Zhou B Art Center to celebrate history of Black rock ‘n’ roll with ‘Rock is Black’ concert

Rock is Black will feature an all-Black artist lineup. // Courtesy of Zhou B Art Center

On Feb. 28, The Zhou B Art Center will host “Rock is Black”—a groundbreaking concert celebrating the often-overlooked contributions of Black artists to the rock genre. This event marks the release of Malek Azrael’s indie rock EP, redefining the genre through a Black lens. “I wanted to create the soundtrack of my childhood with a Black face on it,” Azrael says.

The event features a lineup of all-Black artists, including Malek Azrael & The Vibez, Frankie Shorez and Mercy Fire, Jamogi and The Jammers, and Stephonne. The concert will showcase everything from blues rock to pop punk.

Izzy Vivas, art director of Zhou B Art Center, can speak to the event’s significance. “It is a way to give back to parts of ourselves, give back to our inner child a representation we wanted to see,” Vivas says. Stressing the wider influence of the show, she says, “Representation elicits possibility.”

Seeing Black representation in rock music at a young age would have made a huge impact on artists like Azrael. “If I would have seen what we are doing now as a child, it would have helped me embrace the idea that boundaries don’t exist in rock,” Azrael says. Even if such boundaries did exist, Azrael wouldn’t be concerned with them. “We’re more than the boxes that the media puts us in. We’re more than R&B and hip-hop, and what we do needs to be accepted,” he says. “I am not here to prove my rock is any more rock than other rock.”

Jamogi Bridges views the event as an opportunity to revisit rock’s roots, noting, “Rock originally started as Black music.” Black artists like Chuck Berry and Little Richard both heavily contributed to the development of the genre. Despite its foundational history, mainstream media often overlooks the contributions of Black artists, creating a significant gap in visibility and recognition.

Bridges, the frontman of Jamogi and The Jammers, believes the concert challenges the boundaries of genre. “People have this tendency to gatekeep what music is and should be. We are breaking down barriers as to what rock music is—Rock is always going to change face,” he says.

Bridges reflected on the lack of Black representation in the genre growing up. “I did not see an all-Black lineup until high school. If I had seen that representation in elementary school, my appreciation of rock music would have been overflowing. It doesn’t hit the same until you see it in person,” he says.

For Bridges, bringing an all-Black rock lineup to the East side feels like a natural step. “When considering the Troost dividing line, you can hear the difference in the music on the East and West sides. Most venues in KC are on the West side. With this show, we get to bring power and attention to the East side,” he says.

The Zhou B Art Center, located in the 18th and Vine Jazz District, opened in June 2024. Shanzuo and Dahuang Zhoushi, known as the Zhou Brothers, are renowned Chinese painters born in China and currently based in Chicago. The brothers developed “Feelingism”—a blend of Eastern and Western influences. The style encourages self-belief and following one’s heart in the creative process. The Zhou Brothers’ intuition played a key role in establishing the Zhou B Art Center in Kansas City, which they discovered through a chance encounter with the Crispus Attucks School.

Established in 1893 and named after Crispus Attucks, the first casualty of the American Revolution during the Boston Massacre, Attucks School grew alongside Kansas City’s African American population. After outgrowing its original building, a new two-story structure was built in 1904. By 1950, it served nearly 1,000 students. Following the desegregation of public schools in the 1960s, it served all Kansas City children until closing in 2007 due to low enrollment.

The Zhou B Art Center centers around visibility, representation, and creating space for new generations of artists and fans. Rock is Black is a unique opportunity to honor both the artistic and cultural significance of Black rock artists. Ticket presale prices start at $15, and tickets cost $20 at the door. For more information on the event, visit The Zhou B Art Center’s website. Note: This is a 21+ event.