Tag Archives: St. Louis

Set to open in September 2025, The Sovereign is St. Louis’ newest independent concert venue, created in partnership with and operated by Old Rock House. The 1,200-capacity venue created in a fully renovated historic building on Washington Avenue, will make its debut as one of the three main stages for MATI 2025. The Sovereign’s 40′ x 32′ stage is currently being built—its wood framing now in place and ready for poured concrete. 

Two dedicated backstage green rooms with bathrooms/showers will provide a highly accommodating space for performers and a hospitality suite will host meet and greets and other VIP events. 

“My singular goal with The Sovereign is to embody the independent spirit of musical artists through a physical venue. This place has been an absolute labor of love and I am thrilled to finally introduce it to the great music community in St. Louis,” says Managing Partner Tim Weber.

Beyond MATI, The Sovereign already has several shows lined up on its calendar for the fall including:

• The Damned on September 16 
• Gary Numan on October 3
• The Reverend Horton Heat on October 18 
• Josh Ritter on November 6 

Visit oldrockhouse.com/the-sovereign for ticket info and regular updates.

Get ready for a night of powerful music, radiant visuals, and unapologetic freedom. Eldraco+FreeNation presents The Glitter Ball, a genre-blending concert experience that celebrates bold creativity, Black artistry, and fearless self-expression. Presented by The Kranzberg Foundation as part of the Road to Music at the Intersection 2025 Artist-in-Residence Program, this show brings together some of the most dynamic forces in St. Louis and beyond. 

Doors open at 7 p.m. with a high-energy pre-show performance by St. Louis’ Queen of Funk, Frankie Dowop & The Thundacats in The Dark Room. At 8 p.m., Eldraco+FreeNation takes the MainStage, joined by the Blck Bird String Ensemble, Grammy Award-winning trumpeter Karin Bliznik, and more. Expect a sweeping, genre-defying performance that fuses soul, funk, classical, and retro-futurist sound.

This immersive night also features custom set design by artist and fabricator Blair Lair, turning the Grandel stage into a glittering visual spectacle you won’t forget. The dress code is “Glitter Glamour.” Break out the sequins, rhinestones, glitter and metallics and wear your brightest and boldest look. The Glitter Ball is a celebration of community, creativity, and brilliance in all forms. Come ready to dance, dazzle, and shine your brightest. Tickets available via Metrotix.

Those who have attended KAF’s  Wednesday Night Jazz Jam at The Dark Room know just how special this free weekly community event can be. July marks the 13th Anniversary of Jazz Jam bringing the art of jazz within reach for people of all ages and backgrounds and helping to preserve and cultivate jazz music in St. Louis. 

Musician, composer and educator Bob DeBoo leads the Jazz Jam each week, using connections from his long music career to individually select rising-stars and St. Louis jazz legends, as well as Nationally-recognized artists touring through the region, to provide the opening performance. The diverse audience is then invited to participate, resulting in everyone from an eight-year-old budding pianist all the way up to a well-seasoned octogenarian tenor sax player joining in the fun. 

The lack of age restriction allows elementary, high-school and college-aged musicians a safe and inviting place to practice their craft—an opportunity that may not exist in typical jazz settings. Some of the younger musicians that have joined through the years have grown, gone off to school or new cities, and come back to join occasionally as now professional musicians. 

“The Jazz Jam was, from its inception, meant to be an inclusive and safe space for musicians of all stripes to enjoy fellowship and sharpen their skills. The dynamic between young and old artists is very important to the jazz community because the mentorship aspect of learning the craft is essential. We’ve been blessed to have a great ‘family’ of audience members join us regularly over the years as well,” DeBoo says.

In 2022, KAF formed a partnership with the St. Louis County Library to bring free arts-based programming and cultural enrichment to County Library branches. Part of that initiative included extending the weekly Jazz Jam into the community for a monthly Jazz Jam held the first Thursday of every month at the Lewis and Clark Branch of the Library. Hosted by musician and educator Harvey Lockhart, this vibrant monthly gathering furthers the original mission of Jazz Jam, bringing jazz to even more people in the greater St. Louis community. The monthly Jazz Jam continues to grow and thrive, becoming a beloved staple of the library’s programming.

