For the past few months, We Black Folk has been booking shows and programming to highlight the history and contributions that Black people have made to folk, bluegrass, country – any Americana sub-genre you can think of. Back in February, the organization put on a two day festival at Club Passim in Harvard Square that featured performances by Grace Givertz, Aisha Burns, Stephanie McKay, and more. The festival came together through the efforts of HipStory, BAMS Fest and Cliff Notez, who also hosted and performed at the festival.
More recently, We Black Folk has undertaken a new event series called Cultural Crossroads, which explores the intersection of genres from African and Latinx cultures, with their roots within the African Diaspora. With their first event already in the books, Cultural Crossroads is gearing up for its sophomore effort on Saturday, April 19th. The monthly series is a partnership with Ágora Cultural Architects, an initiative that amplifies Latin American arts.
The second edition of the show will feature performances by Fabiola Méndez, Kina Zoré, and Andrew Sue Wing. You might remember Méndez when she joined reggaeton superstar Bad Bunny during his NPR TIny Desk Concert. Kina Zoré are a Boston-based Afro-pop group led by Helder Tsinine, a Mozambican vocalist.
“Cultural Crossroads isn’t just a concert — it’s a gathering of generations, genres, and geographies,” says Cliff Notez. “We’re creating a space where Black and Afro-diasporic folk artists can feel seen, honored, and celebrated in the city of Boston.”
Tickets for the event are available on a pay-what-you-can structure. You can RSVP for your tickets here. Show starts at 6:30 at CROMA, an events space within the Arlington Street Church in Back Bay.
But enough from us, hear more about straight from Cliff: