🎹 Eight-time Grammy winner Jon Batiste brings his 2026 Fantastical Tour Saturday to Chastain Park with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra, a rare orchestral date. He tells WABE Arts what keeps him grounded on the road, why all music is folk music, and what Atlanta means to him. 🎧

🎹 Eight-time Grammy winner Jon Batiste brings his 2026 Fantastical Tour Saturday to Chastain Park with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra, a rare orchestral date. He tells WABE Arts what keeps him grounded on the road, why all music is folk music, and what Atlanta means to him. 🎧

WABE Arts features stories of art and culture in Atlanta.

WABE Arts features stories of art and culture in Atlanta.

WABE Arts

Each week, WABE Arts features stories of art and culture in Atlanta.

Each week, WABE Arts features stories of&nbsp;art and culture in Atlanta.

Jon Batiste: What's Feeding Him Before His Atlanta Date

A young athlete from Panama moved in with Javier Wallace's family — and the relationship became a book. "Basketball Trafficking: Stolen Black Panamanian Dreams," Wallace's account of the F-1 student visa pipeline into U.S. basketball, is the inaugural grant recipient of the Tara Coyt Publishing Fund, a new Atlanta effort to get more Black scholars into print. Wallace discusses the book September 17 at the Auburn Avenue Research Library, in conversation with former NBA All-Star Joe Barry Carroll. 

Supporting Black scholars 

Coyt launched the fund in 2025 with an open call to publishers for manuscripts they'd already accepted but couldn't yet afford to produce. "In the first year, we received about 10 applications," she said. 

At its center is the publishing subvention grant — up to $10,000 per book to help cover printing costs. The fund also supports a manuscript review workshop, a final-stage peer-review process for selected manuscripts, run in partnership with a university or professional organization. Recipients are also eligible for an author talk after publication. Which is how Wallace ended up on stage with Carroll. 

A young athlete from Panama moved in with Javier Wallace's family &mdash; and the relationship became a book. "<a href="https://www.dukeupress.edu/basketball-trafficking">Basketball Trafficking: Stolen Black Panamanian Dreams,</a>" Wallace's account of the F-1 student visa pipeline into U.S. basketball, is the inaugural grant recipient of the&nbsp;<a href="https://taracoyt.com/publishing-fund/">Tara Coyt Publishing Fund,</a>&nbsp;a new Atlanta effort to get more Black scholars into print. Wallace discusses the book September 17 at the Auburn Avenue Research Library, in conversation with former NBA All-Star Joe Barry Carroll.&nbsp;
Supporting&nbsp;Black scholars&nbsp;
Coyt launched the fund in 2025 with an open call to publishers for manuscripts&nbsp;they'd&nbsp;already accepted but&nbsp;couldn't&nbsp;yet afford to produce. "In the first year, we received about 10 applications," she said.&nbsp;
At its center is the publishing subvention grant &mdash; up to $10,000 per book to help cover printing costs. The fund also supports a manuscript review workshop, a final-stage peer-review process for selected manuscripts, run in partnership with a university or professional organization. Recipients are also eligible for an&nbsp;author&nbsp;talk after publication. Which is how Wallace ended up on stage with Carroll.&nbsp;

The Coyt Fund's assist to author Javier Wallace’s  'Basketball Trafficking' 

Known for his one-of-a-kind storytelling abilities, comedian and writer Ali Siddiq has taken 2026 by storm. 

His most recent standup specials, "Mondays" and "My Father," have been released to critical acclaim and high viewership numbers. In addition, on April 19, the performer released "Ali Siddiq: From Inside," a raw and in-depth conversation where Siddiq speaks directly to inmates about accountability, choices, and the reality of recidivism in America. 

Now, the comedian has taken to the road, performing across the nation in his Custom Fit comedy tour, which will be arriving in Atlanta on Oct. 16.  

Known for his one-of-a-kind storytelling abilities, comedian and writer Ali Siddiq has taken 2026 by storm.&nbsp;
His&nbsp;most recent standup specials, "Mondays" and "My Father," have been released to critical acclaim and high viewership numbers.&nbsp;In addition, on April 19,&nbsp;the performer&nbsp;released "Ali Siddiq: From Inside," a raw and in-depth conversation&nbsp;where Siddiq&nbsp;speaks directly to inmates about accountability, choices, and the reality of recidivism in America.&nbsp;
Now, the comedian has taken to the road, performing across the nation in his&nbsp;Custom Fit comedy tour, which will be arriving in Atlanta on Oct. 16. &nbsp;

Ali Siddiq brings life experience and laughter to State Farm Arena

BODDO Studio, Aishah Rashied Hyman, Atlanta design, West African textiles, Amani Women's Co-op, Kuba cloth, Kente cloth, Atlanta Design Festival, High Point Market, WABE Arts, home decor, small-batch design 

BODDO Studio, Aishah Rashied Hyman, Atlanta design, West African textiles, Amani Women's Co-op, Kuba cloth, Kente cloth, Atlanta Design Festival, High Point Market, WABE Arts, home decor, small-batch design&nbsp;

Jon Batiste: What's Feeding Him Before His Atlanta Date

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