Each year Athens in Harmony features ten duos and one quartet in a rousing concert that benefits the nonprofit Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement. As a finale, the audience sings “Give Peace a Chance” with all the performers, and a handful of hip hop artists intersperse lyrics about harmony in Athens and beyond. Among the musicians this year are a Brazilian woman who participated in The Voice Brasil; gospel singers; members of popular bands such as Klezmer Local 42, The Original Splitz Band, and Hotel Fiction; and so many other fantastic performers! See the pairings below. None of them knew each other ahead of time. Each pair is settling this week on a single song they’ll perform during the show. Choices this year include “None of Us Are Free (If One of Us Is Chained)” — and “Future Shock” by Curtis Mayfield.
This year’s show — our 8th! — takes place at Hodgson Concert Hall, and WUGA is a media sponsor. The concert is set for 7 PM on February 23rd, a Sunday. All but the first two concerts have sold out so we’re going big by booking Hodgson! Note that the show really does start at 7, and parking is free.
“Athens in Harmony” is a celebration of the stellar talents of local musicians as they are paired across differences in race, ethnicity, religion, and nationality to sing duets with a wonderful backing band led by Michael Wegner. Soulful and heart-warming performances and community building make this annual concert an audience favorite year after year. The show is hosted by the nonprofit’s director Mokah Jasmine Johnson and Winterville mayor and musician Dodd Ferrelle. Former cohosts have included Mayor Girtz, the Chamber of Commerce’s executive director David Bradley, former police chief Scott Freeman, victims advocate Fatma Gurel, and former prison chaplain Shane Sims. Dr. John Olive — professor emeritus from UGA — is the announcer.
The show is produced by Pat Priest and Mokah Jasmine and Knowa Johnson.
Here are the pairings:
Dr. Larry Johnson (Voices of Truth) and singer/songwriter Patrick Barry
Singer/songwriters Trina Meade and Amy Coenen
Brazilian singer Maria Kamila Justino and Jess Thompson (Hotel Fiction)
Rapper LB and Nicole Bechill (Shehehe)
Philip Kohnen (Bichos Vivos and Klezmer Local 42) and Daniel Elder (The East Side Players)
Folk artist Nick Bradfield and soul singer Jbaby aka MrR&b
Singer/songwriters Lethia Donae and William Kissane
Soul singers Stanley Stroud (The Original Splitz Band) and Greg Veale (Rick Fowler Band)
Americana singer/songwriter Kimberly Morgan York and rapper Ant Da Ripper
Singer/songwriters Jean Spencer and Trevon Johnson
The quartet members are soul singers Knowa Johnson and Mr Mister, jazz singer Liz Farrel of Trio Metro, and rock musician Neal Priest
Additional rappers for the finale include Elite Tha Showstoppa, BroDaGod, and Anthony Zuniga.
Click here to get your tickets https://pac.uga.edu/event/athens-in-harmony/
