2024 Altars Festival Artists

Altar Artists

Janine Bell of Elegba Folklore Society

P. Muzi Branch

Ingram Brown

Christopher Flowers

Nadiya Nacorda (and The Educated Birth)

Zaza Willis

Merenda Cecelia

John Latell

Eric Westra

Richard Harding

Mary Riley

Frederick Chiriboga

Crimebabies

Music Artists

  • Caroline Scruggs is a thereminist, vocalist, songwriter and creative educator from Hampton Roads, Virginia. A lifelong musician, she began playing the violin at age 5, pursued a degree in classical Vocal Performance, and has been breaking all the rules of traditional music & pushing her creative boundaries ever since. 

    Upon “discovering” the theremin 7 years ago, she became completely enamored with the instrument – the first electronic instrument invented & one of the only ones played without physical touch – as its ethereal, string-like sound feels like a second voice under her hands. Now, she presents a mystical world of soundscape & sensory shimmers, with her debut album, Space, released in 2024. 

    Caroline has swiftly become one of the world’s current premier theremists; she has been featured playing theremin in a TikTok commercial with LL Cool J, is a sponsored artist of Sweetwater Sound, & has collaborated with Moog Music inc. with her original song Altitude Sickness. Her performance of Linda Kernohan’s Theremin Concerto with the Central Ohio Symphony has been viewed over 3 million times.

    Passionate about using music as a bridge to connect ideas, concepts & people that may not connect otherwise, Caroline’s musical work has included her “Playing the Air” theremin video series in breathtaking natural landscapes across the globe, co-leading groups to compose albums while riding Amtrak trains across the USA, and teaching hundreds of students across the globe how to write original songs in her songwriting workshop called Uke Camp.

  • Andrew Rohlk is a Richmond, Virginia-based singer-songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist whose unique blend of soul, jazz, pop, and indie evokes the smooth, danceable sounds of legends like Prince and Stevie Wonder. His production marries classic influences with contemporary innovation, while his dynamic live performances radiate energy and passion, leaving audiences with unforgettable experiences. Rohlk has graced stages like The National in Richmond and Washington DC’s U Street Music Hall, among other notable venues in the Mid-Atlantic region. In Fall 2018, he released his debut album, Lost & Found. On Veteran’s Day 2023, he dropped his latest single, Of Molecules, and continues to release new music through his website, captivating audiences across Virginia and beyond.

  • Joel DeVaughn surfs the line between reality and the unconscious. Inspired by the likes of Stevie Wonder and Jefferson Airplane, Joel crafts music on spirituality and the human experience. With meticulously crafted poetic lyrics, ambient melodies, and riveting vocals, Joel captures the essence of everyday life. Pulling from genres of soul, funk, rock, and folk, he merges these influences into one streamlined sound that he calls 'Psychedelic Soulk.’

    Hailing from Newport News, VA, Joel has made a home in Richmond, VA after a 4 year tenure at Virginia Commonwealth University where he studied Theatre and Film. Along with singing and songwriting, he is also a talented actor and visual artist. Joel spends his time crafting immersive experiences to submerge audiences in an intimate, surreal landscape – dedicating his pursuit of artistic excellence to bringing about positive change in the world.

  • Dr. Ram Bhagat is a longtime educator, arts innovator, peacemaker, and community healer who has been teaching and transforming communities for 35 years. Dr. Bhagat is committed to healing trauma in our classrooms, schools, and communities. Ram is an international conflict resolution trainer, specialist in arts integration, and certified in restorative justice. He is a master teacher of culturally responsive peacemaking circles, racial healing, trauma awareness & resilience, yoga and mindfulness. 

    In the early 1990s, Ram co-founded Drums No Guns, a world percussion ensemble using drumming, dance, and drama (3D) to engage youth in a process of “healing community with rhythm.” The Drums No Guns Foundation was established in 2017 to expand Dr. Bhagat’s work with youth and families traumatized from gun violence, by combining trauma healing, restorative practices, mindfulness, and artfulness. Dr. B. also started incorporating peacemaking circles along with the original junk-yard jam to create a sense of balance within schools and diverse communities.

  • Quinton Jones, a Virginia based recording artist, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, who prides himself on evading definitive genre labels. Quinton is a strong advocate for the success of his friends, family, and supporters. Today he is accompanied by two dear friends of his, Nache Nolastname, a jazzy eclectic singer songwriter and artist based out of Richmond, VA and djSOUTA, a lifelong music enthusiast with experience in playlist curation and mashup creation. You can follow each artist today on all social media platforms as Quinton Jones Official, Nache Nolastname and djSOUTA.