Categorically, throughout the entire history of music and American culture, Black artists have not received the love and credit they deserve. When recognition does come, it is not until decades after their passing. From Sister Rosetta Tharpe to Seattle’s Tina Bell to contemporary pioneers like Fishbone, Black-fronted bands in the Pacific Northwest and beyond have long needed proper support and recognition for the impact they’ve made on music history. 

That’s why Anthony Briscoe and I co-founded Black & Loud Fest, a celebration of alternative Black-fronted bands that everyone is invited to. Backed by the support of title sponsor Jack Daniel’s, this festival was born from the DIY spirit to give folks the chance to prevent history from repeating itself. Black & Loud Fest aims to celebrate Black artists and Black-fronted bands with folks from all walks of life by sharing experiences and insights about these issues, giving this talented and underrepresented community their flowers, and throwing one of the most kick-ass music festivals in the Pacific Northwest. Our goal is to honor the broad spectrum of Black creativity, showcasing how integral these contributions have been to defining American music and culture at large.

Now coming into its fifth year, our mission to put on for alternative Black artists centered in the Pacific Northwest is still going strong, despite the landscape. Like many other Black-fronted bands from this region, navigating the music scene felt like navigating an ocean for King Youngblood. It wasn’t uncommon for us to be the only band of color on a lineup, especially in Seattle’s rock world. 

Cameron Lavi-Jones, co-founder of Black & Loud Fest, brings the noise with Seattle alt-rock band King Youngblood.

Photo by Murphy Gilson

But King Youngblood’s story is not the only experience of diaspora. There hasn’t been a year of this festival that folks haven’t said to me, “I didn’t know how much I needed this.” I hear it from both the artists experiencing a level of seenness and acceptance for the first time and the diverse audience we invite to celebrate with us, experiencing the breadth of what Black artists can sound like.

And I gotta say, the lineup is pretty stacked. Iniko, a viral, otherworldly alternative pop and R&B artist with one of the most recognizable voices on the internet, excitedly jumped on board for the opportunity to headline with us. They shared that even with 2.3 million Instagram followers and 4.9 million followers on TikTok, they are often overlooked for Black events because they don’t fit into the stereotypes of what most people think Black music is supposed to sound like. Their story and King Youngblood’s have mirrored each other, showing that the work to educate people is apparent in every genre. You’ve probably heard “Jericho” or “The King’s Affirmation,” which blew up in 2022 and 2023, respectively. They rarely make it out to the PNW, but the Brooklyn native is back with new music and their full band too. 

Iniko

Photo by Mike Dawkins

King Youngblood has been an anchor of this festival, bringing that big Seattle alternative rock, giant hooks, and Afro-punk energy, and we’re bringing NEW MUSIC to the festival this year. We’re doing some sh!t I KNOW you’ve never seen before. And considering how much work goes into putting on an independent music festival, I promise you are going to see just how much sharing our music with this community means to us in this special set. 

The Uptown Ruler Cyril Neville is returning this year too. Actual New Orleans music royalty, a Grammy-winning Neville Brother, a member of The Meters, and one of the architects of New Orleans funk, the 77-year-old legend is still moving like when he first popped out. Having him at this festival means a lot to me, especially when it comes to giving folks their flowers now rather than waiting till they’re gone. 

Showcasing these artists is a testament that, regardless of genre, age, or racial experience, Black music is something everyone should be celebrating, no matter who you are or what you look like. With festivals in our region closing left and right, supporting live music is more important than ever. 

For folks reading this who are interested in supporting what we do more deeply than buying a ticket, I invite you to donate to the Black & Loud Fest Ticket Scholarship Fund. Not everyone who deserves to be part of this celebration can afford to walk through the door, but with your help, we can change that. The fund helps provide free tickets to Black and BIPOC community members, independent musicians, emerging industry professionals, and others who would benefit from being part of the festival. 

Black & Loud Fest is fiscally sponsored as a 501(c)(3) charity project by the Northwest Film Forum of Seattle, and all donations to Black & Loud are federally tax-deductible as a charitable deduction. Supporting this festival means contributing to the cultural uplift of Black artists, giving folks a chance to experience the diversity of Black music, and showing that the current music economic environment won’t get in the way of positively impacting as many folks as we can.

Black & Loud Fest is on Saturday, August 29, at all three stages of the Neumos complex in Seattle, and August 30, at The Den in Portland. You can find tickets at blackandloudfest.com. I hope to see you there.