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 April 12, that tribute is dedicated to Dinah Washington, whose unmatched vocal power, emotional range, and commanding presence helped define American music. With a voice that could move effortlessly from blues to jazz to torch songs, she gave generations a model for artistry that was bold, elegant, and unforgettable Tonight's featured artists include:  Shawan Rice is a New Orleans based vocalist, songwriter, and storyteller whose work centers on original compositions and reinterpretations of influential repertoire.  She performs regularly with top local musicianss, including Donald Ramsey and Chris Senac, Terrence Houston and Rodney Weber.  Rice has toured nationally and internationally for over a decade, appearing at major events like the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Switzerland’s Jazz Ascona Festival. Equally at home in full band, ensemble, or solo settings, her work is defined by passionate, emotionally driven live performances. Johanna Rose is a New Orleans-based singer, songwriter, upright bassist, and street performer making music that lives somewhere between the stars and the gutter. Her sound - smoky, sultry, chaotic - walks the line between beauty and grit. With vocals that can cut or soothe and bass lines that feel like a heartbeat and a tightrope all at once, Rose builds songs that don’t ask permission. It’s jazz with a crooked grin; grounded in tradition but never content to stay there. Dusky Waters is a New Orleans–based Americana songwriter whose music carries the magic, grief, and resilience of the Mississippi River. A soulful multi-instrumentalist, she blends folk, gospel, pop, and roots traditions into performances that feel both intimate and electrifying. OffBeat praises her work as “beautifully crafted” with “clarion-call vocals.” She is the co-founder of BlackAmericana Fest and curator of the Southern Nights series. Performing artists also include: Conner McCready - drums Eric Merchant - guitar Izzy Chase - piano Sage Rouge - saxophone Shows at 7:30pm & 9:30pm Doors at 7:00pm & 9:00pm