Bodies of Culture BIPOC Open Mic:
Join us for BOC’s monthly BIPOC Open Mic on Thursday, September 11th! Your favorite host, Melissa Ivey, takes over the Manos stage, featuring a talented lineup of up-and-coming artists, including BOC Mentorship alumni. September’s feature artist coming soon!
Sign-ups onsite start at 6:30, but you can sign up early with this link.
September Feature Artist: Lola
Jen Pastalo Dacpano, aka Lola, is a community member, mother of four, a wife, singer, gardener, flower farmer, clay shaper, school psychologist, entrepreneur, and harmony whore who is happiest when creating connections around song, art, and flowers. Most comfortable in overalls or an apron, she believes you should always be ready to make a huge mess when creating. The bigger the mess, the more fun! Teaching youth how to play the guitar and ukulele and write songs is another way she spends her time, and she will take any opportunity to force a ukulele into your hands, and make you sing, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” Also, when it comes to art, she insists she’s not an artists, because she’s not making art - she’s making discoveries.
About Bodies of Culture:
A program of Levitt Pavilion Denver, Bodies of Culture is committed to investing in and supporting BIPOC youth in the greater Denver area to participate in music through initiatives that celebrate cultural identity and self-expression, understand the healing power of music, and empowered musical self-discovery and exploration.
The Bodies of Culture board is composed of musicians of color throughout Colorado across a spectrum of genres. The board combines decades of shared musical pedigree with experiences steeped in advocacy and social change. As the The board progresses, they hope to recruit new members and engage a diverse group of emerging leaders.
Hosted by: Melissa Ivey
Your Host, Melissa Ivey, also known fondly as Uncle Mel, and recognized as the Musical Doula, is a seasoned event host in Denver, with over 20 years of experience in creating dynamic and inclusive spaces for artistic expression.
With a deep-rooted commitment to amplifying diverse voices within the community, Melissa has dedicated herself to curate a distintive event that has thrived for over 3 years. This gatheringshowcases a fusion of poetry, music, original perofrmances, and dance, provideing a platform for creativity and authentic connection, centering Black, Indigenous and Artists of Color, and our accomplices. In partnership with Manos Sagrados, Uncle Mel cultivates a welcoming environment for the BIPOC Open Mic Series, supported by Bodies of Culture and the Levitt Pavilion of Denver.