Open Minds Open Mic aims to revivify Frogtown next week, feat. special guest ...

Next week a new artistically focused open mic project serving the perpetually overlooked Frogtown neighborhood of Saint Paul is launching with one simple goal: to foster Saint Paul's performing arts scene. Open Minds Open Mic is a project spearheaded by longtime host Shahbaz Shah (and many friends), and will debut with performances from special guest Eyedea - and, hopefully, some talented newcomers.

We spoke to Shahbaz about his host history and how he came about starting the weekly event.

The Chicago-born, Stillwater-bred Shah said of his performance art beginnings: ©."

Shahbaz returned to Minneapolis in 2008 and for two years recused himself from the scene he'd been a part of since the early aughts.

Since then Shah has called in favors from every corner of his address book in setting up Open Mind Open Mic;

The event is very deliberately located - Frogtown's longstanding reputation seems to have precluded it from much involvement in our Cities' rich arts scene, whether the talent is there or not. It's also the neighborhood of next week's special guest Eyedea, the razor-sharp emcee and poet who a friend of Shah's asked to appear at the inaugural night.

"I'm expecting a decent turnout, I'm also hoping that it will encourage the musicians, poets, comedians and artists in general of the Frogtown area and greater Saint Paul to seek out a new place to share their expression. That's my expectation and I just hope that that continues to be enough to help get the bar get going too."

OPEN MINDS OPEN MIC PREMIERE, FEATURING EYEDEA COALE'S BAR AND GRILL, 719 NORTH DALE STREET, ST. PAUL, MN WED., OCT. 20, 9:30 P.M. *$5 SUGGESTED DONATION, $3 IF PERFORMING (NO ONE WILL BE TURNED AWAY)

For more information you can contact Open Minds at: mdopenmic[@]gmail.com