Atlanta Beltline Art Presents: “No Tables, No Chairs”
MEDIA ADVISORY
Atlanta Beltline Art Presents:
Mausiki Scales and the Common Ground Collective’s
“No Tables, No Chairs”
Saturday, April 25 | Shirley Clarke Franklin Park | 1-8 p.m.
WHO:
- Atlanta Beltline Art, Atlanta Beltline’s arts and culture program
- Mausiki Scales & the Common Ground Collective, Event Creator, Curator and Headline Performer
WHAT: “No Tables, No Chairs”
Since 2011, Mausiki Scales & the Common Ground Collective have “electrified” the Atlanta Beltline with “No Tables, No Chairs.” The funk-filled festival invites families to engage on a journey through the rhythms of the African Diaspora as it marries the spirit of the HBCU marching band with New Orleans second line jazz and blues.
“Our objective is to erase the distance between the performer and the community, while honoring the ancestral traditions that connect Africa to her diaspora,” said event creator Mausiki Scales.
The day will kick off with music from DJ Ear Dr. and interactive Funky Fun Stations, where attendees can create their own Mardi Gras/Junkanoo-inspired headpieces for the parade.
Later in the afternoon, everyone is invited to join the Funk-line as Mausiki Scales & the Common Ground Collective, the Atlanta Junkanoo Band, and other performers lead a high-energy parade celebrating the sounds and spirit of the African Diaspora. The celebration continues into the evening with free live music performances that keep the rhythm going. Event is free and open to the public.
WHERE: Atlanta’s Westside Shirley Clarke Franklin Park (Formerly Westside Park)
1600 Johnson Road Northwest, Atlanta, GA 30318, Entrance 2
WHEN/SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: Saturday, April 25, 1 to 8 p.m.
- 1:00 p.m. – Celebration Kick-off + DJ Set by Ear Dr.
- 2:30–3:15 p.m. – Performance by Atlanta After School All Stars
- 3:30–4:00 p.m.– DJ Set by Ear Dr.
- 4:00–4:45 p.m.– Parade / Second Line
- 5:00–6:00 p.m.– Performance by Frankie’s Blues Mission
- 6:30–8:00 p.m. – Concert by Mausiki Scales & the Common Ground Collective
WHY: Mausiki Scales has been a force in the Atlanta indie music scene for over two decades as a sought-after keyboardist and founder/musical director of the critically acclaimed ensemble Mausiki Scales and the Common Ground Collective. A recipient of the 2015 Georgia Governor’s Award for the Arts and Humanities, Mausiki is also a folklorist and historian who translates his knowledge into musical arrangements that leave his audiences moved and moving…literally. They have performed in numerous celebrations, concerts, and special events throughout Africa and the Americas, including Ghana’s Golden Anniversary Celebration, the National Black Arts Festival, Funk Jazz Café and the Atlanta Jazz Festival. They have also collaborated with artists such as Roy Ayers, Babatunde Olatunji, Les Nubians, Stevie Wonder, The Last Poets, Third World, and Julie Dexter.
EVENT MEDIA ASSETS: Photos | Video
The 2026 Atlanta Beltline Art exhibition and programming is sponsored by Delta Air Lines at the Gold level; Northside Hospital and Ponce City Market at the Silver level; and Cox Enterprises at the Bronze level.
This program is supported in part by the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs. This program is also supported in part by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners and the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly and funding from its partner agency – the National Endowment for the Arts. Atlanta Beltline Art also receives direct support through an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. To find out more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit www.arts.gov.
