latter. Every Thursday night for the last 19 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 Urban Grind owner Cassandra Ingram and longtime host B Rock to discuss the legacy and future of the iconic event.

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We hope you enjoyed today’s episode of The City Lights Collective.
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