Southern Nights is an intimate songwriter series presented by BlackAmericana Fest, returning for Season 4 at Snug Harbor Jazz Bistro. Curated by Dusky Waters, the series celebrates women songwriters, original music, and the heroines who shaped us, centering storytelling, collaboration, and the living roots of American music. Grounded in the South and expansive in spirit, Southern Nights is a space where lineage, creativity, and community meet.

Each evening unfolds with care and intention. First, the show begins with artists performing in the round, sharing songs and stories that offer audiences a rare glimpse into the heart of their craft. As the night progresses, the spirit of collaboration deepens, culminating in a collective Southern Nights Superset, where all featured artists come together on stage to honor a shared musical heroine.

Season 4 features Kristin Diable, Amethyst Starr, Marcella Simien, Gina Leslie, Anna Moss, Erica Falls, Johanna Rose, and Shawan Rice, with tributes dedicated to Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday, and Dinah Washington, four women whose voices, vision, and brilliance continue to shape American music across generations.