Celebrate Black Music Month with the National Music Centre at Studio Bell!
Join us for a free, building-wide celebration of Black music and culture at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, on Saturday, June 14 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. This special event is curated by legendary former MuchMusic VJ Master T and hosted by Calgary-based rapper and lyricist K-Riz.
The event will spotlight the creativity, expression, and heritage of Black music and culture with a full day of live performances, local food vendors, community showcases, family-friendly activities, and a talent expo spotlighting rising Black artists.
Neo-soul collective The Rondel Roberts Band will headline, showcasing a blend of ‘70s soul, feel-good funk, classic rock, and golden-era boom-bap rap. Also performing are British-Canadian R&B and grime-infused rap artist Jackie Art, Nigerian-Canadian Afropop act Skinny Blaiz, chameleonic rapper Tea Fannie, Edmonton rap role model J-Mello, genre-bending DJ King Mars, passionate Afro-fusion singer Pinky, and Calgary dance troupe Afrohause Dance Crew.
The event will also feature a community lane with offerings from Calgary’s Black creative community, from artisans to music industry representatives and recording studio connections. Community lane organizations include Spice Isle Market Place, RYP Canada, Joyce Nseya, 3rd Verse Studios, Alcove, and Azach. Plus, enjoy a taste of the Caribbean from Pat's Food Truck!
Calling all Black artists!
As part of Black Music Month, we’re inviting Black artists to submit an original song, cover, or spoken word piece for the chance to perform live at Studio Bell on Saturday, June 14 at 12:00 pm. Selected artists will take the stage in front of a live audience and receive on-the-spot feedback from a panel of acclaimed musicians. The talent expo judges are RTC Profit, KTheChosen, Motola Dawodu, Priscilla Cherry, and Wakefield Brewster.
The winner of the talent expo will receive a full day recording session in NMC’s world-class recording studios!
Submission deadline: Friday, June 6, 2025 at 11:59 PM (MT). Submit your piece and review full guidelines at studiobell.ca/blackmusicmonth.
Black Music Month Schedule
| 10:00 am – 4:00 pm | Pat's Food Truck | Outside on 9th Avenue |
| 10:00 am – 5:00 pm | Community Lane | Level 5, Skybridge |
| 10:00 am | DJ King Mars | Level 5, Skybridge |
| 10:30 am | Tea Fannie | Level 1, Drop-in Zone |
| 11:00 am | J-Mello | Level 1, Drop-in Zone |
| 11:15 am | Skinny Blaiz | Level 5, Skybridge |
| 12:00 pm | Talent Expo | Level 2, Performance Hall |
| 1:30 pm | Rondel Roberts Band | Level 2, Performance Hall |
| 2:00 pm | Afrohause Dance Crew Performance | Level 2, Performance Hall |
| 2:00 pm | Talent Expo Winner Announcement | Level 2, Performance Hall |
| 2:15 pm | DJ King Mars | Level 5, Skybridge |
| 2:30 pm | Jackie Art | Level 1, Drop-in Zone |
| 3:00 pm | Afrohause Dance Crew Workshop | Level 1, Drop-in Zone |
| 3:30 pm | J-Mello | Level 1, Drop-in Zone |
| 3:30 pm | Pinky | Level 5, Skybridge |
| 4:00 pm | DJ King Mars | Level 5, Skybridge |
About The Rondel Roberts Band
A beautiful blend of moving grooves, throwback tunes, hip hop drops, blues riffs and bebop licks, The Rondel Roberts Band delivers the dance floor and dominates the stage at any given opportunity. The neo-soul/funk band is setting up shop in Calgary's live music scene and the people are responding. With collective influences ranging from new jack swing to neo-soul and from rock to hip-hop, this group of young tenured musicians is the epitome of eccentrically eclectic music projects. Tastefully raw and perfectly distorted, the band commands the attention of the audience by displaying energy that a stadium couldn't contain.
About Jackie Art
Jaxon Hector, also known as Jackie Art, is a rapper/songwriter currently residing in Calgary. Born in North London, UK, Jackie showcases a diverse selection of music. Having created songs with sensual R&B themes to quick-witted rap styles and even ear-catching dance music, Jackie prides himself not only on versatility, but the passion he displays within his music. Moving to Canada from England, Jackie erupted onto the Calgary music scene with hit freestyles and remixes. Now in 2025 with a selection of heavy-hitting tracks behind him, such as "Work" featuring Canadian rapper Merkules and his high-energy single "HIGHER," Jackie is positioned to have one of his biggest musical years yet in 2025.
About Skinny Blaiz
Skinny Blaiz, a Nigerian-Canadian Afropop artist based in Calgary, is a songwriter, singer, rapper, and recording engineer. He has over a decade of experience in making music. His style of music makes him stand out, and his versatility makes him cut through different genres of music with ease. He dropped his EP titled SIR back in 2022, and also recently released an LP titled BlaizAhead on November 1, 2024. Skinny Blaiz started 2025 with a new single titled "On You."
About Tea Fannie
Chameleonic rapper Tea Fannie has proven to be an unstoppable force in the music scene here in Mohkinstsis/Calgary. She grew up listening to Kenny Rogers and Whitney Houston, no typo, and by the time she was old enough to choose her own ear vibes she was into Green Day and Nas. Her music style reflects that in a random way especially because she listens to music for lyrical content over beats which is kind of different in this day and age. Her music is heavily lyrical as well and she wants people to go back and listen to it again like: “did she just say…???" With her 2024 project It's All Love, she is sure to continue forging her own path in this industry.
About J-Mello
After years of focusing on a career as a DJ, J-Mello is ready to come into his own as a producer, writer, rapper, advocate, and visionary. J-Mello creates music for the underdog and when it comes to conscious rap, J-Mello is up next. By overcoming personal obstacles, challenging the stigmas associated with men’s mental health and creating platforms that allow burgeoning artists to find their voice, all while paying respect to the hip hop legends that came before him, J-Mello is positioned to become Canada’s next great role model in the urban music industry.
About King Mars
Based in Calgary, King Mars is an artist of Jamaican and Nevision descent who infuses his DJ sets with the vibrancy of his heritage. His shape-shifting sound mimics his creative versatility as his background in professional dance and love for music allows him to create an immersive listening experience. Indulge in a genre-bending soundscape, imaginatively made accessible to music lovers of all backgrounds.
About Pinky
Pinky is a passionate artist whose heart dances through music, acting, and dance. Blending Afro, soul, pop, and R&B, her sound is always evolving and deeply rooted in feeling. With every performance, she invites people into the beauty of shared emotion, creating space to connect, reflect, and feel seen. Her love for the arts radiates warmth and joy, and her mission is to spread love through honest expression. For Pinky, it’s all about making people feel something real and reminding them they are not alone.
About Afrohause Dance Crew
Afrohause is a dynamic Afro dance crew based in Calgary, Alberta, known for promoting African culture through high-energy performances and community engagement. They specialize in Afro dance styles and have gained recognition for their vibrant showcases and collaborations within the local arts scene.