August 16
Downstage @ the Mann

Our award-winning Downstage @ the Mann series returns! Don’t miss the 2024 series premier with GRAMMY®-nominated Americana artist Amythyst Kiah on Friday, August 16. Hailed by Rolling Stone as “one of roots music’s most promising new voices,” Kiah’s songwriting is a raw yet nuanced examination of her lived experience and journey towards total self-acceptance. Her music explores her identity as a Black and LGBTQ woman, and in particular, her years spent feeling othered living in areas of Tennessee that did not reflect her own identity.

Kiah aims to offer listeners the same sense of purposeful escape that music has long provided her, all while building an undeniable sense of communion with her audience. She dedicates her music to “anyone who’s struggled with grief or trauma, or felt left out and weird and like they didn’t belong,” noting she hopes listeners “come away from these songs knowing that they can heal from whatever it is that they’re going through."

The intimate Downstage @ the Mann performance setting offers the ideal environment in which to explore the songwriter’s music in an engaging, welcoming way. Don’t miss a breathtaking evening with Amythyst Kiah! 

“Kiah’s spirit, vast talent, and music savvy yields dazzling results” 
- Pitchfork

“Amythyst found her powerful voice. Now she has a sound to match it” 
- The New York Times

“A dynamo singer and profound songwriter [who] defies all stereotypes” 
- Guitar Player

About Downstage @ the Mann: 
Downstage @ the Mann offers audiences an intimate, in-the-round experience to engage with performances alongside the artists. As both audience and artist share the Presser Foundation Stage in the TD Pavilion, patrons can experience an intimate concert with up-close, under cover and open-air seating. This year’s series will explore the theme of “Acceptance,” highlighting works that tell stories of LGBTQ+ individuals and offering reflections on the ongoing journey toward inclusivity and understanding. The series includes Amythyst Kiah on August 16 and Considering Matthew Shepard on October 10. Learn more at MannCenter.org/Downstage.