BPL@Night Series Features Baseball Legends, American Tribal Belly Dancing, and Down-Home Family Music!

The Birmingham Public Library (BPL) will host baseball historian Allen Barra, the Devyani Dance Company, and the family music character Farmer Jason in its August BPL@Night programming line-up. Barra will discuss his book, Rickwood Field: A Century in America’s Oldest Ballpark, on Tuesday, August 17 at the Central Library. The Devyani Dance Company will perform American Tribal belly dance on Thursday, August 19 at the Central Library, and Farmer Jason will bring his upbeat country sound to the Avondale Library on Tuesday, August 31. All three events begin at 6:30 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

BPL@Night is a series of high quality evening performances offered free-of-charge by Birmingham Public Library in an effort to bring enriching cultural programs to downtown Birmingham and the city’s neighborhoods. BPL@Night highlights local and regional performers that reflect the diversity of our community and draw from a wide range of personal experience. Through programs such as these, the library seeks to provide Birmingham citizens of all ages opportunities for entertainment, ongoing education, and personal growth.

Central Library
August 17 at 6:30 p.m. in the Richard Arrington Auditorium
Rickwood Field: A Century in America’s Oldest Ballpark
In chronicling Rickwood Field’s history, noted author and journalist Allen Barra tells of segregated baseball and the legendary Negro Leagues. Though Rickwood Field was once a place where the Ku Klux Klan held rallies, it has now become a symbol of hope and triumph that reflects the evolution of a city where baseball was, for decades, the sole connecting point between blacks and whites.

Central Library
August 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Atrium
American Tribal Belly Dance featuring the Devyani Dance Company
Megha Gavin is the director of the Birmingham-based Devyani Dance Center, a hub of international and ethnic dance styles. Over the last nine years, Devyani Dance Company has performed at countless festivals, weddings, corporate events, and private parties, and has been nominated for multiple cultural and artistic awards. Bring the whole family for a riveting performance of this ancient dance form!

Avondale Library
August 31 at 6:30 p.m.
Farmer Jason
When internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Jason Ringenberg created his family music character Farmer Jason in 2003, he had no idea he was launching the most successful creation of his storied career. What started out as a simple side project has grown into a world-touring bandwagon pulled by a tractor and a singing farmer. Climb aboard and grab a pitchfork – or a guitar!

Visit www.bplonline.org for additional information