The South has a way of being the root. It’s the birthplace of the diaspora we know as “the culture”. It can seem like the center of the universe, at least it seems that way for me. It’s why I stamped so much of my artistry in being more Southern than most you may know. See, I was afforded a unique upbringing that spread my formative years across Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Georgia. My parents met in Louisiana. My mother’s family hails from Carthage, Mississippi. My father’s family began in South Carolina before migrating to DC. So, if there was someone specifically made to passionately appreciate the South, it’d probably be me. As a matter of fact, that appreciation is the primary contributor to my success in the musical and culinary scenes of two flagship cities in the region (Atlanta & Nashville).
When I began building my company, my goal was simple—bring the stories of the South to the main stage and to the highest levels of dining. A storyteller by nature, every note and every ingredient have always been intentionally and carefully chosen to play a role in the story of our rich heritage here. It’s with great honor that I present an intimate opportunity to merge the performing and culinary arts in one setting. Kori Wallace’s South of Eden. proudly presents “the eden. experience” - a two part concert paired with a special five-course dinner, curated and executed by some of my closest colleagues and I. The mission was simple: build a modern bridge between a concert hall and a juke joint, and one between a Michelin star and a Sunday dinner. Enjoy an acoustic set from our opener, Kengdom, and a hard-hitting headlining set from my band, mellosmoothe. The evening’s courses will be presented in acts, with each act diving into themes exploring the depths of Southern culture. Here are your five themes to anticipate:
Act I - breaking of the bread.
- the roots of our culture thrive in the communal act of “breaking bread”. whether we’re remembering the sacrifice of Jesus, engaging in table-side fellowship, or disseminating resources amongst our tribe, we understand that prosperity is most attainable with the strong first step of a people united.
Act II - i’ll remember june.
- southern summers have historically been the breeding grounds for the wonders of youth. we basked in the eternity of the sun back when moments felt like they could last forever. our homes were no longer four walls, but as far as the eye could see into the grasslands and tree lines along the River. we ate fruit from the neighborhood, and awaited the maturity of the sugar cane for a porch-side snack.
Act III - the land of our ancestors.
- when the crops became their way of life, and farm animals became their legacy, our great-great-great grandparents created what we know as soul food with simply vegetables and the scraps of hogs, chickens, and cows. for generations, we’ve honored the traditions of these recipes developed with the gifts of the land.
Act IV - ode to the levees.
- everyone’s lives changed when the levees broke. the River was always integral to our story, but we had only ever seen water with this ferocity in the Bible. there was no Ark this time. the streets were overtaken with muddy Gulf and Delta water riddled with the same aquatic life we gathered around on many Fridays for.
Act V - a mother’s love.
- “rich and warm, like a mother’s love” was one of the strongest lines i’d ever written. i’ve spent the last five years of my career aiming to build something that my mother would have been proud to embrace. born in Chicago — and as Michael B. Jordan’s character in Sinners states, Chicago is nothing but “Mississippi with tall buildings” — and raised in central Mississippi, my mother was a bonafide Southern woman. awarded “Miss Kosciusko High” back in high school, she was the ruby of a small town; precious as a Mississippi magnolia. her flair and charm was transcendent, no wonder she developed a love for Louisiana. the final course of the evening is an homage to my mother’s favorite Southern delicacy.
Beyond a rich experience, guests of age will also receive complimentary champagne and a couple of souvenirs to keep with them as they embark on journeys that prayerfully go far beyond the South. Stay tuned for content to fully prepare you to be immersed in my world come October 2nd in Mississippi. Get your tickets early because seating is very limited. To keep the spirit intimate and engaging, we will only have 40 seats available. I’m excited to have you🖤
