Southern Nights is an intimate songwriter series presented by BlackAmericana Fest, celebrating women songwriters, original music, and the heroines who shaped us. Curated by Dusky Waters, each evening centers storytelling, collaboration, and the living roots of American music—grounded in the South, expansive in spirit.
Artists perform in the round, offering audiences a rare glimpse into the heart of their craft. The night culminates in a collaborative Southern Nights Superset, where all artists unite on stage to honor a shared musical heroine. On February 8, that tribute is dedicated to Aretha Franklin—the Queen of Soul, whose voice, power, and artistry transformed American music and gave generations a language for dignity, love, faith, and freedom.