In Athens, Ohio, a different microphone beckons every day of the week, encouraging the bold and the talented to perform. This is the story of open stages.

For more than 200 years, Court Street has been the epicenter of Athens, bringing together students and townspeople alike. This interactive map reveals the stories behind the storefronts.

Appalachian Ohio seems an unlikely place to find elements of hip hop. But at Ohio University, the Hip Hop Congress promotes the culture in a way that adds to the richness and diversity of the Athens community.

Miguel Evanosky, guitarist and songwriter for the band "Spooktober", grew up on a farm in Hinton, West Virginia, and began playing guitar in his early teens. Recently relocating to Athens for "excitement," Ebanosky lives in a backyard tent and shops for his clothing in "reuse dumpsters."