Brooks's Visionary Soul Open Mic enlivens the Augusta entertainment scene

By Lia Barnes | Staff writer

Augusta once was a booming arts city and home to many famous musicians like the late soul star James Brown, the late opera soprano Jessye Norman and jazz trombonist Wycliff Gordon, who went away to New York but came back to Georgia and serves as director of jazz studies in the Department of Music at Augusta University.

With Augusta’s creative decline, many people around the city have made it their mission to bring back that vibrant artistic scene. Jukwan Brooks, founder of Better Knowledge LLC and host of Visionary Soul Open Mic, is no exception.

Brooks is an author, poet and businessman. Through these talents, the Thomson native has started several creative endeavors, one of which is Visionary Soul Open Mic. He started this open mic project to give Augustans a platform “to showcase their God-given talents on a stage,” as he puts it.

This is also his way of giving back the support he received in 2023 at an open mic event called Dope Spit. Brooks, author of the 2024 novel “The Boy That Comes from Nothing,” also said giving people this platform could help inspire others to do the same and showcase their poetic, musical and comedic talents.

To help the local artists gain recognition, his company records every act and then sends the videos to the performers as well as posts them on Instagram (@bossman.kwan and @betterknowledgellc) as well as Facebook (@betterknowledgellc).

Visit Eventbrite.ca and search for Better Knowledge LLC for all of its upcoming events and to sign up as a performer.

The Visionary Soul Open Mics occur every third Thursday of the month. The price at the door is $20, but online it is $15. Location is Studio on Eighth at 230 Eighth St. in downtown Augusta—about a block from Groucho’s Deli on Broad Street.

Note: Jukwan Brooks is the author of “The Boy That Comes from Nothing.” His next open mic night will be Jan. 15 at the Studio on Eighth. (photo courtesy of Jukwan Brooks/special to the Bell Ringer)

Contact Lia Barnes at liabarnes@augusta.edu.