Def Jam Poetry for Peace Weekend

Fri., Aug. 17, 9 p.m., Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts, 736-38 S. Broad St. ; Sat., Aug. 18, 9 p.m., Penthouse Lounge and Grille, 460 N. Second St.

by Rachel Frankford

poetry

Every third Friday at the Philadelphia Clef Club, you can hear spoken-word performances through the outreach group/concert series SpeaktoMe, but this week's show has a seriously star-studded cast: Def Jam poets Sunni Patterson from New Orleans, Abyss and Georgia Me from Atlanta, and Philadelphia's Black Ice (those latter two took part in the Tony Award-winning Russell Simmons' Def Poetry Jam on Broadway). Called "Poetry for Peace," the concert's theme is the seemingly endless gun violence plaguing Philadelphia. SpeaktoMe, a three-year-old organization founded by Jamal Mack and Shunard Brown, showcases spoken-word talent (as well as that of its own jazz band, S2M) and seeks to get kids involved in music. Mack and Brown plan to use some of the concert's proceeds toward their goal of creating an after-school resource center in North Philly that will provide homework help and free music lessons. Of Friday's show and the party planned for the next night at Penthouse Grille, Mack says, "It's urgent because of what's going on ... these are big names and they are volunteering their time to raise awareness."

Fri., Aug. 17, 9 p.m., $15 general admission, $25 VIP, Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts, 736-38 S. Broad St., 215-893-9912; Sat., Aug. 18, 9 p.m., $15 general admission, $25 VIP, Penthouse Lounge and Grille, 460 N. Second St., 215-774-7557.