Black Americana Fest might appear like a youngster on the Folk festival scene, but its roots are very, very deep. It will be happening this year in New Orleans, LA September 25-36. Dusky Waters and Teena May have created a voice for people who are historically underrepresented in this very same scene. If the word “Folk” conjures up Woody and Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and maybe the Lomax brothers recording Black spirituals on the porches of families who’d been preserving them for generations, you haven’t scratched the surface. But we’re not here to parse words.

Tamara Grayson breathes life into photos. She has a gift for capturing hearts afloat, thoughts poised on the tip of a tongue, stories told in light and shadow. She stills the electricity between performers, or between a performer and their instrument. A breath held.

Learn more about Tamara Grayson Photography here. Give a follow to nolatinyplanets or  tamaragraysonphotography on Instagram or on Facebook, if you do the social media thing. In the meantime, please enjoy these stellar images of Black Americana Fest 2025, and let them take you away to a place where only love and music fill the air.