Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center.
Performances by Shaheed and DJ Supreme and Lizz Wright will be presented this month by UAB’sOn Jan. 14, Shaheed and DJ Supreme will officially kick off a new year and a new season for the Alys Stephens Center. The free performance will be livestreamed from the center; donations are welcome.
Join the ASC on Jan. 21 for an intimate, livestream performance starring Lizz Wright,
accompanied by Kenny Banks Sr. on piano. Tickets are $15 per device. Call 205-975-2787 or visit AlysStephens.org for tickets or more information.
For a $29 monthly Virtual Arts Pass subscription, get full virtual access to all events presented by the ASC and UAB’s arts partner organizations Abroms-Engel Institute for the Visual Arts and ArtPlay. VAP subscribers will receive an art bag that provides the supplies needed for the month’s workshop. Upgrade to a $49 subscription and receive an Alabama artisan box, with products from local artisans, plus art workshop supplies.
More January events include:
- Vocabby’s World for children explores new vocabulary words, 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 16;
- AEIVA Inside the Arts Live Gallery Talk with artist Lucas Blalock, 6-7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 19; free.
- UAB Arts in Medicine Virtual Mental Health Monday: Arts and Disabilities, 6-7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 25; free.
- “Write Your Life,” creative writing workshop with Audrey Atkins, available exclusively to Virtual Arts Pass subscribers and Arts members, Wednesday, Jan. 27.
- Lunch and Learn, “The Art of Feng Shui,” noon, Wednesday, Jan. 27; free.
Hailing from Birmingham, Shaheed and DJ Supreme do not fit the mold of most typical dirty south hip-hop artists; they practice traditional boom-bap hip-hop, their artist bio states. Their two critically acclaimed LPs, “Health Wealth & Knowledge of Self” and “Scholar Warrior (The Remix Album),” showcase Shaheed’s sharp lyrical prowess and DJ Supreme’s soulful production. They have shared stages with Atmosphere, Jurassic 5, The Jungle Brothers, Brother Ali, Raekwon, Diggable Planets, Camp LO, Scarface and Stalley. Their albums boast guest appearances from artists such as Akil the MC (of Jurassic 5), Amir Sulaiman and W. Ellington Felton. Their highly anticipated LPs “Knowledge Rhythm and Understanding” and “The Art of Throwing Darts — The Prequel” were released on Communicating Vessels; look for the full-length LP album coming soon.
Acclaimed vocalist Lizz Wright is a steward of American music, bringing brilliant color and vibrancy to singular original works and compositions by some of the greatest songwriters of our time, according to her bio. Through an inimitable voice that The New York Times touts as “a smooth, dark alto possessed of qualities you might associate with barrel-aged bourbon or butter-soft leather,” Wright sings with a soaring reflection of the cultural fabric of America. She has garnered widespread attention through the release of five critically acclaimed albums. From her breakout debut album “Salt” to her forthcoming album “Grace,” Wright lives life filled with beautiful possibilities, centered on the power of song.