BONDVISION Media, and BLACK GIRLS ROCK!™ CEO Beverly Bond, announces the triumphant return of the highly-anticipated BGR!FEST®, at the Kennedy Center in partnership with The Kennedy Center’s Hip Hop Culture program. BGR!FEST® is an extraordinary and immersive multi-day live experience, to celebrate and recognize the exceptional cultural contributions of Black women artists, thought leaders, and creatives. This acclaimed festival, now in its fourth year, will span four days during International Women’s Day weekend, March 9-12, across the Kennedy Center campus.
This momentous festival will feature a headlining BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® Concert that boasts a sensational lineup, including the unparalleled brilliance of Black women artists Alice Smith, Estelle, and Jade Novah, set to perform in the iconic Concert Hall. The festivities continue with the highly-anticipated BGR!FEST® After Dark, a late-night music and DJ series which includes the BLACK GIRLS BOND® opening night celebration featuring Maimouna Youssef aka Mumu Fresh, DC’s own Be’la Dona Band, celebrating the launch of the BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® new digital platform BLACK GIRLS BOND®. The BGR!FEST® After Dark WHO ROCKS NEXT® stage will feature Philadelphia artists AAries and rising star Kenya Vaun. The BGR!FEST® After Dark BLACK MEN ROCK® stage will feature prolific Hip Hop artists dead prez, indie-rock artist Bazaar Royale, and more. The BGR!FEST® ROCK LIKE A GIRL® event will showcase the exceptional talents of newcomers The Amours and harpist Kayla Ortiz.
In addition, the BGR!FEST® Film Forum: A Soul Sunday Movie Matinee will feature an exclusive screening of Giving Hope: The Ni’Cola Mitchell Story, starring Tatyana Ali. Registration is required, however attending the BGR!FEST® Film Forum is completely free.
Esteemed celebrity DJ, CEO, and founder of BLACK GIRLS ROCK!®, Beverly Bond, created the BGR!FEST® to complement the BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® brand, advancing its essential mission to foster vibrant spaces for black women-centered content. “The BGR!FEST is a momentous event that allows us to honor, amplify, and celebrate the invaluable contributions and remarkable talents of Black women artists and innovators. The Kennedy Center, as a preeminent high art institution, provides the ideal setting for this immersive and vibrant experience and we are grateful for this partnership” said Beverly Bond. “BGR!FEST is much more than just a weekend of revelry; it is a powerful and symbolic affirmation that underscores the pivotal role that Black women play in shaping cultural discourse. Through BGR!FEST, we pay homage to extraordinary individuals, magnify their voices, and exalt their creative expressions, ensuring that these women’s legacies continue to inspire and empower generations to come. BGR!FEST’s unparalleled celebration echoes the ethos of the BLACK GIRLS ROCK Awards, amplifying our magic, and celebrating the excellence of Black women in a way that is simply incomparable.”
“It is an honor for us to continue our partnership with Beverly Bond and BLACK GIRLS ROCK! to present BGR!FEST for its fourth year. BGR!FEST serves as an important platform for centering and elevating the stories and artistry of Black women. Serving a home for this annual celebration is reflective of our institutional commitment to uplift the contributions of Black women and their critical role in both shaping and shifting global culture” says Simone Eccleston, Director of Hip Hop Culture and Contemporary Music at the Kennedy Center.
Join us at the BGR!FEST® for a weekend of inspiration, creativity, and unrivaled excitement.
SCHEDULE OF PERFORMANCES
BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® ROCK LIKE A GIRL – Kayla Ortiz
March 9, Millennium Stage, 6:00-7:00 p.m. FREE
Rising R&B star Kayla Ortiz is a singer, songwriter and harpist based in Los Angeles, California. She recently released her debut album Love Me Enough in November 2022, which uniquely combines her sweet yet sultry voice with the soulful, melodic tone of the project.
BLACK GIRLS BOND™ Opening Party – Mumu Fresh, Be’la Dona, DJ Aktive, & DJ Beverly Bond
March 9, Club at Studio K, 7:30-10:30 p.m.
Join us as we kick off BGR!FEST™ 2023 with the official BLACK GIRLS BOND® premiere party featuring Maimouna Youssef aka Mumu Fresh, DC’s own Be’la Dona Band, DJ Ty Alexander, and BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® founder DJ Beverly Bond, celebrating the launch of the BLACK GIRLS BOND® an online digital media destination for all things fashion, beauty, business, tech, and wellness for Black women.
BGR!FEST™ AFTER DARK: WHO ROCKS NEXT? – AAries, Kenya Vaun, & DJ Ty Alexander
Friday, March 10, Studio K, 9:30-11:30 p.m.
BGR!FEST™ After Dark presents the WHO ROCKS NEXT stage – a concert + celebration spotlighting women music artists and the next generation of rising talent as part of its signature concert series. Experience the live performances featuring Philadelphia artists AAries, and rising star Kenya Vaun, and DJ Ty Alexander.
BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® ROCK LIKE A GIRL – The Amours
Saturday, March 11, Millennium Stage, 6:00-7:00 p.m. FREE
Known for their eclectic harmonies and undeniable one-of-a-kind sound, Washington D.C. sister duo Jakiya Ayanna and Shaina Aisha bring their soulful sounds and powerhouse vocals to BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® ROCK LIKE A GIRL® as R&B love duo The Amours.
BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® Concert – Alice Smith, Estelle, & Jade Novah
Saturday, March 11, Concert Hall, 8:00 p.m.
This year’s highly coveted BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® Concert, will feature Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, Alice Smith, who is known and celebrated for her soulful vocal range and formidable stage presence, Grammy Award winning British rapper, singer, songwriter, and radio personality Estelle, known for her eclectic mix of various musical genres including R&B, soul, reggae, hip hop, and dance, and Jade Novah, who is known for her incredible vocals, sketch comedy, and conscious content.
BGR!FEST™ After Dark: BLACK MEN ROCK!® – dead prez and Bazaar Royale
Saturday, March 11, Studio K, 9:30-11:30 p.m.
In this special presentation of BGR!FEST™ After Dark, we present BLACK MEN ROCK!® a concert + celebration featuring a diverse representation of dynamic Black male music artists featuring hip hop luminaries dead prez, indie-rock artist Bazaar Royale, and more!
BGR!FEST® Film Forum: A Soul Sunday Movie Matinee
Sunday, March 12, Justice Forum, 3:00-5:30 p.m.
The John F. Kennedy Center and BLACK GIRLS ROCK!® present the BGR!FEST® Film Forum: A Soul Sunday Movie Matinee: Giving Hope: The Ni’Cola Mitchell Story, starring Tatyana Ali. This is the emotional true story of bestselling author and inspirational speaker Ni’Cola Mitchell, who after experiencing sexual violence as a young girl, founded an organization dedicated to saving at risk girls from abuse and exploitation.
This will be an exclusive pre-screening and Q&A session with the film’s creators and cast, including actress Tatyana Ali, Girls Who Brunch founder, Ni’Cola Mitchell, and director, Alpha Nicky. Registration is required for this free event and tickets will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. The BGR!FEST® Film Forum is a part of the official BGR! Film Festival, the ultimate destination for Black women filmmakers and creators who focus on the experiences of Black women.
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