Jazz Jam takes place each Wednesday evening from 6-9 pm live inside The Dark Room at The Grandel. Food and drink are available for purchase and limited seating is available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Bring your instrument or just yourself and come join the jam!

Sophie’s Artist Lounge is thrilled to announce the new DJ Residents for its 2025–2026 season—a dynamic class of 10 artists whose energy, creativity, and range will elevate the sound and soul of the space. In response to an overwhelming number of applications, Sophie’s has expanded the residency to make more room for more emerging and established voices to share their gifts. Starting in July, these DJs will join the weekly and monthly rotation at Sophie’s, curating vibes on both weekends and weeknights.

Meet the 2025–2026 DJ Residents:

DJ PBNJEFFY
Blending hip-hop, house, and funk with precision and play, PBNJEFFY commands the room with sets that are both technical and full of heart.

DJ KC Mackey
A connoisseur of house and disco, KC Mackey spins joyful, high-vibe sets that celebrate rhythm and liberation on the dancefloor.

DJ MAHF
Returning with his beloved Motown Throwdown, DJ MAHF brings decades of experience and deep crates of soul, funk, and scratch-heavy storytelling.

DJ Sinamin
With a style rooted in intimacy, Sinamin layers R&B, neo-soul, and dreamlike beats to create a sonic space that’s soft, warm, and deeply felt.

DJ Nune is Lamar Harris
Known for his fusion of live instrumentation and vinyl culture, Lamar Harris crafts immersive sets that speak to heritage, innovation, and groove.

TreHitz
Bold, boundary-pushing, and full of bounce—TreHitz brings fearless flair and sharp curation to every performance.

DJ Rico Steez
Rico Steez delivers effortless blends of soul, R&B, and heavy low-end, wrapping each set in nostalgia, finesse, and fresh energy.

Anansi Spins
Inspired by Afrofuturism and gaming culture, Anansi Spins designs genre-defying sonic journeys steeped in mythology, movement, and meaning.

Enoch Raavi
Through global percussion and ancestral rhythm, Enoch Raavi turns every set into a spiritual and physical release—a groove guided by legacy.

James Yeo
Cutting-edge and curious, James Yeo explores new textures in electronic and experimental sound. Expect the unexpected—and the unforgettable.

“I left St. Louis in 2012 to go to college and it’s been a wild and beautiful ride. I have lived all over the South. Each place has shaped me as a creative, but St. Louis raised me and it has welcomed me back with open arms,” says TreHitz. “You can really find your people here, your collaborators, and your own lane and build something real here. The creatives I’m surrounded by here push me. I’m super honored to be in a circle where we root for each other out loud.”

While this new class brings fresh vibrations, you can still catch the resident DJs who’ve been holding it down and shaping the sonic identity of Sophie’s for nearly four years. Agile One and Biko FKA Needles continue to be pillars in the booth, bringing unmatched style, musicality, and leadership.

The calendar will also be filled with rotating favorites and creative series including:

• 18andCounting, a sonic shapeshifter whose deep crates and experimental flair remain a staple of our space.
• Umami, a selector of moods and moments through genre-blending mixes.
• Monthly Burlesque by Hoopsie Dee, a seductive and smart showcase of movement, empowerment, and visual storytelling.
• Cassette, featuring DJ Charlie Chan and Rashad La’Rocka, serving up timeless classics with turntable finesse.
• Florionals: A Tag the Floor Cypher, powered by DJ Domo Fresh, where movement artists meet beats in a vibrant open-style dance jam.

More than just a nightclub, Sophie’s is an innovative space where artists, curators and DJs play an integral role in shaping St. Louis’ cultural landscape. Stay tuned for future collaborations, creative activations and community-curated magic and check the monthly calendar for details, debuts, and new soundscapes.

