Welcome to Final Fridays, an after hours program series brought to you by the Enoch Pratt Free Library. We are opening up the beautiful Central Library for interest based activities outside of normal operating hours on the Final Friday of every month. Come see what is going on this month for Final Fridays!
Join the Enoch Pratt Free Library in welcoming special guests Brandon Woody & UPENDO and Aaron Dante of No Pix After Dark for an evening of conversation, music, and community building in Pratt's grand Central Hall. Award winning podcaster Aaron Dante will interview Brandon as guests enjoy refreshment, and then UPENDO will take the stage to fill library space with vivacious improvisation, creating a sound like no other and bringing together a wide spectrum of music lovers!
Doors for the program will open at 6. The program will start at 6:30. Seating and standing room available.
Space for this program is limited and registration is required. ID REQUIRED for alcohol consumption. IDs will be checked. Vouchers for free parking will be available. Refreshment for this program is provided by Bin 604 Wine + Spirits.
————————
Aaron Dante is the host and owner of the NoPixAfterDark, an award winning podcast. The podcast seeks to build community of human experiences, positive storytelling, and conversation. The format can consist of simply telling a memorable tale, entrepreneur life, or explaining an experience that changed a life.
NoPixAfterDark is the winner of the 2020 - 2022 Readers Choice Best of Baltimore for the Baltimore Sun and 2020 - 2022 Reader Choice Best of Baltimore for Baltimore Magazine. The NoPixAfterDark Podcast participated in Epsilon Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority as they celebrated Black Podcasters for Black History Month. NoPixAfterDark podcast Emcee'd the Visit Baltimore Annual Conference in 2022 panel for "Building the Future of Tourism." NoPixAfterDark featured in BmoreArt, Livid Magazine, and WBAL 11 TV Hill with Jason Newton.
NoPixAfterDark was the first podcast to record live during AFRAM 2022. The hit podcast recently participated in the Maryland Association of Counties (MACO) podcast alley, partnered with the U.S. Navy for Maryland Fleet Week 2022, partnered with Guinness Open Gate Brewery, 2023 CIAA Tech Summit, Arena Stage Washington DC, Visit Baltimore and Vice TV.
Guests of NoPixAfterDark have included City Council President, Mayor Baltimore City Brandon Scott; Washington Commanders Vice President Julie Donaldson, CEO & President La Fête Du Rosè Donaè Burston, Lobos 1707 Tequila Dia Simms; Maryland Governor Elect Wes Moore, Dr. Karsonya Whitehead, WEAA radio host and renowned DEI expert; Annie Milli. Executive Director of Live Baltimore; and Visit Baltimore CEO & President Al Hutchinson.
————————
Baltimore native Brandon Woody was referred to as an artist on the rise in the region by the Baltimore Sun in 2015 at the age of 17. Since then, Woody has gone on to become an international artist, performing with his band, Upendo, curating projects for major museums, collaborating with international brands and performing at major venues and institutions around the globe. Woody uses music as a tool for healing, genuine connection and celebrating community.
Woody started his own band, UPENDO in 2015. Since then, the group has gone on to perform internationally with regular concerts across the east coast. Notable performances from the band include their 2019 performance at the Harlem Stage, 2021 performance at the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore’s 2022 Vegan SoulFest, the 2022 closing of Baltimore’s Lexington Market, and their 2022 residency at the University of Maryland. Upendo’s concert experiences are comprised of original music composed by Woody and fellow Upendo collaborator, Troy Long. Woody has also had the privilege of performing alongside artists such as Stefon Harris, Tarus Mateen, Tim Green, Theljon Allen, Sean Jones, Robert Glasper, Derrick Hodge, Solange, Craig Alston, Terri-Lyne Carrington, Quincy Phillips, Benny Maupin, Jon Faddis and Danilo Perez, who have all greatly influenced his artistry and musical taste.
Woody’s career as a composer and recording artist has granted him the opportunity to score films such as Unwavering: The Power of Black innovation, The Unveiling of God, Keep What You Sow, Aliferous, Paint it Black Baltimore and Three Blind Mice. Woody has also produced and arranged horns for Emma Vie, Sudan Archives, Tye Tribet, Miranda Curtis, Kevin Sinatra and Klein. This work garnered the attention of international brands which lead to his collaborations with Calvin Klein (One Future), Saucony, Vogue Italy, Nike, Reebok X Eames, Union Los Angeles, High Snobiety X Newport Jazz Festival, Somewhere DC. Brandon has also curated projects with the Baltimore Museum of Art, Walters Art Museum, Reginald F Lewis Museum, August Wilson Center, MOMA PS1. Woody also had the opportunity of casting musicians and acting as a band leader in an upcoming Apple TV series, Lady in the Lake to be released in the fall of 2023.
In 2021, Woody was named a Bach/Conn endorsed Artist and was named the Best musician to watch by the Baltimore Magazine in 2022. Brandon’s other accolades include the 2021 Best Musician of the Year Award by the Baltimore Crown Awards, 2020 Emerging Voice Award by the Festival of New Trumpet and articles by the Baltimore Banner, Baltimore Sun, True Laurels, BmoreArt, Makers of the USA, Paper Magazine and Schone Magazine.
Woody also works to share his knowledge and love for music with those who want to learn. In his spare time, Woody private lessons and masterclass and has taught for institutions such as the Peabody Preparatory, University of Maryland, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Accent Pontiac and public schools such as Cecil Elementary, A Philip Randolph High School, Temple X Schools, and Highlandtown Elementary #215.