HISTORY:

The vision for BlackAmericana Fest originated with Jenn Jeffers’ (Dusky Waters) desire to learn more about her musical heritage, hear from culture bearers of this musical tradition, and elevate the stories and contributions of Black folk, often overlooked in narratives about this genre. Inspired by artists like Rhiannon Giddens and other Black artists who have embraced the banjo’s Black origins, Jenn felt called to explore this genre and to challenge its perception as exclusively “non-Black.” She shared this vision with Teena May, who, similar to Jenn, felt excluded from this musical history. During her upbringing, Teena ran from her love of country music, mistakenly believing that writing folk, roots, and Americana music betrayed her community and wasn’t reflective of “her music”. In claiming their place within Americana, both women discovered a profound sense of belonging as well as immense joy writing and performing music that feels authentic to their experiences and deeply rooted in their identities as Black women.

Realizing the importance of representation, BlackAmericana Fest seeks to elevate the narratives and music of Black artists in this tradition, inspire a more inclusive Americana community, and encourage more young Black artists to take up the mantle of creating music in this genre. Together, partnering with other New Orleans Black Americana artists as well as fans and supporters of this genre, this festival explores the questions of where Americana fits into the New Orleans musical landscape and celebrates the legacy and contributions to Americana music by Black artists.