VOL. 26·SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10

§ THE STORY

Soft Spoken comes off the screen and onto the roof. For one night only, Culture's evening of sound, story and soul goes live above the city. There are candles on every table, the band plays in the corner, dinner is served under the sky, and the skyline turns gold and then blue behind it all. Juniper Terrace is a rooftop in the Arts District. Dinner seating starts at 6:30. At 7:30 the Slow Burn Quintet starts playing, and for the rest of the night the music and the words take turns: a song, then a poem, then a song. THE ARTISTS Simone Avery: a voice like warm honey with a little smoke in it. She grew up singing in her grandmother's church in Compton and now writes songs about the love that stays. Isaiah Moreau: a velvet tenor who writes like an old soul. His love songs sound like a Sunday afternoon with the windows down. Amara Whitfield: spoken-word poet and teacher. Her poems about her mother, her block and her body leave rooms completely quiet. Kofi Langston: twenty years on the mic, from Leimert Park to Oakland. A storyteller first, and every poem lands like a letter you were meant to receive. The Slow Burn Quintet: keys, bass, drums, guitar and sax playing neo-soul, jazz and a little gospel, low and slow. THE MENU (Dinner & Show and VIP Table) First: roasted butternut squash bisque with brown butter and toasted pepitas. Main: braised short rib over sweet potato purée with collard green chimichurri, or maple-glazed oyster mushrooms for vegetarians. Dessert: bourbon peach cobbler with vanilla bean cream. TICKETS Just the Music ($45): a seat for the full show. Dinner is not included, and drinks are at the bar. Dinner & Show ($110): the three-course dinner and a seat for the full show. VIP Table ($225 per person): the best tables, right beside the band. Includes the three-course dinner, a welcome cocktail, a bottle of wine for the table, and a meet-and-greet with the artists after the last set. DRESS THE PART We're taping for Knect TV, and the cameras love candlelight. Come dressed for a beautiful night. It gets cool on the roof in November, so bring a layer that looks good. 21+ with valid ID. Dinner seating at 6:30 PM, music at 7:30 PM, and the night ends around 11:00 PM. Let us know about dietary needs after you book. By attending you agree you may appear on camera.

Everything.

Soft Spoken Live: On the Rooftop.

The lineup.