“We’re excited to welcome new talent into our Residency Program and offer more opportunities for St. Louis DJs to grow and thrive,” says KAF Executive Director Chris Hansen. “All of our residencies are designed to help artists define, pursue and achieve their goals by providing the tools and space to improve their skills, develop new professional relationships, and increase their knowledge.”

Juneteenth National Independence Day is the national holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. This year, KAF will join The Griot Museum of Black History for a powerful Juneteenth Celebration taking place next to The Griot (2505 St. Louis Ave) on Thursday, June 19 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. This free event will highlight Black history, culture, and community through music, dance, storytelling, food, and local vendors.

Hosted by Tee Parks, the day will feature a land blessing by writer, multi-medium storyteller, and public speaker Cheeraz Gormon; artistic and cultural presentations including spoken word, dance, and monologue; and a vibrant Jazz Jam with saxophonist Kendrick Smith. Legendary St. Louis DJ G.Wiz will provide a high-energy atmosphere throughout the day. The celebration will also include arts and crafts led by Gundia Lock Clay and a variety of local food, retail and resource vendors.

The day concludes with a Freedom Parade to the Whitaker Foundation Summer Concert Series at St. Louis Place Park at 5:30 p.m.

KAF is proud to be a sponsor and supporter of this important cultural event, presented in partnership with the St. Louis Place Community Association and The Griot Museum. We invite our community to come out and honor the spirit of freedom, resilience and collective joy. 

“Where there is unity, there is strength. Where there is hope, there is perseverance. Where there is faith, there is liberation,” says KAF Community Engagement Director Arica Foster.

Volunteers are still needed for this event. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Trica at triciaw.griotmuseum@yahoo.com for more details.

“‘The Call’ is officially out for the 2026-2027 Kranzberg Artist in Residency (KAIR) program in Visual Arts, as well as exhibition opportunities for visual artists and nonprofit organizations. KAIR Programs utilize artistic venues, studios, community programming and strategic partnerships to empower artists from diverse backgrounds. The Visual Arts KAIR is an 18-month program, running from January 2026 – June 2027, designed to support four outstanding visual artists in a collaborative, resource-rich environment. This residency provides artists with the time, space, and support needed to develop substantial bodies of work, foster collaboration, and fully realize their creative visions.

“We are excited to once again put out The Call to serious St. Louis-based visual artists who are interested in collaborative exhibition opportunities and installations through this unique residency program,” said Larry Morris, KAF Director of Programs and Partnerships who oversees Residencies. “Since its inception, the Visual Arts Residency has showcased some of the top creative talent in St. Louis and we look forward to ushering in the next class.

KAF will accept submissions for The Call from Monday, June 2 – Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at kranzbergartsfoundation.org/the-call. Four artists will be selected by a jury through the competitive open call and will be notified of selection by no later than Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

The four pillars provided by the Visual Arts Residency include:

• Stipend: A residency stipend of $5,000 (no additional funding)
• Promotion: Basic storytelling support through Foundation channels and newsletters
• Workspace and Presenting Space: Venue space and event staffing as well as a dedicated workspace customized to practice needs
• Community Connection: Proximity to residential organizations and other creatives

In addition to the KAIR program, St. Louis-based visual artists and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations may apply during this open submission period for exhibition opportunities in KAF gallery spaces. Beginning in 2026, KAF’s juried exhibition season will feature solo exhibitions by artists selected through The Call. Selected artists will receive a stipend, curatorial and exhibition design support, and the opportunity to present their creative vision in a professional gallery setting.

St. Louis-based painters, photographers, printmakers, ceramicists, illustrators, graphic designers, digital and electronic artists, textile/fiber artists, sketch artists, and multidisciplinary visual artists are all encouraged to apply.

Through developing and managing artistic venues, galleries, studios, and community-based programming, KAF provides essential infrastructure enabling the arts to flourish in the St. Louis region. The KAF residency program adopts an arts-based approach to community development, aligning resources and investments with community vision and needs. Committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, the program supports economic development and cultural sustainability, further positioning St. Louis as a leading arts and entertainment destination.