Community Calendar

National Hispanic Heritage Month is organized by The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to pay tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society. The celebration is Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.

Also referred to as Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month, the celebration highlights the history and cultures of Hispanic or Latinx people who came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

The Pacific Northwest benefits from a rich history of Hispanic and Latinx peoples making their mark on the region's cultural fabric and boasts many communities with strong Latinx roots. South Park and nearby White Center have long served as home to many Latinx families and businesses. SeaTac and Burien are also emerging as centers of Latinx culture in Seattle.

Check out a list of regional events celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month here.

On July 4 of this year, five days after his 88th birthday, Julian suffered a heart attack. He is recovering nicely, and promises to return. Julian will require a lengthy rehab. Your ticket price will go to the benefit of Mr. Priester

Dimitiriou's Jazz Alley presents in conjunction with the Seattle Jazz Community, a jazz benefit fundraiser for Julian Priester, Emcee'd by Christian McBride. Doors open at 6:00pm. Show starts at 7:30pm.

Thomas Marriott will be Music Director for the evening. The Seattle Jazz Fellowship ‘Ceptet under his direction will be performing the compositions of Julian Priester. “Priester’s Cue, with Dawn Clement, Byron Vannoy, Geoff Harper, plus special guests will make this a celebration of Julian Priester.

Presented by KNKX. Christian McBride’s New Jawn — trumpeter Josh Evans (Jackie McLean, Cedar Walton, Rasheid Ali), saxophonist and bass clarinetist Marcus Strickland (Roy Haynes, Jeff “Tain” Watts, Chris Dave, Bilal, Robert Glasper), and drummer Nasheet Waits (Jason Moran, Joe Lovano, John Medeski) — is back with their highly anticipated sophomore album, Prime(02/2023), the follow-up from McBride’s Grammy-nominated group. Featuring original compositions from each band member as well as fresh takes on songs from Sonny Rollins, Ornette Coleman and Larry Young, this group offers an exhilarating space of exploration for the 8-time Grammy Award-winning McBride to stretch his veteran wings.

New Jawn is the new deal. Yes, it is. The proof is in the music and there is plenty of that on their new release Prime; sure to be a fixture in best of 2023 lists. – All About Jazz

Bassist, composer, and bandleader, McBride is also the Artistic Director of the historic Newport Jazz Festival, New Jersey Performing Arts center (NJPAC) and the TD James Moody Jazz Festival, and the National Jazz Museum in Harlem. Christian is also a respected educator and advocate as the Artistic Director of Jazz House KiDS, and the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Summer Sessions. In addition to consistent touring, McBride hosts NPR's “Jazz Night in America” and "The Lowdown: Conversations With Christian" on SiriusXM. Whether behind the bass or away from it, Christian McBride is always of the music. From jazz, to R&B, pop/rock, hip-hop/neo-soul, to classical, he is a luminary with one hand ever reaching for new heights, and the other extended in fellowship—and perhaps the hint of a challenge—inviting us to join him.

The annual Vancouver International Film Festival showcases exceptional cinema in one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Our spectacular roster includes some of the best cinema from around the globe, live performances, talks, conferences and other unique events celebrating film and film culture. The repertoire includes showcase films, special presentations, Panorama, Vanguard, Northern Lights, Insights, Spectrum, Altered States, Leading Lights, Focus: Women, Life & Freedom, the VIFF Short Forum, International Shorts, MODES, BC Spotlight, Cinema of East Asia, and Indigenous Cinema.

Individual festival tickets and ticket packs are on sale NOW on viff.org and starting September 21 from our friendly box office staff at the VIFF Centre.

Starting at $18 for regular adult tickets to a variety of ticket packs, there is something for all types of film fans.

Become a VIFF+ Member and save on your tickets for VIFF 2023, screenings at the VIFF Centre all year round and lots of other nifty Member perks.

Presented by KNKX. GRAMMY® Award-winner Kurt Elling is without question today’s preeminent male jazz vocalist, renowned worldwide for his unparalleled virtuosity and flair for trailblazing artistic exploration. From his stunning reinvention of timeless standards to his own captivating original songcraft, the Chicago-based musician has fused his dazzling talents across a panoply of musical approaches, emblazoning each with signature imagination, insight, and emotional intelligence.

Where many male jazz vocalists at this stage in a much vaunted career have tended to stick to the tried and true, Elling seems to be growing more ambitious and experimental with the passing of time, a tendency evidenced by his stunning new LP, SuperBlue: The Iridescent Spree. The follow-up to 2021’s remarkable SuperBlue, the album once again sees Elling joining forces with producer/guitarist Charlie Hunter and multi-instrumentalist duo drummer Corey Fonville and bassist-keyboardist DJ Harrison for a kaleidoscopic collection of new songs, surprising covers, and dynamic reinventions.

