Sponsored by KNKX. Métier Brewing Company and NW Folklife have partnered to host a monthly concert series, allowing NW Folklife to showcase our network of artists in a local business that celebrates the age-old craft of beermaking. MBC is all about strengthening community and creating a welcoming gathering space for families, friends, and those who appreciate exceptional beer. Located in the Central District, Seattle's Historic Black neighborhood, Métier is one of the few Black-owned breweries in the country. As part of last year's Cultural Focus, Metamorphosis, this partnership helps reclaim the dynamism of Folk as a way of life for people of all backgrounds, heritages, and traditions, not merely a stigmatized musical genre.

The series is every first Thursday.

August 7, September 4, October 2: Jai Kobi Kaleo'okalani is a Seattle-based guitarist, composer, producer, and poet. Graduating in 2025 with a BM in Jazz and Improvised Music from the University of Washington, they studied with Steve Rodby, Cuong Vu, Ted Poor, and Kassa Overall. Often performing under the moniker BLUEs.Weave, her genre-defying work seamlessly blends the sonic worlds and approaches of improvised Black American music traditions and experimental sound design, delivering innovative, immersive sets featuring resonator and electric guitars, drum machines, samplers, and electronics. Her work as a soloist began with a DXARTS commission to compose and perform the beat-suite “Let Loose Thy Soul: Black Alchemy and the Upper Arcana” for the 2024 SPAM New Media Festival at the Georgetown Steam Plant; since then, Jai has presented original music and multimedia performances at the Frye Art Museum, the Jacob Lawrence Art Gallery, and ARTS at King Street Station Gallery. Throughout her studies and independent career, she has had the privilege to perform with internationally renowned and incredible local artists alike, including Bill Frisell, Steph Richards, Ted Poor, Luke Bergman, Jahnvi Madan, and Kyra “Wolf” Wolfenbarger.

Stay tuned for more info about future concerts.

Northwest Folklife is truly excited to partner with Métier Brewing Company to share in our ethos that folk and craft is a product of and for Our Beloved Community.