The mood and feel at Ragamuffin Music Hall could be best described in its slogan, “Everybody has a song.” As a music school, performance venue, and coffee shop and ice cream parlor, Ragamuffin is the kind of place where musicians from all over Atlanta can come and share their musical talents in a warm and welcoming atmosphere – which, as any musician can tell you, is preferable to a smoky bar where keeping the patrons‘ attention is harder than trying to get a penguin to tie a shoelace.

Probably the best aspect of Ragamuffin is the overall layout of the music hall. Though modest in size, it does not become the focal point once you walk through the doorway. You can’t help but feel comfortable.  The walls are adorned with decorations like guitars and banjos and vinyl discs.  The ceiling is glowing with ornaments in the shapes of stars and other objects hanging over the stage; and the candles illuminating the room help to set the mood. Add a few couches and chairs and you‘ve got yourself a great venue to listen to local music.

Ragamuffin was opened in August  2006 by owner Jackie Whitaker.  A talented and successful singer/songwriter, Jackie wanted to create a venue where locals and independent musicians can come together and improve their skills and keep the love of music alive.  As a music school, Ragamuffin holds private lessons for a host of musical interests, including  instrument lessons (guitar, piano, etc.), voice-coaching, songwriting, and performance lessons.

Besides holding private lessons, Ragamuffin also hosts events every Thursday through Saturday.  Probably the biggest event is the open mic night every Thursday at 8 p.m. This is a night for musicians of all backgrounds and experience to come together and support each other in a night of fun and music. Each person gets a chance to show his or her stuff and perform two songs on stage in front of an eager crowd.  “This is just a great venue for all musicians,” says Kim Grigsby, a regular at the open mic events. “The environment is very supportive and allows even the shyest person to truly express themselves.” 

And if all that isn’t enough, the newest addition to the local venue is the ice cream parlor and coffee shop, which is a great place to tune up your guitar and warm up your vocal cords with some coffee or some homemade hot chocolate before going on stage. Or if you want, you can support your local artists by purchasing an album and other merchandise displayed in the shop, or simply surf the web on the free wifi made available.

Whether you’re looking to perform or just relax and enjoy the atmosphere, Ragamuffin is a great the place to be. Check out all the upcoming events for this month on www.ragamuffinmusic.com. If you are looking for lessons or even just want to come and play, you can contact Jackie through her email, jackie@ragamuffinmusic.com.

You can email brandon for any stories at brandonrcrocker@gmail.com