Established in 2008, the previously named Bellevue Jazz & Blues Festival is a cultural and community event that attracts national artists, showcases regional talent and draws diverse audiences. Headlining artists are selected in collaboration with John Gilbreath, executive director of Earshot Jazz.

Past featured artists include Branford Marsalis, Booker T. Jones, Shemekia Copeland, Poncho Sanchez, Dianne Reeves, Bill Frisell, Charles Lloyd, Terence Blanchard, Hubert Laws, Mingus Big Band, Spanish Harlem Orchestra and Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra. The event was renamed the Bellevue Jazz & Blues Festival in 2015.

Headliners include Stacy Jones Band October 6th and Pearl Django with Gail Pettis on October 7th

Sponsored by KNKX. SIFF's third annual DocFest will return October 5-12, 2023 at SIFF Cinema Uptown. Join us for a celebration of all films documentary, with stories of people you know, stories that will floor you, and stories that will make you look outside yourself. Moving from the thought provoking to the tenacious, with stops at tearful and tense, DocFest returns with our celebration of documentary films from around the world.

The Earshot Jazz Festival returns this year with performances from both resident and world renowned artists at venues all around Seattle!

Year after year, the Earshot festival celebrates Seattle’s place in the world of jazz by featuring performances, premieres, and special projects by Seattle’s esteemed resident artists alongside international masters.

This year’s featured resident artist is Johnaye Kendrick, who will unveil new music with female supergroup säje. Also included in this year’s festival is the world premiere of three new festival commissions from Jahnvi Madan, Carlos Snaider, and Sheridan Riley. Special projects from resident artists this year include the work of Thomas Marriott All-Star Quartet; High Pulp will mix bebop, punk rock, shoegaze, hip-hop, and electronic music; a night of dancing with the swing, jump-blues, and rock ‘n’ roll revival band Birch Pereira & Delta Jump. And plenty more.

In addition to three new festival commissions granted to seasoned resident artists, there is so much else to look forward to this year. In collaboration with Langston Seattle, there will be a whole week of shows there. A battle of the bands will occur between Roosevelt and Garfield High School. This year’s featured resident artist is the fresh and graceful vocalist, healer, composer and professor Johnaye Kendrick with three stellar performances.

And lots more!

Moderated by KNKX reporter Scott Greenstone. As November's Seattle City Council and King County Council elections near, homelessness remains top of mind for voters. Join We Are In and KNKX Public Radio to hear candidates running in some of our most competitive races discuss and debate how they plan to address and prevent homelessness. The 2023 Homelessness Debates will be open to the public at Seattle University's Pigott Auditorium over the course of two nights. Save your free seat before they run out! Register at the links below.

Night 1, on October 10, will include candidates from Seattle City Council District 2 (Chinatown International District, Beacon Hill, Columbia City, Othello, Rainier Beach), Seattle City Council District 6 (Magnolia, Ballard, Green Lake, Fremont, Phinney Ridge), and Seattle City Council District 7 (Downtown, South Lake Union, Interbay, Queen Anne).

Seattle City Council District 6: Dan Strauss vs. Pete Hanning
Seattle City Council District 7: Andrew Lewis vs. Bob Kettle
Seattle City Council District 2: Tammy Morales vs. Tanya Woo

Night 2, on October 11, will include candidates from Seattle City Council District 3 (Eastlake, Madison Park, Capitol Hill, Central District, First Hill, Leschi), Seattle City Council District 4 (Wallingford, Wedgwood, Ravenna, Roosevelt, University District, Laurelhurst), and King County Council District 8 (Southern, Western and Central parts of Seattle, White Center, Burien, Tukwila).

King County Council District 8: Teresa Mosqueda vs. Sofia Aragon
Seattle City Council District 4: Ron Davis vs. Maritza Rivera
Seattle City Council District 3: Joy Hollingsworth vs. Alex Hudson

The debates will also be streamed virtually on We Are In's social media channels (@WeAreInKingCo).

Sponsored by KNKX. As the host of NPR’s Morning Edition for almost two decades, Steve Inskeep has mastered the art of bridging divides and building constructive debate in interviews.

In Differ We Must, his new nonfiction, he brings his skills to bear on a prior master, forming a fresh and compelling narrative of Abraham Lincoln’s life and expanding our understanding of a politician who held strong to his moral compass while navigating between corrosive political factions.

All Literary Arts Series, Create Your Own Series, and Super SAL subscribers receive a copy of Differ We Must, shipped to their doors by our partner bookstore. Please note: complimentary subscriptions and single tickets do not include the book.