Solange Is Holding Open Auditions For New Orleans-Based Band Members
Solange and Esperanza Spalding have joined the lineup for a forthcoming inauguration ball.
Titled Peace Ball: Voices of Hope and Resistance, the event will take place at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and will be presented by Busboys and Poets.
The Peace Ball touts itself as "A gathering to celebrate the accomplishments and successes of the past 4 years and the vow to continue to be the change we want to see in the world." Tickets for the event have already sold out.
Along with Solange and Esperanza, other guests a part of the nonpartisan event include: Angela Davis, Van Jones, Danny Glover, Alice Walker and many others. All exhibits will be open during the event as well (which will surely please those that have yet to see the museum, and thought that they would have to wait until after March to check it out)
The event is happening January 19, a day before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has been having a difficult time getting performers to be a part of the event. The first artist to be tied to the event was teen opera singer Jackie Evancho. Since then other acts have joined including the Rockettes, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Talladega Marching Tornadoes.
The latter has received some controversy, considering that the marching band comes from Talladega College, which is the oldest historically black liberal arts college in Alabama.
"We were a bit horrified to hear of the invitation," Shirley Ferrill, a member of Talladega's Class of 1974, said in an interview with CBS. "I don't want my alma mater to give the appearance of supporting him. Ignore, decline or whatever, but please don’t send our band out in our name to do that."
By the looks of it, the Peace Ball is sure to be a much more festive event.
