Famous singer-songwriter and ETSU alumni, Amythyst Kiah, is returning to her roots at ETSU with a free concert.

On Feb. 19, Amythyst Kiah will perform at the Martin Center Grand Hall from 7 to 9 p.m. The ETSU Old-Time Ramblers will be the opener for her. This concert is sponsored by Crafting Blackness Initiative, Bravissima! Women Sponsoring the Arts! and ETSU Black American Studies. The title of the concert is “Black Myself: Amythyst Kiah with ETSU Old-Time Ramblers.” The concert will have several speakers including Dr. Noland, Professor Dan Boner, Dr. Daryl Carter and Dean Joe Bidwell.

The performance is free and open to the public. Patrons could reserve tickets on the Martin Center website. Currently, all 1200 tickets are sold out. There was a limit to reserving six tickets. However, there is rush seating available.

This concert is a part of Slocumb Galleries “Black Bodies Making Form,” which takes place all over Tennessee. The exhibit was nominated for the Award of Excellence. Karlota Contreras-Koterbay curates the exhibit. It will close on Feb. 8 and be transferred to Nashville.

Poster for Kiah’s sold out show (Contributed/ETSU Martin Center for the Arts)

“This project is about African American Tennessee crafting,” said Koterbay. “It is a combination of visual and performing arts.”

In September, a panel of six Black, Appalachian, Tennessee scholars talked about the Black Craft in Appalachian.

“We try to celebrate the black creativity and representation It is enriching to the white community; it is all equally relevant, and we are equally of greatness,” said Koterbay. “So much history and culture with diversity and we have to get visibility.”

The plan to bring Kiah to ETSU was years in the making, said Koterbay. She wanted to make the Kiah concert free to the students to allow them to see. Koterbay said she wanted to make it accessible as much as possible including financially. She wanted to thank the sponsors for making the concert possible.

“It is a really ambitious project,” said Koterbay, “Really lot of partnership and collaboration.”

This performance is in partnership with the Tennessee Art Commission, ETSU Division of Student Life and Enrollment’s SAAC, Mary B. Martin School of the Arts, Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies, Department of Art and Design’s Slocumb Galleries, Department of Appalachian Studies, Dean of College of Arts and Science, Office of Provost, Tennessee Craft, Multicultural Center, Language and Culture Resource Center and The Black American Studies Program.

On the announcement post on the Martin Center Instagram, ETSU alumni Robin Hess Chubb stated, “I love her voice and her songs remind me of Tracy Chapman and Joan Armatrading.”

Kiah is a Black Appalachian LGBTQ musician and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter. Kiah is an alumna of the ETSU Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Roots Music Studies and studied under Roy Andrade. Kiah performed previously at the Martin Center on Dec. 16, with the band 49 Winchester.

“It is really important to see a black woman who is queer from Appalachian,” said Koterbay.

The next exhibits for Slocumb Galleries are the National Jury Exhibit, Student Showcases and Jim and Mary Martin Student Jury Exhibit. Slocumb Galleries is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Extended hours are possible with a 24-hour notice.

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