‘Abbott Elementary’ star slated for new Memphis block party event
Nicolette Hatchett aka DJ Nico. (Submitted)
Nicolette Hatchett says that being laid off from Tone at the top of the year eventually led to the creation of a new event celebrating the intersection of hip-hop and dance music.
Summer SOULstice Block Party takes place Saturday, June 21, at Grind City Brewing Co. An afterparty is scheduled for later that evening.
Hatchett had worked in event production for the Memphis Black arts nonprofit for years. It gave her the confidence and opportunity to work with Black artists and contractors.
Zack Fox is an actor, DJ, comedian, writer and rapper. (Submitted)
Hatchett said the job gave her an insight to the work she wanted to continue doing.
“I had just gotten back from being in New York for a while, and I was like, ‘I see all my friends bringing Zack Fox out,’” she said. “I had played with him (on shows) before, and we had gotten pretty chummy because we had started playing together more often.”
Fox, who has a recurring role on the sitcom “Abbott Elementary,” is also a DJ, comedian, writer and rapper.
Hatchett, in addition to being a vocalist and violist, is a DJ. As DJ Nico, she has performed across the U.S. and abroad at events and on platforms like Black House Radio, a Los Angeles-based YouTube event series; and The Lot Radio, a New York-based 24-hour online radio station that streams video.
Hatchett said she wanted to bring Fox to Memphis, but she wanted to throw more than an underground party.
Her former coworker Shorin Nicholas suggested a block party.
She then reached out to Fox.
While catching a DJ set in January from another former coworker, Bryan Roberson, aka YoBreeyze, at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art, Hatchett learned that Groovy Gratitude also had an interest in bringing Fox to Memphis.
“I’ve always been a fan of his talent,” said Groovy Gratitude co-owner Marquis White. “His musicianship, comedy.”
Groovy Gratitude is a juice and smoothie bar located in Uptown.
White said he and his wife, Groovy Gratitude co-owner Alicia Dixon, reached out to Fox’s manager a few months ago. They learned that Fox was in talks with Hatchett about a Memphis event but that the details hadn’t been formalized.
“We all got together and created Summer SOULstice,” White said.
In addition to Fox, the event will include Memphis DJs Bizkit (Nichols), Qemist, Zetta, Rhinestonee, Spanish Fly, Nico and the creative culture collaborative V$NR. It takes place 4-10 p.m. on June 21.
“(We) tried to do a healthy balance of women and male DJs because sometimes it doesn’t happen often with lineups,” Hatchett said. “A lot of times, it can be very male-dominated.”
The event’s title is a nod to the summer solstice, which takes place on June 21, as well as June being Black Music Month.
Groovy Gratitude opened its doors to the public last June.
A “pre-game” event with ticketed entry called Ground & Groove includes yoga from Candace Saulsberry. Saulsberry hosts weekly Yoga on the River classes on Tuesdays at Downtown’s River Garden and has a yoga practice called The Yoga Kickback. Hermine’s sun salutations will be followed by a sound bowl session with PJ Shakur. It begins at 3 p.m. on June 21.
Groovy Gratitude has hosted community events, also incorporating wellness.
“We’re here to bring the mindfulness and music part of our brand into a cultural block party, and we’re really excited about it,” Dixon said.
“Wellness includes all things: mental, physical health in general,” Dixon continued. “And we want to continue to provide resources that allow balance.”
In addition to music, Summer SOULstice is set to include Black food and merchandise vendors, Grind City beers, a relaxation hydration station, specialty spritzers, bounce houses, hula hoops and jump ropes.
The event is family-friendly.
“It’s about Black joy and movement and tapping into childlike energy and community,” Hatchett said. “Heavily on community.”
Hatchett, Michael Ivy (Qemist) and New Orleans-based artist and filmmaker Elvira Michelle created The Lowdown, which will host an after party which begins at 11:30 p.m. at Comeback Coffee. It is set to include DJ sets from Fox, as well as DJ Nico, Qemist and Big Ace.
The Lowdown is a underground club music showcase and promotions entity with a focus on Southern and queer artists.
Hatchett intends for Summer SOULstice to be an annual event. She’s also working on a fall event.
Topics
DJ Nico Qemist Grind City Brewing Co.Elle Perry
A native Memphian, Elle Perry has earned graduate degrees from the University of Memphis and Maryland Institute College of Art. She’s written for publications including the Memphis Business Journal, Memphis Flyer and High Ground News, and previously served as coordinator of The Teen Appeal.
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