AKA Lounge Hosts Open Mic Night

By Ashlie Lewis

ORLANDO, Fla.—On October 12, 2008, AKA Lounge opened its doors to the public with comedian Rod Z hosting its weekly Spoken Word and Neo-Soul Open Mic Night in downtown Orlando.

“It was an average turnout,” commented Rod Z who was brought to AKA Lounge almost four years prior as a host for that particular night.

Although some of the regular performers were missing from the usual line-up, newcomers such as City of God, a music band from Miami, took over the evening with energetic, fun-filled acts.

Bringing together people from all different cultural backgrounds, Open Mic Night highlights musical groups, solo artists, and poetry for all of Orlando to see.

The goal is to attract local and out of state talent to the stage. “We definitely plan on coming back,” said Brandon Halmon, manager of City of God who had their debut on the AKA Lounge stage this past weekend.

Even though it was a brand new experience for some, this event is not new to AKA Lounge. With seven to eight different acts every Sunday, the downtown hotspot accommodates both regular artists and audience members.

Rod Z and AKA Lounge continue and will continue to promote and spread the word about Sunday nights; trying to keep the regulars regular while turning the newcomers into familiar faces.

“I’ve never been here before,” said twenty-one year old Aaryn Burke from Deltona, FL. “But now that I’ve experienced such a great atmosphere, I will definitely be coming back again!”