KNKX is proud to be a media sponsor of the following community events:
NPR's Tiny Desk Contest On the Road Tour - June 9, 8 p.m. at Nectar Lounge in Seattle
KNKX is excited to team up with NPR Music for this year's 2024 Tiny Desk Contest On The Road tour, coming to Seattle's Nectar Lounge on June 9. In partnership with NPR Member stations, NPR Music’s Tiny Desk Contest winner will travel to 10 cities for a one-of-a-kind concert with fellow Tiny Desk Contest artists from each participating city.
Folklife Sessions @ Métier Brewing Company – First Thursdays from 6-8 p.m.
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. Coming up May 2: Push 4 Love is a Seattle, WA based band their style of music is based on their different influences which come together to create a melting pot of unique sounds. Styles consisting of latin grooves, hard rock/blues, reggae, neosoul, etc….Playing tunes and writing lyrics that often push boundaries, we are a powerhouse of undeniable raw talent.
KNKX presents First Thursday Music at the Broadway Farmers Market in Tacoma - May through October
The Broadway Farmers Market celebrates over 30 years of bringing together local growers, food producers, and vendors. May's First Thursday Music kicks off on the 2nd from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with Kim Archer. Stop by KNKX's booth in front of our Tacoma studios from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and pick up some fun free swag.
Jam in the Atrium at Vashon Center for the Arts – First Saturdays from 1-3 p.m.
Jazz bassist Bruce Phares invites accomplished musician friends and colleagues to help him fill the Atrium at Vashon Center for the Arts with high-quality live jazz, for FREE. Take in some great jazz surrounded by the latest art exhibit. May's featured artists are drummer D'Vonne Lewis and keyboardist Josh Rawlings.
Hear Me Talkin' to You at the Royal Room - Third Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.
Immerse yourself in the stories, songs and voices of womxn and non-binary artists through blues and blues-rooted repertoire. Year two of this dynamic series will feature local artists interpreting the music of Blueswomxn from past and present, including Bessie Smith, Big Mama Thornton, Etta James, Ma Rainey, Koko Taylor, Ruthie Foster, Memphis Minnie, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Bonnie Raitt, Ethyl Waters, Nina Simone and Aretha Franklin. Featured artists will also sing original music to show the evolution of inspiration in their work! Shows the 3rd Thursday from through June, curated by Reese T.
The 21st Seattle Black Film Festival takes place in the historic Central District, where the power of storytelling comes alive. Immerse yourself in a plethora of narratives from the African Diaspora, spanning genres, countries, and styles. Engage in talkbacks with filmmakers, networking events, and local culinary delights from restaurants and vendors. It's more than a festival; it's a cultural journey. Don't miss the chance to be part of this vibrant tapestry of cinema and community. April 25-28 at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute and April 29-May 5 (virtual)
North Bend Jazz Walk - April 27, 6 p.m. to midnight at various venues in downtown North Bend
Nineteen venues in Downtown North Bend, Washington, with 28 bands plus student performances!
SE:UM Korean Folk Meets Western Jazz - May 1, 7:30 p.m. at Vashon Center for the Arts
Jazz lovers and world music enthusiasts will be equally enthralled when they step into the unique world of SE:UM. This powerhouse quintet of Western jazz and Korean folk music virtuosos use traditional Korean percussion and stringed instruments (like the Gayageum) alongside traditional jazz instruments like sax, trumpet, and bass to create boundary-breaking music that dismantles barriers between genres to craft a unique musical tapestry. SE:UM has enjoyed a meteoric rise in Korea after their debut album, earning nominations for Best Crossover Album and Best Jazz & Crossover Performance at the Korea Music Awards in 2015.
Seattle Arts & Lectures/J. Kenji López‑Alt Presents: A Conversation with Pailin Chongchitnant in-person @ Town Hall Seattle+online - May 9, 7:30 p.m.
Join Cordon Bleu-trained chef Pailin Chongchitnant for an evening of Thai cooking discussion with J. Kenji López-Alt! In addition to hosting the sensational Youtube channel Pailin’s Kitchen with 1.7 million subscribers, Chongchitnant is the author of two definitive Thai cookbooks, Hot Thai Kitchen and Sabai: 100 Simple Thai Recipes for Any Day of the Week.
