Black Artists Rock 3

Black Artists Rock 2026 brings together four singular voices for an evening celebrating Black artistry, songwriting, musicianship, and the genre-defying spirit of Austin’s music community.

Featuring Scott Strickland, Taméca Jones, Chief Cleopatra, and Pascal Kerong’A, the 2026 gathering showcases artists whose work moves freely between soul, rock, folk, gospel, funk, pop, and sounds shaped by experiences far beyond any single genre.

SCOTT STRICKLAND
Austin-based singer-songwriter Scott Strickland blends rock, pop, folk, and soul into deeply personal storytelling built around vulnerability, resilience, and connection. A Houston native with East Texas roots, Strickland has performed everywhere from intimate listening rooms to ACL Live at the Moody Theater, Blues on the Green, and international stages. His critically acclaimed work—including “L.A.,” praised by the
Austin American-Statesman in 2022—has helped establish him as one of Austin’s distinctive contemporary storytellers.

TAMÉCA JONES
Taméca Jones, the Empress of Austin Soul, has been part of Austin’s musical landscape for more than two decades. An award-winning singer, songwriter, and performer, Jones has appeared at Austin City Limits and SXSW and shared stages with Gary Clark Jr., Leon Bridges, Shakey Graves, and The Black Pumas. Her 2024 album Plants and Pills further established her as a formidable songwriter, following her historic achievement as the first woman to win Songwriter of the Year at the Austin Music Awards.

CHIEF CLEOPATRA
Chief Cleopatra, also known as Jalesa Jessie, brings a fearless “non-genre-denominational” approach to the stage, fusing rock, soul, gospel, and funk into a sound entirely her own. The Corsicana-born, Austin-based artist has been named a KUTX Artist of the Month, released her acclaimed Luna EP through Park The Van
Records, appeared as an official SXSW artist six times, and shared stages with The Wailers, Girl Talk, and Adrian Quesada of the Black Pumas.

PASCAL KERONG’A
Congolese-born, Austin-based singer-songwriter Pascal Kerong’A brings his African roots into conversation with soul, rock, and contemporary influences. From busking on Austin streets to touring nationally with acclaimed songwriter Bill Callahan, Kerong’A has performed at venues including Chicago’s Thalia Hall, Philadelphia’s World Cafe Live, and Atlanta’s Masquerade, and appears on Callahan’s live album Resuscitate!. At the center of his work is a philosophy he calls “I Dream In Color”—an invitation to live
boldly, move beyond limitations, and embrace who you are.

Together, these four artists embody what Black Artists Rock was created to celebrate: Black musicians who refuse to be confined by genre, expectation, or convention—and whose individual stories reveal just how expansive Black music can be.

BLACK ARTISTS ROCK 2026 • QUACK’S BAKERY, SOUTH AUSTIN