(AUSTIN, TEXAS – Nov. 22, 2021, source: Juice Consulting) – Black Fret is extremely happy to announce the return of the live, in-person Black Fret Ball at ACL Live at the Moody Theater, Dec. 4, 2021, where they will present 20 acts in just four hours in what has been described as “a real life mixtape,” while they award over $200,000 in grants to the 2021 Black Fret Artists. The Black Fret Ball is for members and invited guests only. People interested in attending the Black Fret Ball and joining Black Fret may do so at sonicguild.org/join. Doors are at 6 p.m., with music at 7 p.m. An afterparty at ACL Live will then take place featuring Mixer Rogers which will go until 2 a.m. Working media are invited to a red carpet for the Black Fret Ball at 4:40 p.m. The 2021 Nominees will walk the carpet from 5 – 5:30 p.m. with additional VIPs arriving after. For media interested in attending the red carpet and the event as a whole, please email madison@juiceconsulting.com.
People interested in attending the Black Fret Ball and joining Black Fret may do so at sonicguild.org/join.
Those wishing to attend but who are not yet ready to join as a member may make a $100 per person donation to Black Fret at sonicguild.org/donate and add “Black Fret Ball 2021 Donation” to the comments field of the donation form.
The eighth annual Black Fret Ball will feature 2021 Black Fret Artists American Dreamer, BLK Odyssy, Clarence James, Darkbird, Deezie Brown, Eimaral Sol, Guy Forsyth & Jeska, Harry Edohoukwa, Jake Lloyd, James Robinson, Jon Muq, Jonathan Terrell, Lisa Morales, Motenko, Nané, Pat Byrne, PR Newman, Primo the Alien, The Reverent Few, and Zach Person.
The Black Fret Ball comes to life this year with support from Notley Ventures, Ben E. Keith Beverage Distributors, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the City of Austin Cultural Arts Division, Maxwell, Locke and Ritter, Good Wolf Entertainment, Werd Productions, Juice Consulting, and ACL Live.
“COVID hit Black Fret hard but I’m overjoyed to say that our community has responded with love and support for our local music and has empowered us to get back to a true, live, Black Fret Ball at ACL Live,” said Matt Ott, Black Fret Co-founder and Executive Director of the Austin Chapter. “So many people have joined to select and support one of our strongest classes of artists we have ever featured. The night is sure to be one that will fill your soul and prove we live in the Live Music Capital of the World.”
Each act will perform one or two songs each in the space of four hours on the largest stage possible in ACL Live. Configured with two full backlines, the stage will spring to life with performances and the awarding of hundreds of thousands in grants to all 20 2021 Black Fret Artists. From rock to hip-hop to Americana to blues, R&B and more, the Black Fret Ball will represent the diversity and depth of our city’s music scene.
“Black Fret is based on the belief that our local music is art that deserves the support of our community,” said Colin Kendrick, Black Fret Founder. “While our membership took a severe dip during 2020 and the COVID pandemic, our city has rallied around our music scene and we can’t wait to hand out these grants. Being a member of Black Fret means more than just attending great musical experiences. It means nominating the acts you love to become Black Fret Artists and becoming part of the music scene itself. Together, our community can do so much to make sure our city’s music thrives.”
The Black Fret Ball is open to members, sponsors, prior-year Black Fret Artists, donors and invited guests. To attend the Black Fret Ball, fill your life with music and support your local music, you can become a Patron of Local Music through joining Black Fret. There are three membership levels to choose from: single (invitations for you to attend Black Fret private events), duo (invitations for you and a plus one) and party (invitations for you and a plus three for each event). Membership is $750 for a single membership, $1,500 for a duo and $3,000 for a party membership. Each membership comes with the right to nominate the bands you love, vote for the allocation of our grants to the artists you select and invitations to our season’s events. Members may attend the Black Fret Ball for the special price of $50 per seat upon joining.
ABOUT BLACK FRET:
Founded in 2013, Black Fret is a public charity headquartered in Austin whose mission is to empower musicians to create and perform new music. The organization is an innovative evolution of the age-old symphony patronage model that is focused on supporting popular local music. Together, Black Fret’s limited membership has supported musicians with over $2.1 million in grants and direct payments since 2013. In return for annual dues, members enjoy a broad range of private events including monthly shows in intimate venues and an incredible annual awards show named the Black Fret Ball. Grant recipients are selected annually through a yearlong process where members, advisors and prior grant recipients nominate, lobby for, see performances by and finally vote on their favorite artists. Those who wish to become a member of Black Fret can sign up at www.sonicguild.org/join. For inquiries, please email sustain@sonicguild.org and for more info see www.sonicguild.org.