South Hudson Music Project and KNKX present Piano Starts Here at the Royal Room: The Music of Wayne Horvitz and Robin Holcomb - May 15, 7:30 p.m.
This is a tribute to the couple without whom the Piano Starts Here series would not exist. Wayne and Robin have been incredibly important contributors to Seattle’s music scene for decades, but their influence spans the globe. They’re both very prolific composers, so there will be a ton of great material to explore. The Piano Starts Here series highlights the work of some of the most prolific and talented composers and pianists to have ever tackled the instrument. Each of the performances brings together Seattle’s finest pianists to perform the works of the artist selected for that evening on the Royal Room’s Steinway B grand piano.
50th Seattle International Film Festival - in-person May 9-19, virtual May 20-27
SIFF has been bringing extraordinary films from around the world to audiences for half a century now, and you’re not going to want to miss this year’s celebration of independent and international cinema. So come ring in SIFF's golden anniversary at theaters and venues across the Emerald City. The opening night film at Seattle's Paramount Theatre is Thelma starring June Squibb (Oscar-nominated for Nebraska), followed by the opening night party. Writer/Director Josh Margolin will be in attendance along with June Squibb for a Q&A.
Seattle Arts & Lectures presents: Encore Series with Luis Alberto Urrea in-person @ Town Hall Seattle+online- May 20, 7:30 p.m.
Hailed by NPR as a “literary badass” and a “master storyteller with a rock and roll heart,” Luis Alberto Urrea is a prolific and acclaimed writer who uses his dual-culture life experiences to explore greater themes of love, loss and triumph. Urrea’s newest book, Good Night, Irene, takes as inspiration his mother’s own Red Cross service.
Earshot Jazz presents Samara Joy - May 25, 8 p.m. at Benaroya Hall, Seattle
Samara Joy is bringing back old school jazz, making it her own with her stirring soulfulness and undeniable sparkling talent. In recognition of her stardom, Samara Joy won a 2024 Grammy for Best Jazz Performance ("Tight"), plus 2023 Grammys for Best Jazz Vocal Album and the auspicious Best New Artist award. Her voice, rich and velvety yet precociously refined, has already earned her fans like Anita Baker and Regina King, appearances on the TODAY Show, and millions of likes on TikTok—cementing her status as perhaps the first Gen Z jazz singing star. Samara's latest album, Linger Awhile, introduces that massive audience to a slew of classic standards several times older than she is through her timeless, irresistible sound.
53rd Annual Northwest Folklife Festival at Seattle Center - May 24-27
The Northwest Folklife Festival will include programming that includes music, dance, spoken word, visual arts, films, participatory dances, and workshops spanning 23 stages for an anticipated audience of over 200,000. This year's cultural focus is Meraki, which derives from the Greek language and means doing something with passion, soul, and love. KNKX presents a music showcase on Monday, May 27 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on the Fountain Lawn Stage featuring performances by the Paula Boggs Band and Reggie Garrett. Stop by our booth that day from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on the roadway near the Fountain Lawn Stage.
Tacoma Urban League presents State of Black Tacoma 2024 - May 30, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Join us for an engaging and important event at Evergreen State College in Tacoma. The State of Black Tacoma Town Hall is a community gathering to discuss issues affecting the Black community in Tacoma. Come share your thoughts, listen to others, and be a part of the conversation. This in-person event is an opportunity to connect, learn, and work towards positive change. Don't miss this chance to be a part of the discussion!
Seattle Out & Proud presents Seattle Pride in the Park 2024 - June 1, 12-7 p.m. at Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill
Seattle Pride in the Park will feature a can’t-miss lineup of LGBTQIA+ performances, a dance-focused stage with an adjacent alcohol garden (21+), food trucks, local nonprofit booths, queer vendors, and more. The free event also includes plenty of family friendly fare – including Drag Queen Storytime – and a teen space designed and hosted by youth in a collaborative internship between Seattle's LGBTQ Center and Seattle Pride.
