Community Calendar

Get your deerstalker cap on—the play’s afoot! From multi-award-winning playwright Ken Ludwig (Sherwood: The Adventures of Robin Hood) comes a fast-paced adventure about everyone’s favorite detective solving his most notorious case. The male heirs of the Baskerville line are being dispatched one by one. To find their killer, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson must crack the mystery of “The Hound of the Baskervilles” before a family curse dooms its newest heir. Watch as our intrepid investigators try to escape a dizzying web of clues, silly accents, disguises and deceit as five actors deftly portray more than 40 characters. Does a wild hellhound prowl the moors of Devonshire? Can our heroes discover the truth in time? Join the fun and see how far from elementary the truth can be.

MAJOR is a dance theater project that explores the history and physicality of majorette dance, with six Black femmes embodying the movement of their girlhood to answer the questions of their present, as they pursue the intimate journey of returning to bodies they thought lost. Through investigations of physical memory, sexuality, and sensuality, MAJOR preserves and proliferates the creative practices and stories of the folks who taught us how to be proudly Black and proudly femme.

Songwriter and producer D’Angelo helped shape and define the sound of neo-soul as we know it today.

On January 31st, join us at Black & Tan Hall as we pay homage to one of the most AMAZING artists of our time. We’ll take you on a musical time-travel journey, from his groundbreaking debut Brown Sugar to later works, remakes, and the timeless sounds that cemented his legacy.

Hosted by Tish

Darrius Willrich - Keys & Lead Vocals

Roc Phizzle - Drums & Lead Vocals

Rick Pitts - Bass

Herman Brown - Guitar

Lia Plussom - Vocals

Talaya - Vocals

Join us starting at 7pm. Full menu, featuring food by Chef Tay, and bar available until 11pm. View our menu at blackandtanhall.com/menu.

Showtime 9 to 11:30pm

21+

Multi-platinum-selling WAR, the original street band, has been sharing its timeless music and message of brotherhood and harmony for over 5 decades before millions across the globe.The long list of hits includes “Low Rider,” “The World Is A Ghetto,” “Why Can’t We Be Friends,” “The Cisco Kid,” and many more. The phenomenal group has been honored twice by its hometown of Los Angeles for making positive contributions to the betterment of the community with its powerful music and has been honored by President Obama as “All Day Music” was placed on his official playlist of the Summer.

With 12 Billboard Top 40 Hits, 7 top 10 ten hits, over 50 million records sold to date, and countless samples and nods by artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Flo-Rida, Janet Jackson, Dave Matthews, Korn, and countless others, WAR has not only sealed their status as a household name, but has also proven that their music and message continues to be as relevant as ever today as they have always been.

Got a big dream of playing the Tiny Desk? Send us a video of you playing one song behind a desk of your choosing. If you win, you'll get to play your very own Tiny Desk concert and go on tour with NPR Music. When you enter the 2026 Tiny Desk Contest, you join a nationwide community of music-makers and creators. Get started on your video now! GET ALL THE DETAILS HERE.

Here's what you do:
Create a new video that shows you playing one song you've written.
Do it the way you'd perform a Tiny Desk concert: at a desk. (Any desk!)
Upload your video to YouTube.
Fill out the entry form after it opens at 10 a.m. ET on January 13 and before 11:59 p.m. ET on February 9, 2026.

The winner will:
Play a Tiny Desk concert at NPR in Washington, D.C.
Be featured on NPR’s All Things Considered
Headline NPR Music's Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour

Sponsored by KNKX. The 3rd Annual Olympia Funk Festival returns January 30–February 1, 2026, bringing three days of electrifying performances to Washington’s capital city. This year’s festival features funk powerhouses Tank and the Bangas, MonoNeon, and George Porter, Jr., alongside an all-star lineup of regional and national artists. With over 100 performers across 22 bands, the event continues to grow as a major cultural celebration in the Pacific Northwest.

