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Photos by Ariana Gastelum. Alyssandra Nighswonger performs Thursday during Viento y Agua’s weekly open mic.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n In honor of hosting weekly open mics at Viento y Agua Coffeehouse<\/a>\u00a0for the past 10 years, Alyssandra Nighswonger will be celebrating with a 10-hour open mic marathon this Saturday, April 22 from noon to 10:00PM.<\/p>\n Nighswonger has also curated a lineup to perform every hour, featuring artists such as Janie, Mooney Starr, Taji, Front Porch Dreamer, Meni Mago, The Rookeries, Cat Cunningham, Crystal Snake and the Drains and The Hawkline Monster.<\/p>\n \u201cI want it to feel like part block party, part reunion,\u201d Nighswonger told the Post<\/em>. \u201cI want to meet some new people. I want to see some old friends. I want people who have never met to form new bonds and just appreciate each other.\u201d<\/p>\n In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a raffle for the chance to win prizes from Viento y Agua, Fingerprints, Folk Revival Festival, Art Theatre, The Pie Bar and more. In honor of Earth Day, funds will go toward The Growing Experience<\/a>, a seven-acre urban farm located in North Long Beach.<\/p>\n Approximately 14 years ago, Angie Evans started open-mic night at Viento y Agua to establish a safe space for artists and musicians that was free of misogyny and full of respect, Nighswonger said.<\/p>\n Nighswonger, who was a regular performer at the time, took over four years later. As she\u2019s watched other recurring performers and attendees come and go, she\u2019s always worked to maintain its same values.<\/p>\n \u201cThe regulars change over months and years,\u201d she said. \u201cYou look up, and you\u2019ll be like, \u2018Wow, this is a whole new sea of faces.\u2019 It\u2019s kind of like how your body\u2019s skin cells replace itself […]. It\u2019s still your skin, but every cell is a different cell than it was, but it\u2019s still you. That\u2019s like how open mic is.\u201d<\/p>\n Nighswonger has been involved in the Long Beach community for 15 years. At one point, she worked behind the counter at Viento y Agua. Today, she helps several local businesses. To maintain a flexible schedule for her art projects, Nighswonger works part-time at MADE by Millworks and Goldie\u2019s on 4th. She also manages social media for the Art Theatre and the Folk Revival Festival.<\/p>\n Nighswonger did not exactly plan to host Viento y Agua\u2019s open-mic nights for 10 years, she said. However, she has no plans to quit anytime soon.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s one of those things where it\u2019s like…it\u2019s like home,\u201d she said. \u201cYou could always stay there. It\u2019s real comfortable, it\u2019s real sweet, and it really touches people.\u201d<\/p>\n Viento y Agua has open mic night every Thursday from 6:30PM to 8:45PM. Performers can start signing up at 6:00PM.<\/p>\n![\"viento3\"](\"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/viento3.jpg\")
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