Soul Papi & SWAMPRAT Cypher Series (Reading Roots Night Market)
September 17, 2026 · 7:00 PM · GoggleWorks, 201 Washington St, Reading · Free admission
About the event
The Cypher Series brings a live set from Soul Papi and SWAMPRAT to the Reading Roots Night Market, with the performance running for an hour after it starts at 7:00 PM. The market itself opens earlier in the evening and fills downtown Reading with local vendors, food, art, and music, so there is plenty to browse before the mics come on.
Soul Papi, born John Zabala in Reading, is a rapper, poet, and producer whose work draws on his Afro-Dominican upbringing. Bachata, jazz, Quiet Storm, and hip hop all show up in his sound, which pairs smooth jazz and R&B textures with conscious East Coast hip hop and storytelling rooted in memory and cultural tradition. He has been named a Poet Laureate finalist, received a Berks Arts Council grant, and shared stages with nationally touring artists.
SWAMPRAT rounds out the night with genre-bending sound, live beatmaking, and the collaborative cypher energy the series is built around. Come early, support local makers, grab a bite, and stay for the music as the evening settles over downtown.
Hosted by GoggleWorks Center for the Arts on BerksConnect.