KNKX returns as a proud media sponsor, supporting the festival’s mission to create an inclusive, joyful, and family-friendly experience that keeps live funk music thriving. The festival's venues include The Historic Capitol Theater, Olympia Ballroom, Olympia Center, and Ilk Brewing. Ilk Brewing will host free, all-ages programming including funk DJs and the Passing the Torch youth stage, while The Olympia Center will be home to free, educational masterclasses for aspiring musicians.

Beyond the stage, Olympia Funk Festival prioritizes affordability and access. Children 15 and under attend free, and tickets remain among the lowest priced for a multi-day music festival of this caliber — all to ensure that families and fans from across the country can experience the magic without breaking the bank.

KNKX is proud to support Olympia Funk Festival 2026 as it continues to cultivate the next generation of funk lovers and musicians through education, cultural exchange, and pure dance floor joy.

Rainier Avenue Radio presents Call to Conscience, celebrating 100 years of Black History Month. Through immersive installations and Programs, the historic Columbia City Theater will transform into an exhilarating curated Black History Month museum celebrating the legacy, resilience, and contributions of Black communities in Seattle, Tacoma, and beyond.

This year’s museum features curated cultural installations and exhibits highlighting:

● The Seattle Chapter of the Black Panther Party
● The Hartsfield Enslaved Quilt Collection
● The history of religion in Seattle’s Black communities
● Jackson Street Jazz, including the legacy of Quincy Jones
● A History of Black Tacoma, presented by T. Heard
● An exhibit showcasing Blackpast.org and Dr. Quintard Taylor, founder of BlackPast.org
● The Rainier Cinema Vintage Black Movie Poster and Magazine Collection
● A history of Black Athletes and Administrators in the Metro League The month-long experience will also include special events such as:
● “Preserving Your Legacy”, featuring Phil Armstrong, former Executive Director of Tulsa’s Greenwood Rising Museum.

Plus special programs including a tribute to Seattle icon Lenny Wilkens, hosted and featuring former NBA and Sonics legends Spencer Haywood and James Donaldson; and a live history of funk performance and music honoring Parliament/Funkadelic, featuring KG and the Star 5, with a special appearance by Teleclere.

Hours are Thursday and Friday, 3-7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

The period from the 1870s to the 1900s, known as the Gilded Age, saw the rise of the railroad, textile industry, and production. It also saw a rise in migration to US cities, providing workers to fill low paying jobs producing many of the fashions of the era. This era marked a turning point in fashion as new technologies and changing cultural norms transformed the ways in which people dressed.

Explore this history and enjoy the rare chance to see clothing, notions, and artifacts of the period from the Washington State Historical Society collections.

Never Turn Back: Echoes of African American Music unveils the profound legacy of Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul artists who shaped the soundscape of American culture and used their music as instruments of resistance, identity, and representation.

Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul embody the profound influence of African American music on culture and history. From the spiritual foundations and transformative movements of Gospel hymns to the revolutionary improvisations of Jazz, the Blues’ Southern roots rising from the Mississippi Delta, and Soul’s powerful amplification of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, these genres have defined the unique sound and undying spirit of a nation that continues to echo through contemporary Black music today.

This is a permanent exhibition. Since time immemorial, Tribal nations have existed in this place we call Washington. This Is Native Land invites visitors to understand Washington State through the lived experiences and voices of its Native people.

Tribal nations are sovereign nations. Today, Native history, culture, and community thrive in our state. Through everyday acts of sovereignty – big and small – Indigenous peoples demonstrate they are still here, they have persevered, and they will always be here.

This Is Native Land is guided by three teachings:
We are of the land and waters
With knowledge comes responsibility
Sovereignty protects people, lands, and waters

These teachings are shared through multimedia, artwork, and interactive objects designed for guest engagement. They represent a contemporary continuation of Tribal stories and traditions.

Over 100 Native contributors from more than 60 Tribes shaped the exhibition’s stories and content. We thank the Native Advisory Committee and all community participants for their contributions.