Jacksonville Today Arts and Culture Editor Matt Shaw shares his arts and culture picks for the weekend.
Friday
Bab’s Lab Grand Slam
CoRK Arts District | Riverside
On Friday evening, narrative performance guru Barbara Colaciello’s popular Bab’s Lab Story Slam series brings together an all-star crew of recent winners for the grand slam of friendly storytelling competitions. Each member of the storyteller lineup – Daniel Austin, Tricia Booker, Andrew Dickson and Eva Grayzel, among others – will tell a five-minute story based on the theme flood of breath. Local songwriter and musician Grant Neilsen will also perform. Show starts at 8 p.m. (doors open at 7:15). Tickets: $18. More information.
Saturday
Douglas Anderson Writer’s Festival
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts | Spring Park
For three decades the literature-focussed nonprofit Douglas Anderson Writers’ Guild has brought in renowned authors and poets (including Margaret Atwood, Joyce Carol Oates, George Saunders, Billy Collins and Tracy K. Smith) for a full day of writers’ workshops, readings and Q&A’s. This year’s Douglas Anderson Writer’s Festival features poets Nicole Sealy (Ordinary Beast) and David Kirby (The House on Boulevard St.: New and Selected Poems); fiction writers Deesha Philyaw (The Secret Lives of Church Ladies) and Dantiel Moniz (Milk Blood Heat); and the playwright Jacquelyn Reingold, among others. The event is held from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Here’re the full list of visiting writers and tickets for workshops and evening readings.
Saturday
Orchestra Noir
Florida Theatre | Downtown Jacksonville
The Atlanta-based classical-meets-hip-hop ensemble Orchestra Noir has provided classical accompaniment to an all-star cast of popular artists, including Rick Ross, 2Chainz, Migos, Trick Daddy and Trina. On Saturday, the group brings a symphony of R&B and hip-hop classics to the Florida Theatre. Tickets and more information.