ROB BECK | 7.23.2008
JOINING HEARTS MAY be back on dry land with its return to the Atlanta Civic Center after a two-year stint at the Piedmont Park Pool, but if DJ Roland Belmares, who mans the turntables at the July 26 blowout, has anything to say about it, it’ll be just as sexy and sweaty as ever.
Belmares says he comes packing to make sure the crowd stays moving.
“I’m going to bring along a few tracks from back in the day that will get the girls going, ‘Oh, no she didn’t!’” says the DJ. “Seeing those big smiles, and when the arms start to waving, that is always a big thrill for me. It’s definitely going to be a mix of old tea dance songs and some new classics in the making.”
Year after year, Joining Hearts never fails to be one of the highlights of Atlanta’s summer party season, and event chair Kerry Loftis takes the responsibility of heading it up seriously. He and the event board searched high and low for the perfect DJ to preside over this year’s event, and they finally found it in Belmares.
“He was the one,” Loftis says. “Roland’s been wanting to do our events for several years, and we just decided to make a change this year and go with him. He’s one of the hotter DJs this year, and we’re fortunate that we had the ability to get him.”
As for Belmares, he wants to getting back to the dirty south and its trademark hospitality.
“I’ve always had so much fun in Atlanta,” he says. “The vibe has always been so positive. The East Coast has always shown to be more of a dance crowd, and the energy I get back from the Atlanta boys always inspires me to new heights.
"The energy is always like I’m playing to a bunch of old friends. You can’t beat that!”
 YOU ALSO CAN’T BEAT a great party that contributes to an even greater cause. Joining Hearts is in its 21st year raising funds to help house local people living with HIV and AIDS. Absolutely 100 percent of the take from ticket sales and the bar goes directly to Jerusalem House and AID Atlanta’s housing program. That makes it all the more perfect a gig to Belmares.
“I wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t get to do a little something [to give back],” he says. “I’m so flattered that Joining Hearts wants me to be part of this. It’s truly an honor.”
The board focused hard this year on expanding its efforts to help the party continue to grow after last year, which saw record numbers of attendees and donations — more than $82 Grand. So, in addition to a series of promotional pre-events at local bars and clubs and the official after party at WETbar — this year with DJ Bryan Pfeiffer — there are a pair of unofficial post-Joining Hearts events that keep the boys bumping while contributing big to the cause.
Running at the same time as the official after party is DJ John Millier at the Heretic. A portion of the door will go to the Joining Hearts fund. The following evening, C2 Productions hosts the Global Groove tour as a Sunday tea dance with DJ David Knapp at Opera, which also benefits Joining Hearts.
“Joining Hearts contacted me around January and asked if we wanted to do something together to create a bigger weekend other than just one event,” says Chris Coleman, headmaster at C2. “Of course I was thrilled to do it.”
 Also part of creating a bigger weekend is enhancing the main event itself, which Loftis says carries a '70s retro theme this year and promises an amazing big surprise.
“We do have a guest entertainer that’s going to be coming into town and debuting a new song that she’s going to be coming out with,” he hints. “We’re just keeping it quiet right now.”
What’s not quiet is the growing excitement over the party, so be sure to grab those tickets while they’re still available and secure your spot on the dance floor.
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