Bessie Smith

The Palm Beach Institute for the Entertainment Arts Presents Avery Sommers in Concert Next Month

The Palm Beach Institute for the Entertainment Arts invites you to get up close and personal with south Florida born and raised Avery Sommers. For two nights only – October 28th and October 29th at 7:00 pm – the star of some of Broadway's most popular shows will entertain lucky audiences with some of her favorite stories and songs from her career.

Shamekia Copeland and Ruthie Foster Join Forces in Powerhouse Concert at Highmark Blues & Heritage Festival

Guitarist/vocalist Shemekia Copeland was literally born into blues royalty and founded her own kingdom of artistic expression. Composer/vocalist/ keyboardist Ruthie Foster established her own sonic citizenship by combining a melting pot of musical genres into her own distinctive sound.

The King Center Announces Two Additional Shows and BSO Single Tickets

The King Center for the Performing Arts has announced two additional shows coming to the Space Coast!  Elko Concerts Presents, writing, singing, and performing artist, Gordon Lightfoot: The Legend in Concert on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at 8 PM.

Universal Preservation Hall Announces Upcoming 2023 Shows

Universal Preservation Hall is announcing the first batch of shows coming in 2023. Tickets are available through the Box Office at Proctors, in person or via phone at 518-346-6204 Monday-Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. or online at UniversalPreservationHall.org starting Tuesday, September 6. Starting October 1, the Box Office at Proctors will extend their hours to include Saturdays. Groups of 10 or more can get their tickets by calling 518-382-3884, ext. 139.

Highmark Blues & Heritage Festival Takes Over Pittsburgh's Highmark Stadium in September

As the soundtrack of struggle, the narrative of collective experience and the backbeat of community, the blues in all its different forms is a tradition that lives on with the Highmark Blues & Heritage Festival. Produced by the August Wilson African American Cultural Center (AWAACC) and Presented by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, the fifth annual festival takes place September 14-15 at Highmark Stadium (510 W. Station Square Drive).

Pompano Beach Arts Welcomes World-renowned Classical And Broadway Stars

Pompano Beach Arts has announced an extraordinary new concert series produced by “Generation” Venetian Arts Society (GENVAS) specifically for the Pompano Beach Cultural Center. The Bell'Arte Concert Series, in its inaugural season, will consist of four fine arts salon-style concerts, each unique in topic and genre.

Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center Announces Fall and Holiday Jazz Series Featuring Musicians, Vocalists, Dancers & More

Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center is offering a stellar series of jazz performances with more than two dozen musicians, vocalists, and dancers appearing in West Chester this September through December, hosted by local jazz and blues artist, Sara Michaels.

Headliners Announced For The 2022 Sydney International Women's Jazz Festival

Musicians from around the globe will gather in Sydney for SIMA’s annual celebration of women in jazz. Now in its 11th year, the Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival continues to showcase some of the most talented, inspiring and creative musicians from home and abroad. 

Wendy And DB Release INTO THE BLUE HOUSE Out August 19

A Chicago homestyle tribute to the blues, Wendy and DB's fifth album, Into the Little Blue House, is set for release on August 22, 2022. Though rooted in a blues vocabulary, Into the Little Blue House employs an up-to-date expansion to touch the soul of our time.

FreeFall Announces 2022/2023 Season

Subscriptions and single tickets are now on sale for freeFall's 2022/2023 season. Two world premieres, the return of a holiday favorite, A Sherlock Holmes adventure, A Neil Simon romantic comedy and an exciting co-production with our friends at Ebony Rep in Los Angeles makes up just some of the exciting programming Tampa Bay audiences can experience for as low as $29 a month.

VIDEO: Meet The Women Of BLUES IN THE NIGHT At Porchlight Music Theatre

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre latest mainstage production the “Best Musical” Tony Award-nominated Blues in the Night, conceived by Sheldon Epps, with the music of Bessie Smith, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, Vernon Duke, Gordon Jenkins, Alberta Hunter and others, is now playing through March 13 at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St.

VIDEO: Sneak Peek of BLUES IN THE NIGHT at Ebony Reptertory Theatre

Set in 1948 in a Chicago hotel that has seen better days, the interwoven stories of BLUES IN THE NIGHT evoke the misery and humor of life, love and the dogged determination to do more than just survive. The drama reveals itself through glorious songs by Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Alberta Hunter, Harold Arlen, Jimmy Cox, Ida Cox and more.

Newly Formed Pike & Sutton Team Up With Blues Traveler's John Popper for 'New Year's Resolution'

Austin-based duo Pike & Sutton recently announced their new self-titled band project earlier this fall. Led by 'hometown favorites' (Austin American-Statesman) Patrice Pike and Wayne Sutton, the band has evolved out of the longtime alternative rock band Sister 7 and will release their debut full-length Heart Is A Compass in early 2020. To close out the year, they've teamed up with Blues Traveler's John Popper for a reimagined version of Otis Redding and Carla Thomas' classic 'New Year's Resolution.'

BWW TV: First Look at BroadwayHD's Teaser for A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN Before its Release on 1/19

BroadwayHD is about to rock 'n' roll! This new year will bring the 48th anniversary of Janis Joplin's untimely death and 50th anniversary celebration for Woodstock, so BroadwayHD is opening the new year by releasing A NIGHT WITH Janis Joplin starring the show's Tony-nominated star Mary Bridget Davies. The cast will also feature Aurianna Angelique, Ashley Támar Davis, Tawny Dolley, Paige McNamara and Jennifer Leigh Warren. This tribute to the iconic rock star will be released on what would have been her 76th birthday, January 19. 

VIDEO: In Conversation With The Cast Of BLUES IN THE NIGHT

The Wallis production of BLUES IN THE NIGHT, conceived and directed by Sheldon Epps, starts performances next week in the intimate Lovelace Theater! Artistic Director Paul Crewes snuck into rehearsal to chat with cast members Yvette Cason, Bryce Charles, Chester Gregory, and Paulette Ivory about this exciting new production.

Visual Artist FdlM Pays Pictorial Tribute to Iconic Women on Women's History Month

Art has a responsibility and so too does the artist - one of the many requirements of art is that it elevates the viewer in some manner - not necessarily in spirit - but definitely in thought. In many ways Franck de las Mercedes embraces this responsibility as his work not only pleases aesthetically, it often teases intellectually. The viewer is often left having to dig deep within de las Mercedes subjects, tunneling with him, in a manner towards what can only be de?ned as the sublime. De las Mercedes, is also an artist that shares his existence with the viewer taking us through the ups and downs of not only his life, but of life in general - thereby adding the understanding of the human condition to his artistic responsibility.

On JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE, Queen talks about playing legendary blues singer Bessie Smith.

The Pasadena Playhouse presents A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN. Conceived, written and directed by Randy Johnson, with choreography by Patricia Wilcox and musical direction by Tyler Evans. A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN stars Mary Bridget Davies, following her Tony Award nominated Broadway run. Pasadena native Kacee Clanton, also from the Broadway production of A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, will alternate the role of Janis Joplin with Davies. Check out Mary Bridget Davies and the Joplinaires on Good Day LA! 

Queen Latifah sings the blude in her new film BESSIE. The multi-talented actress and singer, who produced and stars in the new HBO film, stopped by ABC's Good Morning America to talk about the film.

Starring Oscar® nominee Queen Latifah ("Chicago") in the title role, BESSIE focuses on legendary blues singer Bessie Smith's transformation from a struggling young singer into "The Empress of the Blues," one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s and an enduring icon today. Check out the first trailer for the film below!