HEAR WHAT, WHERE AND WHY

• The event: Passion & Poetry: Summer Heat — The Remix. Friday and Saturday at Center Stage, 1374 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta.

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IF YOU GO Passion & Poetry: Summer Heat — The Remix. $30. 8 p.m. Aug. 8, 8 p.m. and midnight Aug. 9. Center Stage, 1374 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta. Tickets are at Moods Music (404-653-0724); Marco's Pita (404-607-0071); Nubian Book Store (678-422-6120); and Ticketmaster (404-249-6400 or www.ticketmaster.com). RELATED LINKS: • Blog: Atlanta Music Scene | Radio and TV Talk • Atlanta radio stations • Summer Music Guide • CD reviews • Find a concert

• The Music Insider behind it: V-103 evening announcer Joyce Littel, who has been host of the ballad-centered "Quiet Storm" (10 p.m. to 2 a.m.) for 18 years this July. "Sometimes I like to call myself the Monica Pearson of radio," jokes Littel, referencing the veteran WSB-TV anchor. "As neither one of us seems to be going anywhere anytime soon — thankfully!"

• The reason she got involved: "I just wanted to offer something different," Littel explains. "And you know, I don't think we are accustomed to talking about our feelings openly and honestly. And with Passion & Poetry we're kind of letting people know, 'Whatever adult relationship you're in, say what you want, and expect it.' So we wrap that up with a good time and music, and it becomes a production that is all about love.

"I want people to know this is not someone on one microphone standing in the middle of the stage bashing people!"

The 11-year-old Passion & Poetry concept is an offshoot of the Poetic Moments segment of her show that airs each Thursday. (On the last Thursday of each month, it airs live from Sugar Hill in Underground Atlanta.)

Littel concedes that she is "a roses are red poet" — meaning she's not one. But she obviously has an affection for the craft and shared her top five practitioners: "My favorite, soft-spoken, let-me-turn-you-on poet, female, is Andrea Mills. Favorite in-your-face, you-better-listen-to-me poet is Georgia Me.

On the male side, the one who gives you the whole poetry movement, I mean you just hang on his every word, is Abyss. Coming from a deep — but comical — standpoint, it's got to be Jon Goode. And the man that just works me over is Spinxx."

(To audition for the next Passion & Poetry, call 404-607-8772.)

• The musical connection: Gritz and Jelly Butter and Dirty Rose perform Aug. 8. Keisha Jackson and Ray Lavender share the early bill Aug. 9, with Tony Terry and Phillippia at midnight.