Shanti Das and Marlon Nichols introduced the seventh season of  ATL Live on the Park to a sold out show on Tuesday night in Atlanta, GA. The dynamic duo proved once again why ATL Live on the Park is Atlanta’s top bill for live music performances. Season openers included performances by Quinn and Jukebox, Crystal Cruz, Candice Nelson and Pepsi’s Artist Spotlight of the Month Ghetto&Blues. The new season also welcomed Boom 102.5/97.5 morning show host Ed Lover as opening night host and one of Atlanta’s premiere deejay’s, DJ E-Clazz to the lineup. The April edition of ATL Live on the Park was sponsored by Gentleman Jack, Pepsi, ChooseATL, Majic 107.5 and Boom 102.9/97.5 and executive produced by Press Reset Entertainment and Pinecone Productions.
Opening season acts, Quinn and Juke, Crystal Cruz, Candice Nelson and Ghetto&Blues proved why Atlanta continues to be a breeding ground for up and coming artists. Quin and Jukebox opened the show with a small tribute to the late Phife Dawg of A Tribe Called Quest. Crystal Cruz showcased her strong vocals by performing two original songs, ‘I’m Yours’ and ‘When You Know’. Cruz closed her set with a timeless cover by Etta James, ‘All I Do Is Cry’. Candice Nelson, known for writing for some of the biggest names in R&B including Mary J. Blige, Beyonce, J-Lo and more performed her original song ‘One Man’ and ended her set with a cover by Mary J. Blige ‘Take Me As I Am’. Ghetto&Blues, this month’s Pepsi’s Artist Spotlight of the Month, earned their title with last night’s performance. Ghetto&Blues kicked off their set with ‘So Here We Go’, followed by their chart-topping hit ‘Maria Maria’, a song Ghetto&Blues collaborated with Carlos Santana in 1999. Ghetto&Blues concluded their huge performance with an original titled ‘Big Poppa’.
R&B singers Demetria McKinney and Keri Hilson were brought to the stage by Ed Lover to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to all the women who were celebrating their birthday at last night’s event. The impromptu performance mixed with dynamic vocals brought the crowd to their feet
DJ E-Clazz and Ed Lover closed the night out with an ‘old school’ set that took the crowd back to Lover’s MTV days.
Special guests in attendance included  Keri Hilson, Polow da Don, Sarah–Elizabeth L. Reed, First Lady, City of Atlanta, Christopher Riley of VH1’s Hit the Floor, WSB-TV’s Jovita Moore, Demetria McKinney, Dedra Allen from WEtv’s Cutting It in the ATL, Tameka Foster, Jason Riddick of Hot 107.9, Teresa Caldwell, Hurricane Dave of Radio One, Greg Smith of SESAC, DJ Fadelf, and more.
The May edition of ATL Live on the Park is a part of the 31 Days of Jazz for the City of Atlanta and will return Tuesday, May 10, 2016. For more information about ATL Live on the Park, please visit: www.atlliveonthepark.com or follow on Instagram and Twitter @atllive_music.
Photos credit: Prince Williams of ATLPics.net
